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BA English Language and Linguistics with Placement Experience

  • UCAS code
    Q311
  • Typical offer
    BBB
  • Year of entry
    2023/24
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  4 Years
  • Year of entry
    2023/24
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  4 Years

Explore how language lies at the heart of human life and society – and put your skills into practice on a work placement – with our BA English Language and Linguistics with Placement Experience degree.

This four-year course examines how language is crucial to our understanding of ourselves as members of society, as individuals, and as a species. An integrated placement year provides a fantastic opportunity to put your skills into practice in preparation for your future career.

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.

Placement experience

In your third year, you will complete a year-long work placement in a relevant setting.

You’ll develop an awareness of key challenges and opportunities relating to professional communication in the global workplace. Your responsibilities and activities will vary according to the nature of your placement – for example, a company, university or school.

This is a fantastic opportunity to put your skills into practice, gain first-hand experience of the sector, and boost your employability. Depending on your interests, your placement could be in environments such as the media or education.

  • Recent graduate, Hope O’Grady, shares her experience of supporting prisoners as they grapple with deportation notices during her work placement. 

As part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme, you may also have the chance to work with staff members on their research projects.

Join a friendly, supportive community, where 92% of students say that staff are good at explaining things (National Student Survey, 2022).

We are passionate about exposing you to the forefront of English language research and practice:

  • Professor Rodney Jones, who explores how digital media changes the way we communicate online, invited students to contribute to his latest research.

  • National Teaching Fellow, Professor Jane Setter, teaches five modules – in phonetics, pronunciation and varieties of English – and feeds her research into all of them.

You’ll be encouraged to follow your interests as they evolve with our diverse range of interdisciplinary modules, allowing you to gear your degree towards your career objectives.

In your final year, you will have the choice to either complete a dissertation or undertake a placement.

Study Abroad

As part of your degree, you can apply to study abroad for a semester – during spring or summer term of your second year – at one of our partner universities in Europe, Asia, the USA, Canada or Australia.

Visit the Study Abroad website for more information.

Overview

Explore how language lies at the heart of human life and society – and put your skills into practice on a work placement – with our BA English Language and Linguistics with Placement Experience degree.

This four-year course examines how language is crucial to our understanding of ourselves as members of society, as individuals, and as a species. An integrated placement year provides a fantastic opportunity to put your skills into practice in preparation for your future career.

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.

Placement experience

In your third year, you will complete a year-long work placement in a relevant setting.

You’ll develop an awareness of key challenges and opportunities relating to professional communication in the global workplace. Your responsibilities and activities will vary according to the nature of your placement – for example, a company, university or school.

This is a fantastic opportunity to put your skills into practice, gain first-hand experience of the sector, and boost your employability. Depending on your interests, your placement could be in environments such as the media or education.

  • Recent graduate, Hope O’Grady, shares her experience of supporting prisoners as they grapple with deportation notices during her work placement. 

As part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme, you may also have the chance to work with staff members on their research projects.

Learning

Join a friendly, supportive community, where 92% of students say that staff are good at explaining things (National Student Survey, 2022).

We are passionate about exposing you to the forefront of English language research and practice:

  • Professor Rodney Jones, who explores how digital media changes the way we communicate online, invited students to contribute to his latest research.

  • National Teaching Fellow, Professor Jane Setter, teaches five modules – in phonetics, pronunciation and varieties of English – and feeds her research into all of them.

You’ll be encouraged to follow your interests as they evolve with our diverse range of interdisciplinary modules, allowing you to gear your degree towards your career objectives.

In your final year, you will have the choice to either complete a dissertation or undertake a placement.

Study Abroad

As part of your degree, you can apply to study abroad for a semester – during spring or summer term of your second year – at one of our partner universities in Europe, Asia, the USA, Canada or Australia.

Visit the Study Abroad website for more information.

Entry requirements A Level BBB

Select Reading as your firm choice on UCAS and we'll guarantee you a place even if you don't quite meet your offer. For details, see our firm choice scheme.

Typical offer

BBB

International Baccalaureate

30 points overall 

Extended Project Qualification

In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) provides to students for University study, we can now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.

BTEC Extended Diploma

DDM

English language requirements

IELTS 7.0, with no component below 6.0

For information on other English language qualifications, please visit our international student pages.

Alternative entry requirements for International and EU students

For country specific entry requirements look at entry requirements by country.

International Foundation Programme

If you are an international or EU student and do not meet the requirements for direct entry to your chosen degree you can join the University of Reading’s International Foundation Programme. Successful completion of this 1 year programme guarantees you a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. English language requirements start as low as IELTS 4.5 depending on progression degree and start date.

  • Learn more about our International Foundation programme

Pre-sessional English language programme

If you need to improve your English language score you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.

  • Find out the English language requirements for our courses and our pre-sessional English programme

Structure

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 3
  • Year 4

Core modules include:

  • Sounds, Grammar and Meaning
  • English Language and Society
  • Techniques and Skills for Applied Linguistics

Optional modules include:

  • Globalisation and Language
Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Core modules include:

  • English Grammar
  • English Phonology
  • Sociolinguistics
  • Discourse Analysis

Optional modules include:

  • Introduction to English Language Teaching
  • Language and Gender
  • Language and New Media
  • Analysing Speech
  • Language and the Mind
  • Literacy, Discourse and Power
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Placement Year

Core modules include:

  • Dissertation or Professional Communication Project
  • Language in Professional Communication

Optional modules include:

  • Corpus-based Approaches to Language Description
  • Intercultural Communication
  • English Grammar and Lexis
  • English in the World
  • Child Language Development
  • Teaching the Language Skills
  • Issues in Bilingualism
  • Language and Migration
  • Introduction to Speech and Language Pathology
Please note that all modules are subject to change.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250*

New international students: £20,300

*UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes

UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Placement year fees

If you spend a full year on placement, you will only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee for that year. For more information, please see our fees and funding pages or contact placements@reading.ac.uk.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

Flexible courses (price per 10 credit module)

UK/Republic of Ireland students: £750

International students: £1,275

Careers

A degree in English language and linguistics will provide you with transferable skills for a wide range of careers. In the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019-20, overall, 100% of graduates from English Language and Applied Linguistics are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation*.


Our graduates have pursued careers in fields such as:

  • teaching, both in the UK and abroad
  • speech and language therapy
  • publishing
  • event coordination
  • journalism
  • speech writing
  • the Civil Service
  • media, including advertising, marketing and public relations
  • information technology.

Your degree could also lead to postgraduate study in a related area.

*Based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2022, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20; includes all English Language and Applied Linguistics responders.

BA English Language and Linguistics with a Placement Year

Contextual offers


We make contextual offers for all our courses.

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Related Subjects


  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • Linguistics

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