Newcastle University

Linguistics, Speech and Language Sciences

Phonetics and Phonology Integrated PhD 

48 months full time; 96 months part time

Fees

UK/EU: full time £4,320 part time £2,160
International: full time £10,735 part time fees

Aims

The IPhD programme will enable you to specialise in diverse theoretical and applied areas of phonetics and phonology, drawing on the distinctive expertise of the staff at Newcastle University. You will achieve a critical conceptual understanding of principles, conceptual frameworks and methodologies in the fields of phonetics and phonology, and also receive advanced training in research methods and management. A range of professional and key skills will be developed throughout the programme, enabling you to engage in teaching and/or research at an advanced level in higher education or in a senior professional capacity in other fields of employment.

Programme Description

The programme comprises 200 credits of taught elements and 340 credits of research elements. The compulsory taught modules (120 credits) offer a foundation for all students, dealing with essential theoretical issues, and generic and subject-specific research methods. Further optional modules (80 credits) enable you to specialise and also act as the basis for your dissertation project.

You take the following compulsory modules: introduction to quantitative methods (20); issues in phonological theory 1 (20 credits); fundamental elements in phonetics and phonology (40 credits); and core issues in experimental phonetics and phonology (40 credits).

You then take four further optional modules to a value of 80 credits from the following (all 20 credit modules): introduction to language acquisition; phonological interfaces in second language acquisition; sociolinguistics of language and society; issues in language variation and change, issues in phonological theory 2, advanced issues in sociophonetics, perception and production in multilingual contexts, phonological acquisition; sounds of the world’s languages. It may also be possible to undertake alternative optional modules with the approval of the Degree Programme Director.

Further dissertation preparation modules are also undertaken in each year, with a focus on the dissertation in years three and four.

There are five major areas of specialisation in which supervision can be offered and in which specialised option modules will be provided:

(1) acquisition of second language sound patterning
(2) first language acquisition
(3) sociophonetics and its role in speech perception and production
(4) phonological theory and phonological patterns of various languages
(5) phonetic and/or phonological characteristics of languages and language description

Entrance Requirements

Normally a first or upper second-class Honours degree, or equivalent, or a recognised taught Master’s degree in linguistics, psychology, or a related area. Other subjects will be considered. Applicants whose first language is not English require IELTS 7.0. An IELTS score of 6.5 (or equivalent) will be accepted however on condition of taking a 10-week pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course or an in-sessional EAP course concurrently with study.

Our INTO Newcastle University Centre can provide extra tuition to help you meet the University's English language requirements.

Tier 4 Student Visas (International Applicants)

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has now revised its rules for Tier 4 student visa applications regarding English language ability. You are now required to hold a minimum of IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) in all sub skills (listening, writing, reading and speaking) to be eligible to apply for a Tier 4 visa.

Please note that the University’s English language requirements are normally higher (see above).

Typical Funding

See also: Funding and Finance.

How to Apply

There is no closing date for this programme. However, international students applying for September 2012 entry should apply by Friday 13 July 2012 to ensure that they have time to put appropriate arrangements in place.

Please note: As a formal condition of the offer to study at Newcastle University, students from outside the UK/EU are required to pay a deposit of £1,500 or submit an official letter of sponsorship for their chosen programme. The deposit payment is non refundable, but will be deducted from tuition fees upon registration.

For the quickest and easiest way to apply, visit our postgraduate online application site.

Further Information

For further information please contact:
Miss Yvonne Rutherford (Postgraduate Research Secretary)
E-mail: pgrecls@ncl.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 222 6569