Modern Languages and Linguistics

University of Essex
Undergraduate BA (Hons) Full-time 4 Years LanguagesEnglish language

A-Level Entry

BBB

UCAS Points

112 - 120 points

Avg. Graduate Salary

£23,000

About this course

Explore both the theoretical aspects of the language we use, and acquire the practical ability to speak another language. Any understanding of language enhances our self-awareness, inspiring us to address fundamental questions about our communication as human beings.

Linguistics is an increasingly important subject, impacting on areas in psychology, philosophy, education and artificial intelligence. It has real-world applications in such diverse fields as human rights, computer-assisted language learning, and the study of institutional language in settings like doctor-patient interactions, interviewer-interviewee dialogues, and courtroom exchanges.

You explore a wide range of core topics in linguistics, mastering key concepts in phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics, and also investigate specialist areas including:

  • Multilingualism and language impairment

  • Language, identity and gender

  • Metaphor, irony and style

  • Language and the mind

  • American languages

    You also study up to two of the languages offered at Essex: French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, completing at least one language to Mastery level. Each of these languages is widely used in the business world, and can take you to a level of near-fluency, and so many of our graduates go on to develop successful global careers with international firms looking for language specialists.

    We also offer a month-long summer course with fees paid for by us if you start a language from scratch via the intensive route.

    We are a place where talented students become part of an academic community in which the majority of research is rated ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, placing us firmly within the top 10 departments in the UK and ranked among the top 150 departments on the planet according to the QS World [University] Rankings [2019] for linguistics.

    If you want a global outlook, are interested in human communication, and want to study for a degree with real-world practical value in a world-class department, welcome to Essex.

  • Entry Requirements

    A-Level Grades BBB
    UCAS Tariff Points 112 - 120 points
    BTEC DDM

    Career Prospects

    Graduates from this course typically go into the following occupations:

    3412 Authors, writers and translators
    4135 Library clerks and assistants
    2472 Archivists, conservators and curators
    2471 Librarians
    2492 Newspaper and periodical broadcast journalists and reporters
    2115 Social and humanities scientists

    Course Details

    Qualification
    Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)
    Study Mode
    Full-time
    Duration
    4 Years
    Start Date
    2025
    Academic Year
    2025
    Campus / Location
    Colchester
    Scheme
    Undergraduate
    Subjects
    Languages, English language
    Avg. Graduate Salary
    £23,000