English Language
Full-time
Three year
September 2025
In a nutshell
Language is a fundamental part of what makes us human, but how often do we stop and think about it? It is a crucial tool for us to be able to comprehend and communicate our understanding of the world around us, demanding discipline, observation, and imagination. Sound interesting? If so, our BA (Hons) English Language degree is the right option for you.
Designed to delve into the varieties and histories of the English language, this course will give you the training you need to understand how the written and spoken word is structured and acquired. Analysing the English language from a range of perspectives, you will also explore how linguistics, as the scientific study of language, provides insight into what is arguably our most treasured and useful skill. Language is the material in which our identities are forged and our greatest tool for influencing social change.
English Language at The University of Salford is part of the interdisciplinary Northern School of Writing at Salford, where students and staff work alongside colleagues in Literature and Creative Writing to expand the possibilities of our subject and enrich lives with literature.
Interested in learning more about our English language courses? You can sign-up to an Open Day or attend a campus tour.
You can also follow our #EnglishatSalford Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts, which are led by our English teaching staff; here, you can find out how we tell our story through English Literature, English Language, Creative Writing, and Drama.
You will:
- Appreciate how the study of English Language draws on and informs other academic disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, and communication
- Learn from a dedicated team of internationally recognised researchers with an excellent track record in research-led teaching and student support
- Develop skillsets and knowledge that will provide instant value to future employers
options available
students accepted
This is for you if...
You are fascinated by the spoken word and want to develop your understanding of how we structure and acquire language
You are well-read and have a keen desire to deepen your skills in critical analysis
You want to advance your knowledge and skill sets to establish a professional career in the creative industries
All about the course
Over the course of three years, this English Language degree will deepen your understanding of the fundamentals of language, its historical development, and its role in constructing identities, social relations, and practices.
As you move into the second and third year of your degree, you will be given the chance to specialise in the areas of language that interest you most, tailoring your studies to your personal aspirations and career goals. You will study language in a unique range of contexts, asking questions from how children acquire language to how the media manipulates us. You will also broaden your learning experiences with modules in related subjects like English Literature, Creative Writing, and Politics.
Do you want to expand your academic experience even further? If so, this course also offers the opportunity to undertake language study as part of the University-Wide Language Programme (UWLP). Languages currently on offer include Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and British Sign Language.
If you want to find out more about what each of our English Language modules involves, take a look at our full course breakdown below.
Critical Skills in the 21st Century
In this module, you will be introduced to the skills required for life in contemporary society. The module covers skills such as the following: argumentation, critical thinking, and clarity in written expression. Critical skills are practiced through the filter of “big ideas,” ranging from artificial intelligence to ecocriticism.
Introducing Language
This module will introduce you to the systematic study of language, with a focus on how English is organised in terms of its sounds, structures, meaning, and mental representations. We also explore how language study can be applied in the real-world.
Introduction to Stylistics
In this module you will be introduced to stylistics, which is a sub-discipline of linguistics. You will investigate style in language and how the formal linguistic aspects of texts contribute to how we interpret them. We examine how texts are memorable to us or cause us to react in particular ways. Over the course of the module, we will analyse a range of text types from prose fiction and poetry to advertisements and song lyrics.
Language, Mind and Society
Language is a phenomenon that touches on every aspect of the human experience. In this module, you will examine how language interfaces with both wider society and the human brain. You will be introduced to the study of language variation in the form of accents and dialects and, importantly, how listeners react to this sort of linguistic variation. You will also explore the basics and language acquisition and how we produce and comprehend language.
History and Diversity in English
You will be introduced to key periods in the history of the English language and characteristic features of the language in these periods. You will explore language change with reference to the different levels of language and regional variation and change in English dialects.
Structure of English
Starting from an investigation of a wide range of grammatical phenomena and constructions in modern standard English, you will develop a firm grounding in the analysis of the structure of English sentences. You will learn how to analyse and think critically about data, how to formulate rules and hypotheses, and how to test them.
Sounds of English
The sound system of English is organised by subconscious principles that shape the content of speech sounds and their patterns of occurrence. This module introduces you to the sounds of speech, syllable structure and word stress in English. You will learn how to describe and classify consonants and vowels, transcribe speech sounds, and identify and analyse syllable structure and word stress.
Truth and Meaning
How can we understand the meaning of sentences we have never heard before? You will examine the role that truth plays in the study of meaning, and learn how to analyse the meaning of English words and sentences. The module will also prepare you to seek answers to further questions about meaning in English.
You will also choose optional modules from the below:
Language and Big Data
The British National Corpus is a vast collection of over 4,000 English texts, providing a unique record of contemporary spoken and written English. In this module you will gain hands-on experience in using this and other computer-based corpora of English to answer questions about language structure and use.
Language Acquisition
Children master the basics of their first language without formal instruction from a very early age. How do they do it? What exactly do they learn? What stages do they go through? You will examine the answers to questions like these by studying the cognitive mechanisms behind the acquisition process.
Analysing Media Texts
In this module, you will explore what constitutes a media text in the 21st century. You will learn how to deconstruct media texts using tools from linguistics in order to explore ideology and manipulation in texts. You will analyse a variety of media texts ranging from news reports and advertisements to political speeches and social media by using qualitative and quantitative methods from discourse analysis.
Political Communication: Media and Democracy
This module explores the relationship between the media and politics in liberal democracies. You will focus on the nature of political media and reporting, the media's influence on politics, and how political actors use the media. You will also study the rise of the internet and new media technologies and what this means for democracy.
University Wide Language Programme
This module provides the opportunity to learn or develop a language with the University-wide language programme.
Introduction to Children’s Literature
You will look at the development of literature for children since 1744 and examine how child development determines the content within texts written for children. You will scrutinise the texts from many angles and you may even produce texts for children.
The Romantic Period: the Sublime and the Gothic
The Romantic Period was a time of revolution when radical writers began to argue for the natural rights of mankind. On this module, you will study the literature that emerged in a time of revolution while exploring how a range of writers experimented with new literary forms and styles, including the Gothic mode: a form of writing that captured contemporaneous anxieties in monstrous, terrifying, and horrific forms. By exploring ideas relating to nature, childhood, empire, and the self, you will study the ways in which the “spirit of the age” was expressed through the revolutionary compositions of Romantic writers.
Work Placement Module (English)
On the work placement module, you will have the opportunity to fulfil a module of study by finding and completing an internship or work placement related to your degree. While on your placement, you will be assigned an academic tutor from the English discipline. The tutor will meet with you to discuss the progress of your placement, help you think about what you are learning, and establish goals.
Language Project (core module)
As a core part of the third year, you will conduct an advanced research project on a topic related to English Language and Linguistics. On the module, you will be provided with in-depth training in a range of linguistic and scientific methods, which you will apply to a topic of your choice. You will be supervised by an expert in your chosen field from the English Language team. The language project expands and hones your research skills, strengthening your ability to engage with complex materials and consider real-world applications of linguistic research. You will develop your ideas and skills as an independent researcher, providing you with an excellent foundation for further study or for your chosen career.
Teaching Masterclass
This module is for students who are interested in developing and transforming the knowledge which they have gained on their degree programme into practical teaching skills. You will explore fundamental theories of pedagogy and apply them to practice in the classroom, role playing teaching situations and learning how to devise a basic lesson plan in the fields of Literature, Creative Writing, Language, and Drama. This module will develop interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills, and it will help to prepare you for transition to a PGCE.
Northern Voices
What does it mean to be ‘northern’? Where is the north and where does it begin and end? Using both archive and contemporary recordings of northern speech, this research-based module will enable you to carry out a project on an aspect of northern identity as expressed through language in the interactional and media domains.
Critical Issues in TESOL
You will develop an understanding of the global context of English language teaching and of the approaches, materials, and techniques of English language teaching to non-native speakers. You will be introduced to language learning needs analysis and develop the ability to plan and manage sequences of English language lessons.
Biography: Tradition and Innovation
This module introduces you to the rich, innovative, and subversive traditions of biography as well as ground-breaking contemporary practice. The module will explore the following issues: biography as autobiography; biography as fiction; biography as poetry; biography as visual text; biography as political critique; and biography as a way of understanding our world. Postmodern concerns about what we understand by “reality,” “life,” representation, subjectivity, and “truth” will underpin our explorations, and you will be guided through a range of key research and writing techniques as you embark upon your own biographical project.
Language and Communication
How does communication work? In this module you will examine key aspects of communication which result from the interaction of linguistic meaning, context and principles of human cognition. You will study how language is used in context by analysing data drawn from your own experience in communication.
Health Communication
In this module, you will explore healthcare communication using a range of theories and methods in linguistics ranging from corpus linguistics to conversation analysis. You will analyse language data from a diverse range of healthcare settings, such as clinical consultations, online discussions, public health campaigns and press reports. In the module, you will learn about the role that language plays in influencing our experiences and beliefs about health and illness, as well as the importance of effective healthcare communication.
Contemporary Trends in the Study of Language
This is a ‘hybrid’ module that builds on concepts, theories and methods you have studied in your degree programme, further developing your knowledge of the latest research in English language and linguistic inquiry. Some of the themes you will study are the following: The relation between language and thought; language and its relation to other systems of the mind; atypical language development. You will also be introduced some of the most important theoretical debates in the study of language in the 20th and 21st century such as the contrast between Chomskyan linguistics and earlier Structuralist and Behaviourist approaches, and the contrast between formalism and functionalism.
Shakespeare and the Play of Thought
This module explores the various ways in which cultural intertextuality informs and shapes Shakespeare's approach to character and action. To gain a broader understanding of how Shakespearean drama can be seen as 'the play of thought,' we will analyse Shakespeare's work in terms of literary theories, including new historicism, cognitive linguistics, and gender studies.
Child Language Development
This module will develop your knowledge of how children learn language, from sounds, words and grammar, to the complexities of human communication. You will explore data from real children to increase your understanding and test out the theories discussed in class.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
Be a part of a creative, supportive community
All of our English courses are delivered by the Salford School of Arts, Media, and Creative Technology. Our focus is to ensure that you have the skills you need to pursue your intellectual and career interests, and we encourage our students, past and present, to collaborate with each other and to achieve great things.
Each year through the Create Student Awards our school rewards the incredible achievements and successes of our final year and postgraduate students.
Whatever you choose to study with us, you will be mentored and supported by experts. And once you graduate, it will not end there. You will join a thriving alumni network across Greater Manchester and beyond, which means that you will be supported professionally and personally whenever you need it.
Explore our English facilities
Are you interested in learning your craft by using the same type of equipment that you will use when you are working? Study with us, and you will become confident and comfortable with industry-standard kits and facilities. You will not simply be left to work it out on your own—our experienced tutors and technicians will show you how to master everything that we have on offer.
Explore our English facilities at the University of Salford.
Northern school of writing
A collaborative school of novelists, poets, screenwriters, dramatists, journalists, podcasters, video-game and film-makers, The Northern School of Writing at Salford is a community of staff and students who read, write, research and innovate in a tradition that is rebellious, risk-taking and brave.
Our teaching, mentoring and nurturing of writers extends beyond the degree courses at the University, to our literary community in the north of Britain and the 24 publishers of the Northern Fiction Alliance.
What about after uni?
Employment
What will studying English Language at university mean when you graduate? Simply put, the possibilities are endless. Equipped with a range of transferable skillsets, our recent graduates have pursued roles in counselling, speech and language therapy and lexicography. And it does not end there. Previous students have also gone on to establish successful careers in areas as diverse as teaching, business management, HR, finance, journalism, marketing and PR and communications.
Further study
Graduates showing strong academic and research skills can pursue a further postgraduate path through our Postgraduate programmes on a full-time or part-time basis subject to a satisfactory proposal.
Career Links
This English Language course responds to the needs of industry in developing subject expertise and transferable skills appropriate to a wide range of careers.
The English Subject Group has close associations with industry and professional bodies such as:
- The BBC and ITV
- The International Anthony Burgess Foundation
- The Working Class Library Museum
- The Imperial War Museum North
- The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
- The Octagon Theatre, Bolton
- Oxford University Press
- The Linguistics Association of Great Britain
- The Linguistic Society of America
- The British Library
- The National Library of Scotland
- Scottish Language Dictionaries
- The Scottish Parliament
- The Salford Institute of Dementia
- The Stroke Association
There are also employability-linked opportunities with a large number of primary and secondary schools, enabling vital experience for would-be teachers.
What you need to know
Applicant profile
Do you have an analytical mind? Would you like to explore the building blocks of the English Language? To gain a place on this BA (Hons) English Language course, we are looking for you to be inquisitive and self-motivated, with a real thirst for knowledge. You should be comfortable working with others and have good written and verbal English skills. English Language degree courses require you to manage your own studies and carry out independent research, so it is essential that you are well-organised. It will also be advantageous if you read widely.
As part of your application, you’ll need to submit a personal statement and meet our entry requirements. This is a written piece (up to 4,000 characters) of your academic, professional/life experience and future goals.
Want to find out more about our English Language degree? You can sign-up to an Open Day or attend a campus tour.
Our supportive course enquiries team can help you with any general questions you may have. You can also explore all of our English courses.
You can follow our #EnglishatSalford Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts, which are led by our English teaching staff; here, you can find out how we tell our story through English Literature, English Language, Creative Writing, and Drama.
GCSE
GCSE English Language at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) is required. Maths at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) is preferred but not essential.
You must fulfil our GCSE entry requirements in addition to the Level 3 qualification requirements.
UCAS tariff points
104-112 UCAS Tariff Points.
A level
104-112 UCAS Tariff Points to be obtained from a minimum of two A-Levels or equivalent; must include Grade C or above in any subject. General Studies accepted.
T level
Merit.
BTEC National Diploma
DMM
BTEC Higher National Diploma
104-112 points
Access to HE
Pass Level 3 Access to HE Diploma with 104-112 points
Scottish Highers
104-112 points
Irish Leaving Certificate
104-112 points
International Baccalaureate
30-31 points
European Baccalaureate
Pass Diploma with 71% overall
International students
We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements.
If you are an international student and not from a majority English speaking country, you will need IELTS 6.0 with no element below 5.5.
We also accept a range of other English language qualifications. If you do not have the English language requirements, you could take the Pre-Sessional English course to gain entry onto this degree.
Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES)
We welcome applications from students who may not meet the stated entry criteria but who can demonstrate their ability to pursue the course successfully. Once we have received your application we will assess it and recommend it for SAES if you are an eligible candidate.
There are two different routes through the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme and applicants will be directed to the one appropriate for their course. Assessment will either be through a review of prior learning or through a formal test.
How much?
Your tuition fees are regulated by the UK government who has proposed changes to tuition fees for UK students studying in England from 1 August 2025. The fee stated reflects this proposed change, but remains subject to parliamentary approval. Your tuition fees may increase in your first and each subsequent year of your programme to the maximum amount permitted by UK law or regulation for that academic year.
Type of study | Year | Fees |
---|---|---|
Full-time home | 2025/26 | £9,535.00per year |
Full-time international | 2025/26 | £16,500.00per year |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
Scholarships for international students
If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships. Explore our international scholarships.