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English Language and Applied Linguistics

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Language is at the heart of human life. An ever-changing medium of communication, its study is crucial to our understanding of ourselves as members of society, as individuals and as a species.

Reading’s Department of English Language and Applied Linguistics has more than 50 years of excellence in the field, and we’re in the top 150 universities in the world for these subjects (QS World Rankings by Subject, 2020). We offer dynamic and cutting-edge programmes that focus on the way that language is used in the real world. Studying how we communicate with each other in speech and in writing is a vital means of understanding ourselves as individuals and as members of our communities.

At Reading, we offer a friendly and supportive environment in which you will be able to design a course geared towards your own interests and career objectives. You can study either English language and linguistics or English literature as a single honours course. You can combine the two in our BA English Language and Literature course, or you can study either with another subject (such as BA Modern Languages, for example). Whatever you choose to study, you’ll be taught in supportive, small groups by leading experts in your subject.

We provide you with access to the Professional Track, an exciting professional development scheme. It offers a huge range of courses, placements and professional networking opportunities, allowing you to gain impressive employability skills and experience. You could take part in a variety of activities such as masterclasses in journalism, communications and PR, project work in publishing, planning social media strategies and exploring careers in marketing, the charity sector and teaching English as a foreign language. When you complete the scheme, you receive an additional certificate alongside your degree as formal recognition of your achievements.

We also offer ample opportunities for students to apply to study abroad, for either a semester or a full academic year, at prestigious universities in Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe and USA.

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About the Department

Visit the English Language and Applied Linguistics website.

After finishing my first year at the University of Reading, I realised that studying English Language here was one of the best decisions I had made during my A levels. I find it fascinating to see how one small word or sentence can have such a great effect on the world around us, and how every individual can take or draw something different from those words.

Emma Campbell
BA English Language

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