Studying with us in 2021/22
It is possible that the 2021/22 academic year may be affected by the ongoing disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Any arrangements put in place by the University for the 2021/22 academic year will be in accordance with the latest government public health advice, pandemic-related/health and safety legislation, and the terms and conditions of the student contract.
The MA in English Linguistics is a flexible distance-learning programme. You can work at your own pace fitting your study around work and other commitments.
The programme is well established, having been introduced in 1992, but it continues to evolve. It’s now delivered via the Moodle virtual learning environment with interactive content being developed exclusively for MA students.
This programme will enable you to develop advanced analytical skills and in-depth linguistic knowledge, and to gain experience as an independent researcher.
It begins with the Language Description module, designed to give you confidence in working with the essential building blocks of linguistic analysis: grammar, morphology, and phonology. You’ll then study Data, Theory & Method, covering topics such as hypothesis testing, the role of linguistic theory, data collection, academic referencing and research ethics. There are optional modules too, covering topics such as sociolinguistics, second language acquisition, spoken discourse analysis, and the history of the English language. In choosing three of these modules you can tailor your studies to your individual interests and career aspirations. The final dissertation is a piece of original research on a topic of your choice.
One of our key strengths is that the programme is taught by leading authorities on the subjects covered. Our teaching staff are active researchers who, according to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, publish world-leading journal articles, chapters and books. This research feeds directly into the MA learning materials.
You’ll be fully supported by a tutor assigned to you when you begin each module who can be contacted by email or telephone. There’s no requirement for you ever to attend the University, but there are ample opportunities for you to do so if you wish.
This is a staged qualification, meaning you can choose to exit with either a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma or you can continue to the MA stage.
“The modules are diverse and very interesting yet challenging as well. The teaching staff are brilliant and easy to communicate with via email, phone and even face to face if you make an appointment. I love that the staff are not only approachable but they offer superb feedback on formal and informal assignments. They challenge you in order to draw out your creative side and produce high level of work. The course is well structured and the modules are broad so you're covering a lot of different aspects of linguistics.” MA Linguistics graduate, 2016
Visit our School site for more student work and extra information.
Our students have progressed into jobs such as:
You may be able to take advantage of the government’s plans to make loans of up to £10,906 available for postgraduate study.
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You would normally have a UK or internationally recognised honours degree, or its equivalent, in any relevant subject. |
An alternative would be an ordinary degree/teaching certificate and two to three years' teaching experience. |
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For anyone who has studied at undergraduate level in a non-English-speaking country, we also require an English Language qualification equivalent to a British Council IELTS score of 7.0. |
Don't meet our entry requirements? You could apply for courses at our International College.
Award: MA
Starting: Oct 2021
Award: MA
Starting: Jan 2022
Award: MA
Starting: Apr 2022
Award: MA
Starting: Jul 2022
Award: MA
Starting: Oct 2021
Award: MA
Starting: Jan 2022
Award: MA
Starting: Apr 2022
Award: MA
Starting: Jul 2022
If you're unable to use the online form for any reason, you can complete our PDF application form and equal opportunities PDF form instead. The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
Fees are displayed per 20-credit module.
The cost of each 40-credit module = 2 X 20-credit modules.
The cost of each 60-credit module = 3 X 20-credit modules.
Students are required to submit a personal statement as part of their application for this course.
Your postgraduate personal statement is going to shine a light on your personal experience, academic success, personal skills and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:
Studying a postgraduate course usually means you want to specialise in something. So what’s driving you?
Show that you’ve researched the course offering. What is it about this particular course that appeals to you? Is it the lecturers? The modules? Etc.
Tutors want to know that you can handle postgraduate study, so show them how your undergraduate experiences or work life has equipped you for a more advanced level of study. Key areas to address are research and group work but this can vary depending on your chosen course.
Add anything relevant that relates back to your chosen course and shows how your skills will contribute towards your learning. What extra-curricular activities have you taken part in? What awards have you won? What employment or voluntary experience do you have that has helped you develop transferable skills? How do these specifically relate to the course you are applying for?
You should also mention your future plans and how a postgraduate qualification fits in. Try to look beyond your postgraduate study – do you plan to jump straight into a specific career or follow your studies with a research degree? Lastly, use plain, professional English and, where possible, utilise the language of your chosen industry.
Get more information on writing personal statements.
If you have any questions about applying, please contact us.
We offer further information on possible postgraduate financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):
In order to complete this course you must also successfully complete at least 60 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.
The maximum registration period on the programme is 60 months (five years). Application may be made to suspend registration if you are unable to continue for a period. This is called a temporary withdrawal. If you do take a temporary withdrawal, you should be aware that the time you take out is counted as part of the maximum registration period. There is no minimum registration period.
If you leave the course without completing successfully 180 credits, you may be entitled to be awarded an exit award of either Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits) or a Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) providing you have passed the relevant modules for these stages.
For the PGCert award, you need to complete 60 credits for two core modules: Language Description (40 credit programme module); Data, Theory & Method in Linguistics (20 credit programme module).
For the PGDip award, you need to complete a further 60 credits by choosing 3 optional modules from the following list (20 credits each): Analysis of Spoken Discourse, History of the English Language, Second Language Acquisition, Sociolinguistics.
For MA award, you also need to complete the 60 credit Major Project (Dissertation).
Successful completion of the five 'taught' modules, including Language Description and Data, Theory & Method and three of the optional modules, enables you to progress to the dissertation stage. The additional successful completion of a dissertation qualifies you for the award of Master of Arts in English Linguistics (total of 180 credits).
There are a number of opportunities to consider upon completing your MA course. Popular options include MPhil or PhD studies.
For further information on courses contact Birmingham City University Choices. Tel: 0121 331 5595. Email: choices@bcu.ac.uk, or go direct to the courses section of the website.
Although the programme is not designed to train students for a specific career, you will develop knowledge and practical skills that will enhance your employability and help you to progress in a wide range of careers. The key transferable skills you will gain on the MA programme are as follows:
OpportUNIty: Student Jobs on Campus ensures that our students are given a first opportunity to fill many part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments. By taking part in the scheme, you will gain valuable experiences and employability skills, enhancing your prospects in the job market.
It will also allow you to become more involved in University life by delivering, leading and supporting many aspects of the learning experience, from administration to research and mentoring roles.
Many of our students are English teachers who find the skills and knowledge they develop invaluable in their career development. Unlike some other programmes, however, this MA is not tied specifically to the teaching profession and opens up a wide range of opportunities for work or further study.
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
More than 50% of the students on this programme are from outside the UK. All students, wherever they are in the world, have the same access to materials, the same support from tutors and pay the same fees.
Start in January and receive a £1500 scholarship on eligible courses.
Find out moreInternational students who have a serious interest in studying with us but who perhaps cannot meet the direct entry requirements, academic or English, or who have been out of education for some time, can enter Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC) and begin their degree studies.
BCUIC is part of the global Navitas Group, an internationally recognised education provider, and the partnership allows students to access the University’s facilities and services and move seamlessly through to achieving a Bachelor’s degree from Birmingham City University.
Our English Linguistics course is delivered through the Moodle online learning resource, with online study materials to guide you through the appropriate topics, as well as providing links to other resources. You will also need textbooks, and a full reading list is provided with each module syllabus.
Although it is taught by distance learning, you will still have regular contact with your module tutor by email or telephone. We also offer optional periodic seminar talks where you can meet the course team, along with your fellow students.
One of the key strengths of the MA in English Linguistics is that it is taught by leading researchers in each of the sub-fields of Linguistics covered.
The Programme Director, Dr Andrew Kehoe, is an Associate Professor and Director of the Research & Development Unit for English Studies.
Dr Robert Lawson is a Senior Lecturer specialising in Sociolinguistics, while Dr Tatiana Tkacukova is an expert in Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
Professor Howard Jackson, author of several textbooks on English grammar, vocabulary and lexicography, established the MA in English Linguistics in 1992 and, though he has now retired from face-to-face teaching, continues to teach the MA Language Description module.
Andrew Kehoe is Director of Research in English and Director of the Research and Development Unit for English Studies (RDUES). He studied at the University of Liverpool, gaining qualifications in both English and Computer Science. He researches in the field of Corpus Linguistics: the creation and study of a collection of texts (or corpus) in order to extract new knowledge about language in use. Andrew’s particular emphasis is on the use of the web as a source of natural language data and on the development of software tools to facilitate this.
Dave Harte is Associate Professor in Journalism and Media Studies. He researches the emerging trend of local community ‘hyperlocal’ news websites and has published widely on the subject. Within the School of Media he leads on teaching and learning initiatives and teaches modules on Journalism Studies, Social Media, and Alternative and Community Media. He supervises PhDs in the areas of journalism and community media.