Experimental Linguistics BSc

University College London (UCL)

United Kingdom, London

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Home/United Kingdom/London /University College London (UCL)/Experimental Linguistics BSc

University College London (UCL)

United Kingdom , London

Key Facts

Program Level

Bachelor

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Course Code

Q102

Campuses

London

Bloomsbury

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake Deadlines 25-Jan-2023

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 3 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 29,800 / year

Apply Date 25-Jan-2023

Experimental Linguistics BSc

About

Course overview

The Experimental Linguistics BSc is a three-year course that develops students’ knowledge and expertise in modern theoretical linguistics, experimental approaches to language processing, and statistical analysis. The course shares many core elements with the Linguistics BA and we also offer a study-year abroad on the Experimental Linguistics (International Programme) BSc.

Throughout your studies, you will develop your understanding of the core areas of grammatical description:

Phonetics and phonology (how sounds are produced and perceived)
Morphology and syntax (how words are formed and combined into sentences)
Semantics and pragmatics (what sentences mean and how they are used)

In your first year, all your modules are compulsory, so you will develop a thorough understanding of the linguistics theories that will inform your education in Year Two and Year Three.

From Year Two, you will be able to tailor the course to pursue your personal interests in linguistics, language and beyond. Optional modules allow you to explore core areas in more depth, or to branch out into other areas of linguistic inquiry, such as sociolinguistics, multilingualism, and language evolution. Elective modules allow you to explore linguistic issues from the perspective of different disciplines or to develop independent interests. Students can also take elective modules from outside of the department, with many students choosing to study psychology, language sciences, or a foreign language.

The dissertation is the focus of the final year. It allows you to deepen and broaden your understanding by engaging in an in-depth research project on a topic of your choosing under the direct supervision of a member of the linguistics staff.

The course is designed to equip you with a solid knowledge of modern linguistic theory and experimental methods. You will be trained to develop your own hypotheses, gather evidence from a variety of sources, carry out statistical analyses using a variety of statistics tools and statistical tests, reason clearly, and to write in a structured and lucid way.

What this course will give you

The UCL Linguistics department is known worldwide for its teaching and research excellence and the work of our staff appears in internationally acclaimed journals and books. You will have access to extensive computer facilities and to a specialist on-site linguistics and language sciences library in addition to UCL's main library.

Your home department is based at Chandler House, a dedicated building for linguistics and language sciences. There are social and study spaces for students, with events and talks happening throughout the academic year, as well as sound-proof booths and eye-tracking facilities to conduct psycholinguistic experiments.

You will develop a broad foundation in linguistic analysis, theory, and experimental methods, while being able to pursue chosen areas in greater depth.

You will acquire a wide range of transferable skills: a broad understanding of language and languages; experimental methods, data collection and analysis; hypothesis testing; critical reading and argumentation. You will gain hands-on experience with experimental design and statistical analysis.

Our focus on small-group teaching helps create a friendly and supportive atmosphere. The department runs a mentoring scheme whereby second-year or final-year students support new students.

Additionally:

We are the top ranked university for Linguistics in London (The Guardian University Guide 2023).
UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2024).
UCL is 2nd in the world for Social Sciences (General) in the National Taiwan University Rankings for scientific papers (2023).

Linguistics is the study of the capacity to use language. Considering the world's languages, students investigate their sound patterns (Phonetics and Phonology), grammatical structures (Syntax) and meaning (Semantics and Pragmatics). On the BSc, students acquire skills in research design and data analysis, and can explore a range of experimentally-based disciplines (e.g., language acquisition, psycholinguistics, multilingualism).

Requirements

Entry Requirements

A levels IB Diploma Other qualifications

Grades: AAB
Subjects: At least one subject from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology.
GCSEs: English Language at grade B or 6 and Mathematics at grade C or 4.

Contextual offer information

Grades: BBB more about contextual offers
Subjects: At least one subject from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology.
GCSEs: English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4.

Points: 36
Subjects: A score of 17 points in three higher level subjects including one from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics or Psychology with no higher level score below 5. If Mathematics is offered at higher level, the programme will accept either 'Analysis and Approaches' or 'Applications and Interpretation.

Contextual offer

Points: 32 more about contextual offers
Subjects: A score of 15 points in three higher level subjects including one from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics or Psychology, with no higher level score below 5. If Mathematics is offered at higher level, the programme will accept either 'Analysis and Approaches' or 'Applications and Interpretation'.

UK applicants qualifications

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

Equivalent qualification

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (QCF) or BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF - teaching from 2016) with Distinction, Distinction, Distinction. Please note, where subject specific requirements are stipulated at A level we may review your BTEC syllabus to ensure you meet the subject specific requirements prior to a final decision being communicated.

D3,D3,M1 in three Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects including one of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology.

AAB at Advanced Highers (or AA at Advanced Higher and BBB at Higher), including one from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics or Psychology at Advanced Higher.

Not acceptable for entrance to this programme.

Successful completion of the WBQ Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate plus 2 GCE A-Levels at grades AAB. At least one subject from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology.

International applications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

English Program Requirements

The English language level for this programme is: Level 3

Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.

A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.

Career

The foundation of your career

Your knowledge of linguistics and the variety of transferable skills you will gain will support you pursuing a variety of career destinations.

Graduates from our Experimental Linguistics BSc have gone on to work as data analysts, IT managers, researchers and so on. They have worked in sectors such as publishing and journalism, IT and technology, at charities, and in research.

Data is from the Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of UK and EU graduates from 2017-18 to 2020-21.

Many Linguistics graduates from UCL continue studying at postgraduate level, often with a view to pursuing an academic career in research. Linguistics connects with many other disciplines and a number of graduates go on to work in these areas, e.g., natural language processing, teaching languages (especially English as a first or foreign language), speech and language therapy, advertising or the media.

Employability

In addition to subject-specific skills, you will also acquire the analytical, investigative and study skills essential for most graduate careers, which could include law, computing, commerce, and industry.

The course is designed to teach many transferable skills: