English Language & English Linguistics

How is the programme structured?

Our MSc has four components:

1. Core courses in historical and contemporary English Language and English Linguistics
2. Advanced study in two subject areas.
3. Short dissertation
4. Research Training

1. Core courses in historical and contemporary English Language and English Linguistics

The key background teaching takes place in Semester 1 with the following courses:

Group A
Discourse Studies
Phonetics
Sociolinguistics

Group B
English Historical Linguistics and Medieval English Studies
Dialectology and Onomastics
Grammar and Semantics
    
You may also substitute some courses from another Masters programme in the College of Arts, e.g. Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Classics.

The courses are taught through lectures and tutorials, and each topic is assessed by means of a portfolio of essays  submitted at the end of December.

2. Advanced study in two subject areas.

Students select two subject areas from Semester 1 to study at an advanced level. These subjects are studied in small group tutuorials and individual supervisions.

3. Short Dissertation

From April to September, students work on a short dissertation (15,000 words) linking directly to work undertaken in Semester 2 with their supervisors. The Dissertation can be an end in itself, but it is envisaged that it can also act as a pilot-study for, or a component part of, a subsequent doctoral thesis.

Dissertation topics that students have completed in the last few years can be viewed here.

4. Research Training

A core Research Training Module offered in conjunction with the Arts and Humanities Graduate School’s innovative Research Training Course. Those students who are working in contemporary English linguistics with speech and language data also participate in parts of the Research Training Programme offered by Social Sciences. These courses run during Semesters 1 & 2.