Manchester Metropolitan University
MA in Applied Linguistics
Manchester, United Kingdom
MA
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 20,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* full-time | EUR 3334 part-time per 30 credits
Key Summary
MA Applied Linguistics is a versatile and interdisciplinary programme, which aims to provide you with a solid understanding of the basis of language and linguistics. It is delivered by a team of tutors with internationally recognised academic expertise in a range of specialist areas.
You will have the opportunity to build your own bespoke masters degree to reflect your interests in the further study of applied linguistics and create a truly individualised experience. Choose from a range of modules that create a bridge between the theory and the practice of language and linguistics, and that explore the complex understanding of language in use.
Interactive sessions are delivered by industry experts and key researchers and include lectures and student-centred learning methodologies such as discussions, debates and role-play to stimulate learning and demonstrate modern practice. MA Applied Linguistics emphasises the application of theories in a social context, aiming to enhance your analytical skills and your insight into the relationship between language, culture and society. You’ll explore different approaches to linguistic study, including how we use language in connection with identity and power.
The staff teaching on modules for this pathway are actively involved in current research, and they bring this experience to the classroom by using it to inform their teaching, thus ensuring discipline-relevant content is delivered by published experts. You will develop a broad and wide-ranging expertise in the discipline of applied linguistics, which will give you the tools to engage in truly intercultural communication and open up a global marketplace of opportunity.
The MA is available to complete in one year full-time (January and September start dates available), or 2 years part-time (September start date only).
Features and Benefits
- Research-informed teaching – You will be taught by staff who are active researchers, many of whom are part of The Manchester Centre for Research in Linguistics, which carries out a range of research. Our expertise spans forensic linguistics and second language acquisition to sociolinguistic projects, such as Manchester Voices.
- Employability focussed – Many of the assessment tasks are designed to enhance your employability. In the Independent Project, you produce a traditional research-focused dissertation, or similar investigation into a specific aspect of applied linguistics.
- Be part of a professional community - You will be able to build your professional network through a diverse community of linguists, including both teaching staff and students from across the globe who are enrolled on the degree. As well as being able to take advantage of the research expertise of staff, you will interact with other students who have a diverse range of interests, including those who want to understand the theory behind language use.
Throughout the year, you’ll build a strong foundation in the core areas of applied linguistics while tailoring your learning through a range of specialist options. Explore the building blocks of language, develop essential research skills, and examine how language shapes identity. Our flexible structure allows you to shape your learning journey around your interests and career goals, supported by research-active staff and a diverse, global student community.
Core modules
- Independent Project
- Sound, Structure and Meaning
- Research Methods in Applied Linguistics
- Discourse Analysis and Corpus Linguistics
- Sociolinguistics And Pragmatics
Option modules
- Teaching English to Young Learners
- Language and The Law
- Language, Culture and Communication
- Language in a Globalised World
- Teaching English for Academic Purposes
Each module on our MA Applied Linguistics is designed with professional practice in mind. As such, you will develop and be assessed in both transferable technical and soft skills, which will enhance your employability upon graduation. For example, modules enable you to embed professional and research-informed practice in your assessments, which you are encouraged to apply to the future context of your career. A specific example of this employability focus is in the form of the Final Independent Project; students can choose to engage in either a traditional research-focussed dissertation or to develop a similar investigation into a specific area of study. These modules encourage direct application of theory and research to the world, including the world of work. Specific examples of direct application include the Discourse Analysis and Corpus Linguistics module, which focusses on language use in media contexts (i.e. mass media; social media), and Language and the Law, which focusses on language used in legal contexts.
The Personal Tutoring system will be embedded into MA Applied Linguistics programme to ensure that you analyse the opportunities available to you, recognising your developing skillsets and mapping you to career possibilities.
Study
- Full-time 20% lectures, seminars or similar; 0% placement; 80% independent study
- Part-time 20% lectures, seminars or similar; 0% placement; 80% independent study
Assessment
- Full-time 100% coursework; 0% practical; 0% examination
- Part-time 100% coursework; 0% practical; 0% examination


