Course Overview
You'll study various aspects of language using a wide variety of methods - from computerised study of language corpora, through acoustic analysis of sound patterns, to analysis of texts, interviews and audio-visual recordings of natural dialogues. Many of the issues addressed by Linguistics are of central relevance to our society - for example, the relationship between dialect and social prestige, the problems of education in a multi-cultural and multi-lingual environment, or the development of technology which will allow computers to recognise and produce speech.
During your studies, you'll address intriguing questions, such as how language relates to thought, how a child first acquires language and how our language is similar to and different from social signalling systems used by animals. You'll also be able to take a wide range of other courses, depending on your strengths and interests.
In your first year, your studies include a single unit of Linguistics and two other subjects of your choice.
You'll take a compulsory second year course in the Structures of Language as well as optional modules including: Language Change in English and Beyond; Forensic Linguistics; Psycholinguistics; and Language Acquisition and Language Origins. You can also study up to two units in another subject. If you are taking our Study Abroad degree, you will spend your second year at a partner university in North America.
In your final year, you'll continue with subjects from your second year and complete modules including Topics in Linguistic Theory and a Dissertation.
Related Courses
- Linguistics and Psychology : BA Hons
- Linguistics : BA Hons
- Linguistics (Study Abroad) : BA Hons
- Linguistics with Chinese : BA Hons
- English Language and Literature : BA Hons
- English Language : BA Hons
- English Language (Study Abroad) : BA Hons
- English Language with Chinese : BA Hons
- English Language and Creative Writing : BA Hons
- English Language in the Media : BA Hons
- English Language in the Media (Study Abroad) : BA Hons
- English Literature and Linguistics : BA Hons
- English Language and Linguistics : BA Hons
- French Studies and Linguistics : BA Hons
- German Studies and Linguistics : BA Hons
- Spanish Studies and Linguistics : BA Hons
- English Language and French Studies : BA Hons
- English Language and German Studies : BA Hons
- English Language and Spanish Studies : BA Hons
- Linguistics and Philosophy : BA Hons
Modules
Lancaster degree programmes are flexible, offering students the opportunity to cover a wide selection of subject areas to compliment their degree. The following is an example list of modules which our previous students have studied. For a full list contact the Linguistics and English Language department.
Year 1
- Linguistics
Year 2
- The Structures of Language
- Researching Language
- Discourse Analysis: Looking at Language in Use
- Language Acquisition and Language Origins
Year 3
- Dissertation
- Topics in Linguistic Theory
- Language and Identities: Gender, ethnicity and class
- Language Change in English and Beyond
Lancaster University offers the chance to follow a structured study programme or the option to devise a more flexible programme. We divide academic study into 2 sections - Part 1 (Year 1) and Part 2 (Year 2, 3 and sometimes 4). In Part 1 you will take three modules of study which, depending upon your programme, will be drawn from one, two or three different academic subjects, a higher degree of specialisation then develops in subsequent years. For more information about our teaching methods at Lancaster visit our Teaching and Learning section.
For further information about the department, staff and courses please visit the Linguistics and English Language department website.
Entry Criteria
A-level: AAB inc. English Language, English Combined or a modern/classical language. We normally expect three A-levels
General Studies: Accepted as one of 3 A-levels
Key skills: Not included in offer
GCSE: Normally Maths and a language
Scottish Highers: ABBBB
Irish Leaving Cert: Offers will be made on the basis of 5 or 6 Higher level subjects. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information
International Bacc: 35 pts overall with 16 pts from best three HL courses
BTEC: Overall grades DDD/DDM
Mature students: We are keen to recruit mature students. Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office (01524 592028) for further information
IELTS: 6.5
Careers
Recent Linguistics graduates have gone to work or train as speech therapists, teachers of English as a mother tongue, computer programmers and consultants, bankers, chartered accountants, personnel managers, journalists and social workers. A sizeable proportion of our graduates take up employment overseas.
Our Linguistics degree cultivates skills in data analysis and presentation, critical thinking and the use of statistics and IT. This expertise is valuable for careers in education, language teaching, speech therapy and translation as well as information technology, management, the mass media, creative arts, social work and counselling.
Lancaster University is dedicated to ensuring you not only gain a highly reputable degree, but that you also graduate with relevant life and work based skills. We are unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which offers you the opportunity to complete key activities such as work experience, employability/career development, campus community and social development. Visit our Employability section for full details.
Studying
Teaching and Learning Methods
At Lancaster we offer a broad range of learning environments designed to best support the requirements of your chosen degree programme. These may include lecture and tutorials, interactive workshops, laboratory sessions, other practical activities, student-led seminars and web-based elivery.The modules which make up a programme of study are assessed using a variety of different methods, enabling students to demonstrate their capabilities in a range of ways. Typical coursework assignments include laboratory reports, essays, literature reviews, short tests, short and sharply focussed critical reports, poster sessions and oral presentations. Formal examinations include short answer questions, essays and data analysis. Multiple choice formats are also employed where appropriate. Students are supported in the production of final year project reports and dissertations. Details of the assessment methods for individual modules can be accessed via the university's online module catalogue. In addition to these learning and teaching methods we encourage independent study, meaning you take responsibility for your own learning. For more information visit our Teaching Approach page.
Assessment Methods
We offer you a variety of stimulating and effective approaches to teaching, learning and assessment. This enables you and your tutors to explore the very latest thinking within your subject and develops your skills in problem solving, analysis and critical reflection, communication, application of knowledge and modern technologies.
As a University, we commit to providing all our undergraduates with a minimum number of contact hours per week, providing you with timely feedback on your work and a maximum number of 15 students per seminar group.
Funding
Lancaster University has committed £2.7m in scholarships and bursaries to help with your fees and living costs. Our financial support depends on your circumstances and how well you do in your A-levels (or equivalent academic qualifications) before starting study with us.
Lancaster University's priority is to support every student to make the most of their life and education. For students starting their study with us in 2014, over 600 each year will be entitled to bursaries and/or scholarships to help them with the cost of fees and/or living expenses. For UK students entering in 2014 we will have the following financial support available:
- An Academic Scholarship of £2,000 for the first year of study to any student from the UK entering with A*, A*, A or equivalent academic qualifications
- An Access Scholarship of £1,000 per year for all UK students from households with an income of less than £42,600 who achieve grades of A*, A, A or the equivalent academic qualifications
- A Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 per annum for all students from England with a household income of more than £25,000 but less than £42,600
- As part of the National Scholarship Programme, a £1,000 Bursary, a £1,000 Fee Waiver and a £1,000 Accommodation Discount in the first year of study, for students from England with a household income of less than £25,000. Plus a Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 in subsequent years.
*All of the financial awards above are subject to approval by the Office for Fair Access July 2013.
For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our fees and funding page