MSc English Language

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in linguistics or English Language with linguistics.

We will also consider honours degrees in modern or classical languages or in humanities such as English literature or history if your application demonstrates a particular interest in the linguistics of English.

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

Please see our webite

See our website for destinations

The compulsory courses are:

Introduction to Syntax
Introduction to Phonology OR Introduction to Phonology and Phonetics
Option courses
The option courses can be selected to tailor the programme to your interests, and you can select 40 credits from the English Language shortlist. The list may vary from year to year, but examples include:

Quantitative Methods in Linguistics and English Language
Reading Old English
Scots and Scottish English
Dialects of English in Britain and Ireland
Historical Linguistics
Cognitive Linguistics
Historical Phonology
History of Scots