Overview
Newcastle University is one of the largest centres for linguistic research in Europe. This gives you the unique opportunity to learn a wide range of methodologies as part of ourĀ Linguistics or Applied Linguistics course. You will be exposed to diverse theoretical perspectives, which will enrich your own research.
Linguistics and Applied Linguistics are 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 our staff profiles in each of these Schools.
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.Ā 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
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 ourĀ Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See ourĀ terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
Qualifications explained
Find out about the different qualification options for this course.
MPhil – Master of Philosophy
An MPhil is available in all subject areas. You receive research training and undertake original research leading to the completion of a 40,000 – 50,000 word thesis.
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications
PhD – Doctor of Philosophy
A PhD is a doctorate or doctoral award. It involvesāÆoriginal researchāÆthat should make aāÆsignificant contribution to the knowledge of a specific subject. To complete the PhD you will produce a substantial piece of work (80,000 ā 100,000 words) in the form of aāÆsupervised thesis. A PhD usually takes three yearsāÆfull time.
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications
How you’ll learn
Delivery and teaching methods
Your attendance at Newcastle is flexible, depending on your fieldwork or if you are away collecting data. You’ll have regular meetings with your supervisory team, supported by email and Skype.
You’ll have opportunities to take part in seminars across the disciplines of:
- linguistics
- applied linguistics
- speech and language sciences
- education
This allows you to engage with staff and fellow students. Many of our students already have well-developed professional careers and are inspired to explore research questions arising from their experience.
You’ll work with supervisors who are responsible for guidance and advice. They will be your first point of contact if you have any academic issues. If you are based in the UK and wish to maintain your professional employment, part-time study is a flexible option.
You can choose to enter the annual competition for ESRC-funded studentships through theĀ ESRC Northern Ireland/North East (NINE) Doctoral Training Partnership. You should contact us well in advance of the February deadline if you are planning to apply.
Assessment methods
Depending on your modules, you’ll be assessed through a combination of:
- Thesis
- Viva
Additional assessment information
The Linguistics or Applied Linguistics MPhil involves research leading to the completion of a 50,000-word thesis. This is ideal if you do not need formal training (eg established scholars). You could also use the MPhil as the first stage of registering on the PhD.
The PhD is an independent, supervised research project. This leads to the production of a 100,000-word thesis. You’ll develop your own ideas and explore the field of knowledge to which your thesis topic relates. This involves:
- critical engagement with relevant literature
- selection and/or collection of data
- analysis and interpretation of the data within a specific theoretical framework
- further development of that framework
Postgraduate research student support
Our mission is to help you:
- stay healthy, positive and feeling well
- overcome any challenges you may face during your degree ā 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
Find out more about ourĀ postgraduate research student support
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 SciencesĀ (HaSS)Ā researcher development programmeĀ
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.
Youāll 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 theĀ Researcher Education and Development programme
Doctoral training and partnerships
There are opportunities to undertake your PhD at Newcastle within a:
- Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
- Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)
Being part of a CDT or DTP has many benefits:
- they combine research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics.
- youāll study alongside aāÆcohort of other PhD students
- theyāre often interdisciplinary
- yourāÆPhDĀ may be funded
If there are currently opportunities available in your subject area youāll find them when you search for funding in the fees and funding section on this course.
The following centres/partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area in the future:
- ESRC Northern Ireland/North East (NINE) Doctoral Training Partnership
- Northern Bridge Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership
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:Ā
- 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. Ā You’ll have the opportunity to get involved in the organising team of the annual Newcastle and Northumbria Postgraduate Conference in Linguistics (Toon Taaks).Ā
Our Careers Service
Our award-winningĀ 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.
Visit our Careers Service website
Quality and ranking
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research āĀ Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 āĀ Research Excellence Framework 2021
- Global Top 130 UniversityĀ – QS World University Rankings 2025
- Global Top 170 University – Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
- Top 125 for Arts and Humanities ā 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 ā Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024Ā
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
Check the governmentās website for more information.
Facilities
TheĀ School of English Literature, Language and LinguisticsĀ 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 theĀ 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:
- Tavistock North East Aphasia Centre
- Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Clinic
The School also houses theĀ 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 LibraryĀ 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 above, or international equivalent. We also usually expect a masterās degree, or international equivalent, at merit or above in a related field.Ā Ā
We especially encourage applications from students who feel they may face specific barriers in accessing higher education or who belong to groups who are under-represented in UK Higher Education.Ā These include, but are not limited to, first-generation students, applicants from minoritised ethnic groups, applicants returning to full-time education after a break, applicants with caring responsibilities, or applicants with disabilities. The School is committed to supporting you. If you would like to discuss how we can do so, please contactĀ pg.english@ncl.ac.uk.
