This joint honours degree explores how language works, how it’s structured, interpreted and used, alongside key philosophical questions and thinking.
Studying linguistics will allow you to develop an understanding of human communication using approaches from the arts and sciences to equip you with a variety of skills. Compulsory and optional modules will allow you to explore topics such as language acquisition, syntax, language change and processing as well as phonetics – the study of how speech sounds are physically produced.
With philosophy at Leeds, you can explore fundamental questions about how we understand the world: what’s the difference between belief and knowledge? Why are we here? How do we know what we know – and can we ever know anything at all? Through core and optional modules you’ll learn how to construct arguments and study key topics such as ethics and logic, as well as specialist knowledge in topics from ancient and moral philosophy to the ethics of life and death, philosophy of language or aesthetics.
Throughout the course, you will develop valuable interpretative and analytical skills, as well as becoming a confident researcher. You will demonstrate these qualities in when you undertake a Dissertation or Final Year Project on a topic of your choice in either Philosophy or Linguistics.
Students on this 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 (Industrial Degree) is also available.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LING1100 | Language: Meaning and Use | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
| MODL1060 | Language: Structure and Sound | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
| PHIL1260 | How To Do Philosophy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Candidates will be required to study at least 20 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL1080 | The Good, The Bad, The Right, The Wrong | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL1090 | Knowledge, Self and Reality | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LING1065 | Languages of the World | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| MODL1090 | Intercultural Competence: Theory and Application | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| MODL1401 | Discourse, Culture and Identity | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| PHIL1005 | The Mind | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL1007 | Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion | 10 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL1015 | Thinking About Race | 10 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Please not 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 of discovery modules
Candidates may study up to 40 credits of discovery modules
[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.
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LING2330 | Phonetics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
| LING2340 | Syntax | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
Candidates will be required to study at least 40 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL2615 | How Do You Know? Topics in Epistemology | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL2631 | God, Thought and the World: Topics in Philosophy of Religion | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL2906 | Do the Right Thing: Topics in Moral Philosophy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL2915 | How to Live Together: Topics in Political Philosophy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL2925 | Reality Check: Topics in Metaphysics | 20 | Semester 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:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LING2065 | Data Science for Linguists | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LING2131 | Psycholinguistics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LING2360 | The Life Cycle of Languages | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LING2370 | Representation, Identity and Control | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LING2380 | Language and Gender | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LING2390 | Language Acquisition | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LING2410 | Language Change | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LING2420 | Interactional Linguistics | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LING2421 | Multilingualism in Society | 20 | Semester 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.
Students may take up to 40 credits of discovery modules.
[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.
Candidates will be required to study ONE of the following modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LING3200 | Linguistics Dissertation | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| PRHS3000 | Independent Research Project in Philosophy, Religion or History of Science | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
| PRHS3001 | Integrated Research Project in Philosophy, Religion or History of Science | 40 | Semesters 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 either PRHS3000 or PRHS3001 is taken, candidates may study up to 40 credits from the following optional modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HPSC3113 | History and Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3011 | Philosophy of Language | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3012 | Ancient Philosophy | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| PHIL3013 | Bioethics | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3015 | Non-Western Philosophy | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3016 | Philosophy of Work and Play | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| PHIL3125 | Continental Philosophy | 20 | Not running in 202627 | |
| PHIL3310 | Philosophy of Sex and Relationships | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| PHIL3322 | Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3700 | Feminist Philosophy | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3723 | War, Terror and Justice | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| PHIL3855 | Philosophical Issues in Technology | 20 | Semester 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.
If either PRHS3000 or PRHS3001 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:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LING3065 | Experimental Syntax | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LING3180 | Language and Gender | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LING3190 | Language Acquisition | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LING3220 | Representation, Identity and Control | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LING3250 | The Life Cycle of Languages | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LING3290 | Language Change | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LING3310 | Interactional Linguistics | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LING3350 | Language Processing | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LING3390 | Linguistic Technologies | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| LING3421 | Multilingualism in Society | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| LING3600 | Sociophonetics | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| MODL3650 | Minoritised Languages, Dialects and Cultures from Past to Present | 20 | Semester 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 20 credits of discovery modules.
Last updated: 30/04/2026 16:10:00
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