Overview
The focus of this iPhD is the application of phonetics and phonology in:
- first and second language acquisition
- sociolinguistics
- speech science
- language patterning
The Phonetics and Phonology integrated PhD has a large taught and assessed component as well as a supervised research element. The foundation is a common core of modules dealing with essential theoretical issues and research methods. You are also offered specialised modules which act as the basis for your thesis.
You’ll have an individual course of study based on your needs and the sponsor’s requirements.
One of the strengths of the course is that it brings together the teaching and research expertise of staff belonging to the Phonetics and Phonology Research Group. This group is composed of students and staff working in phonetics and phonology across three of our academic schools:
- School of Education, Communication, and Language Sciences (ECLS)
- School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics (SELLL)
- School of Modern Languages (SML)
This widens the pool of modules that are available. It enables you to interact with staff and students from a wide variety of backgrounds and expertise. Our particular areas of strength are in:
- phonetics and phonology in first/second language acquisition and bilingualism
- sociophonetic perspectives on speech perception and production
- role of voice quality in speech processing
- laboratory phonology and links between phonetics and phonology
- phonetic and phonological characteristics of languages and language description in segmental and suprasegmental aspects
- prosody and timing in the world’s languages
- neurocognition of speech and language processing with focus on phonetics, phonology, and prosody
The cross-cutting theme within these areas that we are all interested in is the link between:
- perception
- production
- learning
Our perception research looks at the role of speakers and listeners in shaping linguistic systems and sound change.
Work on production and learning covers our interest in investigating meaningful sound patterning. This includes:
- how it’s acquired
- stored
- produced within a social context
Our work also investigates categorical and graded aspects of speech and the role of language-specific factors in shaping these categories.
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Important information
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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
In year one you’ll take 6 core modules. You’ll also be able to select one optional module from one of the following areas:
- sociolinguistics
- language development
- second language acquisition
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.
Phonetics and Phonology Integrated PhD modules
How you’ll learn
The iPhD is structured over four years, full time. A typical course consists of:
- taught stage (year one) – you’ll take six core modules
- research stage (years two, three and four) – you’ll undertake a supervised research project within our areas of specialisation
Depending on your modules, you’ll be assessed through a combination of:
- Case study
- Computer assessment
- Essay
- Lab exercise
- Professional skills assessments
- Oral examination
- Oral presentation
- Performance
- Practical lab report
- Poster
- Reflective log
- Research proposal
- Research paper
- Written exercise
Additional assessment information
The research element is assessed through a thesis of 80,000 words.
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
The core supervisory team in theoretical and experimental phonetics and phonology includes colleagues from:
Speech and Language Sciences
School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics
School of Modern Languages
Biosciences Institute in the Medical School
Your development
Research skills
When you reach the research stage, you are encouraged to become a member of the British Association of Academic Phoneticians (BAAP). This is the professional organisation for phoneticians in Britain.
Its members are involved in research in:
- phonetics
- teaching phonetics in higher education
- the application of phonetic knowledge in areas such as speech and language therapy, speech technology and forensic science
The Association holds a Colloquium every two years. This provides an opportunity for members and invited participants to:
- meet
- present their research
- discuss issues of concern to the academic community
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
Graduate destinations
Recent graduates of phonetics and phonology at Newcastle University have worked on a variety of languages and dialects, including:
- Arabic (a range of dialects)
- Chinese
- English
- German
- Japanese
- Malaysian
- Malayalam
- Polish
- Serbian
- Thai
Our graduates go on to work in:
- academic institutions across the world
- public and private institutions specialising in health sciences, media and communication, speech technology and forensic science
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 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 Phonetics Lab forms part of Newcastle’s linguistics laboratory that received recent funding from the UKRI World-Class Science Laboratories (c.80K for improvements and new purchases of equipment and software). This is one of the UK’s largest groupings of speech and language specialists. Alongside standard acoustic analysis software and high-quality recording equipment, our facilities include:
- ultrasound tongue imaging (UTI) (fixed and portable)
- electropalatography (EPG)
- nasometry and airflow measures
- electroglottography (EGG) (fixed and portable)
- eye-tracking
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
This provides the means of undertaking a wide range of acoustic, articulatory and perceptual investigations.
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Academic entry requirements
A 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent, or a master’s degree in an appropriate subject.
