MSc English Language and Linguistics
University of Stirling
Key Information
Campus location
Stirling, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
12 - 24 months
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
Request info
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* For up to date fee information, please see website
Introduction
Our English Language and Linguistics postgraduate degree gives you an excellent opportunity to study the complex workings of language and explore its central role in society. With the guidance of expert staff, you’ll explore how language works, how people use it, what people use it for, where it came from and how it changes.
You’ll learn to carry out independent research and engage with other researchers by writing, debating and delivering oral and written presentations. You’ll also play an active part in our regular Linguistics Reading Group meetings, which discuss articles on important and controversial linguistic topics.
The course also provides a grounding in theories and methods that are essential for a range of careers. You’ll graduate with an expert knowledge of contemporary linguistic theories and their application in a wider cultural context – including both generative and cognitive approaches to linguistic description, as well as the contexts in which these theories operate.
Top reasons to study with us
#1 96% of our graduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes 2020/21, HESA)
#2 We are ranked Top 5 in Scotland and Top 5 in the UK for English (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023)
#3 Develop the crucial skills employers are looking for - including motivation, intelligence and the ability to meet tight deadlines
Curriculum
Course objectives
You’ll gain knowledge and understanding in specially selected areas of study, such as:
- Historical, social and regional varieties of English
- Language and cognition
- Evolutionary linguistics
You’ll be able to apply a variety of descriptive linguistic tools to language data and linguistic theories to selected specialist areas of study within English Language and Linguistics, according to your areas of interest.
You’ll plan and manage a research project under supervision. This involves independent research, including keeping track of relevant developments in your chosen field(s) and being able to set them in an appropriate context. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:
- Structure and communicate ideas effectively.
- Gather, evaluate and organise information from multiple sources.
- Engage with other researchers by writing, debating, and delivering oral and written presentations.
Research
Research in the Division of Literature and Languages scored impressively in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, with 67% of our research viewed as world-leading or internationally excellent in terms of their originality, significance and rigour. In the 'Research Impact' category of the assessment, over 80% of our work was considered world-leading or internationally excellent.