Intro

Linguistics is the scientific study of language and, as such, has a central role to play in exploring what it means to be human.

As a linguistics student here at Brighton you will have the opportunity to investigate some of the most complex and intriguing aspects of human cognitive and social life.

You will acquire skills in language analysis and explore the nature of linguistic communication.

You’ll learn about the relationship between language and the mind, and language and society and will explore how linguistics relates to other fields.

Option modules in your second and final year provide opportunities to study aspects of linguistics in depth. You can also opt to study related subjects from across our humanities and social science provision, including social policy, literature, and creative writing.

The degree will equip you with valuable transferable skills as a critical thinker, independent researcher and constructive team member.

This course also offers the opportunity to choose a specialist pathway and graduate with the degree title:

Linguistics with Policy and Planning BA(Hons)
Linguistics with Intercultural Communications BA(Hons).

Open days

Book your place:
Brighton Moulsecoomb campus open day

Open days are the best way to find out about your course, the campus where you'll be based, and get a feel for the University of Brighton.

Book your place

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

UCAS code Q100

Full-time 3 years

New for 2023

Linguistics with Policy and Planning
Linguistics with Intercultural Communications

These specialist pathways through our Linguistics degree will be introduced in September 2023. They are in the final stages of development and there may be small changes. Check back for updates.

Apply now with UCAS for 2023

Course content

Year 1

In the first year you take six modules. You'll look at language as a social phenomenon, as well as the human and animal communication systems and the frameworks which describe and explain them. You'll also look at the study of language (linguistics) and its main branches of phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics; intercultural communication in a technologically connected world; and the relationship of language and culture through the discipline of linguistic anthropology.

Modules

Language in the Social World

This module introduces issues around language and society. You will develop an understanding of language as a social phenomenon, including the interplay of individual linguistic choices and social structures. You'll also expand your abilities to synthesise materials, think critically and communicate effectively about the relationship of language and society.
Approaches to Language and Communication

This module introduces human and animal communication systems and the frameworks which describe and explain them. You'll examine the relationship between language and communication and explore notions from key-thinkers to discuss philosophical, sociological and cognitive views of linguistic communication.
Understanding Language

This module introduces the study of language (linguistics) and its main branches of phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics. It will enable you to carry out analysis of real language data using different linguistic frameworks. You'll be encouraged to be more critical of your own language ability and to develop and hone communication skills whilst also developing your written work.
Introduction to Intercultural Communication

This module explores intercultural communication in a technologically connected world. Through examining communication in national and individual-level communities and groups, you'll investigate how different narratives and positions emerge. You will explore the challenges and opportunities of intercultural communication in a complex, interconnected and inequitable world shaped by technology and other global forces.
Investigating Language

This module provides a solid foundation in research methodologies and methods. It will develop your abilities in reading, processing and critically assessing analytical research. It will also build your skills in investigating language and linguistic patterns.
Understanding Culture

This module introduces the relationship of language and culture through the discipline of linguistic anthropology. You'll build skills in key areas such as linguistic determinism and relativism, the ethnography of communication and communicative competence. Through this intellectual framing (a concept introduced in the module), you will be able to make connections about your own cultural experience of language use.

Our courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis in order to make sure that what you learn with us is relevant and that your course enables you to develop appropriate skills. When you apply to study with us, we will inform you of any new developments in your chosen programme through Student View.

Year 2

In your second year you will look more deeply into the areas you explored in your first year, engage with formal descriptions of language and examine a range of theoretical issues. Your grammatical knowledge will be deepened by focusing on a small range of phenomena in great detail and you will be introduced to the relationship between language and the mind (psycholinguistics) and language and society (sociolinguistics).

You will have the opportunity to spend a year abroad at the end of your second year at a partner university.

From year 2, you'll also be able to choose whether to stay with the broad-based Linguistics BA, or whether to specialise in policy and planning, or intercultural communications.

Modules

Linguistics BA

Multilingualism
Mind and Language
Deconstruction: Language, Theory, Society
Linguistics and Grammar: Concepts and Analyses

Policy and planning pathway

Multilingualism
Mind and Language
Deconstruction: Language, Theory, Society
Language Minoritisation and Revitalisation

Intercultural communication pathway

Multilingualism
Mind and Language
Linguistics and Grammer
Intercultural Communication in the Workplace

Options*

Language Minoritisation and Revitalisation
Researching English Language Use
Image and Text: The Language of Comics and Graphic Novels
Introduction to Journalism
Creative Writing
Queer Writing
Television Studio Production
American Literature 1850–1960
Cinema and Society
Documentary Filmmaking: Theory and Practice
Power and Persuasion

You can also choose option modules from across our humanities and arts subjects.

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Final year

In your final year, you will continue to follow the pathway you have chosen. You'll have opportunities to critically evaluate linguistic theories in your areas of interest through writing an extended dissertation on a topic of your choice. This piece of work will be a culmination of your undergraduate experience and a reflection of your newly acquired expertise in linguistics.

You will also be writing your dissertation on a chosen topic in linguistics which you will have had an opportunity to study in depth throughout your degree. This piece of work will be a culmination of your undergraduate experience and a reflection of your expertise in linguistics.

Modules

Linguistics BA

Language, Philosophy, Mind
Non-truth-conditional Semantics
Dissertation

Policy and planning pathway

Global Social Policy
Language Philosophy, Mind OR Non-Truth Conditional Semantics
Dissertation (focus on policy and planning)

Intercultural communication pathway

English Language Teaching
Language Philosophy, Mind OR Non-Truth Conditional Semantics
Dissertation (focus on intercultural communication)

Options*

Approaches to the Study of Meaning
Language, Culture and Ideology
World Englishes
Language of Gender and Sexuality
Language, Law and the State: The Politics of Force
Analysing Big Data: Quantitative Methods in Language Research
English Language Teaching
Community Placement: Theory and Practice
Russian Literature and Culture
Apocalypse, Utopia, Dystopia
Literature and Philosophy
Conflict, Migration, Borders
Postcolonial Literatures

You can also choose option modules from across our humanities and arts subjects.

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Specialist pathways

At the end of your first year you can choose to continue with the broad study of linguistics with the Linguistics BA(Hons) or to specialise in one of two areas.

Linguistics with Policy and Planning BA(Hons)
Linguistics with Intercultural Communication BA(Hons)

Linguistics with Policy and Planning BA(Hons)

There are 7,000 languages in global use but at current rates, 90% of these will become extinct in the next century. This pathway provides you with the skills and knowledge to become a leader in addressing this endangered language crisis.

You will learn about language policies and how governmental decisions concerning language policy affect cultures and communities. You will gain highly sought-after employability skills including project design, data analysis and policy writing. You will also learn how to develop and implement language policies that achieve greater equity and contribute to positive social transformation.

As a graduate of this pathway, you will have the disciplinary grounding and skills to enter careers where you can be at the foreground of transformational social change in roles such as language officer, policy development, community organising, publishing and teaching

Linguistics with Intercultural Communication BA(Hons)

Effective intercultural communication skills are integral to the success of organisations working within a global business context, helping to build welcoming, inclusive and diverse societies. This pathway will enable you to navigate and lead communications in complex and challenging international contexts.

As a graduate of the pathway in intercultural communication, you will have the disciplinary grounding and employability skills to enter a wide range of careers and postgraduate training. These include: speech and language therapy, contrastive natural language processing, forensic linguistics, teaching (PGCE or EAL), logistics, publishing, technical writing, speech writing, marketing, user experience, health and social care, organisational psychology and content creation.

Meet the team

Dr Federica Formato, course leader

Federica is interested in language in connection with gender and sexuality in Italian. She is published on violence against women in sentencing remarks in England and Wales (with Dr Amanda Potts) and on constructions of hegemonic and subordinate masculinities in YouTube comments (with Dr Mandie Iveson). Her first monograph Gender, Discourse and Ideology in Italian was published in 2019 (Palgrave) and her second will have the title Feminism, corpus-assisted research and language inclusivity. Read Federica's full profile.

Other staff who teach on the course include: Dr Jelena Timotijevic, Dr Tim Wharton, Simon Wilkinson, Dr Vy Rajapillai, Dr Barbara Chamberlin, Dr Chrystie Myketiak, Paul Slater, Dr Joseph Ronan and Dr Dora Carpenter-Latiri.

Our latest news

Join lecturer Annebella Pollen tonight for Naked and Unashamed? talk

This talk at The Bevy (5 Oct, 6pm) outlines nudist campaigns for bodily visibility in Britain, from the formation of the movement in the 1920s through to the legal battles of its photographers against obscenity law in the 1950s and 1960s.

Black History Month events

University of Brighton lecturers including Dr Dwight Turner who teaches psychotherapy and Dr Yaa Asare whose research is in the field of race, ethnicity and identity are among academics from across the country giving a series of talks recognising and celebrating Black history.

Creative Writing degree course leader’s novel longlisted for writers award

Bea Hitchman’s novel All of You Every Single One has been longlisted for the Historical Writers Association Crown Award.

Meet the staff: Ailsa Grant Ferguson

Ailsa is Principal Lecturer in Literature and teaches across our undergraduate and postgraduate Literature courses.

Careers

Prepare for your career

Your Linguistics degree will provide subject knowledge and expertise, opportunities to put what you learn into practice and work-related experience.

You will develop valuable transferable skills as a critical thinker, independent researcher and constructive team member. The course will equip you with excellent presentation, written and oral communication skills.

Option modules such as sign language linguistics, the language of comics and graphic novels and language in law in your second and third years mean that you can tailor your degree to your specific career ambitions.

You can opt to take a voluntary placement as part of the course complete a practical project with a local community or voluntary organisation.

Extracurricular activities which can add to your skillset and experience include:

The Performance and Community Research and Enterprise Group which celebrates, challenges and researches the various modes of performance (voice, body, space, movement, language, sound, texture, shape, words
The BrightOnline creative journal showcasing the outstanding achievements of students while giving the opportunity to have peer-reviewed work published
The student-led Creative Writing Society.

Student presentation with a slide marked oranges

Placements

We have links with local businesses and organisations where you can put your degree skills into practice and make real-life, professional contributions. Recent placement hosts include:

The Community Engagement option module in your final year enables you to apply your learning, gain valuable skills and experience a different way of learning.

The module involves 30 to 50 hours of voluntary work with a not-for-profit or community organisation. The placement is assessed and contributes to your degree.

Mia Kurian, graduate

“My placement was with Metropolitan City Church Brighton as their Social Media Manager. I learnt a lot about myself and my interests and the type of career I may want to pursue. I got to try my hand at website design, something I had never done before, and it was a great opportunity for me to expand my creativity. Professionally, I gained a lot of experience that has been extremely useful in my career today. I learnt about creating brand cohesion and creating a brand image from scratch, something I’ve never done before.

"I absolutely loved it. It was an incredible learning experience as well as insightful. It allowed me to learn a lot about myself and the future I want. My placement manager was lovely and supportive and allowed me the freedom to explore my creativity.”

Royal Literary Fund Fellow

If you want professional feedback on any aspect of your writing, from an essay to a manuscript, you can book a one-to-one tutorial with our resident Royal Literary Fund Fellow.

The sessions are free, confidential and independent of the university.

You can get advice on

academic writing style and how to answer essay questions.

all aspects of your writing, such as developing and structuring an argument to improving style.

Hannah Vincent, award-winning novelist and playwright, is the current Royal Literary Fund fellow.

The Big Read

Our annual Big Read project in association with the Booker Prize Foundation celebrates the best in contemporary fiction.

As well as getting free copies of Booker-nominated novels you’ll get the chance to take part in a series of related events including a Masterclass with nominated authors.

Previous Big Read authors include Mohsin Hamed, Jim Crace and 2019 Man Booker Prize winner Anna Burns.

Graduate destinations

Graduates in linguistics have a broad range of skills which can be applied in professions including journalism, broadcasting, the Civil Service and teaching (primary, secondary and as a second or foreign language).

The degree opens up career opportunities as an interpreter, translator, lexicographer, copy editor, proof-reader and speech and language therapist.

Graduates of the course have gone on to careers in law, publishing, radio and TV, as well as postgraduate study in linguistics, English language, philosophy of language, creative writing, forensic linguistics and philosophy.

Further study

This degree opens up a range of postgraduate study options. At Brighton, for example, you could progress on to

You could also choose to complete your PhD at Brighton alongside our team of researchers.

Supporting your employability

Outside of your course, our Careers Service is here to support you as you discover (and re-discover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Connect with our careers team

Find part-time work that you can combine with your studies.
Find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme.
Develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network.
Get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips.
Meet potential employers at our careers fairs.
Find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you discover more about what makes you tick, and build your CV.

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that's not just while you are a student, our support carries on after you've graduated.

Find out more...

Coloured background with the words Be More, Connected, Skilled, Emlployable

Employment demand for humanities graduates

The British Academy has compiled a report (May 2020) quantifying the demand for arts, humanities and social science (AHSS) skills in the workplace. It helps to answer the legitimate question of what the economic return is on undertaking a degree, both in time and money. 

According to the report:

As arts, humanities and social science (AHSS) graduates progress through the first ten years of their career they are able make strong progress up the career ladder into roles attracting higher salaries
Arts, humanities and social science (AHSS) graduates are employed in some of the fastest growing sectors including financial services, education, social work, the media and creative industries
Of the ten fastest growing sectors, eight employ more graduates from AHSS than other disciplines

This makes AHSS graduates at the heart of some of the most exciting, productive, largest and fastest-growing sectors of the UK economy.

Future skills demand

According to the report:

With the challenges the world is facing – climate change, global pandemics, the growth of populism – the UK needs the insights of the arts, humanities and social sciences (AHSS) as much as those from science, technology and engineering (STEM)
Evidence within the report shows that Arts, humanities and social science (AHSS) graduates are central to these challenges and changes – they will be vital in giving us the tools to examine and explain human behaviour, understand how society functions, learn from the past and apply those lessons to the present, and analyse the drivers and implications of a changing world and how different countries, places and cultures interact.

Entry criteria

Flexible admissions

When you apply to Brighton we want to hear about who you are. Grades are never the whole picture; we're interested in things like creativity, resourcefulness, persistence and the capacity to think big and find new ways of doing things. And we recognise that not everyone has the same background. That's why we treat everyone who applies as an individual. We recognise many qualifications and we care about all of your achievements and the experiences you've had that set you apart.

Find out more

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BBB–BCC (120–104 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DMM–MMM. Our conditional offers typically fall within this range.

A-levels must include at least one of English literature, English language, English language and literature, sociology or psychology.

International Baccalaureate
26 points, with three subjects at Higher level.

Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. Humanities, history or politics courses preferred. At least 45 credits at level 3.

Foundation degree/HND
May enable you to start the course in year 2.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 13,842 GBP

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Humanities and Social Science in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

For some assessments you may be required to print large format posters for presentations at a cost of £5–£10 per poster.
Most coursework submissions are electronic but you may wish to print notes and should budget up to £100 for printing.
Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £200 to buy your own copies.
Some courses include an optional placement module for which students will need to cover the costs of travel to and from the placement and DBS checks as required.
For the Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counselling PGDip and Psychotherapeutic Psychodynamic Counselling PGDip, the following course-related costs are not included in the tuition fee:
- Supervision fees: £1,170 for each full year. Estimated based on £45 per hour with fortnightly meetings. In some agencies, supervision will be provided at no cost. Where students have to pay, the cost will only begin when supervision begins.
- Personal counselling/therapy: £2,000–£2,800 over the course. Estimated based on £40 per hour.
For a number of courses you will have the opportunity to attend field trips and off-site visits. These are optional and are not required to pass your course but under normal circumstances we would expect a budget of approximately £150 per year will cover the costs of particular trips. The amount spent would be based on location and number of trips taken.
You will have access to computers and necessary software, however many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2022–23.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Over the last four years Moulsecoomb has undergone a major transformation, planned with accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability in mind.

Over 900 students live here in our halls, Moulsecoomb Place and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

On campus you’ll find professional-standard facilities and learning resources for all of our subjects and a brand new academic building Elm House, alongside the library, student centre, fitness facilities and the Students’ Union.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains and to all the exciting things happening in our home city.

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
Moulsecoomb campus is linked to Moulsecoomb Place, Mithras halls and Varley Park. All halls are self-catered.
- Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
- Moulsecoomb Place halls are all self-catered and are located right on campus.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Halls

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Park

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Students eating at the Hub

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition.

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Stay in touch

Open days

Book your place:
Brighton Moulsecoomb campus open day

Open days are the best way to find out about your course, the campus where you'll be based, and get a feel for the University of Brighton.

Book your place

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Subscribe to our School of Humanities blog  to find out about student and staff news, and events.

Statistics

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked below). You can find out also about the support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Course and module descriptions on this page were accurate when first published and are the basis of the course. Detailed information on any changes we make to modules and learning and assessment activities will be sent to all students by email before enrolment, so that you have all the information before you come to Brighton.

Discover Uni

Discover Uni enables you to compare information when choosing a UK university course. All UK universities publish Discover Uni data on their website.

Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course, and are updated following course changes.

Programme specification