Linguistics and Communication

Entry requirements

For MRes and MA by Research programmes, we usually require a good (normally a 2:1 or above) Honours degree, or an equivalent qualification if you were educated outside the UK, usually in a relevant area.

If you’re applying for a PhD , you’ll also need to hold a Masters qualification at Merit level or above (or its international equivalent), usually in a relevant area.

Any academic and professional qualifications or relevant professional experience are normally taken into account, and in some cases, form an integral part of the entrance requirements.

If you’re applying for distance learning research programmes, you’ll also need to show that you have the time, commitment, facilities and experience to study by distance learning.

You'll normally need to submit a research proposal. The word count is typically 1,000-1,500 words for Arts programmes and around 2,500 words for Law programmes. See the Application Process section for more information.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

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 highlights

At Birmingham, we offer a campus PhD and flexible distance learning PhD options for English Language and Applied Linguistics. You can study in Birmingham or anywhere in the world.

Whether you come to Birmingham or opt for distance learning, you'll keep in contact with your supervisors by email, on campus or via video call.

• Flexible research options: choose the standard PhD on campus or by distance learning, or a modular programme by distance learning.
• Access the Linguistics Research Laboratory, a 450 million word Bank of English corpus, plus electronic journals and e-books.
• Academic expertise across a range of English Language and Applied Linguistics specialisms.

Course delivery

We offer two postgraduate research-only programmes, whether you are looking to complete your academic studies with a PhD or pursue your research at Masters level.

The standard PhD programme is available on campus or by distance learning full-time or part-time. The distance modular PhD programme is only available part-time by distance learning.

The MA by Research is only available on campus, full-time or part-time.

You can choose a standard PhD programme (on campus or distance learning) with a traditional 80,000-word thesis. or a distance modular PhD made up of separate research papers which are individually assessed.

If you choose the distance modular PhD, you’ll complete a 12,000 word research paper in Module 1, a 20,000 word research paper in Module 2 and a 50,000 final thesis in Module 3.

• There are no formal lectures or seminars in a PhD or MA by Research. Instead, you’ll undertake research under the expert guidance of a primary supervisor, co-supervisor and mentor, supported by complementary research training.
• If you choose the distance modular PhD programme, you’ll follow online research training modules. You'll receive the same level of support as campus PhD researchers and keep in contact with your supervisors by email or video call.
• Your supervisory team will meet with you at regular intervals throughout your programme to offer guidance on how best to approach, implement and report on your research.
• You’re expected to take full responsibility for your work, developing your own timetable for your research project so you can successfully complete your it on time.

Information for international students

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.

For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:

• TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
• Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
• LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill

Fees and funding

The College of Arts and Law is a vibrant community of students and academics, dedicated to ensuring that excellence is rewarded, and that fears about finance do not constrain current or prospective students. For this reason, in addition to University funding schemes, we offer our own College-specific funding initiatives.