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Corpus Linguistics (Online) at Lancaster University - UCAS

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2026 - 2027
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

Lancaster is the birthplace of corpus linguistics and a world leader in the field. In this specialist online course, you’ll work with renowned experts and access cutting-edge research discoveries and software tools. You’ll analyse large language datasets with real-world applications in areas such as media, law, marketing, security, healthcare communication, literary analysis, human-machine interaction and language teaching. An ideal stepping-stone to advance your career. Why Lancaster?

  • Choose a university with a global reputation for excellence in corpus linguistics, and one of the only universities worldwide to offer full qualifications in this area
  • Learn from world-leading experts in the field of corpus linguistics and language data analysis
  • Gain advanced skills in language data analysis sought after by employers across domains and industries
  • Access Lancaster University’s extensive online resources and interact with peers and your tutors via our virtual learning site
  • Join this programme from anywhere in the world, regardless of time zone
Learn from experts Our team at Lancaster have been shaping the field of corpus linguistics since the 1970s, and we continue to be renowned for our work at the cutting-edge of the field. We are home to the ESRC research Centre for Corpus Approaches to Social Science, delivering world-leading work in corpus-based language data science. We’ve developed major corpora such as the British National Corpus 2014 and the Trinity Lancaster Corpus and led innovations in digital analysis tools. Our researchers are internationally recognised for their work in applying corpus approaches to the real world, from misinformation and social media discourse to education and public health communication as well as the development and evaluation of GenAI tools. Our team are committed, passionate and expert teachers. You will find they are readily accessible to our students and quick to share their expert insights. T his Postgraduate Diploma puts all of this expertise within your reach, wherever you are in the world. You’ll receive regular personalised feedback and take part in interactive online teaching that keeps you engaged and supported. Skills for the future There is a growing need for effective language data analysis in a large number of professions. Our Postgraduate Diploma equips you with skills to analyse large amounts of linguistic data (corpora) using cutting-edge computation technology. Taking four modules over two years, you’ll gain a strong foundation in core corpus linguistic methods, including:
  • Concordance analysis
  • Wordlists and n-gram analysis
  • Keyword and collocation analysis
  • Practical application in discourse analysis, language teaching, analysis of legal and political discourse, media, and others
You will use quantitative methods of to identify patterns in large language datasets and combine them with qualitative data analysis and interpretation. You will discuss advantages and challenges of combining corpus analysis with AI-powered tools and other evolving technologies. You’ll also explore how corpora are used in fields such as media analysis, healthcare communication, language teaching and human-machine interaction. Across all modules, the focus is on combining theory with practice, placing emphasis on the development of transferrable skills in language data analysis. The knowledge and skills gained in this programme have wide-ranging applications and can be used to respond to both current and future societal, environmental and technological challenges such as advances in AI uses. Flexible. Supportive. Inclusive This programme welcomes students from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, offering comprehensive linguistic training on-course. You don’t need prior experience in linguistics or programming - just curiosity and a desire to explore how language works.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements 2:2 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in a related subject is normally required. We will also consider applications where you have a degree in other subjects and/or extensive relevant experience. In these cases, you should clearly demonstrate how your experience and skills have prepared you for postgraduate study. English language requirements We require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.5 in reading and writing and 6.0 in listening and speaking.

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 information about fees and funding please visit our website: www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding.
Corpus Linguistics (Online) at Lancaster University - UCAS