- UCAS course code
- Q100
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
BA Linguistics
Examine the science of language - an everyday phenomenon which impacts our lives on a global scale.
- Typical A-level offer: ABB
- Typical contextual A-level offer: BBC
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: BBC
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 34 points overall with 6,6,5 at HL
Overview
Course overview
- Study the unique human faculty of language and investigate world languages.
- Explore topics such as how languages arise, change and die, how children acquire their first language, and how adults learn a second or foreign language.
- Develop transferable skills in quantitative methods.
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Open days
We are pleased to announce that we are returning to hosting on-campus open days in the summer and autumn.
Please see open days for the dates, registration, and other information.
If you're a prospective student, you can also find out more about student life by chatting with our student ambassadors at a time that suits you, and ask any questions you may have about life at Manchester.
Please check our Coronavirus FAQs for the most up to date information regarding events.
You can also look at our virtual open day content to help you learn more about the University.
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Arts, Languages and Cultures
- Telephone
- +44 (0)161 275 3211
- Facsimile
- +44 (0)161 275 3031
- ug.languages@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- http://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/
- School/Faculty overview
-
See: About us
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Compare this course
Entry requirements
A-level
ABB
Contextual offer
BBB for applicants who meet our contextual offer criteria.For further information and to check eligibility visit our Contextual Offers page.
Refugee/care-experienced offer
AS-level
Unit grade information
The University of Manchester welcomes the provision of unit information where available.
Like all other information provided by applicants this may be taken into consideration when assessing your application.
Unit grades will not normally form part of an offer conditions.
GCSE
Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade C or 4 in GCSE/iGCSE English Language and Mathematics. GCSE/iGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/iGCSE English Language.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language iGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your iGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.
International Baccalaureate
Other international entry requirements
We accept a range of qualifications from different countries. For these and general requirements including English language see accepted entry qualifications from your country .
Scottish requirements
We normally require gradesAABBB in Scottish Highers.In addition, one Scottish Advanced Higher isnormally required at Grade B. Where a pre-requisite subject is required at A-level, then this Advanced Higher should be in that subject.
English Language and Mathematics not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 grade C/ Intermediate 2 grade C/ Standard Grade Credit level grade3).
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification, please contact the Academic School(s) to which you plan to apply.
Welsh Baccalaureate
The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma/Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate and usually requires two A Levels or equivalentto be included within this.
The minimum grade required will normally be the same as the lowest grade listed in theA Levelentry requirements.
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to.
European Baccalaureate
The University of Manchester welcomes applicants with the European Baccalaureate.
Acceptable on its own or in combination with other qualifications, applications from students studying for this qualification are welcome and all applicants will be considered on an individual basis.
We normally require: 77% to include a minimum of 8.0 in atleast oneessay-based subject.
AQA Baccalaureate
The University recognises the benefits of the AQA Baccalaureate and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills.
In making offers, the University will focus on the three A Levels taken within the AQA Baccalaureate. Students need to check the standard A Level requirements for their chosen course.
The units of broader study, enrichment activities and the Extended Project are considered to be valuable elements of the AQA Baccalaureate and we would therefore strongly encourage students to draw upon these experiences within their personal statement.
Foundation year
The University recognises a number of foundation programmes as suitable for entry to this undergraduate programme:
Applicants completing the INTO Manchester in partnership with The University of Manchester international foundation programme are required to achieveABB in academic subjects and gradeA in the EAP with writing, speaking, listening and reading grade B.
Applicants completing the NCUK International Foundation year are required to achieve ABB in academic subjects and grade A in the EAP with writing, speaking, listening and reading grade B.
Pleaseread this in conjunction with ourA-level requirements,noting any pre-requisite subjects.
For all other foundation programmes, please seethis list of approved UK foundation programmes .
Pearson BTEC qualifications
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma: we consider the National Extended Diploma for entry,preferably in a subject relevant to this course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Extended Diploma with grades Distinction, Distinction, Merit,in ahumanities-related subject such as English Literature, History or Politics.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 NationalDiploma: we consider the NationalDiploma for entry,preferably in a subject relevant to this course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full NationalDiploma with grades Distinction, Distinction,plus one A-level at Grade B in an essay-based subject.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma: we consider the NationalFoundation Diploma for entry,preferably in a subject relevant to this course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full NationalFoundation Diploma witha Distinction grade, PLUS one A-level at Grade B in in an essay-based subject, PLUSan EPQ or AS at GradeB.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate: we consider the National ExtendedCertificate for entry,preferably in a subject relevant to this course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full NationalExtended Certificatewitha Distinction grade, PLUStwo A-levels at Grades BB (one of these A-levels should be in an essay-based subject).
The University of Manchester welcomes applications from students who have achieved legacy BTEC qualifications (pre-2016) such as the BTEC Extended Diploma, BTEC Diploma, BTEC Subsidiary Diploma, and BTEC Certificate. The grades required are likely to be the same or vary similar to the new BTEC qualifications (first teaching 2016, awarded 2018). Please contact the Academic School for clarification.
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification, please contact the academic School(s) to which you plan to apply.
OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications
CambridgeLevel 3Technical Extended Diploma (CTEC): we do not consider the Technical Extended Diploma for entry to this course.
CambridgeLevel 3 Technical Diploma (CTEC): we consider the Technical Diploma for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to the chosen course.Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full Technical Diploma with grades Distinction, Merit, plus an additional level 3 qualification such as an A Level at grade A in an essay-based subject such as English Literature, History or Politics .
CambridgeLevel 3 Technical Foundation Diploma (CTEC): we consider the Technical Foundation Diploma for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to the chosen course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full Technical Foundation Diploma with grades Distinction, Distinction, plus an additional level 3 qualification such as an A Level/A Level at min. Grade B an essay-based subject such as English or History, PLUS an EPQ or AS Level at grade B.
Cambridge Level 3 Technical Extended Certificate (CTEC) : we consider the Technical Extended Certificate for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to the chosen course.Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full Technical Extended Certificate with grade Distinction, plus two additional Level 3 qualifications such as A Levels at grades BB, one of which must bein an essay-based subject such as English or History.
The University of Manchester will consider applications from students who have achieved legacy CTEC qualifications (pre-2016) such as the CTEC Extended Diploma, CTEC Diploma, CTEC Subsidiary Diploma, and CTEC Certificate.The grades required are likely to be the same or vary similar to the new CTEC qualifications (first teaching 2016, awarded 2018). Please contact the Academic School for clarification.
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification, please contact the Academic School(s) to which you plan to apply.
Access to HE Diploma
We require a QAA-recognised Access to HE Diploma (a minimum of 60 credits overall with at least 45 at Level 3), with merit or distinction in a subject area relevant to the chosen course.
The specific course requirements are a minimum of 30 credits with a Distinction grade, plus 15 credits with a Merit grade, all in a Humanities-related subject.
Cambridge Pre-U
We consider applicants offering Pre-U Principal Subjects, or a mix of Pre-U and A Level subjects, provided a minimum of three distinctsubjects overall is taken.
Candidates taking Pre-U principal subjects in conjunction with A levels are expected to achieve a combination of D3, M2, M2 in the Pre-U and ABB at A level in three distinct subjects.
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification, please contact the Academic School(s) you plan to apply to.
Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
The University recognises the benefits of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills.
Although the Extended Project will not be included in the conditions of your offer, we strongly encourage you to provide information about the EPQ in your personal statement and at interview.
A number of our academic Schools may also choose to take your performance in the EPQ into account should places be available in August for applicants who narrowly miss the entry grades for their chosen course.
Core Maths
The University recognises the value of Level 3 Core Mathematics qualifications. Core Mathematics is not a compulsory element of post-16 study and as a result we will not normally include it in the conditions of any offer we make.
However, if a student chooses to undertake a core mathematics qualification this may be taken into account when we consider a student's application, particularly for courses with a distinct mathematical or statistical element that does not require A Level Mathematics.
Academic Schools may also choose to take a student's performance in Core Mathematics into account should places be available in August for applicants who narrowly miss the entry grades for their chosen course.
Where a course requires applicants to have at least grade 6/B or higher in GCSE Mathematics we would be likely to consider a pass in Core Mathematics at a minimum grade C or B as an alternative way to fulfil this requirement. Where an A Level in Mathematics is required then Core Mathematics will not be accepted in lieu of an A Level.
A Level and GCSE Mathematics requirements for our courses vary according to subject so we advise students to contact the academic School, who will clarify whether a student's portfolio of qualifications is acceptable for entry onto the chosen course.
Home-schooled applicants
If you are a student who has followed a non-standard educational route, e.g. you have been educated at home; your application will be considered against the standard entry criteria of the course for which you are applying.
You will be required to demonstrate that you meet the specified academic entry requirements of the course.
We will also require a reference from somebody who knows you well enough, in an official capacity, to write about you and your suitability for higher education.
If you are a home schooled student and would like further information or advice, please contact the academic School for your chosen course who will be able to help you.
Non-standard educational routes
Mature students are some of our most well-equipped learners, bringing skills and attributes gained from work, family and other life experiences.
Students come from a whole array of backgrounds, study every kind of course, undertake full-time and part-time learning and are motivated by career intentions as well as personal interest. There is no such thing as a typical mature student at Manchester.
The application process is the same as for other prospective undergraduates.If you require further clarification about the acceptability of the qualifications you hold please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to.
Further information for mature students can be found on our How to apply page.
English language
All applicants to the University (from the UK and Overseas) are required to show evidence of English Language proficiency.
The minimum English Language requirement for this course is either:
- GCSE/iGCSE English Language gradeC/4 or;
- IELTS 7.0 overall with no less than 6.5 in any one component or;
- An acceptable equivalent qualification.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language iGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your iGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the academic School for clarification.
The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires that every student from outside the UK and the EU must show evidence of a minimum level of English Language in order to be granted a UK visa (Tier 4 visa) to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level. This level is often referred to as the 'B2 level'.
Additionally, our individual Schools may ask for specific English Language proficiency levels that are necessary for their academic programmes.
In most cases these requirements are likely to be higher than the B2 level.
Further information about our English Language policy, including a list of some of the English Language qualifications we accept, can be foundon our English Language requirements page.
English language test validity
Some English Language test results are only valid for two years.
Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.
Fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,250 per annum. Tuition fees for international students will be £26,500 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
Scholarships and bursaries are available to eligible Home/EU students, this is in addition to the government package of maintenance grants.
- Find out more from Student Finance
- International student? Check your country page
- Interested in a student internship?
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
Potential candidates are expected to demonstrate why they have chosen this particular degree in their personal statement and express why the course interests them.
Applicants submitting mitigating circumstances
If you are submitting information about mitigating circumstances that have affected, or are likely to affect, your academic performance, you should include this in the referee's report.
We cannot usually take into account information that is supplied after an adverse decision has been made on an application by the admitting school.
Examples of mitigating circumstances include family illness, problems with school facilities or an unusual curriculum followed by your school of college.
How your application is considered
Applications are considered on the basis of an assessment of the quality of the personal statement, the reference, and past and predicted academic achievements.
We encourage applicants to give details of their motivation for studying this particular subject.
Interview requirements
We don't normally interview for this degree, except in the case of mature applicants.
In considering your application, all the information on the UCAS form is taken into account, particular attention being paid to academic qualifications and predictions, to your referee's confidential report, and to your personal statement.
Deferrals
Applications for deferred entry are considered equally to other applications up to the point of confirmation.
Deferred entry is granted on the discretion of admissions staff, and is normally granted for one year only and two years at the maximum.
Some English Language test results, such as IELTS or TOEFL are only valid for two years from the test date.
Policy for applicants who resit their qualifications
If you have re-sat individual modules to improve your grades, we will consider your application according to the standard selection process.
If you are planning to re-sit the final Year 13 examinations, or have already done so, the University will consider your application, but we may require further information in order to make an informed judgment on your application.
Re-applications
If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again.
Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.
In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved.
We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.
If you are applying for a place for the same year of entry through UCAS Extra, you should provide additional evidence of your suitability for the course.
If you are applying through clearing you are required to meet the clearing requirements.
In both UCAS Extra and clearing the places will be subject to availability.
Course details
Course description
Our BA Linguistics course will enable you to delve into the science of language - an everyday phenomenon which impacts our lives on an individual and a global scale.
Through our course, you will explore the sounds and structure of languages across the globe, studying topics such as:
- how languages change over time;
- how children acquire their first language;
- how language varies between different groups of people and across regions;
- how we communicate as individuals and within groups;
- what languages across the world have in common and how they differ;
- what happens when speakers of different languages come into contact.
With its diverse local communities, Manchester is an ideal site for carrying out research on linguistic variation and multilingualism.
We conduct empirical and theoretical research and particularly a combination of the two.
You will have access to one of the largest holdings of linguistics texts in the UK, and the opportunity to conduct research using English manuscripts held in our prestigious Special Collections.
We have two laboratories, where you'll have the chance to use ultrasound imaging, laryngography and eye tracking technology.
You will also be able to learn quantitative methods and use large language corpora skills which you will then be able to apply to other fields throughout your life.
Linguistics at Manchester is unrivalled in its breadth of subject areas and theoretical approaches.
Our strengths include, among others, phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics, historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics and child language acquisition, forensic linguistics, field linguistics and quantitative corpus-based approaches.
Special features
Placement year option
Apply your subject-specific knowledge in a real-world context through a placement year in your third year of study, enabling you to enhance your employment prospects, clarify your career goals and build your external networks.
Study abroad
You may apply to study abroad during Year 2.
We have partnerships with many institutions throughout Europe and across the globe.
Get involved with interesting projects
Our students are encouraged to take an active role in funded teaching-enhancement projects, whose outputs benefit them individually and collectively.
For example, some of our students have developed an online atlas of dialect variation in the UK and storyboards for the use in fieldwork.
Teaching and learning
You'll be taught through a mixture of:
- formal lectures;
- tutorials;
- one-to-one supervision.
You'll spend approximately 12 hours each week in formal study sessions and further time in independent study.
In your independent study time, you may be reading, producing written work, revising for examinations, or working as part of a team of students.
You can also study a modern language.
Coursework and assessment
Our courses are assessed in various ways - for example, written examinations, oral presentations, and different types of coursework.
Coursework may include library research, linguistic fieldwork and data collection, or web-based research.
In your final year, you'll have the option to write a dissertation.
You'll undertake research on a topic of your own choice under the supervision of a member of staff in English Language and Linguistics.
Course content for year 1
Gain a solid grounding in linguistics, taking core course units including phonetics and phonology, sociolinguistics, semantics and (English) grammar, introductions to the principles of linguistics and to the relation between language, the mind and the brain.
Course units for year 1
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Language, Mind and Brain | LELA10201 | 20 | Mandatory |
English Word and Sentence Structure | LELA10301 | 20 | Mandatory |
The Sounds of Language | LELA10322 | 20 | Mandatory |
Study of Meaning | LELA10331 | 20 | Mandatory |
Study Skills | LELA10601 | 0 | Mandatory |
The Sounds of Language | LELA10322 | 20 | Optional |
Study of Meaning | LELA10331 | 20 | Optional |
History and Varieties of English | LELA10342 | 20 | Optional |
From Text to Linguistic Evidence | LELA10402 | 20 | Optional |
Course content for year 2
You'll begin to tailor your degree to suit your interests.
While studying two compulsory units in subjects like phonology, syntax, or semantics, and typology or multilingualism, you'll choose from a wide range of optional units tapping into academic expertise in several specialist fields such as experimental phonetics and psycholinguistics.
Course units for year 2
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
History and Varieties of English | LELA10342 | 20 | Optional |
From Text to Linguistic Evidence | LELA10402 | 20 | Optional |
Phonology | LELA20012 | 20 | Optional |
Analysing Grammar | LELA20021 | 20 | Optional |
Typology | LELA20032 | 20 | Optional |
Societal Multilingualism | LELA20101 | 20 | Optional |
Quantitative Methods in Language Sciences | LELA20231 | 20 | Optional |
Semantics | LELA20282 | 20 | Optional |
Pragmatics: Meaning, Context, and Interaction | LELA20291 | 20 | Optional |
Experimental Phonetics | LELA20341 | 20 | Optional |
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Course content for year 3
Have complete freedom of choice among a wealth of different course options, spanning subjects as diverse as forensic linguistics, sociolinguistics, formal semantics and syntax, computational linguistics and child language acquisition.
Course units for year 3
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Topics in Romance Linguistics | ITAL32001 | 20 | Optional |
Phonology | LELA20012 | 20 | Optional |
Analysing Grammar | LELA20021 | 20 | Optional |
Typology | LELA20032 | 20 | Optional |
Societal Multilingualism | LELA20101 | 20 | Optional |
Semantics | LELA20282 | 20 | Optional |
Pragmatics: Meaning, Context, and Interaction | LELA20291 | 20 | Optional |
The Changing English Language | LELA20401 | 20 | Optional |
Variationist Sociolinguistics | LELA20502 | 20 | Optional |
Psycholinguistics | LELA20961 | 20 | Optional |
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Facilities
You will access resources to enhance your learning, including an extensive collection of linguistics texts and our psycholinguistics and phonetics laboratories, with facilities for:
- signal analysis;
- speech synthesis;
- laryngography;
- electropalatography.
Find out more on the facilities page.
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
"A degree from Manchester is sure to give me a good start for my career. My course has been invaluable in giving me the opportunity to figure out what I enjoy and what I want to do in the future.
"I came to university not knowing where that would take me, and I believe I will graduate with a plan and a renewed motivation for success."
Radina Dobreva / Year 3 student
Study Linguistics with us and you'll develop a range of analytical and problem-solving skills.
Often dealing with granular and complex data, your combination of humanities and scientific understanding will allow you to make connections across multiple fields of employment, including the media, marketing, speech and language therapy, lexicography, and teaching.
Our graduates have pursued successful careers at The Guardian, L'Oreal, Universal Music Group, and Vodafone.
Others go on to pursue postgraduate study.
The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate.
At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .
Find out more on the careers and employability page.