Linguistics
- Number of students per year: up to two
- Typical offer: A*AA or equivalent; we accept a wide range of
- Essential subjects: none
- Useful subjects: English (Literature or Language), Mathematics, an arts and science mix, or a language (ancient or modern)
°µÍø½ûÇø has an unusually high profile in Linguistics, with two resident Fellows whose primary interests are in the subject – Brechtje Post, a specialist in phonetics and phonology, and James Clackson, a historical linguist – and a large number of postgraduate students.
We're fairly unique in having such a vibrant Linguistics community. We encourage our students to develop their own interests within a supportive and challenging intellectual environment.
For instance, at our termly Language and Linguistics Forum we discuss a research topic over food and drinks. In this way, our undergraduates have the opportunity to broaden their horizons and develop independence of thought and pleasure in intellectual debate, while the postgraduates get an opportunity to hone their presentation skills, and get feedback from a range of linguists with very different interests.
Undergraduates and postgraduates also meet at various social events, and the postgraduates often help out with undergraduate teaching.
The College has first rate study facilities, such as the Quincentenary Library which has an excellent stock of textbooks and more advanced readings in Linguistics and related areas, as well as a number of anatomical models that are useful for the study of language production and comprehension.
Our Linguists find employment in a very wide range of professions because they develop a variety of skills that are very popular with prospective employers, like the ability to analyse quantitative data and construct abstract models.
Recent graduates have gone into management consultancy, language teaching, and outreach work as schools liaison officers, but others have pursued careers in finance, in speech and language technology, in speech therapy, and in the Diplomatic Service. We're also very pleased to be able to welcome some of our graduates back as postgraduate students.
Requirements
Our typical offer is for an A* and two A grades at A-Level or equivalent.
The main requirement for studying Linguistics is that you are curious about language. Linguistics is an interdisciplinary degree so specific subjects are not required. We welcome anyone with a strong academic profile, whether you lean more towards sciences or the arts.
Subjects that could serve as a good preparation are those that include some formal study of language, as well as maths or another science, since they can help you to develop logical thinking and critical analysis skills.
Preparation
No specialist knowledge is required, but we expect you to have explored your interest in the subject. The most obvious way to do this is through reading, but some applicants do a project on a topic in Linguistics as part of their school work. You could also consider taking part in the .
Here are our suggestions for some useful introductory books:
- Aitchison, J. (1996/2000) The Seeds of Speech: Language Origin and Evolution. Cambridge University Press.
- Crystal, D. (1997) The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language. Cambridge University Press.
- Crystal, D. (2006) How language works. Penguin.
- Matthews, P. (2003) Linguistics: A very short introduction. Oxford University Press.
- Pinker, S. (1995) The language instinct. Penguin.
Written assessment
Applicants shortlisted for interview will need to take a written assessment. You don't need to have any specialist knowledge, but it will help if you've done some introductory reading, and if you've explored some problem sets of the type offered on the . You will not need to register in advance for this assessment.
Interviews
In 2024-25, we’ll be interviewing shortlisted applicants virtually, with interviews taking place in December.
The interview process aims to assess your intellectual ability, potential, and commitment to the subject. Candidates are typically interviewed by at least three subject specialists, including the Director of Studies, and total contact time will be between 35-50 minutes in total. This could be in a single interview, or in two separate interviews. Further details will be made available to candidates closer to the time.
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Written work
You won't need to submit any written work.
International applicants
We mostly refer to A-Levels and the International Baccalaureate for our entry requirements, but we accept a wide variety of qualifications from all over the world. The University website lists the . We expect students to be on track to achieve the highest grades in whichever qualification system they are studying. See our dedicated page for international students for more information.
Deferred and post A-Level entry
We're happy to consider applications for either immediate or deferred entry in Linguistics, or from applicants who have already taken their A-Levels or equivalent qualifications. The College also welcomes applications from mature students.
Find out how to apply to study at Jesus.
