Linguistics courses are academic degrees that focus on studying language and its structure, development, and usage. They are a broad field encompassing phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and discourse analysis. Generally, these courses cover the nature of language, its historical and cultural evolution, the structure and function of different languages, and the psychological and social factors that shape language usage and acquisition.
One of the best countries to study linguistics is the UK. Many universities in the country have a strong tradition of excellence in language study. The best linguistics universities in the UK offer rigorous and comprehensive courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels that provide students with a solid foundation in linguistic theory and analysis. The UK is also a hub for linguistic research, as many educational institutions conduct cutting-edge research in sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and computational linguistics.
Learn more about the best linguistics universities in the UK below (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024) and begin your application to study in the UK by booking a free consultation with SI-UK India.
Top Five Universities for Linguistics in the UK
1. University of Cambridge
Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is one of the world's top public collegiate universities. It is globally renowned for its educational and research output quality. Situated within the Faculty of Modern and Mediaeval Languages and Linguistics, Cambridge linguistics courses are internationally recognised and ranked among the top three in major ranking systems.
The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes to more than 1,000 students from around the world. The Faculty has six sections covering a range of language subject areas. It is also home to the Centre for Film and Screen Studies. The Faculty is known for its interdisciplinary training, which enables students to have transferrable skills for a meaningful career in any field they choose after graduation.
- Suggested course: BA (Hons) Linguistics
- Entry requirements: A Level: A*AA; International Baccalaureate: 40-42 points, with 776 at Higher Level
- International fees: £24,507
2. Lancaster University
Lancaster University's linguistics department is one of the largest in the UK for students wishing to study foreign languages, culture and Comparative Literature. The university offers programmes in which one or more other subjects can be combined with one of the language subjects, all aimed at helping students achieve a high level of fluency in all communicative contexts. The curriculum is such that alongside the language, one also studies the culture, film, politics, and history of the countries where those languages are spoken.
- Suggested course: Linguistics BA (Hons)
- Entry requirements: IB: 35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 Higher Level subject
- International fees: £23,750
3. University of Oxford
The most prestigious university in the world, founded in 1096, the University of Oxford offers several linguistics degrees through the Faculty of Linguistics, Philology & Phonetics. The courses in the department have been designed to give students a comprehensive understanding of language, its structure, and the social, historical and cultural contexts.
Specific Modern Languages programmes provide both practical linguistic training in the language and extensive study of many areas of European Literature. The university has several undergraduate and master's degrees in linguistics with diverse language options. The courses at the University of Oxford enable students to get trained by the best faculty at excellent facilities, which makes employers worldwide choose them on a priority basis.
- Suggested course: BA Modern Languages and Linguistics
- Entry requirements: A-levels - AAA; Advanced Highers - AA/AAB; International Baccalaureate - 38 (including core points) with 666 at HL
- International fees: £38,550
4. University of Edinburgh
One of the UK's most prominent public research universities, the University of Edinburgh, was established in 1583 and offers undergraduate, postgraduate and research courses, apart from a host of CPD and short-term courses. The focus of the school is on understanding how languages and texts work across national boundaries, how they basically function and how they interact. The university brings together the academic disciplines of English Literature, film studies, creative writing, intercultural communication, linguistics and translation studies. The university also has an international reputation for interdisciplinary research in Literature, linguistics, languages, and intercultural communication.
- Suggested course: MA Linguistics
- Entry requirements: IB: 36 points with 665 at HL
- International fees: £26,500
5. University College London
Language courses at UCL have been designed so that students can develop foreign language skills and have a broad cultural awareness. Courses are combined with other subjects such as international business, tourism, or teaching English to speakers of other languages. The duration of most undergraduate courses is around 3-4 years, but some short-term courses are also available. A few postgraduate degrees are available, including an MA in applied linguistics for TESOL, an MA in English language and linguistics, and an MA in TESOL.
- Suggested course: Linguistics BA
- Entry requirements: IB: 36 points and a score of 17 points in three higher-level subjects, preferably including English Language, with no higher-level score below 5.
- International fees: £28,100
Study Linguistics in the UK
Are you considering studying a Linguistics programme in the UK? Arrange a free consultation with SI-UK to get all your questions regarding course selection, entry requirements, and scholarship opportunities answered.
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