Lecturer in Linguistics
Department of Linguistics
& School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics
BA Linguistics and...
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Key information
Key information
- Duration
- 3 or 4 years, depending on precise combination
- Start of programme
- September
- Attendance mode
- Full-time
- Location
- Russell Square, College Buildings
- Fees
-
Home student fees: £9,250
Overseas student fees: £21,160Please note that fees go up each year.
See undergraduate fees for further details. - Entry requirements
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A Levels: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB
-
Austria: Reifeprufungszeugnis / Maturazeugnis: four subjects at 1, 2, 2, 2
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
Belgium: Diploma van Secundair Onderwijs: 75% (7.5/10, 15/20) overall
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBBInformation for prospective students from Belgium
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Bulgaria: Diploma za Zavarsheno Sredno Obrazovanie: 5.3 and 5.0 in two State Maturity Exams
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
Canada: High School Diploma: 80% with 5 acceptable Grade 12 subjects (most territories).
British Columbia: AABBB in Grade 12 courses.A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBBInformation for prospective students from Canada
-
China: Senior Secondary Graduation Certificate + Gaokao: 78% overall in Gaokao PLUS 85% overall in Senior Secondary School Graduation Certificate (year 11 and 12)
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBBInformation for prospective students from China
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Croatia: Matura Certificate: 4.5 overall with 5 in 1 Higher level subject
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
Cyprus: Apolytirion with 2 A-Levels: Apolytirion 18/20 + A-level grades BB
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
Czech Republic: Matura Certificate: 1, 2, 2, 2
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
Denmark: Studentereksamen; Hojere Forberedelseseksamen; Hojere Handelseksamen; Hojere Teknisk Eksamen: 7 plus 10, 7, 7 in three Level A subjects
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBBInformation for prospective students from Denmark
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Estonia: Gümnaasiumi lõputunnistus with the Riigieksamitunnistus: 4.0 with 85%, 80%, and 80% in 3 state exams
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
Finland: Ylioppilastukint / Studentexamen: four subjects at 6, 5, 5, 5
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
France: French Baccalaureat or Option Internationale du Baccalauréat (OIB): 13/20
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBBInformation for prospective students from France
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Germany: Abitur: 1.8
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBBInformation for prospective students from Germany
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Greece: Apolytirion of Geniko Lykeio with Pan Hellenic exams: 18/20
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBBInformation for prospective students from Greece
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Hong Kong: Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education: 544 in two electives and one core (all other subjects grade 3)
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBBInformation for prospective students from Hong Kong
-
Hungary: Matura (Erettségi): 4.5 overall
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
Iceland: Stúdentspróf: 7.5
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
India: Standard XII: 75% (CBSE, CISCE, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra & West Bengal boards), 80% (all other state boards)
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBBInformation for prospective students from India
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Ireland: Irish Leaving Certificate: H1, H2, H2, H3, H3
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
Israel: Bagrut: Overall grade of 7, 80% with 3 subjects at 5-unit level
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBBInformation for prospective students from Israel
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Italy: Diploma Consequito con L’Esame di Stato: 80% overall
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBBInformation for prospective students from Italy
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Latvia: Certificate of General Secondary Education: 88% in four State subject exams
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
Lithuania: Brandos Atestatas: 8.5/10 and 90%, 85%, 85% in three State Exam
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBBInformation for prospective students from Lithuania
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Malta: Advanced Matriculation Certificate: AB (Advanced) + BBB (Intermediate)
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
Netherlands: Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs: 7.5 overall with 8, 8, 7, 7 in four subjects
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
Norway: Vitnemål vidergaende opplaering: 4.3 overall
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBBInformation for prospective students from Norway
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Poland: New Polish Matura: 75% in three Advanced Level subjects
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBBInformation for prospective students from Poland
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Portugal: Diploma de Ensino Secundario: overall 17.5/20
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
Romania: Diploma de Bacalaureat: 8.5 overall
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBBInformation for prospective students from Romania
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Singapore: Polytechnic Diploma (Nanyang, Ngee Ann, Singapore, Temasek and Republic Polytechnic): GPA 3.3
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBBInformation for prospective students from Singapore
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Slovakia: Maturitná skúška / Maturita / Vysvedčenie o maturitnej skúške: four subjects at 1, 2, 2, 2
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
South Africa: National Senior Certificate: 77666
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBBInformation for prospective students from South Africa
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Spain: Curso de Orientación Universitaria / Título de Bachillerato: 7.5
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBBInformation for prospective students from Spain
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Sweden: Slutbetyg / Examensbevis från Gymnasieskolan: A in 1200 credits and no grades below D / 18 / mainly B overall (MVG/VG)
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
Switzerland: Federal Maturity Certificate: 4.5
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
Tanzania: Advanced Certificate of Secondary Education: ACSE with BBB in 3 principle subjects
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
Trinidad and Tobago: CAPE: Six CAPE units with grade 2 (+two double-unit courses)
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
Turkey: Lise Diplomasi: 78-83% (depending on high school)
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
USA: High School Diploma plus ACT, SAT, or AP exams:
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High School Diploma GPA 3.0 plus SAT 1280 or ACT 27 and 2 AP's at 4,4
or -
High School Diploma GPA of 3.2 plus 2 AP's at 4,4
or -
High School Diploma GPA 3.4 plus SAT 1300 or ACT 29
or -
2-year Associate degree GPA 3.1
A Level equivalent: ABB
Contextualised offer: BBB -
-
See undergraduate entry requirements and English language requirements for international and alternative entry requirements.
Course overview
The BA Linguistics combined degree gives you the tools to understand how the world’s languages differ and how they are similar, how they relate historically and interact today, and above all how they are structured. Linguistics takes you beyond merely speaking a language, and helps you see how languages, in all their diversity, actually function.
Modern linguistics is the scientific study of all aspects of the world’s languages from their sound systems and grammatical structure through to the interaction of language with culture, the study of meaning in language, and the use of language in modern technology.
Linguistics at SOAS is all about appreciating the diversity of cultures beyond Europe and the English-speaking world. Anyone who has a particular interest in the languages of a country or region in Asia, Africa or the Middle East will feel very much at home on this programme. More generally, Linguistics is the ideal subject for those who are interested in human culture and psychology, but who enjoy approaching questions about our world in a systematic, precise, logical intellectual framework.
Why study Linguistics at SOAS?
- We are ranked 12th in the UK for Modern Languages (QS World University Rankings 2023)
- Modern Languages and Linguistics at SOAS has been ranked 10th in the UK in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.
- We've also been ranked 4th for research environment - with 100% of our research ranked as 'internationally excellent' and 85% as 'world-leading' - and 8th for research outputs in the REF 2021
- SOAS is unique in the UK for offering a range of subject combinations that include the opportunity to study the languages, literature, and cultures of Africa, Asia and the Near and Middle East
- unparalleled range of options in choosing their second subject of study
- unrivalled staff expertise in the UK and worldwide in a wide range of Asian, African, Middle Eastern and Australian languages
- access to SOAS’s library, one of the UK’s five dedicated national research libraries
- dedicated Linguistics Resource Room, with computers, sound-proofed recording booth, video and audio editing facilities
Degree combinations
May be combined with
- Arabic +, QT16 BA/ALG
- Chinese +, QT11 BA/CHLG
- Development Studies , LQ93 BA/DVSLG
- East Asian Studies
- Japanese +, QT12 BA/JLG
- Korean +, QTCJ BA/KOLG
- Languages and Cultures TR44 LCL
- Politics , QL24 BA/LngPol
- Social Anthropology , LQ61 BA/LGSA
+ 4-year degree with (compulsory) one year spent abroad
++ 3 or 4-year degree with option of one year abroad
Key information set data
Structure
Learn a language as part of this programme
Degree programmes at SOAS - including this one - can include language courses in more than forty African and Asian languages. It is SOAS students’ command of an African or Asian language which sets SOAS apart from other universities.
Students take 120 credits per year composed of Core, Compulsory and Optional modules.
- Core modules: A core module is required for the degree programme, so must always be taken and passed before you move on to the next year of your programme.
- Compulsory modules: A compulsory module is required for the degree programme, so must always be taken, and if necessary can be passed by re-taking it alongside the next year of your programme.
- Optional modules: These are designed to help students design their own intellectual journey while maintaining a strong grasp of the fundamentals.
Students taking the BA Linguistics and ... together with a language (when combined with BA Languages and Cultures, BA Arabic, or BA East Asian Studies) may spend the second or third year of their degree as year abroad.
Important notice
The information on the website reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. The modules are indicative options of the content students can expect and are/have been previously taught as part of these programmes. However, this information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.
Year 1
Core module
Core modules must be passed in order to proceed to the following year of study.
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Linguistics | 15 |
Compulsory modules
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Languages of the World | 15 |
| Sounds, grammar and meaning in language | 15 |
| Language, Learning and Writing | 15 |
Other subject
Students take 60 credits from their other subject.
Year 2 - linguistics pathway
Core module
Students will take the following core module.
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Approaches to Syntax | 15 |
Compulsory modules
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Research | 15 |
| Meaning and Interpretation | 15 |
Guided options
Choose 15 credits from list A or open options.
Other subject
Students take 60 credits from their other subject.
Year 2 - translation pathway
Core module
Students will take the following core modules:
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Translation Theory | 15 |
Compulsory modules
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Translating Cultures 1 | 15 |
| Understanding Texts | 15 |
Guided options
Choose 15 credits from list B or open options
Other subject
Students take 60 credits from their other subject.
Year 3/4- linguistics pathway
Year 3 or Year 4 for combined degrees with a year abroad
Core module
Students will take the following module:
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Independent Study Project in Linguistics | 30 |
Compulsory modules
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Advanced Topics in Linguistics | 15 |
Guided options
Choose 15 credits from list A or open options.
Other subject
Students take 60 credits from their other subject.
Year 3/4 - translation pathway
Year 3 or Year 4 for combined degrees with a year abroad
Core module
Students will take a 30 credit Translation project as the core module
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Translation Project | 30 |
Compulsory modules
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Translation Technology | 15 |
Guided options
Choose 15 credits from list B or open options
Other subject
Students take 60 credits from their other subject.
List A - guided options, linguistics pathway
Year 2, 3 and 4
List B - guided options, translation pathway
Year 2, 3 and 4
| Module | Credits |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Research | 15 |
| Introduction to audiovisual translation | 15 |
| Approaches to Syntax | 15 |
| Philosophies of Language | 15 |
Teaching and learning
The linguistics component of the combined subject degree is designed to develop a comprehensive understanding of the way that languages are universally structured and trains students to master all the basic skills necessary for the analysis of different sound systems and semantics (the study of meaning in language). In addition, students may also take modules dealing with language and social communication (focusing on the interaction of language and social groups), morphology (the structure of words), historical linguistics (the historical development of languages), phonetics and the structure of an African or Asian language.
Contact hours
Each module generally involves a 2-hour lecture and a tutorial, a 1-hour small-group discussion class each week. The tutorial is intended for further discussion of points made in the lecture and for the development of linguistic problem-solving skills.
Assessment varies according to the nature of the modules. Introductory modules are assessed in the end of year exams in May/June. Other modules may involve written examinations, practical tests, course work, essays or a combination of these.
Year abroad
If linguistics is studied with a language, the second or third year of the degree is usually spent abroad.
SOAS Library
SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.
Fees and funding
Fees for 2023/24 entrants per academic year
| Programme | Full-Time | |
|---|---|---|
| UK students | Overseas students | |
|
BA, BSc, LLB |
£9,250 |
£21,160 |
| BA/BSc Language year abroad | £1,385 | £10,580 |
Please note that fees go up each year.
See undergraduate fees for further details.
Employment
Graduates of the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with skills in written and oral communication, analysis and problem solving.
Recent graduates have been hired by:
- Africa Matters
- Amnesty International
- Arab British Chamber of Commerce
- BBC World Service
- British High Commission
- Council for British Research in the Levant
- Department for International Development
- Edelman
- Embassy of Jordan
- Ernst & Young
- Foreign & Commonwealth Office
- Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies
- Middle East Eye
- Saïd Foundation
- TalkAbout Speech Therapy
- The Black Curriculum
- The Telegraph
- United Nations Development Programme
- UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
- Wall Street Journal
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