BA Linguistics
About this course
BA (Hons) Linguistics is an undergraduate degree within the English Language and Linguistics subject area that explores the science of communication and language structures. Core topics include Data Analysis and Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning. Students complete a dissertation in the final year. The first year introduces foundational concepts through compulsory modules such as Understanding Language in the Real World, Language and the Mind, Syntactic Structures, Phonetics and Phonology, and English Past and Present. The second year develops core theory with compulsory modules including Acoustic Phonetics and Phonological Analysis, Aspects of a Theory of Syntax, and Foundations of Meaning. Optional modules in the second year cover areas such as Middle English: Texts and Contexts, Language Acquisition, Linguistics as Data Science, Teaching English as a Foreign Language I, Teaching English as a Foreign Language II, Language of Turn and Sequence, Sociolinguistics, and Language Attitudes in Applied Contexts. The final year allows students to select from various advanced optional modules spanning Forensic Phonetics, Multimodality: Language and the Body, 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 and Phonology, Topics in Psycholinguistics: Language Processing, Topics in Syntax, Neurolinguistics: Language and the Brain, Phonological Development, 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
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Real offers for this course
Applicants have posted 1 UCAS decision for BA Linguistics (Q101) at the University of York for 2027 entry so far. The published offer is AAB at A level.
What students say
Based on about 18 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 83%
- Learning opportunities: 76%
- Assessment and feedback: 73%
- Academic support: 90%
- Organisation and management: 79%
- Learning resources: 95%
- Student voice: 77%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
What graduates do next
Based on about 13 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 60%
- Working and studying: 15%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 40%
- Administrative occupations: 10%
- Sales occupations: 10%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Artistic, literary and media occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 75%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 75%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 25%
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 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
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
- Syntactic Structures
- Phonetics and Phonology
- English Past and Present
- Structure of English
- Acoustic Phonetics and Phonological Analysis
- Aspects of a Theory of Syntax
- Foundations of Meaning
- Middle English: Texts and Contexts
- Language Acquisition
- Linguistics as Data Science
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language I
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language II
- Language of Turn and Sequence
- Sociolinguistics
- Language Attitudes in Applied Contexts
- Forensic Phonetics
- Multimodality: Language and the Body
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language 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 and Phonology
- Topics in Psycholinguistics: Language Processing
- Topics in Syntax
- Neurolinguistics: Language and the Brain
- Phonological Development
- Linguistic Approaches to Second Language Acquisition
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA 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 less than the UK median for Linguistics.
What do graduates of BA Linguistics at University of York 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 York?
83% 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 York?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 35 points in the IB. The average entrant had 152 UCAS points.
Does BA 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 Linguistics at University of York?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.