Program Overview

This four-year course examines how language is crucial to our understanding of ourselves as members of society, as individuals, and as a species. An integrated placement year provides a fantastic opportunity to put your skills into practice in preparation for your future career.

At the University of Reading, you’ll join our friendly, collaborative Department of English Language and Linguistics. We’re proud of our:

established reputation in applied linguistics. We’ve been around for more than 50 years, and offered the first linguistics degree in the UK.
global ranking.We place in the top 150 universities in the world (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2022).
thriving research environment. 98% of our research overall in Modern Languages and Linguistics was rated world leading, internationally excellent or internationally recognised (Research Excellence Framework 2014).
Our experts will support you to become a highly skilled user and analyst of the English language. As well as analysing language itself and how it works, you’ll investigate:

• Language use in different social contexts and settings, including online and offline
• How language is acquired by children and adults
• How language is taught
• The role of language in politics in an increasingly globalised world.

Alongside this, you’ll develop your knowledge of grammar, phonetics and discourse analysis, and understand how language and linguistics relates to contemporary social issues, including politics, migration, gender and sexuality.

Placement experience
In your third year, you will complete a year-long work placement in a relevant setting.

You’ll develop an awareness of key challenges and opportunities relating to professional communication in the global workplace. Your responsibilities and activities will vary according to the nature of your placement – for example, a company, university or school.

This is a fantastic opportunity to put your skills into practice, gain first-hand experience of the sector, and boost your employability. Depending on your interests, your placement could be in environments such as the media or education.

• Recent graduate, Hope O’Grady, shares her experience of supporting prisoners as they grapple with deportation notices during her work placement.

As part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme, you may also have the chance to work with staff members on their research projects.