BSc Linguistics
About this course
BSc (Hons) Linguistics is an undergraduate degree in the English Language and Linguistics subject area focusing on the scientific study of human language. Core topics include Data Analysis and Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning. Students complete a three-year full-time programme that includes access to specialist facilities such as an e-lab and a multilingual interpreting and translation suite. The first year introduces foundational concepts through compulsory modules such as Understanding Language in the Real World, Language and the Mind, Syntactic Structures, and Phonetics and Phonology. The second year builds upon this with compulsory study in Linguistics as Data Science, Foundations of Meaning, Aspects of a Theory of Syntax, and Acoustic Phonetics and Phonological Analysis. The final year involves advanced compulsory modules including Linguistic Computations: Real and Artificial Intelligence, Topics in Phonetics and Phonology, Topics in Language Variation and Change, Topics in Syntax, and Topics in Psycholinguistics: Language Processing. Optional modules across the course allow students to explore diverse areas such as Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Forensic Linguistics, Bilingualism, and English Corpus Linguistics.
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 BSc Linguistics (Q102) at the University of York for 2027 entry so far. The published offer is AAB at A level.
What students say
Based on about 11 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 91%
- Learning opportunities: 79%
- Assessment and feedback: 78%
- Academic support: 91%
- Organisation and management: 63%
- Learning resources: 83%
- Student voice: 85%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 60 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 97%
- Left higher education: 1%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 1%
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 10 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
- Linguistics as Data Science
- Foundations of Meaning
- Aspects of a Theory of Syntax
- Acoustic Phonetics and Phonological Analysis
- Language Acquisition
- Middle English: Texts and Contexts
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language l
- Sociolinguistics
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language II
- Language of Turn and Sequence
- Language Attitudes in Applied Contexts
- Linguistic Computations: Real and Artificial Intelligence
- Topics in Phonetics and Phonology
- Topics in Language Variation and Change
- Topics in Syntax
- Topics in Psycholinguistics: Language Processing
- The Prosody of English
- Forensic Phonetics
- Phonological Development
- Universals and Variation in Linguistic Systems
- Psycholinguistics: Language Processing
- Bilingualism
- Neurolinguistics
- Linguistic Approaches to Second Language Acquisition
- Multimodality
- Teaching English as a Foreign Language II
- English Place names across time and space
- Dialect Grammar of British English
- English Corpus Linguistics
- Forensic Linguistics
- A Usage-based View of Language
- Research extension
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BSc 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 BSc 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 BSc Linguistics at University of York?
91% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BSc Linguistics at University of York?
The typical offer is AAB at A level, or 35 points in the IB. The average entrant had 125 UCAS points.
Does BSc 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 BSc Linguistics at University of York?
97% of students continued into their second year, and 1% left higher education.