About this program
English Language and Linguistics
Our English Language and Linguistics degree combines the systematic study of the human capacity for language in all its expressions across the world with an added focus on the English language.
You will learn about all aspects of human language and how linguistic knowledge is acquired, produced and understood in different contexts. . You will discover what all languages have in common, what distinguishes them and how they change over time. You will also come to appreciate varieties in language, including historical changes, accents, distinct social registers as well as differences between spoken and written language.
Acquiring career-enhancing skills, you will become adept in producing multimodal texts (think websites, blogs and magazine covers) using specific software packages. You will gain skills from analysing numerical data or speech in phonetics to deciphering patterns in large collections of written and/or spoken language known as corpora.
We have specialist modules with careers in education, the media, health, and the legal process in mind. Our community is welcoming, international in outlook and home to the globally respected Centre for Language and Communication Research. We pride ourselves on nurturing a friendly, personalised and supportive environment, with regular one-to-one meetings.
Studying for a degree in English Language and Linguistics develops abilities to analyse and critique the language that surrounds us but also helps develop a strong skillset. Our graduates are known for their ability to combine the best of humanities (like communicating effectively) with the best of social science skills (technical analysis through systematic and critical handlingof data for instance).
Admission requirements
Typical A level offer
ABB-BBB; General Studies is not accepted.
Extended/International Project Qualification: Applicants with grade A in the EPQ/IPQ will typically receive an offer one grade lower than the standard A level offer. Please note that any subject specific requirements must still be met.
English language requirements
GCSE
Grade C or grade 4 in GCSE English Language.
IELTS (academic)
At least 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each subskill.
TOEFL iBT
At least 90 overall with minimum scores of 17 for writing, 17 for listening, 18 for reading and 20 for speaking.
PTE Academic
At least 62 overall with a minimum of 59 in all communicative skills.
Trinity ISE II/III
- II: at least two Distinctions and two Merits.
- III: at least a Pass in all components.
For more information about admission requirements, please visit the university website.
Does this course require proof of English proficiency?
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Program content
The modules shown are an example of the typical curriculum and will be reviewed prior to the 2022/23 academic year. The final modules will be published by September 2022.
Year one
- How Language Works 1
- How Language Works 2
Year two
The second year consists of 60 credits, chosen from a list of optional modules, with options available in English Literature and/or Philosophy in addition to English Language.(You may include up to 40 credits in English Literature or Philosophy in addition to your English Language choices across Years One and Two.)
Year three
- Sounds of Speech
- Words and Meaning
Year four
In your fourth year, you will study 60 credits, chosen from a choice of four or more relevant modules plus a range of other options in English language and linguistics.
Year five
In your fifth year, you will again study 60 credits.
Your fifth year will allow you a lot of freedom to tailor your degree to suit your chosen career path and to choose the modules you are most interested in.
You will take at least 20 credits from a choice of three or more options that are particularly relevant to the study of linguistics plus 40 credits from the range of English language and linguistics modules available.
Year six
In year six you will again study 60 credits.
Your final year will continue to allow you a lot of freedom to tailor your degree to suit your chosen career path and to choose the modules you are most interested in.
You will take 60 credits from the range of English language and linguistics modules available.
As part of this, you may have the option to study a Dissertation (20 credits, 1 semester) or Extended Dissertation (40 credits, 2 semesters) on a topic of particular interest to you. This will depend on you meeting certain grade requirements.
Scholarships & funding
For more information about scholarships, please visit the university website.
Tuition
- Tuition fees for UK and Ireland Students: £3,500 per year.
- Tuition fees for International Students: £9,600 per year.
For more information about tuition fee, please visit the university website.
Qualification
What skills will I practise and develop?
As a result of engaging fully with this course, you will acquire and develop a range of valuable skills, both those which are discipline specific and more generic &employability skills;. These will allow you to:
- Grasp complex issues with confidence.
- Ask the right questions of complex texts.
- Have an imaginative appreciation of different views and options and analyse these critically.
- Identify and apply relevant data.
- Propose imaginative solutions of your own that are rooted in evidence.
- Communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively in writing and speech.
- Work to deadlines and priorities, managing a range of tasks at the same time.
- Learn from constructive criticism and incorporate its insights.
- Work as part of a team, developing a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
- Use IT programmes and digital media, where appropriate.
- Take responsibility for your own learning programme and professional development.
What are the learning outcomes of this course/programme?
Knowledge Understanding:
Students completing the Programme will demonstrate:
- Ability to analyse and discuss core areas of English language and linguistics, including phonetics, grammar, semantics, pragmatics and discourse analysis.
- Ability to identify and interpret a range of empirical linguistic phenomena and to use the relevant descriptive terminology.
- Ability to conceptualize the central role of language in constructing and perpetuating structures of power.
- Ability to analyse and assess how different social and cultural contexts affect the nature of language and meaning.
Intellectual Skills:
Students completing the Programme will demonstrate:
- Ability to critically evaluate ideas, arguments and empirical research.
- Ability to present information and ideas clearly and coherently in both written and oral formats.
Professional Practical Skills:
Students completing the Programme will be able to:
- Ability to collect, evaluate, synthesise and interpret qualitative and/or quantitative data.
- Ability to evaluate the impact of language use in a given context.
Transferable/Key Skills:
Students completing the Programme will demonstrate:
- Ability to sustain a critical argument that is responsive to the particular conventions of the genre.
- Confidence to tackle unfamiliar software packages and acquire new IT skills.
Career paths
Careers
Career prospects
We provide our students with a highly satisfying academic experience that assists their development as critically-minded, culturally-aware citizens whose high analytic skills, powers of expression and progressive self-reliance make them extremely attractive to employers.
Degrees in English Language and Linguistics combine the best of humanities skills (flexibility, communication, critique) and social science skills (technical analysis and systematic method). Common destinations include primary and secondary school teaching, teaching English as a foreign language, (digital) journalism, marketing and public relations, sales and advertising, the civil service and public administration.
The most common/popular employment options for graduates of this programme include:
- English teacher.
- Research assistant.
- Media professional.
- Editor.
- Speech language therapy assistant.
- Business and public service professional.
- Information technology and telecommunications professionals.
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About this institute
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is among the top 25 universities in the UK and is ranked 154th in the world. Founded in 1883, Cardiff University combines a prestigious heritage with impressive modern facilities, on one of the most beautiful campuses in the UK....
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