Skip navigation
Linguistics at University of Manchester - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
Apply

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

Our MA Linguistics master's course is a flexible programme that aims to explore the breadth and the depth of linguistics. It builds on the widest range of teaching and research expertise, covering all aspects of theoretical and descriptive linguistics, including:

  • Phonetics
  • Phonology
  • Morphology
  • Syntax
  • Semantics
  • Pragmatics
  • Discourse and conversation analysis
  • Typology
  • Historical linguistics
  • Sociolinguistics
  • Cognitive linguistics and psycholinguistics
  • Computational and corpus linguistics
  • Field linguistics
  • The documentation and description of endangered languages.
Our teaching staff work on various practical applications of linguistics (eg language codification and language policy, institutional language, language in the community, forensic linguistics). Our internationally-recognised expertise encompasses a breadth of languages, including English and other Germanic languages, Romance languages, Russian, Polish, Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, Kurdish and other Iranian languages, Amerindian languages, languages of South Asia, indigenous languages of Australia and historical languages such as Old English, Old Saxon and Old Norse. You will receive a solid foundation for linguistic study in three out of four core units:
  • Grammatical Theory (compulsory);
  • Phonetics and Phonology (compulsory);
  • Semantics and Pragmatics;
  • The Sociolinguistics of English.
The remainder of the course allows you to make the most of what our staff have to offer. You can either take a variety of course units in different areas, including Forensic Linguistics, or specialise in one of the following pathways: Phonetics and Phonology, Sociolinguistics, Syntax and Semantics, Typology or Romani Linguistics.

Entry requirements

We normally expect students to have a First or Upper Second class honours degree or its overseas equivalent, typically in a subject relevant to Linguistics or in Linguistics. The application form includes a personal statement section in which you must demonstrate your knowledge of and interest in the subject (between 500 and 1,500 words).

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

For fees for entry in 2025, please view the course listing on our website.

Sponsorship information

Each year the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures offer a number of School awards and Subject-specific bursaries (the values of which are usually set at Home/EU fees level), open to both Home/EU and international students. The deadline for these is early February each year. Details of all funding opportunities, including deadlines, eligibility and how to apply, can be found on the School's funding page where you can also find details of the Government Postgraduate Loan Scheme. See also the University's postgraduate funding database to see if you are eligible for any other funding opportunities. For University of Manchester graduates, the Manchester Alumni Bursary offers a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees to University of Manchester alumni who achieved a First within the last three years and are progressing to a postgraduate taught master's course. The Manchester Master's Bursary is a University-wide scheme that offers 100 bursaries worth £3,000 in funding for students from underrepresented groups. Postgraduate 1+3 funding is available from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) for students to pursue postgraduate study through a master's (one year) leading into a PhD (3 years). It requires a project proposal as part of the application.

Linguistics at University of Manchester - UCAS