| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
Course overview
Our Linguistics BA Honours degree focuses on developing your understanding of how language works, how we communicate, and the growth of language in the brain.
You'll explore linguistics in the context of English alongside other languages. You'll build a firm base of skills and knowledge. This will allow you to pursue many career paths - from journalism or data science to teaching or further postgraduate study.
In your first year, you’ll study a foreign language, modern or ancient, alongside Linguistics. Throughout your degree, you'll also follow a cutting-edge programme shaped by the research specialisms of our world-leading staff. You'll explore the latest ideas and most exciting areas of linguistics, such as:
At the end of this course, you'll become a confident and competent professional. You will become an expert in the scientific study of language, including sound systems, structure, and social context.
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Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2022-23.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
Program Outline
Modules and learning
Modules
The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability. Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May. To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Your first year lays the foundation for analysing and describing language, focusing on topics such as word and sentence structure (morphology and syntax) and the sounds and sound systems of language (phonetics and phonology).
Alongside your Linguistics modules, you will also choose one foreign language from a choice of French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Latin or Ancient Greek.
You’ll have the option to study your chosen language at beginner or intermediate level, depending on your previous experience.
Modules
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| The Nature of Language | 20 |
| Introduction to the Structure of Language 1: Syntax and Phonology | 20 |
| Introduction to the Structure of Language 2: Morphology and Meaning | 20 |
| Language Variation and Change: Dealing with Data | 20 |
| Optional Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Level B (HE Intermediate) French | 20 |
| Level B (HE Intermediate) German | 20 |
| Introduction to Linguistics | 20 |
| Level B (HE Intermediate) Spanish | 20 |
How you'll learn
How you'll be assessed
You will develop your knowledge of core aspects of grammar and sound patterns and how these apply to a range of languages. You'll broaden your understanding of language study by exploring the social context in which languages are learned, used and developed over time.
Modules
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Phonological Theory | 20 |
| Syntactic Theory | 20 |
| Optional Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Career Development for second year students | 20 |
| Introduction to Child and Adult Language Acquisition | 20 |
| Sociolinguistics | 20 |
| Early English: Texts, Patterns and Varieties | 20 |
| Speakers as Wordsmiths: the creation of new words in present-day English | 20 |
| Experimental Methods in Linguistics | 20 |
| Multilingualism | 20 |
| Linguistic Controversies | 20 |
| Pragmatics | 20 |
| Overseas Exchange (Semester 1) | 60 |
| Overseas Exchange (Semester 2) | 60 |
How you'll learn
How you'll be assessed
You will develop your own interests by choosing from topics linked to your lecturers' research specialisms. These include syntactic and phonological theory, low-education second language and literary acquisition, language origins and evolution, child language acquisition and language change.
You will also undertake an independent project, leading your own research in close collaboration with a faculty supervisor.
Modules
| Optional Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Career Development for final year students | 20 |
| Introduction to Child and Adult Language Acquisition | 20 |
| Sociolinguistics | 20 |
| Early English: Texts, Patterns and Varieties | 20 |
| Speakers as Wordsmiths: the creation of new words in present-day English | 20 |
| Experimental Methods in Linguistics | 20 |
| Multilingualism | 20 |
| Linguistic Controversies | 20 |
| Topics in Phonological Theory | 20 |
| English Grammar through Time | 20 |
| Language in the City | 20 |
| Extended Study 1: Linguistics and English Language | 20 |
| Extended Study 2: Linguistics and English Language | 20 |
| Dissertation: Linguistics and English Language | 40 |
| The History of Linguistic Ideas | 20 |
| Language and Ageing | 20 |
| Comparative Syntax: English in a cross-linguistic context | 20 |
| Second Language Acquisition | 20 |
| Pragmatic Theory | 20 |
| Child Language Acquisition | 20 |
How you'll learn
How you'll be assessed
Information about these graphs
We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They combine data on the planned delivery and assessments of our courses in 2021-22 with data on the modules chosen by our students in 2020-21.
Teaching time is made up of:
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
You can normally expect to spend around 10 hours per week attending lectures, seminars, workshops and film screenings, plus weekly study groups.
You also spend around 25 hours per week on class preparation, reading, writing and other forms of independent research recommended by your tutor.
Assessment methods
You'll be assessed through a combination of:
Assessments
Assignments – written or fieldwork
Coursework
Dissertation or research project
Essays
Examinations – practical or online
Group work
Presentations
Skills and experience
Practical experience
Studying Linguistics at Newcastle means you will benefit from access to our state-of-the-art Linguistics Laboratory. The LingLab hosts collections of English language data for analysis of linguistic variation and change. It also hosts a range of equipment for advanced articulatory, phonetic and psycholinguistic research. Activities are supported by a dedicated lab manager.
Research skills
As part of your degree, you will complete an independent research project in your final year. You will collaborate with a faculty member to investigate a novel topic that you are passionate about. You will also be offered a range of opportunities to participate in staff research projects.
Chat with a Linguistics student
Newcastle is the ideal place to experience student life, from our super photogenic campus to the bustling city centre just across the road from it.
Sophie Krol, Linguistics
