Program Overview

MA Applied Linguistics

The MA Applied Linguistics is a versatile and interdisciplinary programme, which aims to provide students with a solid understanding of the basis of language and linguistics. It is delivered by a team of tutors with internationally recognised academic expertise in a range of specialist areas.

Course Overview

• The programme allows students to build their own bespoke masters degree to reflect their interests in the further study of applied linguistics and create a truly individualised experience.
• Students can choose from a range of modules that create a bridge between the theory and the practice of language and linguistics, and that explore the complex understanding of language in use.
• Interactive sessions are delivered by industry experts and key researchers and include lectures and student-centred learning methodologies such as discussions, debates and role-play to stimulate learning and demonstrate modern practice.

Course Information

• The MA Applied Linguistics emphasises the application of theories in a social context, aiming to enhance students' analytical skills and their insight into the relationship between language, culture and society.
• Students will explore different approaches to linguistic study, including how we use language in connection with identity and power.
• The staff teaching on modules for this pathway are actively involved in current research, and they bring this experience to the classroom by using it to inform their teaching, thus ensuring discipline-relevant content is delivered by published experts.

Features and Benefits

• Research-informed teaching: Students will be taught by staff who are active researchers, many of whom are part of The Manchester Centre for Research in Linguistics.
• Employability-focused: Many of the assessment tasks are designed to enhance students' employability.
• Be part of a professional community: Students will be able to build their professional network through a diverse community of linguists, including both teaching staff and students from across the globe who are enrolled on the degree.

Year 1

Core Modules

• Independent Project: All students engage in a final independent project, drawing from the theoretical and practical disciplinary knowledge acquired throughout the duration of the programme.
• Sound, Structure and Meaning: This module explores the fundamental building blocks of language with a focus on sound, structure, and meaning.
• Research Methods in Applied Linguistics: This module explores both the theoretical and practical aspects of the research process in Applied Linguistics.
• Discourse Analysis and Corpus Linguistics: This module introduces students to (C)DA and the digital/computational approach of Corpus-Assisted Discourse Studies (CADS).
• Sociolinguistics And Pragmatics: This module explores the relationship between language and society in interaction, exploring how this intersects with identity construction and interpersonal relationship management.

Option Modules

• Teaching English to Young Learners: This module aims to train students to become expert teachers of English to young learners.
• Language and The Law: Language is central to the functioning of the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales to ensure that justice is served in accordance with the rule of law.
• Language, Culture and Communication: This module sits within critical intercultural communication research and engages with contemporary non-essentialist paradigms of intercultural communication.
• Language in a Globalised World: The course engages with and responds to contemporary issues pertinent to language and globalisation, drawing on current debates on the status of English in the world.
• Teaching English for Academic Purposes: This module will provide students with the core competencies required for the effective design, teaching and assessment of courses in English for Academic Purposes (EAP).

Study and Assessment

• Full-time: 20% lectures, seminars or similar; 0% placement; 80% independent study
• Part-time: 20% lectures, seminars or similar; 0% placement; 80% independent study
• Assessment: 100% coursework; 0% practical; 0% examination

Entry Requirements

• Students will normally have at least a lower second-class undergraduate UK honours degree (or international equivalent) in TESOL, Linguistics, English Language, English, Education or a related/compatible subject or combination of subjects.
• Overseas applicants will require IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in any category, or an equivalent accepted English qualification.

Fees and Funding

• UK and Channel Island students: Full-time fee £10,250 per year, Part-time fee £1709 per 30 credits
• EU and non-EU international students: Full-time fee £20,000 per year, Part-time fee £3334 per 30 credits
• Additional costs: Professional costs (optional estimate: £44), Other costs (optional estimate: £400)

Careers Support and Prospects

• The MA Applied Linguistics is designed with professional practice in mind, and each unit is designed to develop and assess both transferable technical and soft skills, which will enhance students' employability upon graduation.
• The Personal Tutoring system will be embedded into the MA Applied Linguistics programme to ensure that students analyse the opportunities available to them, recognising their developing skillsets and mapping them to career possibilities.