BA (Hons) English Language and Linguistics

Language shapes our experience of the world – from our social and emotional lives to our experience of society, work, politics and culture. Immerse yourself in the nature of spoken and written language and how it's used in everything from digital communication to forensic investigation.

You'll study how language works, including the relationships between language, the mind, and society, and how language varies through time, place, culture and identity. You'll explore the different ways people use language and what they use it for. Discover methods for analysing spoken and written language, how we learn the language and how we teach it.

You'll develop sought-after skills, including communication, creativity and critical thinking. You'll be taught by expert researchers and study alongside students within the School of Languages and Applied Linguistics – bringing opportunities to learn from the latest research and build intercultural relationships.

Course highlights

• Discover how the use of language affects perceptions of important contemporary issues, such as gender, sexuality, education and globalisation
• Learn the linguistic skills to spot how language persuades and prejudices people – from what drives social movements on social media to relationships in the workplace
• Develop the skills employers want, including analysis, criticism, negotiation, argument and problem solving
• Tailor your degree to suit your career ambitions, including options that equip you to work internationally, such as intercultural communication and teaching English as a second language
• Learn from dedicated, expert researchers from the School of Languages and Applied Linguistics who specialise in areas including corpus linguistics, discourse analysis, professional communication, sociolinguistics and translation.
• Have the opportunity to build skills in ‘corpus linguistics’ analysis – essential skills in a world where working with 'big data' is the future

We’re proud to be a breath of fresh air in the academic world – a place where everyone gets the support they need to achieve their best. We’re always discovering. We don’t fit the mould, we break it. Just as the world keeps moving, so do we.

We’re closely involved with our local community, and we take our ideas into the global marketplace. We partner with businesses, industry, and government to set the course for a better future. And we educate and transform the lives of our students to help them achieve their potential. We stand out, not just in the UK but in the world. We excel in research areas from cosmology and astrophysics to cybersecurity, forensics, and sport science. Since the first day we opened our doors, we've looked towards the future. And we're here to help you shape it.