Overview

Our Linguistics and English Language Integrated PhD (IPhD) combines taught modules with original research. The course is for those who haven't completed a programme that leads to PhD study. It will suit those with a background in linguistics, English Language or related disciplines. You'll strengthen your knowledge base and research skills before embarking on writing a thesis.

Studying for an IPhD at Newcastle University offers many benefits and advantages, including:

• a track record in student satisfaction
• diverse staff expertise
• activities and events
• career development
• funding opportunities

We're one of the largest centres for linguistic research in Europe. This gives you the opportunity to enrich your research. You'll gain exposure to a wide range of methodologies and diverse theoretical perspectives

Pathways

We offer three pathways, with supervision in the following areas:

• Language acquisition, development and evolution
• Language variation and change
• Formal linguistics

Language acquisition, development and evolution

This pathway includes:

• first language acquisition and development
• acquisition of second language morphosyntax and phonology
• evolutionary linguistics

Language variation and change

This pathway includes:

• historical/diachronic linguistics
• variationist/comparative linguistics
• sociolinguistics
• grammaticalization
• dialect syntax
• corpus analysis
• linguistic typology

Formal linguistics

This pathway includes:

• syntactic theory and comparative syntax
• phonological theory
• morphophonology and morphosyntax
• philosophy of language and linguistics
• architecture of the language faculty

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Your course during COVID-19

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.
Given the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the commitments outlined are subject to guidelines that may be in place from time to time.

View our COVID-19 Study page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2021-22.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information

What you'll learn

Year one forms the taught element of the course. You'll study compulsory and optional modules and select a specialist pathway.

You'll then complete a 60 credit independent research project (15,000 words).

Work experience

You can gain valuable experience in journal editing and conference organisation through joining:

• the editorial team of the annually published Newcastle and Northumbria Working Papers in Linguistics
• the organising team of the annual Postgraduate Conference in Applied and Theoretical Linguistics

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

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.

Optional modules availability

Some course have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Language acquisition, development and evolution pathway modules

Compulsory modules

• Research project for IPhD students
• Research methods for IPhD students

Optional modules

You must choose one of the following modules:

• Generative Syntax
• Issues in Phonological Theory I
• Issues in Phonological Theory II

You will take three of the following modules and one 20 credit option to be chosen from a list of modules given in the Programme Handbook:

• Origins and Evolution of Language
• Neurocognition of Language Development
• Phonology in Second Language Acquisition
• Topics in Multilingualism
• Language Acquisition

Language variation and change pathway modules

Compulsory modules

• Research project for IPhD students
• Research methods for IPhD students

Optional modules

You must take one 20 credit module in advanced phonology OR in advanced syntax:

• Generative Syntax
• Issues in Phonological Theory I
• Issues in Phonological Theory II

You will take three of the following modules and one 20 credit option to be chosen from a list given in the Programme Handbook:

• Origins and Evolution Language
• The Sociolinguistics of Language and Society
• Lexical Innovation
• The Social History of English

Formal linguistics pathway modules

Compulsory modules

• Research project for IPhD students
• Research methods for IPhD students
• Generative Syntax
• Issues in Phonological Theory I
• Issues in Phonological Theory II

Optional modules

You will take two of the following modules:

• Lexical Innovation
• Phonology in Second Language Acquisition
• Topics in Multilingualism

 

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

In year one you take compulsory and optional 12-week modules. Between mid-May and early September of year one, you'll also work on a 15,000 word research project.

Years two, three and four constitute the research-based element of the course. You'll write a 80,000 word thesis under the guidance and direction of two supervisors.

The course is delivered at our Newcastle city centre campus. During the research phase of the course you can request a temporary change in study location. This is to allow for fieldwork and data collection.

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Essay
• Professional skills assessments
• Oral examination
• Oral presentation
• Practical lab report
• Poster
• Research proposal
• Research paper
• Written examination
• Written exercise

Postgraduate student support

Our mission is to help you:

• stay healthy, positive and feeling well
• overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
• get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
• carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
• understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules

We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.

You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:

• research and professional skills
• careers support
• wellbeing
• health and safety
• public engagement
• academic development

Our staff

Prof Anders Holmberg won the University student-led award for Best Research Supervisor of the Year in 2013 and 2015.

Dr Heike Pichler and Dr William van der Wurff also made the shortlist for this award in 2015.

Your development

Research skills

The Centre for Research in Linguistics and Language Sciences (CRiLLS) is one of the largest centres for linguistic research in Europe. You have a unique opportunity to acquire a wide range of methodologies and exposure to diverse theoretical perspectives to enrich your own research. We have a wide range of research supervisors you can work with.

We offer subject-specific research training, including specialised practical workshops on statistical packages and software used in corpus linguistic methodologies. This specific training complements the research training programme you will be part of as a postgraduate research student.

Student work in progress meetings

Our 'student work in progress' meetings give you the opportunity to present your work to a student audience. You'll get instant feedback and discussions around your research.

Special interests group

Our special interests groups also facilitate researchers with common interests to share ideas, develop new skills and gain feedback on their work. The groups meet regularly and include topics like:

• language variation and change
• theoretical phonology
• corpus linguistics
• syntax
• language and cognition

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) researcher development programme 

Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:

• perform better as a researcher
• boost your career prospects
• broaden your impact

Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.

You’ll cover:

• techniques for effective research
• methods for better collaborative working
• essential professional standards and requirements

Your programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.

Find out more about the HaSS research training programme

Your future

Our recent graduates have gone into a variety of careers, including:

• academia
• education
• publishing
• university administration

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

The School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics is a lively and diverse community with over 700 undergraduates and 200 postgraduates.

We are based in the Percy Building. Our purpose-built postgraduate suite includes:

• several dedicated computer clusters
• meeting rooms
• a kitchen
• lounge area

Find out more about the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics

Members of the Centre for Research in Linguistics and Language Sciences also have a dedicated space. This space provides a range of resources, including access to:

• linguistics software (eg Childes, Clan, Elan, Praat)
• linguistic corpora (eg DECTE, ICE, ICAME)
• specialised equipment such as the eye tracker

The award-winning Philip Robinson Library has an extensive audio-visual collection.

Subject to Covid-19 restrictions, you'll have access to a dedicated quiet study space, as well as use of a common room with kitchen facilities. The School also houses the Language Resource Centre. It has an extensive range of language learning facilities and resources, including:

• access to 24 satellite television channels from around the world
• listen and record facilities for speaking practice
• interactive language learning software
• an international film collection of over 800 titles

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2022 entry (per year)

PGR Home fee note

Home fees

For 2022-23 entry, we will be aligning our standard Home research fees with those set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The standard fee will be confirmed in Spring 2022 by UKRI.

Tuition fee increases

If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Find out more about:

• additional costs
• living costs
• tuition fees, including how to pay them and available discounts

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

Select your country

How to apply

Using the application portal

The applicant portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the applicant portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

Apply Online  

Open days and events

Open days and events

You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year including:

• Campus tours
• On-campus open days
• Virtual open days
• Webinars

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events