糖心原创

Triangle

Course overview

Working alongside our expert staff, explore how linguistic research is applied to real-life contexts. You will have the option of studying modules in sociolinguistics, psychology of language, discourse analysis, stylistics, corpus linguistics, first and second language acquisition and teaching English as a foreign language. If you are particularly interested in teaching, please also see our MA Applied Linguistics with English Language Teaching (ELT) programme.

We introduce the key ideas and concepts in applied linguistics, training you in relevant research methods including quantitative and qualitative approaches. You also have access to training, software and resources for conducting corpus-assisted studies of language in use.

The key features of this course include:

  • A theoretical grounding in, and practical experience of, varied research methodologies
  • Teaching informed by active research
  • Flexibility in course content through optional modules taught by subject specialists. These include: business and organisational communication; language, gender and sexuality; second language acquisition; consciousness in fiction; corpus linguistics; psychology of language.

Hear from our staff

"Our applied linguistics courses offers students an exciting range of topics, taught by world-leading experts in the field. We're dedicated to the application of linguistic knowledge to real-life problems, so our courses are ideal for those fascinated how language works and by its role in society, and for those wanting to use language in their future careers."

Louise Mullany, Professor in Sociolinguistics

Hear from our alumni

“Pursuing my postgraduate studies in Applied Linguistics at UoN is the best decision I made in my academic career. This programme helped me to realise my passion for being a part of impactful linguistic research. I’m happy to say that UoN paved the way for me to become the researcher I ever wanted to be thanks to its academic standards.”

Jayanath Tharindu (MA Applied Linguistics 2023 to 24)

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunities the MA Applied Linguistics course has provided, as well as the continuous support from the faculty and abundant resources that have enabled me to excel in my field of interest. The course has been instrumental in refining skills that now play a vital role in all my academic, professional, and personal endeavours. The content is both fascinating and widely applicable, allowing you to tailor your learning to your own personal interests and abilities - making it a fantastic choice for those wanting to catalyse their professional development.”

Jet Thompson (MA Applied Linguistics 2023 to 24)

“My experience of completing the MA in Applied Linguistics at Nottingham University has been transformative. The program offered a wide range of modules, allowing me to explore different areas of language studies. It fuelled my passion with a solid academic foundation and an invaluable set of skills.”

Ghadah Alhelail (MA Applied Linguistics 2023/24)

Why choose this course?

8th in the UK

for English

Top 100

university in the world

3rd in the UK

for top employers

The Graduate Market, High Fliers Research 2024

Ranked 10th

for grade point average among 92 universities, and 7th in the Russell Group

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Get involved

and attend research events with the Centre for Research in Applied Linguistics (CRAL)

Present your research

Attend and present your research at postgraduate student conferences and events, such as the Postgraduate Symposium and English Showcase

Course content

Pre-arrival reading lists will be sent out with registration information before you join your course, where available.

The total credits for this course are 180.

Part-time students will typically take three modules each academic year. You can take one in the autumn term and two in spring, or vice versa, depending on your preference and module choice.

The dissertation will take place over the final summer of your studies. 

All classes take place during weekdays.

Modules

You will take the following 20-credit module:

Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods in Applied Linguistics

Explore various approaches of collecting and processing data, using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

With a focus on the area of applied linguistics, you will be introduced to:

  • methods of collecting quantitative and qualitative data
  • questionnaire and interview design
  • the use of the statistical software SPSS in quantitative data analysis
  • qualitative data analysis and interpretation
  • best practices in presenting quantitative and qualitative results

This module is worth 20 credits.

 

"My favourite module was 'Advanced Research Methods in Applied Linguistics'. This module equipped me with the most essential methodological skills for researching applied linguistics and benefited both my MA and PhD studies in this field."

- Lefan Wang, 2019 graduate

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the for information on available modules. This content was last updated on Wednesday 19 November 2025.

Due to timetabling availability, there may be restrictions on some module combinations.

You will complete a 60-credit dissertation:

Applied Linguistics MA - Dissertation

During the summer, you will complete a dissertation.

The dissertation provides gives you the opportunity to grow into an independent researcher and develop your research profile. It also promotes the development of key transferable skills, such as: autonomy, project planning, data collection, and expertise in particular research methods.

Over the course of the dissertation, you will be supervised by a member of staff with expertise in your chosen field.

We supervise on a range of topics, highlighted by some recent dissertation titles, below:

  • In-group solidarity: Politeness and backstage talk in a pink-collar workplace
  • ‘You were a lion there’: Professional identity construction in Formula 1 team radio
  • L2 learners’ data-driven learning of different uses of verbal near synonyms
  • The impact of code-switching in text on bilingual students
  • The effects of teacher’s gestures on international students’ English learning in the classroom
  • A corpus-based study of collocations used by native English speakers and learners in academic articles

This module is worth 60 credits.

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

  • Seminars
  • Group study

You are taught through a combination of lectures and seminars, providing opportunities for discussion of ideas with fellow students and teaching staff.

You will be allocated a personal tutor, who will monitor your academic progress, provide feedback on your work, help with module choices, and assist with pastoral support if needed.

Support with the dissertation

You will attend workshops during the Spring term which go through the challenges of a larger-scale research project and the resources available to masters researchers. In addition, you will be assigned a supervisor in your subject area who will support you in developing your ideas and guide you through the process of preparing your dissertation over the Summer term.

How you will be assessed

  • Essay
  • Presentation
  • Dissertation

Most modules are assessed by written work of varying lengths, corresponding with the content and weighting of the module. You may also be assessed by other means, for example presentations or by original empirical work.

Your course tutors provide detailed comments on assignments. 

Towards the end of your studies, you will complete a dissertation. This is a major piece of independent research, and you will be allocated a supervisor who is a specialist in your chosen area. Your dissertation supervisor will provide advice, guidance and support throughout the research process.

Contact time and study hours

You will typically have six hours of face-to-face timetabled contact a week. Your tutors will also be available during office hours to discuss your work, address any issues, and help you develop your understanding.

糖心原创 hours

One credit is approximately 10 hours of student work, so a 20-credit module will be around 200 hours of work. On average, you will spend around 13 hours per module per week on structured independent study.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2026 entry.

Undergraduate degree2:1 (or international equivalent) in English language/literature or a related arts or humanities subject

Applying

Our step-by-step guide covers everything you need to know about applying.

How to apply
Benefit from three psycholinguistic labs

Where you will learn

Benefit from three psycholinguistic labs

Labs 1 and 2 have eye-tracking facilities, where you can examine the ways people interact with texts and what aspects of language are more difficult to process. Both labs also have PCs for behavioural research, such as reaction time studies or decision making studies.

Lab 3 is our psychophysiology lab, measuring things like moisture levels in the skin and facial muscle movements, which tell us about the degree and type of emotional responses to a text or other stimulus. Find out more about our labs.

Play video

Where you will learn

University Park Campus

University Park Campus covers 300 acres, with green spaces, wildlife, period buildings and modern facilities. It is one of the UK's most beautiful and sustainable campuses, winning a national Green Flag award every year since 2003.

Most schools and departments are based here. You will have access to libraries, shops, cafes, the Students’ Union, sports village and a health centre.

You can walk or cycle around campus. Free hopper buses connect you to our other campuses. Nottingham city centre is 15 minutes away by public bus or tram.

Library facilities - School of English

Where you will learn

Library facilities - School of English

We offer:

  • manuscripts from the 12th-15th centuries and books in Old and Middle English, Old Icelandic, Viking Studies, and runology
  • the  library and archive
  •  DH Lawrence archive (containing Lawrence family papers, manuscripts, first editions, and books owned by Lawrence)
  • the Cambridge Drama Collection (over 1,500 items including plays and works about the British theatre from 1750-1850)
Social Science and Arts Graduate Centre

Where you will learn

Social Science and Arts Graduate Centre

The Graduate Centre for postgraduate students in the Arts and Social Sciences is available on the first floor of Highfield House, next to the Trent Building. Accessible 24/7, this space provides computer stations, a social area with informal seating and areas where students can work individually or in groups. 

The Centre also offers support for students interested in developing their own ideas in the form of seminars, conferences, events, and socials.

Fees

Qualification MA
Home / UK £9,700
International £25,750

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using .

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

Books

You'll be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to buy your own copies of core texts. 

Funding

Funding opportunities for Faculty of Arts students

There are additional funding opportunities available to you as a Faculty of Arts student.

Other sources of funding

There are many ways to fund your postgraduate course, from scholarships to government loans.

We also offer a range of international masters scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Postgraduate funding

Careers

We offer individual careers support for all postgraduate students.

Expert staff can help you research career options and job vacancies, build your CV or r茅sum茅, develop your interview skills and meet employers.

Each year 1,100 employers advertise graduate jobs and internships through our online vacancy service. We host regular careers fairs, including specialist fairs for different sectors.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the 糖心原创 include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Graduate destinations

This course will develop a range of transferable skills, including:

  • written and oral communication skills
  • presentation and time management skills
  • data collection and analysis
  • research design skills

Our graduates enter a varied range of careers, including:

  • English language teaching
  • working in Higher Education
  • marketing/PR/journalism
  • business and finance
  • the charity sector
  • local and national government
  • going on to do PhD study

"The main skills I gained are research methods for applied linguistics’ studies. They are the foundation of any further exploration in this field, as well as in broader academic works."

- Lefan Wang, 2019 graduate

Two masters graduates proudly holding their certificates
" I am interested in understanding how we can take theoretical ideas and principles and apply this knowledge to support teaching and learning in specific contexts. I find this area fascinating because it brings together several very different fields of research (including linguistics, education and psychology), and it requires us to engage critically with each of them. "
Christine Muir, Assistant Professor in Second Language Acquisition

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This content was last updated on Wednesday 19 November 2025. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur given the interval between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.