Course overview
This four-year Linguistics with Chinese or Japanese degree concentrates on developing your understanding of how languages work, how we communicate, and the growth of language in the mind.
You’ll explore linguistics in the context of English and either the Chinese or Japanese language. You’ll build a firm foundation of skills and knowledge to pursue many potential career paths.
You will study the language of your choice from a beginner or advanced level depending on previous experience. Building your fluency in Mandarin Chinese or Japanese alongside your study of linguistics will give you a unique perspective on the language.
In your third year, you’ll immerse yourself in East Asian culture as you spend the year in China or Japan. You’ll further improve your language skills and confidence, and gain a first-hand appreciation for the language in context.
Our cutting-edge programme is shaped by the research specialisms of our world-leading researchers. This ensures, that your studies explore the latest ideas and most exciting areas of linguistics, such as:
- first and second language acquisition
- language evolution and computational modelling
- language variation and change
- psycholinguistics
- theoretical linguistics
Your course and study experience – disclaimers and terms and conditions Â
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.
Quality and ranking
- 8th in the UK – The Complete University Guide 2025 (Linguistics category)
- Global Top 130 University – QS World University Rankings 2025
- Top 150 for Linguistics – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
- Top 90 for Arts and Humanities – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
- Top 200 for Modern Languages – QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024
- 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
- 9th in the UK – Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 (Linguistics category)
- Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024Â
- Top 125 for Arts and Humanities – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025
- Global Top 170 University – Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024
Modules and learning
Modules
The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you’ll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage.Â
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
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
- the structure of words and sentences (morphology and syntax)
- the sounds and sound systems of language (phonetics and phonology)
- language acquisition and language variation and change
Your language modules in the School of Modern Languages will provide you with a solid foundation in the language systems (grammar, orthography, and phonetics) of Mandarin Chinese or Japanese.
You’ll develop your reading, listening, writing and speaking skills in preparation for your year abroad.
Modules
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| The Nature of Language | 20 |
| Introduction to the Structure of Language 1: Phonetics, Phonology & Morphology | 20 |
| Introduction to Language Structure 2: Syntax, semantics and pragmatics | 20 |
| Dealing with Data | 20 |
| Optional Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Level A (HE Entry Level) Chinese I | 20 |
| Level A (HE Entry Level) Chinese II | 20 |
| Level B (HE Intermediate) Chinese | 40 |
| Level A (HE Entry Level) Japanese I | 20 |
| Level A (HE Entry Level) Japanese II | 20 |
| Level B (HE Intermediate) Japanese | 40 |
| Academic Study and Research Skills | 0 |
In your Mandarin Chinese or Japanese modules you’ll continue to develop your reading, listening, writing and speaking skills in preparation for your year abroad.
Modules
Compulsory Modules
Phonological Theory (20 credits)
Syntactic Theory (20 credits)
If you’re undertaking the Japanese stream, you must take one of the following compulsory modules:
Level B (HE Intermediate) Japanese (40 credits)
Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese (40 credits)
If you’re undertaking the Chinese stream, you must take one of the following compulsory modules:
Level B (HE Intermediate) Chinese (40 credits)
Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese (40 credits)
| Optional Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Level B (HE Intermediate) Chinese | 40 |
| Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese | 40 |
| Level B (HE Intermediate) Japanese | 40 |
| Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese | 40 |
| Sociolinguistics | 20 |
| Early English: Texts, Patterns and Varieties | 20 |
| Monsters, Misery & Miracles: Heroic Life in Old English Poetry | 20 |
| Experimental Methods in Linguistics | 20 |
| Multilingualism | 20 |
| Pragmatic Theory | 20 |
| It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it: Prosody and intonation | 20 |
| Introduction to Second Language Acquisition | 20 |
Modules
| Compulsory Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Year Abroad Tutor Posts | 100 |
Optional Modules
Study Abroad (20 credits)
Year Abroad Work Placement Report (Semester 1)Â (20 credits)
Year Abroad Work Placement Report (Semester 2)Â (20 credits)
How you’ll learn
- Teaching Time
- Independent Study
Learning methods used over the year (estimated % of time)
How you’ll be assessed
- Written Exams
- Practical Exams
- Coursework
Assessment methods used over the year (estimated % of time)
You can select your remaining modules from an array of choices, each of which is closely aligned with your lecturers’ active research specialisms. These currently include:
- comparative syntax
- phonological theory
- second language acquisition
- language origins and evolution
- child language acquisition
- language change
Modules
Compulsory Modules
If you’re undertaking the Japanese stream, must take one of the following compulsory modules:
Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese (40 credits)
Level D (Further Advanced) Japanese  (40 credits)
If you’re undertaking the Chinese stream, must take one of the following compulsory modules:
Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese (40 credits)
Level D (HE Further Advanced) Chinese  (40 credits)
| Optional Modules | Credits |
|---|---|
| Level C (HE Advanced) Chinese | 40 |
| Level D (HE Further Advanced) Chinese | 40 |
| Level C (HE Advanced) Japanese | 40 |
| Level D (Further Advanced) Japanese | 40 |
| Sociolinguistics | 20 |
| Early English: Texts, Patterns and Varieties | 20 |
| Monsters, Misery & Miracles: Heroic Life in Old English Poetry | 20 |
| Experimental Methods in Linguistics | 20 |
| Multilingualism | 20 |
| Pragmatic Theory | 20 |
| It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it: Prosody and intonation | 20 |
| Introduction to Second Language Acquisition | 20 |
| Origins and Evolution of Language | 20 |
| Language in the City | 20 |
| Short-form Dissertation 1: English Language and Linguistics | 20 |
| Short-form Dissertation 2: English Language and Linguistics | 20 |
| The History of Linguistic Ideas | 20 |
| Language and Ageing | 20 |
| Advanced Second Language Acquisition | 20 |
| Laboratory Phonology | 20 |
| From Input to Output: The Blackbox of Child Language Acquisition | 20 |
| Medieval and Early Modern Meaning: English Historical Semantics | 20 |
| Dissertation/T&I Project | 20 |
Teaching and assessment
Teaching methods
You can normally expect to spend around 10 hours per week attending lectures, seminars, workshops and film screenings, plus weekly study groups.
You also spend around 25 hours per week on class preparation, reading, writing, and other kinds of independent research recommended by your tutor.
Skills and experience
Practical experience
Studying Linguistics at Newcastle means you will benefit from access to our state-of-the-art Linguistics Laboratory. The LingLab hosts collections of language data for analysis of linguistic variation and change. It also hosts a range of equipment for advanced articulatory, phonetic and psycholinguistic research. Activities are supported by a dedicated lab manager.
You will also have access to the award-winning Language Resource Centre, in the School of Modern Languages. These facilities support and facilitate your language learning, and encourage cross-cultural communication.
Research skills
As part of your degree, you will complete an independent research project in your final year. You will collaborate with a faculty member to investigate a novel topic that you are passionate about. You will also be offered a range of opportunities to participate in staff research projects.
Opportunities
Study abroad
Your third year is spent studying in a Chinese or Japanese speaking country at one of our partner institutions.Â
In China our current partner institutions include:Â
- Beijing Language and Culture University
- East China Normal University
- Hainan
- Sichuan
- Xiamen University
In Japan our current partner institutions include:Â
- Aichi
- Akita
- Dokkyo
- Fukuoka
- Hiroshima Shudo
- Hitotsubashi (Tokyo)
- Hokkaido (Sapporo)
- Hosei (Tokyo)
- Kyushu
- Iberaki (Mito)
- International Christian University (TokyoICU)
- Kobe
- Kyoto University
- Kyoto University of Foreign Studies
- Kyushu (Fukuoka)
- Nanzan (Nagoya)
- Ryukoku University (Kyoto)
- Aichi Prefectural University (Nagoya)
- Kobe City University of Foreign Studies
- Sophia University (Tokyo)
- Waseda University (Tokyo)
Facilities and environment
Facilities
You’ll be based in the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics. The School is located in the Percy Building, which is at the heart of our city-centre campus. You’ll join a lively community of students, academics, writers, and professionals.
You’ll have access to:
- A library of 1.4 million books and 54,000 journals on 26km of shelving
- The Percy Building’s student common rooms, study areas and café
- Northern Stage, Great North Museum & the Hatton Gallery for events and exhibitions
- The Students’ Union for shops, societies and gigs
- A digital media lab for developing documentaries and film-making
Our literature and creative writing teaching is linked to the Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts (NCLA) programme. This will give you regular contact with leading creative artists.
Find out more about the NCLA programme
You’ll also have access to a diverse programme of events, including spoken-word events and creative writing courses.
Support
You’ll have the support of an academic member of staff as a Personal Tutor throughout your degree to help with academic and personal issues affecting your academic progress.
Peer Mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer questions you may have when starting university.
Your future
English Language and Linguistics students acquire a range of valuable skills which equip them to pursue diverse career paths.
Your training can be used in:
- teaching English as a foreign language
- publishing
- journalism
- advertising, branding and marketing
- information services and data science
You will gain skills such as critical reasoning and problem solving, project and data management, oral and written communication, collaboration and independent research.
Our degrees provide excellent preparation for a wide number of professions. With further training, our graduates have also become:
- lexicographers
- translators and interpreters
- speech and language therapists
- social researchers
- legal sector workers (including forensic linguists)
Employability
Employability and the engagement with the wider world go hand-in-hand in this degree.
Many of our modules, particularly in your final year, model their assessments on the kind of tasks you might be employed to do:
- constructing marketing briefs
- drafting website copy
- curating exhibitions
- designing experiments
- coding websites
- analysing data
- writing a clear and persuasive argument
Beyond our modules, there are plenty of extracurricular opportunities. These range from freelance work for Newcastle’s student newspaper to paid internships in the department. In particular, the Newcastle Centre for Literary Arts hires students to work on everything from event management to app design.
Careers support
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.
Visit our Careers Service website
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 government’s website for more information.
Entry requirements
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements and offers below apply to 2025 entry.Â
| A-Level | |
|---|---|
| ABB. We welcome candidates with an A Level in Psychology, Sociology, Maths, or other Science. | |
| International Baccalaureate | |
|---|---|
| A minimum of 32 points. Candidates who have some background in Maths and Science may be interested in the cognitive/brain science and quantitative elements of the course. Candidates who prefer Arts and Humanities subjects may be interested in the historical, sociological, and literary elements of the course. | |
