Program Overview

Explore how language lies at the heart of human life and society with our BA English Language and Linguistics degree.

This course examines how language is crucial to our understanding of ourselves as members of society, as individuals, and as a species.

At the University of Reading, you’ll join our friendly, collaborative Department of English Language and Applied Linguistics. We’re proud of our:

• established reputation in applied linguistics. We’ve been around for more than 50 years, and offered the first linguistics degree in the UK.

• global ranking. We place in the top 150 universities in the world (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2022).
• thriving research environment. 100% of our research is of international standing (Research Excellence Framework 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – Modern Languages and Linguistics).

Our experts will support you to become a highly skilled user and analyst of the English language. As well as analysing language itself and how it works, you’ll investigate:

• language use in different social contexts and settings, including online and offline
• how language is acquired by children and adults
• how language is taught
• the role of language in politics in an increasingly globalised world.

Alongside this, you’ll develop your knowledge of grammar, phonetics and discourse analysis, and understand how language and linguistics relates to contemporary social issues, including politics, migration, gender and sexuality. 92% of students agreed that our staff are good at explaining things in the Department of English Language and Applied Linguistics [1].

[1] 2022 National Student Survey.

This course examines how language is crucial to our understanding of ourselves as members of society, as individuals, and as a species.

At the University of Reading, you’ll join our friendly, collaborative Department of English Language and Applied Linguistics. We’re proud of our:

• established reputation in applied linguistics. We’ve been around for more than 50 years, and offered the first linguistics degree in the UK.

• global ranking. We place in the top 150 universities in the world (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2022).
• thriving research environment. 100% of our research is of international standing (Research Excellence Framework 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – Modern Languages and Linguistics).

Our experts will support you to become a highly skilled user and analyst of the English language. As well as analysing language itself and how it works, you’ll investigate:

• language use in different social contexts and settings, including online and offline
• how language is acquired by children and adults
• how language is taught
• the role of language in politics in an increasingly globalised world.

Alongside this, you’ll develop your knowledge of grammar, phonetics and discourse analysis, and understand how language and linguistics relates to contemporary social issues, including politics, migration, gender and sexuality. 92% of students agreed that our staff are good at explaining things in the Department of English Language and Applied Linguistics [1].

[1] 2022 National Student Survey.