MA English Language: The University of Manchester

Course description

The MA in English Language allows specialisation in the synchronic and  historical linguistics of English. The following course units will be taken:

• core course units in English Corpus Linguistics (15 credits) and The Sociolinguistics of English (15 credits)
• core course units in Research Methods I and II (2 x 15 credits)
• optional course units (60 credits altogether) specialising in the linguistics of English
• a dissertation (60 credits)

One or two of the optional course units may take the form of Directed Reading course units, available after consultation with an appropriate member of staff and the Programme Director. One or two course units may also be taken as adapted Level-3 undergraduate course units in Linguistics and English Language, which supplement the course units on offer at MA level.

Course aims

The MA course aims to provide students with access to a wide range of advanced courses in the history and linguistics of English, including the study of approaches to the English linguistic history, regional and global varieties of English, socio-historical contexts of English and language contact, the grammar, morphology and phonology of English, as well as enabling them to acquire key linguistic research skills. Students will be given experience of excellence in teaching and learning at an advanced level, in an environment where they can benefit from the fact that the School is also home to world-leading research into the structure and development of English Language.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview: An Upper Second Class Honours degree, or the overseas equivalent, in linguistics, English language, or a related subject.

English language: Students whose first language is not English require an overall IELTS score of 7.0 with 7.0 in the writing component or a TOEFL score of 600 (paper-based test), 250 (computer-based test) or 100 (internet-based test).