Applied Linguistics, Ph.D

    Applied Linguistics, Ph.D

    Duration3 year(s)
    Tuition Fee
    GBP 25,069 / year(s)
    Next IntakeOctober 1, 2026
    Applied Linguistics, Ph.D

    About

    A PhD or MPhil in Applied Linguistics enables you to undertake a substantial project led by your own passions and interests.

    The PhD takes three years full-time or six years part-time, and the MPhil takes two years full-time or four years part-time.

    You will submit a thesis up to 90,000 words for PhD assessment and 60,000 words for MPhil assessment, demonstrating original research with a significant contribution to the subject area. This is followed by an oral examination of the thesis (a viva voce examination, or viva) Our staff are members of the Language Research Centre (LRC) and we are especially interested in projects concerning:

  • Computer Assisted Language Learning
  • Cognitive Psychology of Language
  • Discourse analysis
  • Lexical Studies
  • Pragmatics
  • Psycholinguistics
  • Second language acquisition
  • Sociolinguistics
  • Vocabulary learning
  • Your project will be agreed in consultation with supervisors and we recommend these discussions are started before applying, to help draw up an initial proposal.

    You are closely supervised by two experienced academics with relevant expertise throughout the course of the project. This involves fortnightly meetings in your first term and meetings at regular agreed intervals thereafter.

    There are no taught PhD classes but if requested, you may attend MA modules relevant to your thesis. You typically undertake a number of distinct but related research studies that ultimately form the basis of your dissertation.

    You will develop and hone research skills needed for high-level work in any field of Applied Linguistics, while skills and training programmes available on campus provide further support. You will have the opportunity to deliver presentations to research students and staff at departmental seminars, and at the School of Culture and Communication Postgraduate conference. You may also have the chance to teach undergraduate tutorials and seminars from the second year, for which you receive training and payment. Financial support is also provided (subject to approval) for attending conferences or conducting research away from Swansea.

    Requirements

    Entry Requirements

    MPhil: Applicants for MPhil must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University). See our Country Specific Postgraduate Entry Requirements.

    PhD: Applicants for PhD must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level and a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’. Alternatively, applicants with a UK first class honours degree (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) not holding a master’s degree, will be considered on an individual basis. See our Country Specific Postgraduate Entry Requirements.

    English Language
    IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.

    As well as academic qualifications, Admissions decisions may be based on other factors, including (but not limited to): the standard of the research synopsis/proposal, performance at interview, intensity of competition for limited places, and relevant professional experience.

    Reference Requirement

    As standard, two references are required before we can progress applications to the School research programme Admissions Tutor for consideration.

    Applications received without two references attached are placed on hold, pending receipt of the outstanding reference(s). Please note that any protracted delay in receiving the outstanding reference(s) may result in the need to defer your application to a later potential start point/entry month, than what you initially listed as your preferred start option.

    You may wish to consider contacting your referee(s) to assist in the process of obtaining the outstanding reference(s) or alternatively, hold submission of application until references are sourced. Please note that it is not the responsibility of the University Admissions Office to obtain missing reference(s) after our initial email is sent to your nominated referee(s), requesting a reference(s) on your behalf.

    The reference can take the form of a letter on official headed paper, or via the University’s standard reference form. Click this link to download the university reference form.

    Alternatively, referees can email a reference from their employment email account, please note that references received via private email accounts, (i.e. Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail) cannot be accepted.

    References can be submitted to [email protected].

    As well as academic qualifications, Admissions decisions may be based on other factors, including (but not limited to): the standard of the research synopsis/proposal, performance at interview, intensity of competition for limited places, and relevant professional experience.

    Reference Requirement

    As standard, two references are required before we can progress applications to the College/School research programme Admissions Tutor for consideration.

    Applications received without two references attached are placed on hold, pending receipt of the outstanding reference(s). Please note that any protracted delay in receiving the outstanding reference(s) may result in the need to defer your application to a later potential start point/entry month, than what you initially listed as your preferred start option.

    You may wish to consider contacting your referee(s) to assist in the process of obtaining the outstanding reference(s) or alternatively, hold submission of application until references are sourced. Please note that it is not the responsibility of the University Admissions Office to obtain missing reference(s) after our initial email is sent to your nominated referee(s), requesting a reference(s) on your behalf.

    The reference can take the form of a letter on official headed paper, or via the University’s standard reference form. Click this link to download the university reference form.

    Alternatively, referees can email a reference from their employment email account, please note that references received via private email accounts, (i.e. Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail) cannot be accepted.

    References can be submitted to [email protected].

    English Program Requirements

    Fee Information

    Tuition Fee
    25,069 / year(s)
    Applied Linguistics, Ph.D
    Swansea University
    Swansea University
    United Kingdom

    United Kingdom, Swansea

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