Program Overview

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Conduct an in-depth study of the grammar of English. Learn about dialectal and social variation, language change and the pragmatics of language use, and study varieties of English used around the world. If you wish to focus specifically on the linguistics of the English language then our MA English Language and Linguistics is for you. We take a practical approach to our research through analysis of English corpora, recordings and texts. Our course allows you to cover a wide range of topics related to English, including:

• Varieties of English
• Syntactic Theory
• Semantics
• Communicating across languages and cultures
• Theory and practice in English language teaching

You also have the choice of a range of optional topics to complete your studies. We are 1st in UK for research impact in modern languages and linguistics (Grade Point Average, Research Excellence Framework 2021). We're also ranked 11th in the UK for Linguistics in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2023). If you want a global outlook, are interested in human communication, and want to study for a degree with real-world practical value in an established department, welcome to Essex. Why we're great.

• Pursue what matters to you by choosing from a wide range of specialist subjects, getting stuck in with our hands-on approach to research and theory.
• Combine your passion for linguistics and the English language.
• We are 1st in UK for research impact in modern languages and linguistics (Grade Point Average, Research Excellence Framework 2021).

Our expert staff

Our staff maintain excellent student-staff ratios with capped language-specific seminars. In theoretical linguistics, Kyle Jerro and Hannah Gibson work on the structure of words and sentences, focusing on English and other languages while Faith Chiu, Yuni Kim and Nancy Kula work on sound structure. In sociolinguistics, Enam Al Wer, Ella Jeffries and Amanda Cole all work on different aspects of how language varies, and investigate which factors cause such variation. Rebecca Clift works on conversation analysis: the investigation of naturally-occurring talk and tis integration with embodiment in interaction. In applied linguistics, Karen Roehr-Brackin and Adela Gánem-Gutiérrez focus on the learning of second and further languages, whilst Tracey Costley, Christina Gkonou and Neophytos Mitsigkas and Nasser Jabbari focus on issues to do with the classroom teaching of English as a foreign language. In psycholinguistics, Claire Delle Luche and Laurie Lawyer use experimental techniques such as eyetracking and EEG to understand how children learn language, how adults process language, and what happens when language ability is impaired by brain disorders or other factors (e.g. hearing impairment). In all of these areas, we combine a theoretical approach with high-level, qualitative and quantitative, empirical and experimental technique; in particular, we have a strong interest in recent developments in inferential statistics.

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Specialist facilities

The study of linguistics provides the opportunity for plenty of hands-on experience as well as theoretical work. You might be listening to interviews, studying language processing, or analysing sounds, so we provide extensive facilities to allow you to fully engage with a wide variety of linguistics methods:

• Our Eye-Tracking Lab has equipment for monitoring responses times and eye movements when individuals are presented with pictures and videos.
• Our Psycholinguistics Lab has computing facilities for measuring how long it takes individuals to reach to words, texts and sounds.
• Our Linguistics Lab is where we run behavioural experiments.
• Our EEG Lab is used for recording brain activity during reading, listening or watching video of language materials.

Within our department we also offer:

• An exciting programme of research seminars and other events
• Our Languages for All programme offers you the opportunity to study an additional language alongside your course at no extra cost
• Our Albert Sloman Library houses a strong collection of books, journals, electronic resources and major archives.
• Meet other language enthusiasts through out student-run Linguistics Society.

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Your future

Our course can lead to careers in areas such as academic research, publishing, journalism, administration, public service and teaching. You develop key employability skills including research design, data analysis, thinking analytically, report writing and public speaking. We also work with the University’s Careers Services to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities. Within our Department of Language and Linguistics, we also offer supervision for PhD and MPhil. We offer supervision in areas including language acquisition, language learning and language teaching, culture and communication, psycholinguistics, language disorders, sociolinguistics, conversation analysis and theoretical and descriptive linguistics. Our graduates are successful in a wide variety of career paths. They leave Essex with a unique set of skills and experience that are in demand by employers.

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One Masters not enough for you?

We offer a number of postgraduate taught dual awards with our international partners. You work for two Masters degrees, one at Essex and another at a prestigious university across the globe, gaining them both in a shorter time than studying them separately. This unique opportunity gives you a competitive edge when applying for jobs or prepares you for PhD study.