This course is designed to develop your knowledge of how language works, in particular the English language, enabling you to describe and analyse English and other languages with accuracy and insight.

You’ll gain a solid understanding of phonetics and phonology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics, and explore how that knowledge can be applied to the practical analysis of spoken and written, literary and non-literary texts.

We place particular emphasis on analysing language in real-world contexts. Modules reflect staff expertise, which means you have the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research in your area of interest.

We have a vibrant research community of national and international students, who often collaborate on projects and present their work within the supportive environment of our annual postgraduate conference. We hold a regular research seminar programme, with presentations by staff, students and visiting guest speakers, and organise and host conferences reflecting our own research interests.

Our staff have links with scholars at many top-ranking universities worldwide, from the United States of America to the Far East. Members of staff are on the committees of significant professional organisations (such as PALA – the Poetics and Linguistics Association - and edit major journals such as the leading stylistics journal, Language and Literature.

For more information about our research areas of interest visit our Linguistics and Modern Languages research pages.

Please note: the inclusion of 'Applied' in the course title refers to the application of Linguistics across a broad range of 'real world' activity and does not imply the narrower pedagogical meaning often associated primarily with TESOL. If you are interested in teacher training courses, then please visit the University's School of Education and Professional Development.

If you are an educational professional or planning on training as a teacher of English, this is an ideal course for you. It also provides a firm foundation for doctoral research into language and linguistics. It also equips you for careers in PR, marketing, management or any position using high level communication skills.