Course summary

Why Lancaster? • Discover the fascinating science behind language – from how children acquire language skills to how machines comprehend and produce language • Prepare yourself for a range of rewarding specialist careers – from forensic linguistics to speech and language therapy • Work with experts in a department that is ranked 3rd in the world by QS 2024 • Choose from modules that explore linguistics in the contexts of psychology, computing, the law and big data • Use our labs to conduct your own research in eye-tracking or electrical activity in the brain Studying language from a scientific perspective will transform the way you think about the world. Language Science is a fast-moving and rapidly developing field that provides a gateway to careers in fields as diverse as computing, health, education and law enforcement. Discover new perspectives Language is found in almost every aspect of human life, and in this course, we study it through the lens of science. You’ll be learning about how language is constructed and how it’s used for communication and expression. As well as discovering how studying language from a scientific perspective intersects with other scientific fields, such as cognitive science, psychology, computer science and forensic science. Drawing on research conducted within our department, you’ll explore topics such as: • The structures and sounds of the world’s languages and what unites them • The cognitive marvel of how children acquire their first language • Computational linguistics and how machines comprehend and produce language You may also choose to specialise your study in areas such as psycholinguistics (the study of how linguistic behaviour relates to psychological processes), forensic linguistics (the application of linguistic knowledge and methods to legal contexts) and corpus linguistics (the computer-based study of vast text databases). Get a head start Studying Language Sciences at Lancaster University will help you develop hands-on skills in experimental methods, computing and quantitative data analysis, as well as the ability to communicate complex ideas and findings. This is a fast-moving and rapidly developing field, and you’ll hear first-hand from our experts about their latest research. You'll also be able to take advantage of our excellent research facilities - which include a phonetics lab, an eye-tracking lab and an EEG lab. Build your own degree Studying at Lancaster will give you the flexibility to customise your degree, with a selection of optional modules to complement your core studies in first and second year. In your final year, you will choose from a variety of optional modules, including: • Forensic Linguistics • Psycholinguistics • Corpus-based English Language Studies • Language, Cognition and Culture Your Placement Year You'll spend your third year in a paid, graduate-level position, where you’ll work for between nine and twelve months in the type of role that you might be considering for after you graduate. Our Careers and Placements Team will help you to secure a suitable placement with expert advice and resources, such as creating an effective CV, and tips for applications and interviews. You will still be a Lancaster University student during your placement and we’ll keep in touch to check how you are getting on. The university will use all reasonable effort to support you to find a suitable placement for your studies. While a placement role may not be available in a field or organisation that is directly related to your academic studies or career aspirations, all offer valuable experience of working at a graduate level and gaining a range of professional skills. If you are unsuccessful in securing a suitable placement for your third year, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent non-placement degree scheme and continue with your studies at Lancaster, finishing your degree after your third year.