Linguistics BA Honours

Program Overview

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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:

computational linguistics

language variation and change

psycholinguistics

theoretical linguistics

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.

Download information about this course as a PDF

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

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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.

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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

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How you'll learn

Teaching Time

Independent Study

25 75 Learning methods used over the year (estimated % of time)

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How you'll be assessed

Written Exams

Practical Exams

Coursework

21 7 71 Assessment methods used over the year (estimated % of time)

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.

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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

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How you'll learn

Teaching Time

Independent Study

17 84 Learning methods used over the year (estimated % of time)

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How you'll be assessed

Written Exams

Coursework

21 79 Assessment methods used over the year (estimated % of time)

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.

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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

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How you'll learn

Teaching Time

Independent Study

12 88 Learning methods used over the year (estimated % of time)

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How you'll be assessed

Coursework

100 Assessment methods used over the year (estimated % of time)

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:

scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present

structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

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Teaching and assessment

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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.

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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

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Skills and experience

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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.

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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.

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Chat with a Linguistics student

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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