English Language and Linguistics BA Honours

Course summary

On this course, you'll study one of the key aspects of being human – our ability to use language.

You'll examine how languages differ and what elements they share, as well as developing your knowledge of the historical and cultural aspects of the English language in particular.

The course provides a rare opportunity to combine in-depth formal linguistic study with a consideration of the ways in which the English language is used and how it reflects its social context. As a result, the course nurtures research and analytical skills at the same time as enhancing your own abilities with the English language.

You'll develop your knowledge and understanding of how the English language works in terms of its structure, how it has changed over time and how it's employed in different spoken and written contexts. Your knowledge of English will be informed and contextualised by your wider study of language as a human faculty. You'll examine what languages have in common and how they vary in terms of their grammatical structures and their sound systems.

The course appeals to students interested in the nature of the English language and its variants, as well as students interested in language in general and the fundamental role it plays in our understanding of the world around us. It includes practical and theoretical modules that are invaluable for students interested in teaching English, speech therapy, editing, journalism, or advertising, but also helps to prepare you for any career that requires an advanced and sophisticated use of language.

The degree is particularly strong in improving the kind of transferable communicative and cognitive skills that employers need, and will prepare you for life-long personal and professional development.

Top reasons to study this course

• Academic expertise – with experience in topics ranging from multilingualism and language contact (including creoles), to sociolinguistics, language and gender, historical linguistics, and semantics
• A holistic approach – study the underlying structure of language and how it's used, all in one course
• Study in a true polyglot city – with over 250 languages spoken, London is one of the world's most linguistically diverse cities
• An international experience – you'll have the option to spend one or two semesters at a partner institution in Europe, the USA, Canada, or Australia
• Get experience before graduating – you’ll have the option to do a work placement as part of this course
• Personal support throughout your degree – our small group tutorials are designed to support you, your studies and your career goals

Course structure

You'll mostly be taught through seminars of 15-25 students with some larger lectures, but you'll also benefit from weekly small-group tutorials of 5-7 students. The tutorials are designed to support your individual learning needs in the first two years of the course, enhancing your study and employability skills within a supportive framework.

Much of your learning is independent and conducted (individually and in groups) in the library, at home, and via our online learning system, Blackboard. The tutorials provide essential support for this kind of university-level study. 

Assessment methods range from small analytic exercises of language data, small research projects, and presentations, through to the preparation and writing of a Dissertation in the final year. Essays and analytic written reports also feature as part of the assessed coursework.

You can study option modules each year from a range of modules in the school and across the University, including Polylang - our language programme - which allows you to study another language. In Year 3 you complete a dissertation in a topic chosen by you, with one-to-one support from your supervisor. 

The following subjects are indicative of what you'll study on this course.

• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year Abroad
• Year 3