q100 - Linguistics BA
Linguistics BA Honours
UCAS Code: Q100 (full time: 3 Years)
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Book your placeCourse Overview
This degree focuses on how language works, how it is structured and what it does, from the physical properties of speech, to how languages change and develop over time.
At a Glance
UCAS Code
Q100
UCAS Institution Name and Code
NEWC, N21
Degree Awarded
BA Honours
Course Duration
3 Years
Entry Requirements
A Level: AAA-ABB
IB: 34-36 points
Opportunities
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.
In addition, you study a modern language from a choice of French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese or Japanese.
Modules cover topics such as:
- phonetics/phonology
- grammar and sound patterns
- social contexts in which languages are learnt
You can complete a dissertation in your third year, investigating a topic that you are passionate about. You will also be offered a range of opportunities to participate in staff research projects.
Quality and Ranking
The quality of linguistics at Newcastle is highly recognised. We rank:
- 4th in the UK – The Complete University Guide 2019
- 5th in the UK – The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018
- 5th in the UK for student satisfaction (95% overall student satisfaction score) – National Student Survey 2017
- top 100 – Linguistics category – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018
- top 200 – Arts and Humanities category – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2018
Boost your employability with a work placement
Apply to spend 9 to 12 months on an optional work placement between Stages 2 and 3. You can apply to spend your placement year with any organisation and will receive University support to do so.
You’ll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.
It will extend your degree by a year and is subject to availability.
Find out more about Work Placements.
Field trips and events
Studying at Newcastle means much more than your time spent in the classroom or the library. The School organises regular field trips to cultural venues in the region such as:
- theatres
- The Wordsworth Trust (Dove Cottage)
- Lindisfarne
- Bede’s World
- Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children's Books
- 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.
Study abroad
You 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.
Facilities and support
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.
Facilities
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 Library Service, which houses over one million books and a huge range of electronic resources.
Writing opportunities
Newcastle University Students' Union is home to one of the best student newspapers in the country, The Courier. You also have the opportunity to submit poetry and short prose for the School's magazine, Alliterati.
Support
You'll have a personal tutor throughout your degree – an academic member of staff who can help with academic and personal issues. You'll also have access to a peer mentor in your first year – a fellow student who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have.
Social activities
There's a lively literary society, EngSoc, which organises social and academic events around a literary theme, as well as a Linguistics Society. There's an active student drama scene on campus, with two student drama societies open to all. You have opportunities throughout the year to get subsidised tickets for theatre productions in Newcastle.
Find out more
Visit the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics' website, where you can watch:
- video interviews of our current students
- video interviews of our graduates and find out what they're doing now
Megan, Linguistics BA HonoursThe lecturers on my course are both approachable and inspiring. It is obvious that they are researchers in their area and that they are interested in their field. It makes learning from them that bit more interesting as we can learn about important and stimulating content that has been researched and even conducted by those who are teaching it.
Compare this course
See how this course compares with others for topics such as student satisfaction, fees and costs and prospects after graduation using the Unistats Key Information Set.
Modules for 2018 entry
Please note
The module and/or programme information below is for 2018 entry. Our teaching is informed by research and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, student feedback, or insufficient numbers of students interested (in an optional module). To find out more read our terms and conditions.
Module/programme information for 2019 entry will be published here as soon as it is available (end of May 2019).
Our degrees are divided into Stages. Each Stage lasts for an academic year and you need to complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each Stage. Further information, including the credit value of the module, is available in each of the module descriptions below.
Stage 1
Compulsory modules
- SEL1008 The Nature of Language
- SEL1027 Introduction to the Structure of Language 1: Syntax and Phonology
- SEL1028 Introduction to the Structure of Language 2: Morphology and Meaning
- SEL1032 Language Variation and Change: Dealing with Data
Optional modules
You will take a further 40 credits of one foreign language, alternatively if you have studied A Level French, German or Spanish you may select two modules from the following options:
- SML1019 Introduction to Linguistics*
- FRE1071 Level B (HE Intermediate) French
- GER1071 Level B (HE Intermediate) German
- SPA1071 Level B (HE Intermediate) Spanish
* Only available to students studying Level B (He Intermediate) in French, German or Spanish.
Stage 2
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
You take at least two, and may take three, of the following modules:
- SEL2086 Introduction to Child and Adult Language Acquisition
- SEL2091 Sociolinguistics and the Sociology of Language
- SEL2211 Contexts: Mind, Cognition and Computation
- SEL2212 Early English: Texts, Patterns and Varieties
- SEL2223 Speakers as Wordsmiths: the Creation of New Words in Present-Day English
With the Degree Programme Director's approval you may choose one module from other subject areas within the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics or other Academic Schools. Alternatively you may take one of the following modules:
- NCL2007 Career Development for Second Year Students
- NCL2100 Developing Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Employability
Work Placement (optional)
You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months on an optional work placement between Stages 2 and 3. You can apply to spend your placement year with any organisation and will receive University support to do so. It will extend your degree by a year and is subject to availability. It isn't available if you're spending a year studying abroad. Find out more about Work Placements.
Stage 3
Optional modules
You choose one of the following modules:
- SEL3326 Extended Study 1: Linguistics and English Language
- SEL3327 Extended Study 2: Linguistics and English Language
- SEL3329 Dissertation: Linguistics and English Language
You choose at least two modules, and up to five, from the following list:
- SEL3005 Language Origins and Evolution
- SEL3006 Topics in Phonological Theory
- SEL3012 Immigrant Second Language and Literacy Acquisition
- SEL3046 English Grammar Through Time
- SEL3056 Advanced Sociolinguistics
- SEL3094 Accents of English
- SEL3341 Old English: Texts and Translations
- SEL3343 Syntactic Puzzles and How to Solve Them
- SEL3349 The History of Linguistic Ideas
- SEL3352 Language Development: Cross-Disciplinary Approaches
- SEL3372 Language and Ethnicity in 21st Century Britain
With Degree Programme Director's approval you may choose one module from the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics or other Schools/Faculties. Alternatively you may take one module from the following list:
* Only available to students who have taken a Career Development module at Stage 2.
You may replace one of the modules from the list above, with one of the following modules if not studied at Stage 2:
All candidates are considered on an individual basis.
If your qualifications are not listed here, please see our additional entry requirements web pages to find out which other qualifications are considered.
The entrance requirements below apply to 2019 entry.
Careers
Linguistics careers
English students acquire a range of valuable skills, which they can transfer to many different employment situations. Your literary and linguistic training can be used in journalism, librarianship, teaching and the highly competitive fields of writing, acting and directing.
You will also gain other skills such as the capacity to analyse and summarise material, to communicate, to work to a deadline, to argue a case, to work independently as well as collaboratively, to think logically and to be able to use computers.
This is excellent preparation for a wide number of professions and as such, our graduates have gone on to a variety of career areas including editorial, marketing, PR and other forms of media. Others have gone to work in law, politics, HR, teaching and supporting specialist learning.
Visit the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics website to watch video interviews with former students talking about their experiences at Newcastle and their careers since graduating.
Find out more about the career options for Linguistics from Prospects: The UK's Official Careers Website.
What our graduates go on to do: employment and further study choices
See what our recent graduates went on to do and view graduate destinations statistics. These statistics are based on what graduates were doing on a specific date, approximately six months after graduation. Take a look at the most recent data available for our graduates.
The destination data is available in varying levels, beginning with the University and moving through Faculty and School down to individual course reports. This final level may give you some useful ideas about possible options after your course or a course you are considering.
Careers and employability at Newcastle
Newcastle University consistently has one of the best records for graduate employment in the UK.
95% of our 2016 UK-domiciled graduates progressed to employment or further study within six months of graduating.
Of our graduates who entered employment more than three quarters (78%) achieved a professional or managerial position.
We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through an initiative called ncl+. This enables you to develop personal, employability and enterprise skills and to give you the edge in the employment market after you graduate.
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers.
Applying to Newcastle University through UCAS
To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
UCAS codes for Newcastle University
- institution name - NEWC
- institution code - N21
UCAS buzzword
Ask your teacher or adviser from your school or college for the UCAS buzzword. You need the buzzword when you register on the Apply system. This makes it clear which school or college you are applying from.
All UK schools and colleges and a small number of EU and international establishments are registered with UCAS.
If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.
Making your application
On the UCAS website you can also find out more about:
- application deadlines and other important dates
- offers and tracking your application
Application decisions and enquiries
Find out more about our admissions process and who to contact if you need help with your application.