²ÝÁñÊÓƵ

Key facts

Entry requirements

104 or DMM

Full entry requirements

UCAS code

W906

Institution code

D26

Duration

3 yrs full-time

3 years full-time, 4 years with placement

Fees

2025/26 UK tuition fees:
£9,535*

2025/26 international tuition:
£16,250

Entry requirements

UCAS code

W906

Institution code

D26

Duration

3 yrs full-time

3 years full-time, 4 years with placement

Fees

2025/26 UK tuition fees:
£9,535*

2025/26 international tuition:
£16,250

On this programme, you will examine the nature and functions of language, and gain a deeper understanding of human communication, while learning to use language more effectively. Discover of how language shapes the way we operate as individuals and within society.

At ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ, you will develop skills and knowledge that enhance your ability to understand how communication operates and how to use language effectively. You will be exposed to various theoretical approaches and learn to apply them to your own communications.

You will have opportunities to explore various aspects of education, childhood, and lifelong learning, discussing, debate and question educational structures, policy, practice and theory. Your Education Studies modules will deepen your understanding of how people develop and learn throughout life, as well as enhance your critical engagement with knowledge and ways of understanding.

Our curriculum is rooted in real-world contexts. English, as a language of significant cultural, political, and economic influence, is a key tool for employability, and the ability to use it effectively in any specific context is highly valued. Our graduates have pursued further research in areas like applied linguistics, forensic linguistics, and the language of coercive control, and have built careers in media, publishing, teaching, marketing, and the Civil Service.

  • Study the richness of human language and communication in its spoken, written, and digital form, and develop your ability to analyse and produce digital communication.
  • Work with and learn from active researchers whose work (in areas such as World Englishes, corpus linguistics, pragmatics, gender and sexuality, information warfare, and education) directly informs your course.
  • Experience a wide variety of teaching and assessment methods – not just ‘chalk and talk’ or ‘death by PowerPoint’. This will include writing reports, performing analyses, producing group and individual presentations and blogs, and engaging in simulation or roleplay exercises —moving beyond traditional lectures and essays.
  • Gain transferable skills in critical analysis, independent and collaborative work, and research through innovative teaching and varied assessment methods.

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Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments – rather than lots of exams at the end of the year – and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging. Read more about block teaching.

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Saturday 08 February

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What you will study

Block 1: Structure and Nature of Language

If you were a medical student, much of your early degree study would focus on human anatomy; you need to understand the various parts of the human body and how they fit together before learning how the organs function. This module introduces the anatomy of language production, focusing on English. You will learn about the fundamental building blocks of language—both universal and language-specific—and apply analytical tools to the material you examine. You will also develop an awareness of language variation (differences) and universals (common features) across languages. In addition to refining your linguistic skills, you will be trained in academic research, organisation, referencing, and effective written and oral expression, in line with disciplinary standards.

Assessment: Class Test (40%) and Research Essay (60%)

Block 2: Journeys and Places

This module focuses on journeys and places, offering an opportunity to explore key concepts underpinning your studies. You will take a post-disciplinary approach to English language and linguistics, drawing on diverse areas to address questions related to journeys and places. Interactive lectures with students from across the School of Humanities and Performing Arts will allow you to apply these concepts through subject-specific workshops and assessments. Themes may include journeys, spaces, and the concept of welcome; (im)mobilities and journeys through time and space; representation and imaginative geographies; gender and placemaking; belonging and place attachment; and sustainability, as well as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Assessment: Coursework 1 (30%) and Coursework 2 (70%)

Block 3: Childhood, Social Justice and Education

This module introduces key contemporary debates in Childhood Studies. It explores the construction of childhood, inequalities surrounding it, and what it means to be a child in the UK today. Drawing on sociological and political theories, you will critically evaluate issues impacting childhood and how they are reflected, sustained, or challenged by society. You will also contest and interrogate your own thinking about childhood and society.

Assessment: Academic Poster (40%) and Report (60%)

Block 4: Words in Action

This module introduces key concepts in the study of language, with a focus on practical linguistic analysis. Through workshops, you will apply theory to practice, covering areas such as morphology, syntax, semantics, lexicology, and clause analysis. Weekly sessions will teach you how to apply relevant analytical techniques to practical tasks and class exercises.

Assessment: Linguistic Analysis (50%) and Group Project (50%)

In Block 3, you will have a choice of modules

Block 1: Language in Use

This module explores human communication and how meaning goes beyond words and sentences. You will study how hearers understand implied meanings (conversational implicatures) and non-literal meanings (e.g., metaphor, irony, metonymy). Additionally, you will compare how these meanings are conveyed in verbal communication and literary texts. The module also looks at children’s comprehension of these meanings and examines the implications for theories of pragmatics.

Assessment: Pragmatic Analysis (60%) and Group Project (40%)

Block 2: Exploring Work and Society

This module prepares you for post-degree career pathways, focusing on the skills and knowledge needed to adapt to professional environments. Emphasis is placed on core competencies and transferable skills, as well as familiarising you with workplace politics. You will engage critically with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, addressing themes such as race, gender, identity, and geopolitics, relevant to your career aspirations. The module includes lectures, seminars, group discussions, and independent learning, as well as subject-specific workshops related to English language and linguistics.

Assessment: Written Portfolio or Recorded Presentation (100%)

Block 3: Understanding Learning and Wellbeing

Optional module

This module explores social and emotional development, examining how these areas are interlinked with cognitive growth. You will study psychological and socio-political theories to better understand student wellbeing and how the education system supports children’s development.

Assessment: Essay (100%)

Block 3: Cultural and Technological Transformations

Optional module

This module examines how technology has impacted education and learning, focusing on media literacy, e-learning, and the digital divide. You will explore how technology creates opportunities for inclusive education and empowers students through platforms like gaming and podcasting.

Assessment: e-Portfolio (100%)

Block 3: Music in the Life of the Primary School

This module is based on the principles that everyone can be a musician and that teachers can offer high-quality musical experiences. Practical musical activities will be explored, with no prior music expertise required.

Assessment: Brochure (100%)

Block 4: Language and Linguistic Diversity

This module explores the relationship between language and society, examining how factors such as region, social class, race/ethnicity, and gender affect language use and attitudes. You will study regional, national, and international language variation, multilingualism, and language planning, as well as the global role of English. The module includes group fieldwork and a trip to Bletchley Park to examine the application of linguistic knowledge to cryptography.

Assessment: Phase Test (20%) and Analytical Study (30%) and Group Project (50%)

In Block 3, you will have a choice of modules

Block 1: Dissertation

This is a year-long project. You will propose, develop, and write a dissertation on a topic supervised by a member of the English Language and Linguistics team. Workshops will support you in areas such as research design, literature review, quantitative and qualitative methods, and fieldwork. A poster presentation of your work in progress will take place at the end of Block 1, with the final dissertation (up to 10,000 words) submitted in June.

Assessment: Poster Presentation/Q&A (10%) and Dissertation (90%)

Block 2: Language, Identity and Culture

This module examines the role of language in shaping individual and collective identities, focusing on facets such as gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and nationality. You will explore mechanisms of identity construction and current debates such as linguistic reclamation and intersectionality.

Assessment: Report (40%) and Podcast (60%)

Block 3: Curriculum Design and Co-Creation

This module introduces curriculum design and improvement, offering practical skills in creating and critiquing curricula. You will respond to a real-world brief, building collaboration and communication skills.

Assessment: Coursework 1 (40%) and Coursework 2 (60%)

Block 3: Reflection on Practice: Teaching and Learning

This module promotes critical reflection on teaching and learning processes. You will undertake a placement in a learning environment and reflect on your experiences, preparing for diverse professional settings.

Assessment: Presentation (40%) and Portfolio (60%)

Block 3: Gender and Education

This module examines debates around gender in education, exploring the historically disadvantaged position of females and the construction of gender. Recent debates on gender and achievement, including the "problem of boys," will also be covered.

Assessment: Coursework (40%) and Project (60%)

Block 4: Hardware/Software: Language, Mind, and Culture

You will explore language origins, first language acquisition, and the relationship between language, thought, and culture. The module also covers bilingualism and second language acquisition and investigates how language reflects cultural differences and conceptualisation.

Assessment: Report/Analysis (50%) and Presentation (50%)

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Structure

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, and student-led sessions, with teaching often involving discussions, film screenings, or lab work. All students are supported by a personal tutor and have access to specialist guidance in writing and study skills. Weekly ‘office hours’ with module tutors offer opportunities for one-to-one support with course content or assignments.

In the first year, you will explore key elements of linguistics, such as phonetics, morphology, and syntax, alongside the history of English as a global language, while developing essential research, writing, and analytical skills. The second year deepens your understanding of language study and introduces you to the distinctions between pure and applied linguistics. By the third year, you will pursue your own academic interests through taught modules and an independent dissertation on a topic of your choice. Assessment methods include essays, presentations, podcasts, blogs, fieldwork, creative work, and a dissertation, providing a broad range of skills in communication and technology.

Modules in Education Studies offer collaborative learning and flexibility in assignments, allowing you to focus on projects and topics that interest you most. Lecturers in Education Studies are recognised for their innovative research and engaging teaching methods. You will typically attend 8-10 hours of taught sessions each week, with an additional 30 hours of independent study for project work and research.

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Our facilities

Library and learning zones

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available.
As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose.

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including LearningZone, Collaborate Ultra, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub.

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

Where we could take you

Students sitting in the ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Careers Hub

Placements

During this course, you have the option to complete a paid placement year, allowing you to apply the skills gained during your degree in a professional setting. This real-world experience enhances your knowledge and prepares you for your future career.

Our Careers Team offers support through mock interviews and practice aptitude tests, while your assigned personal tutor will guide you throughout your placement.

Students have taken placements worldwide, including studying in Ireland and teaching English in South Korea. Bladimie Germain, a ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ English Language and Creative Writing graduate, spent time at Meisei University in Japan through ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Global, which inspired him to pursue an MA in Teaching English as a Foreign Language at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ. He now lectures at the Centre for English Communication of Reitaku University in Japan.

graduate-careers

Graduate careers

As a degree that focuses on language and communication, English Language and Linguistics equips students with a range of highly desirable skills for employers. These include not only written and oral expression but also critical thinking, precise analysis, excellent research skills, and the ability to present various types of data. Additionally, students gain valuable project and time management skills.

Our graduates have gone on to further study and careers in fields such as journalism, PR, advertising, marketing, forensic linguistics, and teaching English as a Foreign Language at university level. They have also secured positions in primary and secondary education in the UK, with former English Language students having gained placements at the BBC and the Leicester Mercury.

Other graduates have pursued further research in areas such as forensic linguistics and the language of coercive control, and have built successful careers in media, publishing, teaching, the civil service, and marketing.

What makes us special

Education 2030 - Block Learning

Block learning

With block teaching, you’ll learn in a focused format, where you study one subject at a time instead of several at once. As a result, you will receive faster feedback through more regular assessment, have a more simplified timetable, and have a better study-life balance. That means more time to engage with your ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ community and other rewarding aspects of university life.

²ÝÁñÊÓƵ-global

Global experiences

Our innovative international experience programme ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Global aims to enrich studies, broaden cultural horizons and develop key skills valued by employers.

Through , we offer an exciting mix of overseas, on-campus and online international experiences, including the opportunity to study or work abroad for up to a year.

Humanities students have recently been on ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Global trips to explore ekphrastic writing and themes of oppression in Berlin, as well as visiting TED HQ and key literary locations in New York.

Course specifications

Course title

English Language and Linguistics with Education Studies

Award

BA (Hons)

UCAS code

W906

Institution code

D26

Study level

Undergraduate

Study mode

Full-time

Start date

September

Duration

3 years full-time, 4 years with placement

Fees

2025/26 UK tuition fees:
£9,535*

2025/26 international tuition:
£16,250

*subject to the government, as is expected, passing legislation to formalise the increase.

Entry requirements

  • 104 points from at least 2 A Levels
  • BTEC Extended Diploma DMM
  • International Baccalaureate: 24+ Points or
  • T Levels Merit

Plus five GCSEs grades 9-4 including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above.

  • Pass Access with 30 Level 3 credits at Merit (or equivalent) and GCSE English (Language or Literature) at grade 4 or above.

We will normally require students have had a break from full-time education before undertaking the Access course.

  • We also accept the BTEC First Diploma plus two GCSEs including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above

Note: Applicants with non-standard qualifications may be asked to complete a piece of work to support their application.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.

English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.