Program Overview

We are one of the largest departments for the study of language in the country and one of the most highly rated in the world (3rd in the QS World Rankings, 2025). Studying linguistics at Lancaster means you will be able to:

• Explore a wealth of Linguistics and English language-related topics – You can focus on core areas of Linguistics and English Language including the sounds and structures of English and other of the world’s languages, address theoretical questions concerning the origins, nature and development of language and its relation to mind and society, and/or explore English as it is used in a variety of contexts including politics, law, advertising and literature.
• Learn from the experts – Our staff are world leaders in their respective fields but they are also all involved in teaching to bring you the latest topics and developments in Linguistics and English Language research. Our staff are famous for their work in corpus linguistics, cognitive linguistics, linguistic typology, forensic linguistics, speech science, the language of Shakespeare, and the use of corpus linguistic methods when investigating English.
• Benefit from our world-leading facilities: As a student at Lancaster, you will gain hands-on experience of research in Linguistics and English Language through our cutting-edge labs which are furnished with the very latest equipment. These include a phonetics lab, an eye-tracking lab, a perception and learning lab, and an EEG lab.
• Experience the world: Whether it be through our Schools Volunteering module, our Work Placement schemes, or our Study Abroad options, our degree programme offers you the chance to gain valuable experiences which will stay with you for life.