University College London (UCL)

English Linguistics MA

Teaching and learning

Modern English Grammar, English in Use and Research Methodology are taught in weekly seminars over two terms. The option courses are taught in weekly seminars over one term, either in the First or Second Term. Over the year students write a number of essays, which are discussed in one-to-one tutorials. They also carry out a number of assignments, including presentations during the Spring Term. All students are required to attend the research seminars organised by the Survey of English Usage, which typically take place twice a term.

The programme is taught through seminars and individual tutorials. Student assessment is through a portfolio of essays (two 2,000-word essays on English linguistics), and other written assignments (a number of Research Methodology assignments, and a 4,000-6,000 word essay for either English Corpus Linguistics or English in Use), two, three-hour written papers and the Dissertation.

In the First and Second Terms, full-time students can typically expect between 8 and 10 contact hours per teaching week through seminars. In the Third Term and the summer period students will be completing their own dissertation research, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisors. Across the year, students can expect four 30-minute one-to-one tutorials with their personal tutor. Across the duration of the programme, full-time students should spend the rest of their time in independent study, which will include self-study, coursework and dissertation writing. The equivalent of a full-time job.

Modules

Full-time

The English Linguistics MA offers two pathways for you to choose from:

Pathway One: English Corpus Linguistics:

You will study Modern English Grammar, English Corpus Linguistics, and Research Methodology. Each module is taught over 20 two-hour seminars over the First and Second Term. You will also study two option modules over the First and Second Term. Each option module is taught in 10 two-hour seminars over one term. Option modules vary each year but typically cover subjects such as English Words, World Englishes, Sounds of English, the History of the English Language, and Literary Linguistics. In addition, the English in Use module offered under Pathway Two can be taken as an option in the First Term. You will work on the title of the Dissertation, together with an abstract of the proposed topic, to be submitted on the first day of the Third Term. You will write your dissertation during the Third Term and over the summer.

Pathway Two: English in Use:

You will study Modern English Grammar, English in Use, and Research Methodology. Each module is taught over 20 two-hour seminars over the First and Second Term. You will also study two option modules over the Firts and Second Term. Each option module is taught in 10 two-hour seminars over one term. Option modules vary each year but typically cover subjects such as English Words, World Englishes, Sounds of English, the History of the English Language, and Literary Linguistics. In addition,the English Corpus Linguistics module offered under Pathway One can also be taken as an option in the First Term. You will work on the title of the Dissertation, together with an abstract of the proposed topic, to be submitted on the first day of the Third Term. You will write your dissertation during the Third Term and over the summer.

Part-time
Part-time students typically take the Modern English Grammar module in the First Year, together with one option module. During the Second Year, students take their second core module (either English Corpus Linguistics or English Language in Use), as well as a second option module. The Dissertation will be written during the summer of the Second Year of study. Part-time students are encouraged to work on their dissertations during the summer following the First Year. Part-time students should discuss their teaching and learning arrangements with the programme convenor as soon as possible to ensure a balanced distribution of modules, compatible with other commitments.

Compulsory modules

• Dissertation
• Modern English Grammar
• Topics in Modern English Linguistics
• Research Methodology

Optional modules

• English Corpus Linguistics
• English Language in Use

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in English Linguistics.

What this course will give you

The Department has exceptional resources for the study of English linguistics. Most of the staff teaching on the MA are based at the Survey of English Usage. Research at the Survey over many decades has resulted in several important publications and important studies on the grammar, semantics, and vocabulary of present-day English. The Department also regularly hosts visiting seminar speakers from other institutions. Our degree helps you develop your understanding of the English language from theoretical and practical perspectives through a combination of seminars, group activities, one-to-one tutorials, and special events such as trips to the Oxford English Dictionary and the British Library. Excellent library facilities are provided by the UCL Library, Senate House Library, and the British Library.

The foundation of your career

The programme provides an ideal foundation for those wishing to continue to a research degree in English language or linguistics; students who obtain good results in their MA examinations may be considered for the MPhil/PhD programme at UCL (subject to places being available).

Graduates may also become teachers or lecturers of English, or pursue a career in writing and translation, editing or publishing, or marketing and communications . In the Graduate Outcomes Survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates in the 2017 - 2022 cohorts, 88.9% of our graduates were in either highly-skilled work or postgraduate-level study.

Employability

This degree will equip you with expert knowledge of a wide range of topics in English Linguistics. It will develop your awareness of how the language choices we make can have an impact in our professional and personal lives, and thus improve your communication skills. It also teaches you to carry out research projects independently, critically analyse data, and consult primary and secondary materials, and therefore become adept at consolidating and presenting information from a variety of sources.

The theoretical and practical knowledge acquired about the English language also greatly helps teachers and educators by giving them a more solid foundation in the subject matter. These are all relevant transferable skills for a wide variety of career destinations.

Networking

The MA in English Linguistics (MAEL) offers students a number of networking events during the academic year. We organise four research seminars every year, when we invite academics from other universities to come to talk to us about their current research. These are wonderful opportunities for MAEL students to find out about research in the wider field of linguistics. These seminars are followed by an informal opportunity for students to talk to the speaker.

The literary section of UCL English offers a further range of seminars conducted by visiting speakers, staff members, and fellow graduate students, which MAEL students are also welcome to attend. In addition, UCL has a very active Careers department which organises events for students on the course. Staff on the course also advise MAEL students which linguistics societies they can join (often for free), e.g. the Philological Society and the International Society for the Linguistics of English, so as to attend their events and conferences.