Applied Linguistics and Communication
MA
Course overview
Our MA Applied Linguistics and Communication gives you the opportunity to explore language and communication from a wide variety of perspectives. It is designed to cultivate your understanding of key concepts, issues and theories, while also developing your analytical and empirical skills, so you can investigate and deal with real-world language issues applicable to a variety of domains and careers.聽
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Why choose this course?
- Applied linguistics has been taught by experienced, world-leading academics at 糖心logo入口 since 1965. Our centre of teaching and research excellence has contributed greatly to the field over the years.
- Our most recent external examination reported: 'very high levels of professionalism and real quality in teaching. Students taking this unique course are getting the best in terms of professional practice and support. They are also allowed to develop their own interests and demonstrate independence of both skills and knowledge.鈥�
- This Master's degree is unique in offering you a choice between two dissertation pathways: an empirical research investigation, or an independent library-based project on a relevant topic. It is ideal if you want to gain experience useful in furthering your career prospects and professional development, or if you have an interest in doctoral research and aspire to work in higher education.
- It offers you flexibility in how you attend classes. You can choose to take a route through the course on campus, online or via a combination of both.聽
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What will I learn?
Core modules will introduce you to qualitative and quantitative research methods for undertaking your own empirical and/or theoretical research into language and language behaviour and sub-domains of applied linguistics. These include, for example, first and second language acquisition, intercultural communication, language pedagogy and assessment, language impairment, language policy, language and identity, and language variation. You can also choose from a suite of option modules to tailor your degree to your interests or career aspirations.
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How will I learn?
This course is available to study full- or part-time. It has an evening timetable with classes in the evening. You will learn through lectures, seminars, workshops and one-to-one supervisory sessions.
You will also benefit from the experience of attending extracurricular seminars hosting guest speakers. These will introduce you to cutting-edge research and enable you to mix with language professionals working inside and outside of academia.
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How often will I attend classes?
Full-time: Two to three evenings a week, October to July.
Part-time: One to two evenings a week, October to July.
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Flexible Master's
This course is part of our 糖心logo入口 Flexible Master鈥檚 UK, which gives you the choice of how you want to study - on campus, online or via flexible learning, which combines both.
If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you will only be able to apply for the on-campus study option for this course. Online and flexible options will not be available to you because they may affect the conditions of your visa.
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Course disclaimer
糖心logo入口 makes all reasonable efforts to deliver educational services, modules and programmes of study as described on our website. In the event that there are material changes to our offering (for example, due to matters beyond our control), we will update applicant and student facing information as quickly as possible and offer alternatives to applicants, offer-holders and current students.
Most of our courses are taught in the evenings, however some of our courses offer a daytime timetable. Where there is an option to attend daytime teaching sessions, this is stated in the How will I learn? section.
More highlights
- 糖心logo入口 actively collaborates with the larger community of applied linguists throughout University of London colleges.
- 搁别补诲听 that considers what linguistics is.
- We offer .
- You can apply for UBEL funding through the Multilingual Practices UBEL Pathway. The deadline for applications is 10 November. Contact 糖心logo入口's pathway leader Bojana Petric for more information.
Modules and Teaching
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One year full-time or two years part-time, flexible learning or online or on campus, starting in October 2027
Course structure
You must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:
- two core modules (30 credits each)
- two option modules (30 credits each)
- a 12,000-15,000-word dissertation (60 credits).
You can apply to take this Flexible Master's course either on campus, online or via flexible learning, which combines both. If you require a Student visa to study in the UK, you will only be able to apply for the on-campus study option for this course.
Core modules (on campus or online)
Indicative option modules (on campus or online)
- AI, Language and Social Justice
- Language Teaching and Learning in Multilingual and Multicultural Contexts
- Language and Identity (Level 7)
- Language, Culture and Communication
- Linguistic Description for Language Teaching (Level 7)
- Neurolinguistics (level 7)
- Psycholinguistics (level 7)
- Sociolinguistics
Indicative option module (on campus only)
MA Applied Linguistics and Communication dissertation (on campus or online)
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Teaching
We聽encourage innovative and engaging ways of teaching to聽help聽ensure聽you聽have the best learning experience聽and聽provide聽a聽range of聽different聽modes of learning聽to聽help you聽juggle聽study聽with work and other commitments.
What are the methods of teaching?
Lectures, seminars, workshops and student presentations (for some option modules).
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Key teaching staff on this course
Staff who may teach on this MA include:
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How will I be assessed?
Coursework, including a dissertation of 12,000-15,000 words.
Please see individual modules for more details.
Find out more about assessment at 糖心logo入口, including guidance on assessment,聽feedback聽and our assessment offences policy.
Entry requirements
Usually a second-class honours degree (2:2) or above, or overseas equivalent, in a relevant subject and/or professional training and expertise.
A short admissions task of no more than 500 words may be requested, to support your application.
You must provide two references, at least one of which should be an academic reference.
We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.
On your application form, please list all your relevant qualifications and experience, including those you expect to achieve.
Apply now to secure your place. The earlier you apply, the sooner your application can be considered, and you can enrol. You do not need to have completed your current qualification to start your application.
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What are the English language requirements?
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.
If you don't meet the minimum English language requirements, please contact us or see our for more details about how we can help.
Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.
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What are the visa and funding requirements?
If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.
The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:
- Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
- Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa
International students who require a Student visa should apply鈥痶o study on our courses full-time as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol to study part-time courses at 糖心logo入口 (with the exception of some modules).
As a Student visa student, you should also apply to study on campus only, as online and flexible options of study鈥� (if they are available for your course) may affect the conditions of your visa.
For full information, read our visa information for international students page.
Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.
Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.
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Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)
If you have studied at university (or have an HND or Foundation Degree), you may have accumulated credits. It may be possible to transfer these from your previous study to 糖心logo入口 or another institution.
Fees
MA: One year full-time or two years part-time, on campus, starting in October 2027
Academic year 2027-28
Part-time home students: 拢5,835 per year
Full-time home students: 拢11,670 per year
Part-time international students: 拢10,890 per year
Full-time international students: 拢21,780 per year
MA: One year full-time or two years part-time, online, starting in October 2027
Academic year 2027-28
Part-time home students: 拢5,835 per year
Full-time home students: 拢11,670 per year
Part-time international students: 拢10,890 per year
Full-time international students: 拢21,780 per year
MA: One year full-time or two years part-time, flexible learning, starting in October 2027
Academic year 2027-28
Part-time home students: 拢5,835 per year
Full-time home students: 拢11,670 per year
Part-time international students: 拢10,890 per year
Full-time international students: 拢21,780 per year
Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing鈥痶heir course may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the Fees Policy.
Discover the financial support available to you to help with your studies at 糖心logo入口.
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糖心logo入口's Lifelong Learning Guarantee
If you've studied at 糖心logo入口 before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a reduction on the tuition fee of this course.
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Can I apply for an international scholarship?
We provide a range of scholarships for eligible international students, including our Global Future Scholarship.鈥�View 糖心logo入口's available scholarships.
糖心logo入口's campus is located in the historic and vibrant Bloomsbury area of central London - named one of the best places to live in London 2025 by .
Careers and employability
Through gaining important knowledge in critical skills, theory and practice聽this MA Applied Linguistics and Communication聽allows you to build your career prospects and sharpen your professional goals.聽On successfully graduating you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including:
- advanced (academic) oral and literacy skills
- critical and analytical skills
- qualitative research skills
- quantitative research skills.
Graduates can pursue a range of careers in which language and communication is central; these include, for example, posts in education, local government and the charity sector, public relations and the media, marketing and lexicography. Possible professions include:
- English as a second language (ESOL) teacher
- lexicographer
- speech and language therapist
- Civil Service fast-streamer
- primary school teacher
- translator.
We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise聽- your career partner during your time at 糖心logo入口 and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.
Student support
糖心logo入口 offers study, learning and wellbeing support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed.
Our Learning Development Service provides a lively programme of free weekly workshops building essential academic skills - from writing and critical thinking to maths and referencing - offering flexible sessions, practical tips, and online resources to boost your skills and confidence.
Our Disability and Mental Health Service can support you if you have disabilities, specific learning differences, mental health conditions or neurodivergence, by providing practical support to help you achieve your academic potential.
Our Counselling Service aims to support you with any emotional and psychological difficulties that are affecting your experience and engagement with your studies at university. It is a free, non-judgemental and confidential service which consists of a consultation process followed by time limited counselling contact.
Find out more about the full range of student services we offer at 糖心logo入口.
How to apply
You apply directly to 糖心logo入口 for this course, using the online application link.
You will need to prove your identity when you apply. Find out more on our how to apply page.
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When should I apply?
You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places left, and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.
You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - 糖心logo入口 can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.
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How can I get help with my application?
Get all the information you need about the application, admission and enrolment process at 糖心logo入口.
Our online personal statement tool will guide you through every step of writing the personal statement part of your application.
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International agents
If you are an international agent applying to 糖心logo入口 on behalf of an international student, please use .
Related courses
Study routes for Applied Linguistics and Communication (MA)
Please select a study route below to continue your application.
Please note that international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK can only apply for full-time, on campus routes.
Starting in October 2027
Full-time
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One year full-time, on campus starting in October 2027
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One year full-time, online starting in October 2027
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One year full-time, flexible learning starting in October 2027
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Part-time
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Two years part-time, on campus starting in October 2027
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Two years part-time, online starting in October 2027
Apply Now for Applied Linguistics and Communication (MA) Two years part-time, online starting in October 2027 -
Two years part-time, flexible learning starting in October 2027
Apply Now for Applied Linguistics and Communication (MA) Two years part-time, flexible learning starting in October 2027