Overview

Language offers a genuine window into the mind, shaping how we express ourselves and connect with others across every culture. The BA (Hons) Linguistics at the University of York explores this scientifically, analysing spoken and written data through core areas such as syntax, phonetics, phonology, sociolinguistics and semantics, taught by researchers ranked first in the UK for the quality of their work. Students train in specialist facilities including a psycholinguistics lab, a speech lab with ultrasound imaging, and a multilingual interpreting suite. The course suits students genuinely curious about how language works, with real flexibility to specialise from the second year and the option to gain an in-house TEFL qualification.

​

What You'll Learn

• Core linguistic theory, alongside how language connects to the mind and the real world

• Syntax, phonetics and phonology as tools for analysing spoken and written language

• The structure and history of English, built up over centuries

• Sociolinguistics, language acquisition and how language varies across social contexts

• Specialist option modules such as forensic phonetics, bilingualism or teaching English as a foreign language

• Data-driven approaches to linguistics, including coding-based projects

• Small-scale linguistic project management, from research question to communicated findings

• Independent research, following your own interests in the final year

​

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to select and apply appropriate qualitative and quantitative research methods to gain a holistic understanding of language across the cognitive and social sciences. They will be equipped to approach complex, unfamiliar linguistic phenomena with confidence, identifying meaningful patterns and communicating their significance to varied audiences. Through independent project work, students will develop the ability to propose creative, principled solutions to linguistic problems, bridging the humanities and scientific disciplines. Graduates will leave with strong sensitivity to how language shapes social, cultural and political life, well prepared for careers spanning data science, speech and language therapy, publishing, marketing and academic research.