The Department of Linguistics explores the uniquely human capacity for language through a diverse range of programmes. Situated within one of London’s most culturally and linguistically diverse areas, the Department combines innovation in research with a focus on understudied and diverse language contexts. We actively share insights with the wider public — teachers, professionals, speech therapists, and others — and encourage our students to do the same.
The department has been top-ranked in the UK for research quality for 20 years, in each of the last four national research assessments, and received an overall satisfaction rating of 93.1% in the National Student Survey 2020.
At undergraduate level we offer one of the most comprehensive programmes in London for the study of English Language and the study of Linguistics. We also offer a wide range of combined degrees. We arrange several bespoke career events every year for our undergraduate students, including guidance on work placement during their studies and help with preparing for a range of career options at the end of their degree.
At postgraduate level we offer an MA in Linguistics, MRes training as part of an integrated Doctoral Centre, and a thriving PhD programme. Our community of postgraduate students are part of a highly active research culture, with reading groups, visiting lectures, and workshops that take place every week and are open to all. The Department houses state-of-the-art research facilities: a Phonetics lab, a Language Acquisition lab, and a Postgraduate Research Centre. Our Alumni pages offer an overview of recently completed PhD research.
The Department engages extensively with local East London communities, with the media, and the wider public through initiatives such as Multilingual Capital and English Language Teaching Resources. We welcome student involvement in all of these initiatives, and encourage students to explore the extraordinary stic and cultural diversity of London in their studies, as we do in our own research.