English Language and/or Linguistics MLitt

Join our experts and discover your future with Newcastle University

This is an individually tailored research Master's degree designed for graduates with a good background in linguistics and/or the English language.

Our research Master's in English Language and/or Linguistics is largely based on your own research interests. We'll prepare you for further research within and beyond academia. You'll be fully supported by experts situated in one of the largest centres for linguistics research in Europe.

The individually tailored course contains some taught modules. It mostly consists of smaller, independently conducted research assignments and a larger research dissertation at the end. The topics are chosen by you, in consultation with your supervisor.

Linguistics and Applied Linguistics is split across three Schools:

• School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences
• School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics
• School of Modern Languages

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

Our supervisors' current research interests, projects and publications are available from our staff profiles in each of these Schools.

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

• 1st in the UK and 8th in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022
• 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 125 University - QS World University Rankings 2023
• Global Top 140 University - Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023
• Top 150 for Arts and Humanities – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2022
• Top 150 for Linguistics - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022

What you'll learn

Taught modules aim to extend your knowledge and skills beyond the undergraduate level and help to develop your research skills.

Compulsory Modules

• English MLitt Research Assignments 80
• English MLitt Dissertation 80
• Research methods for PhD students 20