Studying Linguistics

Linguistics is the academic study of language in all its forms. It includes areas such as phonetics, syntax, semantics, sociolinguistics, language acquisition and more. Studying linguistics can lead to careers in education, research, translation, publishing, speech and language therapy, and technology. This page outlines where linguistics is taught at UK universities and provides links to online materials for anyone interested in exploring the subject further.

Studying Linguistics at UK Universities

The following universities offer courses in linguistics. This list doesn’t include departments with programmes in English Language or Speech & Language Therapy – only those where linguistics is in the name.

Please contact us if you have a programme to add to or remove from the list, or if you find a broken link.

If you are interested in studying Speech & Language Therapy, see this list maintained by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. It lists 18 institutions where SLT is offered for undergraduates, of which some also offer pre-registration postgraduate study, which a fair number of linguistics graduates go into.

University Department Bachelors
University of Aberdeen School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture MA Language and Linguistics
Anglia Ruskin University School of Humanities and Social Sciences BA English Language and Communication
Aston University Department of English, Languages and Applied Linguistics BA English Language
Bangor University School of Arts, Culture and Language BA Linguistics and the English Language
Birkbeck, University of London School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication BA English and Linguistics
University of Bedfordshire School of Education and English BA English with TESOL
University of Birmingham Department of Linguistics and Communication BA English Language and Linguistics
Birmingham City University BA English Language and Literature
University of Cambridge Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics BA Linguistics
Cardiff University School of English, Communication and Philosophy BA English Language and Linguistics
University of Chester Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences BA English Language
University of Dundee School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law
University of Edinburgh School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences MA Linguistics
University of Essex Department of Language and Linguistics BA Linguistics
University of Glasgow School of Critical Studies MA English Language and Linguistics
Goldsmiths, University of London School of Music, English and Theatre (with the School of Computing)
University of Greenwich School of Humanities and Social Sciences BA English Language and Literature
University of Hertfordshire School of Creative Arts BA English Language and Linguistics
University of Kent The Language Centre BA English Language, Linguistics and World Literature
King’s College London School of Education, Communication and Society BA English Language and Linguistics
University of Lancashire School of Psychology and Humanities BA English Language and Linguistics
Lancaster University Linguistics and English Language BA Linguistics
University of Leeds School of Languages, Cultures and Societies BA Linguistics
University of Liverpool School of the Arts BA English Language
Liverpool Hope University School of Humanities BA English Language
University of Manchester Linguistics and English Language BA Linguistics
Manchester Metropolitan University School of English BA English Language and Linguistics
Newcastle University School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics BA Linguistics
Northumbria University School of Humanities and Social Sciences BA English Language
University of Nottingham School of English BA English Language and Literature
Nottingham Trent University School of Social Sciences BA English Language and Linguistics
Open University BA English Language
University of Oxford Department of Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics BA Modern Languages and Linguistics
University of Portsmouth School of Education, Languages and Linguistics BA English Language and Linguistics
Queen Mary University of London School of the Arts BA Linguistics
Queen’s University Belfast School of Arts, English and Languages BA English and Linguistics
University of Reading School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences or Department of English Language and Applied Linguistics BA English Language and Linguistics
University of Salford Northern School of Writing BA English Language
University of Sheffield School of English BA English Language and Linguistics
SOAS University of London Department of Linguistics BA Linguistics and…
University of Southampton Department of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics BA English Language and Linguistics
University of Stirling https://www.stir.ac.uk/research/hub/organisation/62421
University of Sussex School of Media, Arts and Humanities BA English Language and Lingusitics
Swansea University School of Culture and Communication BA English Language and Linguistics
Ulster University School of Communication and Media BSc Language and Linguistics
University College London Department of Linguistics BA Linguistics
University of Warwick Department of Applied Linguistics BA English Language and Linguistics
University of the West of England School of Arts BA English Language and Linguistics
University of Westminster College of Liberal Arts and Sciences BA English Language and Linguistics
University of Wolverhampton School of Social Science, Humanities and Creative Industries BA English Language and Literatures
University of Worcester Institute of Arts and Humanities BA English Language (Joint Honours)
University of York Department of Language and Linguistic Science BA Linguistics

Postgraduate Study

If you’re looking for a masters course in Linguistics, take a look at our list here.

Full list of Masters Courses

Online Resources for Learning Linguistics

This section brings together a range of linguistics-related materials shared by members and affiliates of the LAGB. These include resources suitable for primary, secondary and higher education, as well as general interest content.

If you find any broken links, please let us know at webmaster@lagb.org.uk.

The pages may open in a new window and may contain ads and affiliate links not endorsed by the LAGB.

The level of each resource is indicated by one or more of the following codes: HE (Higher education), SE (Secondary education), PE (Primary education), GI (General interest)

Collections of resources for online linguistics

Blogs

Exercises and projects

Podcasts

  • Lingthusiasm – a general linguistics podcast. HE, SE, GI
  • The Vocal Fries – a podcast about linguistic discrimination. HE
  • Accentricity – the connections between who we are and how we speak. HE
  • Field Notes – a podcast about linguistic fieldwork. HE

Videos

I teach English Language – where can I find CPD?

Here is a list of (semi-)regular CPD events for teachers of English Language, run by a range of providers from charities to universities.

The list includes courses aimed at primary and secondary teachers at all levels.

We can’t guarantee that they will run every year, but we list them as a guide to providers and contacts for future events. We do not endorse any particular provider or the content of their courses specifically.

London and the South East

Yorkshire and the Humber

Nothing nearby? Online resources

Head to our own list of online resources to help you out in the meantime. If you find any broken links, please let us know at webmaster@lagb.org.uk.