English Language BA Honours
Newcastle University Undergraduate programs
Key Information
Campus location
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
GBP 21,000 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
* international students; GBP 9,250 - home students
Introduction
Pursue your passion for the English language by exploring the historical, structural and socio-cultural nature of English in an inspiring city and region with a distinct dialect.
This English Language BA Honours course encourages you to explore the English language in all its diversity – past and present, national and international, offline and online.
You'll investigate how English has developed over time. We'll look at how the language is used to mark regional, social and stylistic distinctions. You will learn from experts and world-leading researchers in English Language and Linguistics.
During this three-year English Language degree, you will:
- study how English has evolved over time, how it is acquired, and how it develops in the mind
- examine the grammatical structures and sound systems of different varieties of English
- explore how historical, social and other contexts impact variation in English
- learn different methodologies for studying the use and complexities of English
Study abroad
You can study abroad for one semester in your second year as part of this degree. In Europe we have links with:
- Ghent University, Belgium
- Leipzig University, Germany
- Groningen University, Netherlands
- Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands
We also have links with universities in other parts of the world, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and the USA, including, but not limited to:
- Monash University, Australia
- University of Sydney, Australia
- McGill University, Canada
- University of Hong Kong
- University of Vermont, USA
Work placement
During your degree, you’ll have multiple opportunities to undertake a meaningful work placement. In your second and third years, you may choose to take the Career Development Module which offers academic credit for 50 hours of placement. You can choose to carry out your placement via part-time work, volunteering or in a local school. You will be assessed through a mixture of written work, presentations, and professional skills assessment.
In addition, you'll have the option to spend 9 to 12 months on a work placement with University support from our dedicated Careers team to help you secure your dream placement in the UK or abroad. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.
You'll gain first-hand experience working in the sector, putting your learning into practice, and developing your professional expertise. Previous placements have been in a range of sectors, including:
- Journalism and Broadcasting
- Sustainable Energy
- Politics
- Digital Media and Marketing
- Education
- Finance
- Museum and Heritage
- Travel and Tourism
If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year. Placements are subject to availability.
Rankings
- Global Top 125 University - QS World University Rankings 2023
- Top 100 for English Language and Literature - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022
- Top 135 for Arts and Humanities - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 15th in the UK – Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023 (English category)
- 1st in the UK and 8th in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022
- Global Top 140 University - Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023
Curriculum
Stage 1
You will build a foundation for describing and analysing the English language, focusing on sound, word and sentence structure.
You’ll explore variation in English across time, space, and social groups, whilst practising different ways of collecting and analysing language data, and presenting research findings.
You will also have the opportunity to broaden your knowledge and try something new. A selection of modules are available from other humanities subjects, for example, History, Philosophy, Sociology, Media or Education.
Compulsory Modules
- The Nature of Language 20
- Introduction to the Structure of Language 1: Syntax and Phonology 20
- Introduction to the Structure of Language 2: Morphology and Meaning 20
- Language Variation and Change: Dealing with Data 20
Optional Modules
- Level B (HE Intermediate) French 20
- Level B (HE Intermediate) German 20
- Introduction to Linguistics 20
- Level B (HE Intermediate) Spanish 20
Stage 2
You will focus on the historical and social context in which English evolves. You will explore in more depth how and why the English language has changed over time, how it is acquired by children, non-native speakers and neuro-diverse individuals, and why it varies across individuals, social groups and societies. You will learn empirical and quantitative methods for analysing the structure of English in all its forms and guises.
Compulsory modules
You must take the following compulsory modules (shown in the optional list below):
- Sociolinguistics (20 credits)
- Early English: Texts, Patterns and Varieties (20 credits)
Optional Modules
- Career Development for second-year students 20
- Phonological Theory 20
- Introduction to Child and Adult Language Acquisition 20
- Syntactic Theory 20
- Sociolinguistics 20
- Early English: Texts, Patterns and Varieties 20
- Speakers as Wordsmiths: the creation of new words in present-day English 20
- Experimental Methods in Linguistics 20
- Multilingualism 20
- Linguistic Controversies 20
- Pragmatics 20
- Overseas Exchange (Semester 1) 60
- Overseas Exchange (Semester 2) 60
You only take one of the following modules if you undertake the Study Abroad exchange programme:
- Overseas Exchange (Semester 1)
- Overseas Exchange (Semester 2)
Stage 3
You will work to develop your own interests, choosing from topics linked to the research specialisms of your lecturers. These may include language origins and evolution, child first and second language acquisition, language and ageing, advanced phonology or syntax and the history of English grammar.
There are extended study and dissertation modules that give you the chance to investigate in greater depth a topic that you are passionate about.
Optional Modules
- Career Development for final year students 20
- Phonological Theory 20
- Introduction to Child and Adult Language Acquisition 20
- Syntactic Theory 20
- Sociolinguistics 20
- Early English: Texts, Patterns and Varieties 20
- Speakers as Wordsmiths: the creation of new words in present-day English 20
- Experimental Methods in Linguistics 20
- Multilingualism 20
- Linguistic Controversies 20
- Topics in Phonological Theory 20
- English Grammar through Time 20
- Language in the City 20
- Extended Study 1: Linguistics and English Language 20
- Extended Study 2: Linguistics and English Language 20
- Dissertation: Linguistics and English Language 40
- The History of Linguistic Ideas 20
- Language and Ageing 20
- Comparative Syntax: English in a cross-linguistic context 20
- Second Language Acquisition 20
- Pragmatic Theory 20
- Child Language Acquisition 20
Student Testimonials
Career Opportunities
English Language and Linguistics students acquire a range of valuable skills which equip them to pursue diverse career paths.
Your training can be used in:
- teaching English as a foreign language
- publishing
- journalism
- advertising, branding and marketing
- information services and data science
You will gain skills such as critical reasoning and problem-solving, project and data management, oral and written communication, collaboration and independent research.
Our degrees provide excellent preparation for a wide number of professions. With further training, our graduates have also become:
- lexicographers
- translators and interpreters
- speech and language therapists
- social researchers
- legal sector workers (including forensic linguists)
Employability
Employability and engagement with the wider world go hand-in-hand in this degree.
Many of our modules, particularly in Stage 3, model their assessments on the kind of tasks you might be employed to do:
- constructing marketing briefs
- drafting website copy
- curating exhibitions
- designing experiments
- coding websites
- analysing data
- writing a clear and persuasive argument.
Beyond our modules, there are plenty of extracurricular opportunities. These range from freelance work for Newcastle’s student newspaper to paid internships in the department. In particular, the Newcastle Centre for Literary Arts hires students to work on everything from event management to app design.
Admissions
Gallery
Scholarships and Funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the university website for more information.
Program Tuition Fee
Program delivery
You can normally expect to spend around 10 hours per week attending lectures, seminars, workshops and film screenings. You also spend around 25 hours per week on class preparation, reading, writing, and other kinds of independent research recommended by your lecturers.