Newcastle University

Linguistics BA Honours
UCAS Code: Q100 (3 Years)

• Course Overview
• Modules
• Entry Requirements
• Careers
• Finance

This degree focuses on how language works and what it does, from the physical properties of speech, to how languages change and develop over time. You learn about the growth and development of language in the brain as well as methodologies for the scientific study of the human language faculty.

You also have the opportunity to learn one or more modern languages, from a choice of French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese or Japanese. This will mean that you will spend a third of your time in the School of Modern Languages during your first year. 

Alternatively, you may choose other topics from outside the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics.

In your final year there are extended study and dissertation modules, giving you the opportunity to investigate a topic that you are passionate about. You will also be offered a range of opportunities to participate in staff research projects.

Teaching and assessment

The content of all of our degrees is shaped by the research specialisms of our staff, many of whom are international leaders in their field. This means you have access to the very latest ideas and discoveries in linguistics, as well as exploring new and exciting areas of study.

We are part of one of the largest concentrations of research expertise in Linguistics and Language Sciences in the UK. Our research expertise includes:

• Computational linguistics
• Language variation
• Psycholinguistics
• Theoretical linguistics

You can normally expect to spend around 10 hours per week attending lectures, seminars, workshops and film screenings; you will also attend weekly study groups. You will be expected to supplement this with around 25 hours per week on class preparation, reading, writing, and other kinds of independent research recommended by your tutor. 

Your work will be assessed through a variety of traditional and innovative forms of assessment, including written course work, group presentations, discussion-board postings and end-of-semester examinations. Teaching and assessment methods may vary from module to module; more information can be found in our individual module listings.

Quality and ranking

Linguistics at Newcastle ranks in the top ten UK universities in The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2014 and The Complete University Guide 2014. We also rank in the top 100 universities in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject.

Field trips and events

Studying at Newcastle means much more than your time spent in the classroom or the library. The School also organises regular field trips to cultural venues in the region such as theatres, The Wordsworth Trust (Dove Cottage), Lindisfarne, Seven Stories, Bede’s World and other local museums including Beamish and the Great North Museum.

We are home to the Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts (NCLA). This brings internationally renowned writers to Newcastle, through a year-long festival of readings, discussion and debate.

The cross-faculty Centre for Research in Linguistics and Language Sciences also organises a rich programme of extra-curricular events.

Study abroad

You will have the opportunity to study abroad for one semester in your second year, through the Erasmus programme. The work that you do and the grades you achieve are counted towards your final degree.

The School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics has Erasmus links with the following universities:

• Leiden in the Netherlands
• Peter Pazmany in Hungary
• Gdansk in Poland
• Ghent in Belgium

We also have study abroad links with two universities in Canada – Dalhousie and New Brunswick - available through our Non-EU Study Abroad exchange programme.

School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics

As a student at Newcastle, you will be part of our School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics, which has a long and prestigious history.

The School occupies its own building, the Percy Building, in the heart of campus where you will join a lively community of students, academics, authors and professionals.

All of our students enjoy exceptional library provision from our award-winning University Library service, which houses over one million books and a huge range of electronic resources.

The School has a lively literary society, EngSoc, which organises social and academic events around a literary theme, as well as a Linguistics Society.

There is an active student drama scene on campus with two student drama societies open to all: Newcastle University Theatre Society and the Gilbert and Sullivan Society.

There are also opportunities throughout the year to take advantage of subsidised tickets for theatre productions in Newcastle.

Newcastle University Students' Union is home to one of the best student newspapers in the country, The Courier, which is always popular with students in the School. You also have the opportunity to submit poetry and short prose for the School's magazine, Alliterati.

Visit the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics' website, where you can:

• find out more about the School's facilities
• watch video interviews with our current students
• watch video interviews with our graduates and find out what they're doing now