BA English Language and Linguistics
About this course
BA (Hons) in English Language and Linguistics, an English Language and Linguistics degree focusing on theoretical and empirical study of human speech. Core topics include Data Analysis and Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning. Students can undertake an industry placement or study abroad, and may complete in-house Teaching English as a Foreign Language modules. Year 1 establishes fundamentals through Understanding Language in the Real World, Language and the Mind, Structure of English, Syntactic Structures, Phonetics and Phonology, and English Past and Present. Year 2 advances into core methodologies via Aspects of a Theory of Syntax, Acoustic Phonetics and Phonological Analysis, Sociolinguistics, Foundations of Meaning, Middle English: Texts and Contexts, Language Attitudes in Applied Contexts, Teaching English as a Foreign Language I, Teaching English as a Foreign Language II, Language of Turn and Sequence, Linguistics as Data Science, and Language Acquisition. Optional modules in later stages allow specialisation in areas such as Forensic Phonetics, Multimodality: Language and the Body, Linguistic Computations: Real and Artificial Intelligence, Forensic Linguistics, Bilingualism, Psycholinguistics: Language Processing, Neurolinguistics: Language & the Brain, and Linguistic Approaches to Second Language Acquisition.
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: AAB IB: 35 points BTEC: DDD We consider a range of BTEC qualifications equivalent to 3 A Levels, or in combination with A Levels or other qualifications. For example: Distinction, Distinction in BTEC Level 3 National Diploma plus A at A Level Distinction in BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate plus AA at A level Distinction, Distinction in 2 BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificates plus A at A level
See the highest paying Languages & English degrees in the UK →
What students say
Based on about 23 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 88%
- Learning opportunities: 79%
- Assessment and feedback: 77%
- Academic support: 95%
- Organisation and management: 77%
- Learning resources: 89%
- Student voice: 72%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 45 students who started
- Continued on course: 100%
What graduates do next
Based on about 22 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 75%
- Working and studying: 5%
- Further study: 15%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 30%
- Sales occupations: 20%
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 5%
- Administrative occupations: 5%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 65%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 110 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 6%
- North West: 12%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 34%
- East Midlands: 6%
- West Midlands: 5%
- East of England: 10%
- London: 17%
- South East: 7%
- South West: 2%
- Wales: 1%
- Scotland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 55 students who started
- A levels: 91%
- Other HE qualification: 2%
- Other qualifications: 7%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Understanding Language in the Real World
- Language and the Mind
- Structure of English
- Syntactic Structures
- Phonetics and Phonology
- English Past and Present
- Aspects of a Theory of Syntax
- Acoustic Phonetics and Phonological Analysis
- Sociolinguistics
- Foundations of Meaning
- Middle English: Texts and Contexts
- Language Attitudes in Applied Contexts
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language I
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language II
- Language of Turn and Sequence
- Linguistics as Data Science
- Language Acquisition
- Forensic Phonetics
- Multimodality: Language and the Body
- TEFL II
- Linguistic Computations: Real and Artificial Intelligence
- Topics in Language Variation and Change
- Dialect Grammar of British English
- English Corpus Linguistics
- Forensic Linguistics
- English Place-names Across Time and Space
- Bilingualism
- Psycholinguistics: Language Processing
- A Usage-based View of Language
- Topics in Phonetics & Phonology
- Topics in Psycholinguistics: Language Processing
- Topics in Syntax
- Neurolinguistics: Language & the Brain
- Phonological Development
- Linguistic Approaches to Second Language Acquisition
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA English Language and Linguistics at University of York earn?
The median salary is £27,000 after 15 months, £24,000 after 3 years, £29,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £24,000 and £36,500. The £29,000 median after five years is £1,000 more than the UK median for English language.
What do graduates of BA English Language and Linguistics at University of York do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA English Language and Linguistics at University of York?
88% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA English Language and Linguistics at University of York?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 35 points in the IB. The average entrant had 134 UCAS points.
Does BA English Language and Linguistics at University of York include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA English Language and Linguistics at University of York?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.