Our new English Language and Linguistics Masters programme offers a solid grounding in key areas of linguistics and is designed for those who want to further their study of a wide range of areas of linguistics at a higher level.  

Northumbria’s MA English Language and Linguistics builds on the broad range of research expertise in the English department and will give you the chance to explore a wide range of linguistic specialisms.

During the course, you will explore key concepts and theories involved in the study of language as well as examining theories which lie behind the analysis of linguistic structure, acquisition and use, and its interfaces with other disciplines. You will also gain an in-depth knowledge of the conceptual and analytical tools necessary to conduct informed and responsible enquiry at postgraduate level in Linguistics  

Topics you could choose to study include world Englishes, sociolinguistics, language acquisition, psycholinguistics, language variation and change, the evolution of language, and forensic linguistics.  

As well as offering you the chance to improve your knowledge and understanding of the structure of language, our MA English Language and Linguistics will help you to develop skills for professional employment and further research at doctoral level.

The MA in English Language and Linguistics is offered in a traditional classroom setting with regular face-to-face contact. You will be supported by a range of subject-specific modules which are designed to help you acquire core skills appropriate to the study of English language and linguistics.  

The programme’s learning and teaching strategy will enable you to learn in a stimulating and student-centred environment. A variety of teaching methods are employed on our programme, including lectures, seminars, group workshops and individual tutorials. With the use of new technology and innovative teaching, our staff offer a progressively challenging and rewarding experience to students throughout the programme.  

The programme integrates the teaching of fundamental issues in English language and linguistics, with the research interests of the teaching team. Students will also be actively involved in the monitoring and development of the programme through feedback to Programme Management Committees.

The MA English Language and Linguistics reflects and is informed by staff interests in the field of language and linguistics.  

Each module is designed according to staff expertise, which covers a very wide range of areas of linguistics. Projects we have worked on recently have focused on a wide range of areas, including first and second language acquisition, language and social disadvantage, attitude research in sociolinguistics, linguistic variation and change, language teaching practice, second language phonology, the role of technology in language learning, the use of first language in second language classrooms, pragmatics, stylistics, the role of metaphor in classroom activities, the evolution of language, medical communication, forensic linguistics applied in policing and in courtrooms, and the use of digital technology in interviewing and representing crime victims and suspects.

Cutting-edge research undertaken by the English Language and Linguistics team has been published in leading journals and our lecturers have been invited to present their research around the world.

You will engage with a range of technology enhanced learning (TEL) activities that support the learning and teaching principles, including a virtual learning environment that delivers specific course and module information, a range of course-related activities and online interactive reading lists. You will also have access to scholarly databases and can submit coursework electronically.

Our staff constantly seek to develop new ways of engaging with technology, including the use of mobile technology, tablet devices, and social media in both directed and independent learning to improve individual and group interaction.  

The Humanities department is made up of a community of learners all the way through from foundation year and first year undergraduate to final year PhD level. All Humanities staff are engaged in research and actively create the knowledge that is taught in the department.

English Language and Linguistics MA students, as part of Northumbria’s Humanities department, will have access to the Institute of Humanities? which houses a range of specialist research resources.

MA English Language and Linguistics is part of the Department of Humanities, a vibrant research-rich department, with a broad range of research expertise.  

The subject area of English Language and Linguistics produces high quality research and has been successful in securing external funding for research projects. The subject area has hosted the journals Cognitive Linguistics and ELT Journal and staff members serve on the editorial boards for a wide range of journals.?

Programme staff are world-leading researchers with extensive experience of both teaching and?researching a wide range of areas within language and linguistics. Our MA programmes provide you with programmes of study which combine exciting subject-specific content with an emphasis on development of independent analytical and research skills, supported by knowledgeable, research-active members of staff.?? 

Employability is embedded into the programme at all stages, in the form of encouraging life-long learning, critical skills and attitudes, presentation skills, and reflective and evaluative abilities. Upon completion of the programme, you will be self-motivating, show initiative and personal responsibility, be capable of making decisions in complex situations, and possess a thirst for independent learning.

 In addition to these personal skills, as a graduate you will have demonstrated a critical awareness of the current research and scholarship within your discipline, facilitating your ability to interpret knowledge in a variety of professional fields. Our MA programmes build on existing undergraduate skills, distinguished by the level of intensity, complexity, and density of study. You will have demonstrated your advanced communication skills, media literacy, time management, ethical and professional understanding, as well as highly developed research and inquiry skills. From the start of the programme, you are encouraged to access to the central university Careers and Employment Service, and to use this service regularly to seek advice on areas such as career guidance both during and after your course.  

This Masters programme will prepare you for a wide range of careers, including journalism, public relations, advertising, marketing, communications and communication technology, artificial intelligence projects, as well as helping you to develop as a field linguist or academic. There are also careers in which linguistics is applied, such as teaching, speech therapy and forensics. More generally the programme enhances the employability of graduates in areas in which a sensitivity to language and communication are valued.

There are also considerable opportunities for you to advance your studies further, and, should you wish to do, we are are eager to offer advice on writing PhD proposals and funding applications during your studies.