BA Linguistics
About this course
BA (Hons) in Linguistics, an English Language and Linguistics degree exploring properties shared by all languages and their connections to the human mind. From the second year onwards, students can choose to specialise through optional papers according to individual academic interests. The first year covers foundational modules including Sounds and Words, Structures and Meanings, Language, Brains and Machines, and Linguistic Variation and Change. The second year provides broader exploration through modules such as Phonetics, Phonology and Morphology, Syntax, Semantics and Pragmatics, Historical Linguistics, History of Ideas on Language, History of English, History of French, Language Acquisition, Psychology of Language Processing and Learning, Language Typology and Cognition, and Computational Linguistics. The final year comprises a compulsory Linguistic Theory paper alongside two further papers selected from the remaining options from the second year, with potential additional activities including research trips or payment of volunteers for dissertation research.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: A*AA IB: 41-42 points, with 776 at Higher Level . We don't ask for any specific subjects to apply to Linguistics. We recommend these subjects for a strong application: an essay-based subject
See the highest paying Languages & English degrees in the UK →
What students say
Based on about 9 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 95%
- Learning opportunities: 76%
- Assessment and feedback: 85%
- Academic support: 88%
- Organisation and management: 50%
- Learning resources: 96%
- Student voice: 65%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
What graduates do next
Based on about 11 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 5%
- Further study: 15%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 25%
- Information Technology Professionals: 15%
- Teaching Professionals: 15%
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 15%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 90%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 65%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 20 graduates, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- North West: 10%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 5%
- East of England: 30%
- London: 40%
- South East: 10%
- Scotland: 5%
Who gets in
Based on about 40 students who started
- A levels: 80%
- Baccalaureate: 10%
- Other qualifications: 10%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Sounds and Words – an introduction to phonetics, phonology and morphology
- Structures and Meanings – looking at topics including sentence construction, semantics and pragmatics
- Language, Brains and Machines – considering the relationships of language to cognitive and computational factors
- Linguistic Variation and Change – contemporary linguistic variation and historical change
- Phonetics
- Phonology and Morphology
- Syntax
- Semantics and Pragmatics
- Historical Linguistics
- History of Ideas on Language
- History of English
- History of French
- Language Acquisition
- Psychology of Language Processing and Learning
- Language Typology and Cognition
- Computational Linguistics
- Linguistic Theory – a general theory paper
- 2 further papers from the remaining options from your second year
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Linguistics at University of Cambridge earn?
The median salary is £33,000 after 15 months, £34,500 after 3 years, £41,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £32,000 and £69,000. The £41,000 median after five years is £11,000 more than the UK median for Linguistics.
What do graduates of BA Linguistics at University of Cambridge do next?
85% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Linguistics at University of Cambridge?
95% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Linguistics at University of Cambridge?
The typical offer is A*AA at A level, or 41 points in the IB. The average entrant had 201 UCAS points.
How many students continue on BA Linguistics at University of Cambridge?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.