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MA in Languages, Literatures and Cultures

The MA in Languages, Literatures and Cultures at Durham University is an exciting and dynamic new course. Unique in its range and scope, the MA invites you to engage critically with literatures emerging from diverse literary and cultural contexts from around the world. Our course has a broad global reach and draws together our wealth of expertise in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Hispanic and Russian Studies. This inclusive approach to languages, literatures and cultures presents a distinct opportunity for students who wish to pursue a degree in world literatures and comparative studies with a firm emphasis on working on materials in their original language(s), with due attention to the local, national and regional contexts in which they originate. Whether you work with text in one, or several non-English languages, we will also invite you think within an international context, and to cross borders disciplines and canons.

You will be able to work with specialists in your areas of expertise and to choose from a range of innovative modules. The course allows you to explore historical periods from the medieval to the contemporary, to develop a thorough theoretical foundation and critical analytical skills in a range of literary styles, as well as to explore literary interactions with wider intellectual and cultural phenomena such as translation, philosophy and visual culture.

Why study Literature and Culture at Durham University's School of Modern Languages and Cultures?

As one of the largest within the country, Durham's School of Modern Languages and Cultures will provide you with an exceptional and intellectually stimulating context for your study.

In the recently published  Complete University Guide 2018, the School of Modern Languages and Cultures of Durham University is ranked 2nd in French, German, Italian, Hispanic Studies, Middle Eastern and African Studies and Russian & East European Languages, 3rd in East and South Asian Studies (a new entry in the league table). At the institutional level, Durham is currently ranked 6th in the UK.

MLAC unites over 80 full time members of staff. While our linguistic expertise covers a range of languages, our disciplinary breadth ranges from close textual analysis and archival studies to the digital and environmental humanities. Some students will thus find themselves engrossed in the study of some of the centuries-old manuscripts Durham holds, while others may think through the ways in which access to oil has reshaped the way in which we conceptualise the world.

What our Students Say

Hear why MA Languages, Literatures and Cultures graduates Mona Habeb and Irini Picolou chose this programme and which experiences they made at Durham University's School of Modern Languages and Cultures.

What is unique about our programme?

We place particular emphasis on your own research, which you will develop under the supervision of the relevant specialists. The most important component of your MA is thus your dissertation, in which you will engage with texts in their original language(s). You will write your dissertation under the supervision of a specialist in the School, and will be able to draw on cross-departmental expertise where this might be an advantage. In addition to this, you will be able to immerse yourself in a wide range of world literatures and theoretical concepts both in their original language and in translation. We also offer a work placement module.

You will thus be able to tailor your own MA: whether you would like to specialise in medieval French, Italian, or Hispanic studies, 19th- or 20th-century studies or in Scientific Humanities, our MA will allow you to develop both a broad knowledge base, and a specialist expertise.

The major strength of our MA in Languages, Literatures and Cultures lies in the flexibility that is built into our programme. We only have one core module that is required for all of our students: it will provide you with a diverse range of theoretical perspectives and thus a firm grounding for your ongoing research. You will then choose further modules from a range of options, that typically include those listed on the courses database.

The main reason I chose this course was to develop my interest in world literatures, and to acquire the knowledge and key skills to prepare me for a PhD. The coursework I completed in the MA is currently under review for publication, which is all thanks to the outstanding support and encouragement I received by academics across the School. The MA has also allowed me to venture beyond academia and apply my knowledge of cultural theory in research roles at Netflix, Hulu and Disney.

This MA was perfect for expanding my horizons, and the various components enabled me to develop essential skills for my PhD in Art History and Gender Studies. During the Work Placement module, I worked with archives at Ushaw College, which allowed me to gain experience in examining palaeographical and visual material. My favourite part of the course was the core module, which not only enriched me academically, but also provided me with new ways of thinking, writing and seeing the world.

What is the purpose of this MA?

This programme has been designed to provide preparation for students who intend to proceed to a PhD in Literary and Cultural studies, with a view either to pursue a research career in academia or to seek a position in other cultural and public organizations. The MA in Languages, Literature and Culture, however, also offers a qualification in its own right, which will equip students to embark upon a range of careers in the cultural and public sector, both nationally and internationally. We offer support with a range of work placements to help students make this transition.

If you have questions, please contact:  [email protected]

Teaching on the MA is consistently intellectually stimulating, led by valuable research on evolving critical, cultural, and political contentions. Tutors foster opportunities for intellectual expansion, and provide high quality feedback. The course goes further than just a degree certificate as tutors constantly seek to promote critical and lateral thinking. My favourite part has been the opportunity to delve deep, beyond canonical texts, into a broad range of cultural and critical perspectives.

Meet MA Languages, Literatures and Cultures student Ruixiang Zhong (Jason)

Find out about why Ruixiang decided to study Languages, Literatures and Cultures at Durham University, what he most enjoys about his course and what has been his proudest moment during his time at Durham University.

Research Environment

You will benefit from cross-disciplinary, cutting-edge research groups in MLAC . Through the research groups, we encourage you to become an active member of Durham's academic community and help to shape our intellectual agendas. Further, MLAC houses two important centres: the  Centre for Visual Arts and Cultures and Centre for Humanities Innovation , both of which offer ground-breaking and stimulating opportunities for engagement.

Discover more

Find out more about how to apply to the MA Languages, Literatures and Cultures programme and other MA programmes.

MA Languages, Literatures and Cultures Course Page

MA in Translation Studies

MA in Visual Culture

Ph.D. Programs

Biological and biomedical sciences, physical sciences and engineering, social sciences.

* – Denotes Ph.D. admitting programs. Students may apply and be admitted directly to these departments or programs, but the Ph.D. is offered only through one of the participating departments identified in the program description. After their second year of study at Duke, students must select a participating department in which they plan to earn the Ph.D.

Biochemistry Biology Biostatistics Cell and Molecular Biology Cell Biology Cognitive Neuroscience* Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Developmental and Stem Cell Biology* Ecology Evolutionary Anthropology Genetics and Genomics

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Art, Art History and Visual Studies Classical Studies Computational Media, Arts & Cultures English German Studies (Carolina-Duke German Program)

Literature Music Philosophy Religious Studies Romance Studies

Biomedical Engineering Chemistry Civil and Environmental Engineering Computer Science Earth and Climate Sciences Electrical and Computer Engineering Environment

Marine Science and Conservation Materials Science and Engineering Mathematics Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Physics Statistical Science

Business Administration Cultural Anthropology Economics Environmental Policy History

Nursing Political Science Psychology and Neuroscience Public Policy Sociology

The Durham Student

Studying for a phd at the school of education, durham.

• February 1, 2024

I was awarded a distinction MA Education degree. I am now receiving the Durham Doctoral Studentship for my PhD study.  I am also a member of the Durham Dancesports Team. The team is for ballroom dancing, and we compete with other university teams across the country (UK). 

I picked up my current research interest from my MA program in Durham, which focused on the interplay between students’ learning of global discourse in textbooks and their later reflections on such knowledge during actual intercultural experiences.   

My UG program was called “BA in foreign language (English)”. The course design included literature, linguistics, translation, and interpretation.  I came to Durham for the MA course is that my undergrade program was designed to be general introductions to the subjects I mentioned above.  

The problem with this is, by the time I finished my undergrad study, I felt a lack in subject specific knowledge in any area and it was thus difficult to me to decide what career pathway I shall aim for. I could tell that I was interested in education, culture, and communication. All these factors together led to my choice of joining the MA program at Durham. 

From my experience of module learning, I love the variety of socio-educational and intercultural perspectives and concepts that was being introduced. As a new starter in the field of education, this diversity of theories was truly helpful and eye-opening. What’s even better, they tickled my curiosity on intercultural communication and education from a students’ perspective, which led to where I am now. 

With regards to my future career prospects, I would say the most helpful bit is that since my MA study, I gradually started picturing myself doing academic research and teaching. In previous years, I didn’t see myself as capable of doing such things. Through learning, practicing and reflecting what I have encountered in the course, I really got to see more of my own potential. In short, I would put it as “a change of mindset which is transferrable and beneficial to any possible future career”. 

Discover more

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Feeling inspired? Visit our  School of Education webpages to learn more about our postgraduate and undergraduate programmes. 

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Durham university: tesol and applied linguistics.

The MA in TESOL and Applied Linguistics offers excellent opportunities to develop your career in English language teaching whether you’re an inexperienced teacher, starting out in the field or a more experienced teacher looking to take your skills to a new level. 

Guided by our English language specialists, you can build a skillset that you can take into primary, secondary and higher education institutions as well as specialist language schools and adult education settings. This flexible MA opens the door to a wider range of career pathways, whether you’re interested in teaching non-native speakers in the UK, applying your learning to curriculum development or teaching English overseas. 

The course offers a core of theory and practice which is informed by contemporary developments in the TESOL field. It combines innovative classroom practices in areas such as syllabus design and assessment with an understanding of issues such as language structure and research methodology. This approach provides opportunities to test your knowledge of contemporary TESOL theory in a classroom setting and refine your skills as you progress.

Optional modules covering a wide range of areas relevant to English language teaching are divided into two pathways, a TESOL pathway and an Applied Linguistics pathway with some shared modules. This allows you to build the course around your interests and career goals. 

The course culminates in the MA dissertation in which you plan, research and write an independent research project on a related area of interest.

Core modules:

Language for Teaching examines the phonological, lexical, grammatical and discoursal features of spoken and written language. You will learn to identify the key features, understand concepts, use linguistic terminology and critically evaluate language. You will also develop a deeper understanding of the differences between written and spoken text, and how to predict, identify and explain linguistic errors. 

Classroom Methods teaches the core theories and methodologies from the field of applied linguistics that underpin the teaching of both skills and language knowledge in second-language classrooms. You will learn to consider the most appropriate approach to use in different teaching contexts and provide a rationale for your decisions.

Research Methods supports you in developing an understanding of key research approaches and methods in the fields of TESOL and Applied Linguistics. You will learn to apply and critically evaluate the approaches and methods in your own research. 

Fundamentals of English Language Teaching introduces core ideas and issues relevant to second language acquisition, syllabus design and methodology. You will learn to critically discuss key issues in English language teaching and to evaluate the merits of various language syllabuses. 

The Dissertation is an in-depth independent study focusing on an area of language description, pedagogy, acquisition or related area of TESOL and Applied Linguistics studies. The 15,000-word dissertation is the culmination of the MA, bringing together elements of learning from across the course.

You then choose four further modules from a wide range of options.

Full-Time, 1 years starts Oct 2024

Part-time, 2 years starts oct 2024.

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PhD in Linguistics: Theoretical and Applied Linguistics

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The Linguistics Section is unique in the UK in that it integrates theoretical and applied linguistics in a single academic department. The Linguistics Section provides great variety and flexibility in course contents as well as subject-specific training and diversity of intellectual interactions. PhD topics in the range of research specialisms represented in the Section and beyond the Section in the MMLL Faculty are accepted. Students may choose to focus on a theoretically oriented study of the language sciences (e.g. interest in the syntactic organisation or sound structure of different languages or in the analysis of meaning in semantics and pragmatics), but may also be interested in a more applied direction of Linguistics (e.g. language acquisition, language processing, data mining of language corpora) or may choose to look at Linguistics from a specific language point of view (e.g. Italian linguistics). 

In British universities, the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is traditionally awarded solely on the basis of a thesis, a substantial piece of writing that reports original research into a closely defined area of enquiry. Within linguistics, some PhD students may do most of their work in libraries, spend part of their time collecting and analysing fieldwork data, or carry out experiments in the phonetics laboratory or psycholinguistics laboratory. The completion of the PhD thesis is generally expected to take three to four years. It is also possible to take a part-time route, and the expected timeframe would be five to seven years.  

In addition to providing special supervision, both the Linguistics Section and the MMLL Faculty run a programme of professional training for the benefit of all research students.  The programme includes seminars and workshops on library resources, giving conference papers, publishing, applications and interviews, teaching skills, specialist linguistic training, and film-making. The University runs a central programme covering a range of topics from PhD research development to language training and writing and editing skills. Students also have access to a Social Sciences research methods training programme. If you wish, you are likely to be given the opportunity of gaining experience in small group teaching for colleges. There may also be opportunities to gain some experience in language teaching in the MMLL Faculty.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme, candidates will have acquired excellent skills, experience and knowledge to undertake postdoctoral work (research and teaching) or another related profession.

For Cambridge students applying to continue from the MPhil by Advanced Study to PhD, the minimum academic requirement is an overall distinction in the MPhil.

For Cambridge students applying to continue from the MPhil by Thesis to PhD, the usual academic requirement is a pass in the MPhil.

All applications are judged on their merits, and students must demonstrate their suitability to undertake doctoral level research.

If the Master's degree from which the applicant is progressing is not the MPhil in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, the Master's degree has to contain a substantial Linguistics component. 

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the  Postgraduate Open Day  page for more details.

See further the  Postgraduate Admissions Events  pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Departments

This course is advertised in the following departments:

• Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics
• Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics

Key Information

3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time, study mode : research, doctor of philosophy, department of theoretical and applied linguistics this course is advertised in multiple departments. please see the overview tab for more details., course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, lent 2024 (closed).

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Michaelmas 2024

Funding deadlines.

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.

Similar Courses

• Theoretical and Applied Linguistics by thesis MPhil
• Theoretical and Applied Linguistics by Advanced Study MPhil
• Machine Learning and Machine Intelligence MPhil
• Computation, Cognition and Language PhD
• Advanced Computer Science MPhil

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The Linguistics Program at Duke is a unique interdisciplinary program offering undergraduate classes, majors and minors, and honors thesis supervision. We look at the use and structure of language in many contexts, and from many different perspectives. 

Linguistics majors are able to analyze and use language effectively, but they also develop excellent problem-solving, pattern-recognition and critical thinking skills that are highly valued in the job and graduate school markets. Many students go on to law or medical school, or other post-graduate training; others successfully pursue careers in a variety of fields including the media, advertising and marketing, finance, and education.

Anti-Racism Statement

The Linguistics Program is active in anti-racism efforts in outreach to students, faculty and collaborations with our colleagues across the Triangle at NCSU, NCCU, NC A&T, UNC-CH, and K-12 teachers and students through course work, lectures and research. 

We are active in educating our communities about the risks of linguistic discrimination in fragile communities. The Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s Center for Advancing Opportunity (TMCF) defines fragile communities as “areas with high proportions of residents who struggle financially in their daily lives and have limited opportunities for social mobility” (2018: 2). Such communities experience, in the phrase coined by Judith Butler, precarity. One of the issues present across all of these communities is discrimination based on the fragile or precarious community’s use of particular linguistic forms and dialects.

Undergraduate Programs

Our linguistics major is unusual in its range of theoretical approaches coupled to the study of languages of the world. The major maintains the traditional and mainstream body of linguistic inquiry (general linguistic theory, sociolinguistics, cognitive linguistics, neurolinguistics) and, at the same time, encourages exploration of the most recent developments in language study that issue from cultural and literary theory and the biological sciences.

We also offer a minor, as well as an interdepartmental major with Computer Science.

Featured Courses

Computational Approaches Language Processing will provide insights into Natural Language Processing (NLP), a multidisciplinary field that includes statistics/machine learning and linguistics. We will… read more about Special Topics in Linguistics  »

Durham University's School of Modern Languages and Cultures offers degree programmes in the following areas:

BA Modern Languages and Cultures

• BA Chinese Studies  
• BA Japanese Studies  
• BA Visual Arts and Film  

BA Modern European Languages and History

Ba liberal arts.

Please note, not all modules listed will run every year.  Please ensure you check the module availability for each module outline in the   Faculty Handbook .  

The module and programme information in the   Faculty Handbook   is for   current   modules.  Modules do change year-on-year and are amended to take account of, for example: student feedback, changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, pedagogic research and/or the requirements of external bodies and partners.

What's it like studying Modern Languages and Cultures at Durham

In this video Mia, Spanish and Italian graduate, explains why she chose to study languages at Durham University's School of Modern Languages and Cultures and what she loves about it.

BA Modern Languages and Cultures , over four years, including a year abroad. Students can study up to three languages in their first year, before specializing in one or two. All our languages can be studied ab initio (from scratch, subject to our entry requirements). Students choose from the following languages. Learn more about what the course is like in each language:

BA Chinese Studies

BA Chinese Studies , over four years, including a year abroad.

BA Chinese Studies Course Page

Find out how to apply, all course details and structure, entry requirements and more.

Modules and Staff

Find out more about the BA Chinese Studies modules and associated staff.

BA Japanese Studies

BA Japanese Studies , over four years, including a year abroad.

BA Japanese Studies Course Page

Find out more about the BA Japanese Studies modules and associated staff.

BA Visual Arts and Film

BA Visual Arts and Film , over four years, including a year abroad.

BA Visual Arts and Film Course Page

Modules, Staff and Students

Find out more about the BA Visual Arts and Film modules, associated staff and what students think about the programme.

BA Modern European Languages and History , a joint honours programme taught in collaboration with the Department of History.

BA Modern European Languages and History Course Page

Department of History

Find out more about Durham's Department of History.

BA Liberal Arts  in collaboration with a range of Departments across the University.

BA Liberal Arts Course Page

Liberal Arts at Durham University

Find out more about Liberal Arts at Durham University. 

Doctoral Program

The Ph.D. program emphasizes rigorous theoretical work that has at its base a firm empirical foundation in language data. 

Students are provided with a broad-based background in linguistics, teaching experience in the classroom and other forums, and opportunities for original and high-quality research.  Our Ph.D. students write dissertations on a wide range of topics spanning and bridging many subareas of the field.  See our Ph.D. Alumni  page for dissertation titles and job placement information.

Overview of the Program

Through the completion of advanced coursework and strong methodological and analytical training, the  Ph.D. program prepares students to make original contributions to knowledge in linguistics, to articulate the results of their work, and to demonstrate its significance to linguistics and related fields.  At every stage in the program, students are encouraged to present and publish their research and to develop active professional profiles. 

Students generally complete the program in five years

• Coursework in core areas of linguistics, chosen by each student in consultation with faculty advisors to build the foundation that best suits their interests and goals.
• Fall Quarter: Includes seminar to introduce students to the research of faculty in the department
• Winter Quarter: Includes participation in small research groups or in one-on-one apprenticeships
• Spring Quarter: Includes beginning to work on the first of 2 qualifying research papers

Years 2 and 3

• Balance shifts from coursework to development of research skills
• Students complete two qualifying papers and then selects a principal advisor and committee for their dissertation by the end of year 3.

Years 4 and 5

• Devoted to dissertation and advanced research

Teaching Experience

As they move through the Ph.D. program, students also gain teaching experience by serving as teaching assistants in their second, third, and fourth year of graduate study. They also have access to the many programs provided by Stanford's Vice Provost for  Teaching and Learning , including the varied resources of the Teaching Commons .

Offers of admission to the Linguistics P.h.D program include funding for the full five years of doctoral study, including tuition and stipend, regardless of citizenship. 

We also encourage our applicants to apply for as many external fellowships and scholarships as they are eligible for; a compilation of funding opportunities for Linguistics graduate students can be found on our  Fellowship and Funding Information page .  Applicants should note that the deadlines for these fellowships are typically in the fall of the year prior to admission.

In addition, the  Knight-Hennessy Scholars  program is designed to build a multidisciplinary community of Stanford graduate students dedicated to finding creative solutions to the world's greatest challenges. The program awards up to 100 high-achieving students every year with full funding to pursue a graduate education at Stanford, including the Ph.D. degree in Linguistics. 

Additional information is available about the student budget , Stanford graduate fellowships , and other support programs .

Outside the classroom, there are many opportunities, both formal and informal, for the discussion of linguistic issues and ongoing research, including colloquia, workshops, and reading groups.

Partnership Opportunities

Although not part of the formal doctoral program, there are numerous opportunities for research and development work at the Center for the Study of Language and Information and  off-campus at local companies.  

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Linguistics, Applied Linguistics MPhil, PhD

As a postgraduate researcher in linguistics or applied linguistics, you'll carry out a major research project working with supervisors who are experts in your field.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year:

Start date(s):

• September 2024
• January 2025

Newcastle University is one of the largest centres for linguistic research in Europe. This gives you the unique opportunity to learn a wide range of methodologies as part of our Linguistics or Applied Linguistics course. You will be exposed to diverse theoretical perspectives, which will enrich your own research.

Linguistics and Applied Linguistics are split across three Schools:

• School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences
• School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics
• School of Modern Languages

Our supervisors' current research interests, projects and publications are available from our staff profiles in each of these Schools.

We offer supervision in the following areas:

• phonetics and phonology
• (morpho)syntax
• the lexicon
• cross-linguistic variation
• the architecture of the language faculty
• language's place in human cognition
• the philosophy of linguistics
• dialectology
• (variationist) sociolinguistics
• the sociology of language
• English historical linguistics
• corpus creation (e.g. the Diachronic Electronic Corpus of Tyneside English )
• typical and atypical child (L1) and adult (L2) language acquisition
• cognitive science
• information theory
• psycholinguistics

Research centres and institutes

Our links with research centres and institutes provide opportunities for collaboration and cross-disciplinary seminars and interest groups. Our most important connections are with:

• Centre for Research in Learning and Teaching
• Centre for Behaviour and Evolution

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our  Academic experience page , which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.

See our  terms and conditions and student complaints information , which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Related courses

Qualifications explained.

Find out about the different qualification options for this course.

An MPhil is available in all subject areas. You receive research training and undertake original research leading to the completion of a 40,000 - 50,000 word thesis.

Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications

A PhD is a doctorate or doctoral award. It involves original research that should make a significant contribution to the knowledge of a specific subject. To complete the PhD you will produce a substantial piece of work (80,000 – 100,000 words) in the form of a supervised thesis. A PhD usually takes three years full time.

How you'll learn

Your attendance at Newcastle is flexible, depending on your fieldwork or if you are away collecting data. You'll have regular meetings with your supervisory team, supported by email and Skype.

You'll have opportunities to take part in seminars across the disciplines of:

• linguistics
• applied linguistics
• speech and language sciences

This allows you to engage with staff and fellow students. Many of our students already have well-developed professional careers and are inspired to explore research questions arising from their experience.

You'll work with supervisors who are responsible for guidance and advice. They will be your first point of contact if you have any academic issues. If you are based in the UK and wish to maintain your professional employment, part-time study is a flexible option.

You can choose to enter the annual competition for ESRC-funded studentships through the ESRC Northern Ireland/North East (NINE) Doctoral Training Partnership . You should contact us well in advance of the February deadline if you are planning to apply.

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

The Linguistics or Applied Linguistics MPhil involves research leading to the completion of a 50,000-word thesis. This is ideal if you do not need formal training (eg established scholars). You could also use the MPhil as the first stage of registering on the PhD.

The PhD is an independent, supervised research project. This leads to the production of a 100,000-word thesis. You'll develop your own ideas and explore the field of knowledge to which your thesis topic relates. This involves:

• critical engagement with relevant literature
• selection and/or collection of data
• analysis and interpretation of the data within a specific theoretical framework
• further development of that framework

Our mission is to help you:

• stay healthy, positive and feeling well
• overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
• get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
• carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
• understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules

We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.

You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:

• research and professional skills
• careers support
• health and safety
• public engagement
• academic development

Find out more about our postgraduate research student support

Your development

Research groups.

Our research groups also facilitate researchers with common interests to share ideas, develop new skills and gain feedback on their work. The groups meet regularly and include:

• Language & Cognition Research Group
• Sociolinguistics Discussion Group
• Romance Linguistics Circle
• North East Syntax Seminar
• Phonetics and Phonology Research Group

In addition to these formal groups, there are a number of informal research clubs that meet on an ad hoc basis.

Newcastle seminar series in linguistics

Throughout each semester we host a regular seminar series where internationally renowned linguistic researchers give presentations on their recent research.

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) researcher development programme 

Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:

• perform better as a researcher
• boost your career prospects
• broaden your impact

Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.

You’ll cover:

• techniques for effective research
• methods for better collaborative working
• essential professional standards and requirements

Your researcher development programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.

Find out more about the Researcher Education and Development programme

Doctoral training and partnerships

There are opportunities to undertake your PhD at Newcastle within a:

• Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
• Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)

Being part of a CDT or DTP has many benefits:

• they combine research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics.
• you’ll study alongside a cohort of other PhD students
• they’re often interdisciplinary
• your PhD may be funded

Find out more about doctoral training and partnerships

If there are currently opportunities available in your subject area you’ll find them when you search for funding in the fees and funding section on this course.

The following centres/partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area in the future:

• ESRC Northern Ireland/North East (NINE) Doctoral Training Partnership
• Northern Bridge Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership

Your future

Career development.

You'll develop your career within a research-led community and benefit from funding opportunities. Our recent MPhil and PhD graduates have gone into a variety of careers, including: 

• university administration

Additionally, you can involve yourself in a range of activities and events. As a PhD student, you can gain experience in conference organisation.  You'll have the opportunity to get involved in the organising team of the annual Newcastle and Northumbria Postgraduate Conference in Linguistics (Toon Taaks). 

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information .

The School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics is a lively and diverse community. We have over 700 undergraduates and 200 postgraduates.

We are based in the Percy Building. Our purpose-built postgraduate suite has dedicated computer clusters, meeting rooms, a kitchen and a lounge.

Linguistics researchers also have access to the LingLab . This space provides access to linguistics and experimental software, such as:

• ELAN and CLAN

There is also a range of specialised equipment available for loan or use, including professional-quality recording equipment:

• a portable eye tracker
• a portable ultrasound machine
• a portable electroglottograph
• ultrasound tongue imaging
• multiple sound booths

Finally, the lab also has access to several linguistic corpora, including:

• ICE-GB Corpus of English
• ICE-GB Great Britain Sound Files
• BYU Corpora

We have two postgraduate research student study rooms. The larger room was recently upgraded with more workstations and a soft seating area. We have a Resource Centre and two on-site clinics:

• Tavistock North East Aphasia Centre
• Children's Speech and Language Therapy Clinic

The School also houses the Language Resource Centre . It has an extensive range of language learning facilities and resources, including:

• access to 24 satellite television channels from around the world
• listen and record facilities for speaking practice
• interactive language learning software
• an international film collection of over 800 titles

The award-winning Philip Robinson Library has an extensive audio-visual collection.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year), home fees for research degree students.

For 2024-25 entry, we will be aligning our standard Home research fees with those set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) . The standard fee will be confirmed in Spring 2024 by UKRI. The Home tuition fees for this course will be updated after this confirmation. 

If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here .

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See  our   searchable postgraduate funding page  for more information.  

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section .

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

Entry requirements

The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English language requirements, admissions policy.

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

Download our admissions policy (PDF: 201KB) Other policies related to admissions

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course

• How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages .

Open days and events

You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year including:

• campus tours
• on-campus open days
• virtual open days

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events

• Get in touch

Questions about this course?

If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:

Dr Sara Ganassin Director of Postgraduate Research School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6583 Email: [email protected]

For more general enquiries you could also complete our online enquiry form.

Fill in our enquiry form

Our Ncl chatbot might be able to give you an answer straight away. If not, it’ll direct you to someone who can help.

You'll find our Ncl chatbot in the bottom right of this page.

Keep updated

We regularly send email updates and extra information about the University.

Receive regular updates by email

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Ph.D. in Linguistics

Ph.d. in linguistics (general linguistics track) .

Note that the required courses and language requirement differ between the curriculum instituted Sept. 2018 and the prior curriculum. All other requirements are the same.

1A. Required courses (30 credits): Curriculum instituted Sept. 2018 

One graduate-level course in each of the following sub-disciplines:

• Syntax: LING 507 “Syntactic Theory I”
• Sociolinguistics: LING 532 “Sociolinguistics I”
• Language Processing and Development: LING 541 or 542 (“Language Processing and development I or II”)
• Phonology LING 552 (“Phonology II”)
• Phonetics LING 550 (“Introduction to Linguistic Phonetics”)
• Semantics LING 479 or 579 ("Semantic Theory I or II")

1B. Required courses (35 credits): Prior to Sept. 2018 

• LING 507 ("Syntax I")
• LING 508 ("Syntax II")
• LING 532 ("Sociolinguistics I")
• LING 551 ("Phonology I")
• LING 552 ("Phonology II")
• LING 550 or 553 ("Phonetics I or II")
• LING 578 or 579 ("Semantics I or II")

If a student has taken an equivalent course elsewhere, the requirement to take this course can be waived. The waiver needs to approved by the faculty in the relevant area and the GPC. Such waivers do not change the total number of credits required by the Graduate School for graduation.

2. Credits of study:

Additional courses for a minimum of 90 credits (27 of which are LING 800) to be determined by specialization and consultation with the advisory committee.

3A. Language knowledge requirement: Curriculum instituted Sept. 2018

General Linguistics Track students must satisfy one natural language requirement for the PhD. The choice of the language needs to be approved by the student’s advisory committee. The language requirement may be satisfied in one of the following three ways:

• One year of study at the university or community college level. Students who are language instructors in other UW departments can use their language teaching experience to satisfy one language requirement.
• A major research project that involves significant primary data collection that includes substantial structural analysis and results in a major paper such as a generals paper.

3B. Language knowledge requirement: Prior to   Sept. 2018

General Linguistics Track students must satisfy two natural language requirements for the PhD. Those may be satisfied in the following ways:

• Translation exam to demonstrate the ability to read linguistic literature in a foreign language; only one of the two language requirements for the PhD can be satisfied through the translation exam.

4. Colloquium conference talks:

Two papers delivered at a colloquium or conference.

5. Constitution of PhD committee:

By the end of the second year of study.

6. Generals Papers:

Two generals papers in different areas (normally 10cr LING 600). What counts as a different area is determined and needs to be approved by the student's committee.

7. General Examination:

An oral examination, in which the candidate is questioned on the two papers. The oral examination may not be scheduled until the committee has read the two papers and approved them as passing.

8. Dissertation Prospectus:

Within 6 months of the oral examination, the student will present a formal dissertation proposal to the subset of PhD committee members who constitute the reading committee, along with a proposed calendar for completion of the dissertation.

9. Final Exam:

A Final Exam on the dissertation attended by the candidate’s Supervisory Committee and open to others interested.

10. Dissertation:

A dissertation suitable for publication.

11. ABD (all but dissertation) requirement:

All degree requirements except for the dissertation and the two colloquia must be completed before the General Exam.

Ph.D. in Linguistics (Computational Linguistics Track)

The requirements for students on the computational linguistics track will meet all the same requirements as students in other specializations except :

1. Required courses:

• 2 syntax courses from among: LING 566, 507, 508
• 2 phonetics/phonology courses from among: LING 550, 551, 552, 553
• 1 semantics course from among: 578, 579
• 1 sociolinguistics course from among: LING 532, 533
• 3 Computational Linguistics courses from among: 567, 570, 571, 572, 573

3. Language knowledge requirement:

Students in Computational Linguistics must fulfill only one language requirement, but may not use a translation exam to do so. The language must be typologically substantially distinct from the student's native language; for example, a native English-speaking student would need to select a non-Indo-European language. Please refer to Language Requirements for details.

6. Generals papers:

Same as for the General Linguistics program except a Master’s thesis completed as part of the CLMS program may count as one of the two generals papers.

How to make the CLMS to PhD transition

M.A. in Linguistics

The M.A. is not required as a prerequisite to Ph.D. study.  Students enrolled in the PhD program may get an MA degree when they pass the general exam and file a request for an MA degree with the graduate school.  Students who have taken all the required courses for the PhD CompLing track may analogously file a request for an MS degree with the Graduate School, under either model A or B below. Students who would like to get an MS degree have to get their advisor's approval before filing an official request with the Graduate School.

A. Non-thesis model:

The Generals papers and Exam constitute the capstone project necessary for a master’s degree (or the student may complete the thesis model below).

B. Thesis model: 

• Required courses: Same as the required courses in PhD General Linguistics Track. 
• Language requirement: Same as the language requirement in PhD General Linguistics Track. 
• Thesis:  A thesis, written under the supervision of a Linguistics faculty member, and accepted by a second faculty reader. Normally the work is completed in 10 credits of LING 700.

Remarks on Graduate School Requirements

Students are advised to become familiar with Graduate School requirements, as well as those described on this website. If there are any questions, the student should contact the Graduate School, the Graduate Program Coordinator or the chair of the Supervisory Committee. Once admitted to the program, students should make it a regular practice to see the Graduate Program Coordinator about their progress at least once a year. All graduate students must be either registered or officially on leave. Failure to register or go on leave is interpreted as resignation from the Graduate School. Information on the Graduate School is available at http://www.grad.washington.edu . If you have any further questions or comments please contact us at [email protected]

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