Overview
Our Linguistics and English Language Integrated PhD (IPhD) combines taught modules with original research. The course is for those who haven’t completed a programme that leads to PhD study. It will suit those with a background in linguistics, English Language or related disciplines. You’ll strengthen your knowledge base and research skills before embarking on writing a thesis.
Studying for an IPhD at Newcastle University offers many benefits and advantages, including:
- a track record in student satisfaction
- diverse staff expertise
- activities and events
- career development
- funding opportunities
We’re one of the largest centres for linguistic research in Europe. This gives you the opportunity to enrich your research. You’ll gain exposure to a wide range of methodologies and diverse theoretical perspectives.
We offer supervision in the following areas:
Linguistic theory
- phonetics and phonology
- (morpho)syntax
- pragmatics
- the lexicon
- cross-linguistic variation
- the architecture of the language faculty
- language’s place in human cognition
- the philosophy of linguistics
Language variation and change
- dialectology
- (variationist) sociolinguistics
- the sociology of language
- English historical linguistics
- corpus creation (e.g. the Diachronic Electronic Corpus of Tyneside English)
Language evolution, acquisition, and development
- typical and atypical child (L1) and adult (L2) language acquisition
- cognitive science
- information theory
- psycholinguistics
Linguistics is split across three Schools:
- School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences
- School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics
- School of Modern Languages
Our supervisors’ current research interests, projects and publications are available from the staff profiles on each of these Schools’ websites.
Research centres and institutes
Our links with research centres and institutes provide opportunities for collaboration and cross-disciplinary seminars and interest groups. Our most important connections are with:
- Centre for Research in Learning and Teaching
- Centre for Behaviour and Evolution
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Important information
We’ve highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
Your course and study experience – disclaimers and terms and conditions
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
What you’ll learn
Year one forms the taught element of the Linguistics and English Language IPhD course. You’ll study compulsory and optional modules and select a specialist pathway.
You’ll then complete a 60-credit independent research project (15,000 words).
Work experience
You can gain valuable experience in journal editing and conference organisation by joining:
- the editorial team of the annually published Newcastle and Northumbria Working Papers in Linguistics
- the organising team of the annual Postgraduate Conference in Applied and Theoretical Linguistics
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Course content changes
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Language acquisition, development and evolution pathway modules
Compulsory modules
- Research project for IPhD students (60 credits)
- Research methods for IPhD students (20 credits)
Optional modules
You must choose one of the following modules:
- Generative Syntax (20 credits)
- Issues in Phonological Theory (20 credits)
- Minimalist Syntax: Data and Theory Building (20 credits)
- Advanced Topics in Phonology (20 credits)
- Advanced Pragmatic Theory (20 credits)
You will take three of the following modules and one 20 credit option to be chosen from a list of modules given in the Programme Handbook:
- Topics in Multilingualism (20 credits)
- Advanced Topics in Second Language Acquisition (20 credits)
- Origins and Evolution of Language (20 credits)
- Learning and Learnability (20 credits)
- Foundations in Second Language Acquisition (20 credits)
Language variation and change pathway modules
Compulsory modules
- Research project for IPhD students (60 credits)
- Research methods for IPhD students (20 credits)
Optional modules
You must take one 20 credit module in advanced phonology OR in advanced syntax:
- Generative Syntax (20 credits)
- Issues in Phonological Theory (20 credits)
- Minimalist Syntax: Data and Theory Building (20 credits)
- Advanced Topics in Phonology (20 credits)
- Advanced Pragmatic Theory (20 credits)
You will take three of the following modules and one 20 credit option to be chosen from a list given in the Programme Handbook:
- Language and society (20 credits)
- Lexical Innovation (20 credits)
- The Social History of English (20 credits)
- Metropolitan Sociolinguistics (20 credits)
- English Historical Semantics (20 credits)
Formal linguistics pathway modules
Compulsory modules
- Research project for IPhD students (60 credits)
- Research methods for IPhD students (20 credits)
Optional modules
You will take three of the following modules:
- Generative Syntax (20 credits)
- Issues in Phonological Theory (20 credits)
- Minimalist Syntax: Data and Theory Building (20 credits)
- Advanced Topics in Phonology (20 credits)
- Advanced Pragmatic Theory (20 credits)
You will also take two of the following modules:
- Origins and Evolution of Language (20 credits)
- Language and Society (20 credits)
- Lexical Innovation (20 credits)
- Topics in Multilingualism (20 credits)
- Melody in Language (20 credits)
- English Historical Semantics (20 credits)
- Foundations in Second Language Acquisition (20 credits)
How you’ll learn
In year one you take compulsory and optional 12-week modules. Between mid-May and early September of year one, you’ll also work on a 15,000-word research project.
Years two, three and four constitute the research-based element of the course. You’ll write an 80,000-word thesis under the guidance and direction of two supervisors.
The course is delivered at our Newcastle city centre campus. During the research phase of the course, you can request a temporary change in the study location. This is to allow for fieldwork and data collection.
Depending on your modules, you’ll be assessed through a combination of:
- Essay
- Professional skills assessments
- Oral examination
- Oral presentation
- Practical lab report
- Poster
- Research proposal
- Research paper
- Written examination
- Written exercise
Our mission is to help you:
- stay healthy, positive and feeling well
- overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
- get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
- carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
- understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules
We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.
You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:
- research and professional skills
- careers support
- wellbeing
- health and safety
- public engagement
- academic development
Your development
Research groups
Our research groups also facilitate researchers with common interests to share ideas, develop new skills and gain feedback on their work. The groups meet regularly and include:
- Language & Cognition Research Group
- Sociolinguistics Discussion Group
- Romance Linguistics Circle
- North East Syntax Seminar
- Phonetics and Phonology Research Group
In addition to these formal groups, there are a number of informal research clubs that meet on an ad hoc basis.
Newcastle seminar series in linguistics
Throughout each semester we host a regular seminar series where internationally renowned linguistic researchers give presentations on their recent research.
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) researcher development programme
Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:
- perform better as a researcher
- boost your career prospects
- broaden your impact
Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.
You’ll cover:
- techniques for effective research
- methods for better collaborative working
- essential professional standards and requirements
Your researcher development programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.
Find out more about the Researcher Education and Development programme
Your future
Career development
You’ll develop your career within a research-led community and benefit from funding opportunities. Our recent MPhil and PhD graduates have gone into a variety of careers, including:
- academia
- education
- publishing
- university administration
Additionally, you can involve yourself in a range of activities and events. As a PhD student, you can gain experience in conference organisation. You’ll have the opportunity to get involved in the organising team of the annual Newcastle and Northumbria Postgraduate Conference in Linguistics (Toon Taaks).
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- Global Top 130 University – QS World University Rankings 2025
- Global Top 170 University – Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
- Top 125 for Arts and Humanities – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025
- Top 150 for Linguistics – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
- Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024
Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Facilities
The School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics is a lively and diverse community. We have over 700 undergraduates and 200 postgraduates.
We are based in the Percy Building. Our purpose-built postgraduate suite has dedicated computer clusters, meeting rooms, a kitchen and a lounge.
Linguistics researchers also have access to the LingLab. This space provides access to linguistics and experimental software, such as:
- CHILDES
- ELAN and CLAN
- Praat
- SONA
- LabVanced
- Gorilla
- ShinyApps
There is also a range of specialised equipment available for loan or use, including professional-quality recording equipment:
- a portable eye tracker
- a portable ultrasound machine
- a portable electroglottograph
- ultrasound tongue imaging
- multiple sound booths
- iPads
Finally, the lab also has access to several linguistic corpora, including:
- DECTE
- Transana
- ICE-GB Corpus of English
- ICE-GB Great Britain Sound Files
- BYU Corpora
We have two postgraduate research student study rooms. The larger room was recently upgraded with more workstations and a soft seating area. We have a Resource Centre and two on-site clinics:
The School also houses the Language Resource Centre. It has an extensive range of language learning facilities and resources, including:
- access to 24 satellite television channels from around the world
- listen and record facilities for speaking practice
- interactive language learning software
- an international film collection of over 800 titles
The award-winning Philip Robinson Library has an extensive audio-visual collection.
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Academic entry requirements
A 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent, in any discipline although a background in linguistics, English language or related discipline is desirable.
