PhD English Language and Applied Linguistics / MA by Research

University of Birmingham

United Kingdom, Birmingham

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Home/United Kingdom/Birmingham /University of Birmingham/PhD English Language and Applied Linguistics / MA by Research

University of Birmingham

United Kingdom , Birmingham

Key Facts

Program Level

PhD (Philosophy Doctorate)

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Online

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesJanuary-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 6 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 23,390 / year

Next Intake January-2026

PhD English Language and Applied Linguistics / MA by Research

About

Course overview

Become an expert researcher at the forefront of your field. With an international reputation as a centre of excellence, our Department of Linguistics and Communication offers campus and distance-learning PhD supervision across a broad range of research areas.

We offer research supervision in a variety of fields in English Language and Applied Linguistics. These include: corpus linguistics, cognitive linguistics and psycholinguistics, and stylistics and discourse analysis.

Specific research interests include second language acquisition, sign language and gesture, figurative language and quantitative linguistics.

You'll conduct research at a world top 50 department for Linguistics (QS World University Rankings 2024). Our expertise covers Corpus Research, Cognitive Linguistics and Psycholinguistics, and Discourse Analysis and Stylistics.

Course structure

We offer a standard PhD programme (on campus or by distance learning) and a modular PhD programme (distance learning only). This modular programme offers you more flexibility as a researcher and the option to break down the PhD into three stages. We also offer an MA by research option.

It usually takes three years (full-time) or six years (part-time) to complete a PhD, while the normal length of an MA by Research is either one year (full-time) or two years (part-time).

The Standard PhD (on campus or by distance learning)

The first year (or part-time equivalent) of a standard PhD programme usually consists of a literature review specific to your thesis and topic, along with any other relevant work or training that will prepare you for undertaking your research.

For the MA by Research, this timescale is condensed into one year.The MA by Research is assessed by a thesis of 40,000 words. An oral examination may be held at the discretion of the examiners.

The Distance Modular PhD

This is made up of separate research papers which are individually assessed. The work is examined in three phases, at the end of each module.

This offers you an incremental, continuously assessed route. You'll progress through explicitly marked stages to a PhD.

You'll identify a topic you want to work on. All of your written work should be related to this topic. However, the nature of the assessment means the topic need not be as tightly focused as a traditional PhD.

Subject-focussed work. This module includes some research training and preparation related to the subject, such as empirical work, literature searches, and research methodology.

The 12,000-word assessment may be divided into 3 x 4,000 papers or combinations amounting to the total (60 credits).

Each assessment (i.e. each module) is submitted and passed before the student can proceed to the next. One re-submission of each module is permitted.

Pass/Fail.

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Course information for prospective postgraduate students on our PhD English Language and Applied Linguistics via distance learning doctoral research degree programme at the University of Birmingham

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Applicants for postgraduate research programmes should hold a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree, with a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 75% from a recognised institution to be considered. Applicants with lower grades than this may be considered on an individual basis.

Career

The University of Birmingham is the top choice for the UK's major employers searching for graduate recruits, according to The Graduate Market 2024 report.

Your degree will provide excellent preparation for your future career, but this can also be enhanced by a range of employability support services offered by the University and the College of Arts and Law.

The University's Careers Network provides expert guidance and activities especially for postgraduates, which will help you achieve your career goals. The College of Arts and Law also has a dedicated careers and employability team who offer tailored advice and a programme of College-specific careers events.

You will be encouraged to make the most of your postgraduate experience and will have the opportunity to:

Receive one-to-one careers advice, including guidance on your job applications, writing your CV and improving your interview technique, whether you are looking for a career inside or outside of academia
Meet employers face-to-face at on-campus recruitment fairs and employer presentations
Attend an annual programme of careers fairs, skills workshops and conferences, including bespoke events for postgraduates in the College of Arts and Law
Take part in a range of activities to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to potential employers and enhance your CV

What’s more, you will be able to access our full range of careers support for up to 2 years after graduation.

Postgraduate employability: English Language and Linguistics

Birmingham's English Language and Linguistics postgraduates develop a broad range of transferable skills that are highly valued by employers, particularly in relation to verbal and written communication. They also develop crucial skills in organisation, time management, analysis and interpretation of information.

Many of our graduates enter roles for which their programme has prepared them, such as becoming a language analyst or data scientist. Others use their transferable skills in a wide range of occupations including teaching, research administration and events.