Ranking
Top 40
Globally for Linguistics
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Discover more about your chosen subject at one of our Open Days or by asking us a question.
Course overview
Discover how societies communicate and how language shapes our experience of the world around us.
Develop your technical knowledge of language, how it works, and how it is analysed and classified, then use this to understand how language is used in the world around us.
Course highlights
- Top 40
Globally for Linguistics
QS World Subject Rankings 2025
Choose from topics like the use of language in social media or business, how and why language varies in different contexts, and specialist areas such as authorship analysis, language and AI, psycholinguistics, and teaching English as a Foreign Language.
- Develop your communication skills – understand how language shapes human behaviour, relationships and worldviews.
- Explore a broad range of specialisms – choose from areas like historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, or language and media.
- Access excellent resources including our Linguistics Research Laboratory and online language databases (corpora).
- With our active English Language and Linguistics student community, you’ll enjoy a range of social activities from quizzes to sports matches to a yearly summer ball.
Engage with English Language study through theory and practice – get involved!
There’s plenty of opportunities for team work, group study and socialising with your ELAL coursemates. From developing a linguistics research project together to working with databases of language, you’ll really get a practical feel for the impact of linguistics.
Talk to our students
Hear more about studying at Birmingham. Chat to one of our friendly students to find out more about your favourite course, our beautiful campus and life in our vibrant and cultural city.
Course delivery
Study at the University of Birmingham and learn from world-class experts—authors of key works and leaders with global teaching and research experience.
Lecture
Seminar
Tutorial
- Lectures: These give you an insightful, expert introduction to key topics; they also provide guidance to support your reading and assessments.
- Seminars: These are small group discussions where you share and test ideas with your academic tutor and your peers. Seminars help you understand topics better and build confidence in sharing your thoughts.
Support during your studies
At Birmingham, you’ll have plenty of support to help you adjust to university life:
- Personal Academic Tutors: You'll have a tutor assigned to you who will guide and support you throughout your studies.
- Wellbeing Officers: The Wellbeing team help with extensions, disabilities, extenuating circumstances, or any personal challenges. They’ll also connect you with further support on campus or elsewhere.
- Academic Writing Advisory Service: Tutorials, workshops and support in structuring an argument and developing your own academic voice.
- Student Experience Team: They offer research opportunities, and cultural, intellectual and social activities to enhance your university experience.
Contact hours
Your degree is designed to help you achieve 120 credits per year, which equals about 40 hours of learning each week. This includes lectures, seminars, workshops, independent study, revision, and assessments.
Assessment methods
You’ll be assessed in different ways to suit each module. At the start of a module, you’ll be told how and when you’ll be assessed. Methods will vary but may include coursework (e.g., essays), group or individual presentations and projects, exams, reports or computer-based assignments.
Feedback: You will receive timely feedback on each assessment, so you can learn from it and improve your performance in future assessments.
Module information
The modules listed for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.
The optional module information listed for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available, we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.
Year 1
Year 1
2026/27 Session
The following must be taken:
Year 2
Year 2
2027/28 Session
The following must be taken:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Professional Research Skills for Linguists | 20 |
| The Structure of English | 20 |
Students must choose two optional modules per semester.
English Language modules:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Data Skills for the Digital World | 20 |
| Discourse Analysis | 20 |
| History of the English Language | 20 |
| Language Education and Literacy | 20 |
| Psycholinguistics | 20 |
| Sociolinguistics | 20 |
| Stylistics | 20 |
Year 3
Year 3
2028/29 Session
The following must be taken:
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Language Dissertation | 40 |
Students must choose two option modules per semester.
English Language modules:
Students may also apply to undertake a Professional Skills module at level H. If successful this will be taken in place of one of their semester 1 taught modules. The placement can be taken either during the summer vacation (part-time or full-time) or during semester 1 (part-time only). The placement must be completed prior to the Christmas vacation.
| Module title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Professional Skills | 20 |
| Professional Skills - Freelance | 20 |
You can apply to study abroad for a year in an approved university around the world. If you achieve a grade of 2.1 or above in your first year, you will be eligible to apply for a Year Abroad in your second year. If your application is successful, you will go abroad in your third year and return to us for your final year.
Entry requirements
To secure a place at Birmingham, you'll need to meet our general entry requirements as well as those specific to your course.
- A Level
AAB - ABB See below for full information.
- IB
6,6,5 including 32 points overall.
- BTEC
BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM, plus a B at A level. See below for full information.
Number of A levels required: 3
A levels
ABB offer
With at least one A level in English Language, English Literature, English Language and Literature or a Modern Foreign Language.
AAB offer
With A levels in Psychology, Sociology, History, Geography, Philosophy or Law.
General Studies: Not accepted
IB Diploma
6,5,5 in Higher level subjects plus 32 points overall, if studying higher level English Language, English Literature, English Language and Literature or a Modern Foreign Language.
6,6,5 if studying higher level Psychology, Sociology, History, Geography, Philosophy or Law.
BTEC qualifications
- BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM, plus a B at A level.
- BTEC Diploma: DD, plus a B at A level.
- BTEC Subsidiary Diploma: D, plus a AB.
If studying English Language, English Literature, English Language and Literature or a Modern Foreign Language.
- BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM, plus an A at A level.
- BTEC Diploma: DD, plus an A at A level.
- BTEC Subsidiary Diploma: D, plus a AB.
If studying Psychology, Sociology, History, Geography, Philosophy, Law, Maths.
Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
Applicants who take the EPQ and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus a grade A in the EPQ. This offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice.
Core Maths qualification
Applicants who take the Core Maths qualification and meet our offer criteria will be made the typical offer for their programme of choice, plus an alternative offer which will be one grade lower plus a grade A in Core Maths. If you are also taking A-level Maths, you will not be eligible for an alternative offer through studying Core Maths. This offer would apply if you make Birmingham your firm choice.
English language requirements
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification or a Presessional English course.
- TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing.
- IELTS: 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any band.
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): PTE 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills.
- Cambridge English(exams taken from 2015): Cambridge English: Advanced Minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
- Language Cert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 ‘Communicator’ with no less than 33 in each skill
- Trinity ISE II: Not applicable
- Trinity ISE III: Pass in each Skill
Presessional English courses
If you have a conditional offer for Birmingham where English is a requirement, you can take a Presessional English course as an alternative to retaking IELTS or a similar qualification. We offer on-campus courses all year round starting from September, including additional online courses in the summer term. Teaching takes place in small classes with no more than 18 students to maximise class participation.
Am I likely to receive an offer for 2026?
Stay up-to-date with news and updates from the University of Birmingham including events, our courses and studying with us by registering your details. If you do so, you will be able to use our Offer Calculator.
Alternative Offers
Students who are eligible and complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive an alternative offer, which is typically two grades below the standard offer.
Our Contextual Offer scheme
Our Contextual Offer scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the Contextual Offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer. You don’t need to apply for this – it will be assessed and applied at the point of application if you’re eligible.
- Pathways to Birmingham
BBC to include B in English Language, Literature or Modern Foreign Language. Or BBB with A levels in Psychology, Sociology, History, Geography, Philosophy or Law.
- Contextual Offer
BBB to include B in English Language, Literature or Modern Foreign Language. Or BBB with A levels in Psychology, Sociology, History, Geography, Philosophy or Law.
Fees and scholarships
The University tuition fee covers the cost of your tuition, examination and graduation, and includes membership of the Guild of Students.
- £9,535*
per year for domestic (UK) students for 2026/27
*The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study, normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay. The fee for September 2025 entry was £9,535 for UK students. If you are applying for 2026 entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee once it is confirmed by the Government.
Undergraduate loans
To help with the cost of studies, undergraduate students from the UK can apply for student finance through the Student Loans Company. The support available is made up of a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan which helps to cover living costs.
Scholarships, grants and bursaries
At Birmingham, we believe that financial worries should not be a barrier to accessing higher education. That’s why we offer a range of additional financial support for students through scholarships, bursaries and other awards.
Financial support for Home students
If you're a UK student and starting university in September 2026, find out more about what financial support is available to you.
Financial support for International students
We want to help you reach your full potential. Explore our wide variety of scholarships available for international students.
Application process
Whatever your journey to university looks like, we’re here to support you every step of the way. For all undergraduate courses at Birmingham, you apply online through UCAS. The UCAS website has lots of information and advice around the process.
- 14 January 2026
Application deadline for September 2026 entry. Applications close at 18:00 GMT.
View further information on how to apply for undergraduate courses, including advice for UK and overseas applicants.
Career opportunities
Studying a degree in the department of Linguistics and Communications at Birmingham is an unparalleled opportunity to engage with a diverse cultural, textual and linguistic discipline, whilst also developing skills in intellectual analysis, critical thinking and articulate expression.
Our Linguistics and Communication graduates enter many sectors, including:
- Journalism (TV and print)
- Online and social media
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Educational institutions
- Local councils
- Publishing
- Charities
- Creative Advertising
- Parliament
Our English Language and Linguistics students have gone on to secure roles such as 'Content Writer', 'Director,' and 'Social Media Manager' working for organisations such as:
- The British Museum
- Oxford University Press
- Penguin Random House
- Deloitte
The University has commissioned Cturtle as our data partner for tracking our alumni destinations. The data above is a subset from 43,666 alumni who completed their course up to 31 July 2024.
The University is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits.
The Graduate Market in 2025, High Fliers report
Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique.
Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations.
Careers Network
Our aim is to make sure that success in your studies leads you on to a fulfilling career. Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offer support to help you identify your options, develop your skills and gain access to opportunities that propel you towards your career goal.
Built in Birmingham. Forged for the future.
Hear from some of our inspiring alumni who have gone on to work for leading employers such as the UK Space Agency and BBC Sport.
Upcoming events
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Student experience
Your experience studying at Birmingham will give you the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills and make friends for life.
Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community, and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.
Accommodation
Coming to Birmingham to study might be your first time living away from home. In our student accommodation, you can enjoy your independence in safe, welcoming and sociable surroundings.
Living in Birmingham
Our cosmopolitan city has a unique history and so much to see and do. With an ever-changing food and drink scene, a vibrant nightlife and plenty of culture, our city is more than somewhere to study.
Student support
Whoever you are and wherever you come from, we are committed to providing the best possible support to our students, both before you start and throughout your time on campus.
Campus life
Our beautiful campus is the place where our diverse community comes together to learn and socialise. Like a town of its own, it’s just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s second city.
Flexible programmes to suit you
Not sure what you want to study?
Explore your options for combining subjects and shape your degree around your interests, whilst developing key skills for the world of work.
Take a virtual tour
Explore our beautiful campus from wherever you are. Get a feel for the wide range of historic and modern spaces and state-of-the-art facilities.