2026/27 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue

BA English Language and Linguistics

Programme overview

Programme code
BA-ELNG&LING
UCAS code
Q3Q1
Duration
3 Years
Method of Attendance
Full Time
Programme manager
Diane Nelson
Contact address
d.c.nelson@leeds.ac.uk
Total credits
360
School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme
Languages, Cultures and Societies
Examination board through which the programme will be considered
Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Groups
Linguistics
English Studies

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements are available on the Course Search entry

Programme specification

A joint honours degree allows you to study the same core topics as students on each single honours course, but
you’ll take fewer optional and discovery modules so you can fit in both subjects.
In your first year, you’ll study core modules introducing you to the structure and use of the English language, as
well as the key concepts of linguistics and phonetics such as how speech sounds are produced, how grammars are
organised and how language conveys meaning.
You’ll then be able to build on that knowledge in the following year, when you’ll learn more about phonetics and
syntax in linguistics, and the social functions of language in English. At the same time, you’ll be able to choose
from a range of optional modules. In linguistics, this could mean studying language and gender, language
acquisition or psycholinguistics, while in English you could study the language of the media, global English or
forensic linguistics.
By your final year, you’ll be able to apply the critical skills you’ve gained to an independently researched
dissertation in either subject. You’ll then choose at least two optional modules in the other subject and up to two
in either subject. Optional modules span across the full range of English Language and Linguistics, in areas such as
language processing, language and gender, or the politics of language.
Students on the three-year programme may apply for transfer to an International Degree, where there are
opportunities at our partner universities across the world where courses are taught in English. The opportunity to
apply for a work placement year (Industrial Degree) is also available..

Year 1

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

Compulsory Modules

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
ENGL1016English Structure, Style, Genre20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
ENGL1017English Variation, Creativity and Use20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING1100Language: Meaning and Use20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)PFP
LING1500Key Skills in Linguistics20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL1060Language: Structure and Sound20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)PFP

Optional Modules

Candidates may study up to 20 credits from the following optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
ENGL1110Literature, Culture and Critique20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Discovery Modules

Candidates may study up to 20 credits of discovery modules.

Year 2

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

To be eligible for a joint honours award, students must pass at least 40 credits at level 2 and 40 credits at level 3 in each of the named subjects.

Compulsory Modules

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
ENGL2023Power of Language20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
ENGL2051Language in Society20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
LING2330Phonetics20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)PFP
LING2340Syntax20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)PFP

Optional Modules

Candidates may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
ENGL2032Children, Talk and Learning20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
ENGL2033Crime Fiction Stylistics: Crossing Languages, Culture, Media20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
ENGL2034Cursing and Courtesy: (im)politeness in English20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
ENGL2037Forensic Approaches to Language20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
ENGL2038Global English: Colonialism, Postcolonialism, and Decolonisation20Not running in 202627
ENGL2039Keywords: the words we use and the ways we use them20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
ENGL2042Language Policy, Planning, and Politics20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
ENGL2047Trial Discourse: The Proceedings of the Old Bailey 1674-191320Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
ENGL2048Dialect Hunting20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
ENGL2049Language of the Media20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
ENGL2181Digital Discourse: language, social media, AI20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.

Candidates may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
LING2065Data Science for Linguists20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
LING2131Psycholinguistics20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING2360The Life Cycle of Languages20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING2370Representation, Identity and Control20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
LING2380Language and Gender20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING2390Language Acquisition20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING2410Language Change20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING2420Interactional Linguistics20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
LING2421Multilingualism in Society20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.

Discovery Modules

Students may study up to 40 credits of discovery modules.

Year 3

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

To be eligible for a joint honours award, students must pass at least 40 credits at level 2 and 40 credits at level 3 in each of the named subjects.

Optional Modules

Candidates will be required to study ONE of the following modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
ENGL3022English Language Dissertation40Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP
LING3200Linguistics Dissertation40Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)PFP

If LING3200 is taken, candidates will be required to study at least 40 credits from the following optional modules; if ENGL3022 is taken, candidates may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules (not all modules are available in each academic session):

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
ENGL3181Digital Discourse: language, social media, AI20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
ENGL3475Children, Talk and Learning20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
ENGL3476Crime Fiction Stylistics: Crossing Languages, Culture, Media20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
ENGL3477Cursing and Courtesy: (im)politeness in English20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
ENGL3479Forensic Approaches to Language20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
ENGL3481Keywords: the words we use and the ways we use them20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
ENGL3482Language Policy, Planning, and Politics20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
ENGL3485Trial Discourse: The Proceedings of the Old Bailey 1674-191320Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
ENGL3489Dialect Hunting20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
ENGL3491Language of the Media20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.

If ENGL3022 is taken, candidates will be required to study at least 40 credits from the following optional modules; if LING3200 is taken, candidates may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules:

CodeTitleCreditsSemesterPass for Progression
LING3065Experimental Syntax20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
LING3180Language and Gender20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING3190Language Acquisition20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING3220Representation, Identity and Control20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
LING3250The Life Cycle of Languages20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING3290Language Change20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING3310Interactional Linguistics20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
LING3350Language Processing20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
LING3390Linguistic Technologies20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
LING3421Multilingualism in Society20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
LING3600Sociophonetics20Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
MODL3650Minoritised Languages, Dialects and Cultures from Past to Present20Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Please note that optional modules run subject to enrolments. An optional module may not run if only a low number of students choose it.

Discovery Modules

Candidates may study up to 40 credits of discovery modules.

Last updated: 30/04/2026 16:10:00

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