This is an archived page and for reference purposes only
English Language and Linguistics and Management combines an understanding of the mechanics of language with a key understanding of the business world. It provides excellent academic training with good career prospects.
Overview
English Language and Linguistics gives you the opportunity to discover spoken and written language in all its complexity. Language plays a central role in everything we as human beings do, and the modules offered at Kent explore its many facets, allowing you to tailor your studies to suit your individual interests and possible career paths. While the focus will be on English, you will also explore the meaning of language more generally, and discover what language systems have in common.
Combining theoretical and practical elements, the programme explores both the structure of language and its relationship with culture, society, and the mind. A broad choice of theoretical topics encompasses such areas as syntax, phonetics and phonology, morphology, sociolinguistics, language acquisition, semantics, pragmatics, literary stylistics and critical and cultural theory, while modules in language learning and teaching, creative and media writing, and language and media have a more vocational focus.
The Management programmes at Kent aim to develop a new kind of business professional for the 21st century, as alive to their social responsibilities to the community as to the needs of their investors, shareholders and employers.
The modules in Management develop your leadership skills in relation to decision making, problem solving, team working, negotiation and employee performance management. You gain the skills and knowledge essential for managing key areas of organisations, including accounting, human resources, quantitative methods, marketing, strategy and operations. You also develop an understanding of the role and interrelationship between strategic management, human resource management and operations management.
English Language and Linguistics and Management equips you with the skills needed to facilitate communication in business, and will provide an excellent foundation for a variety of careers.
Independent rankings
Linguistics at Kent was ranked 14th in The Times Good University Guide 2016.
For graduate prospects, Linguistics at Kent was ranked 7th in The Complete University Guide 2017. Linguistics students who graduated from Kent in 2015 were the most successful in the UK at finding work or further study opportunities (DLHE).
Business, Management and Marketing at Kent was ranked 18th in The Guardian University Guide 2017. In the National Student Survey 2016, Management Studies at Kent was 9th for overall satisfaction.
Management Studies students who graduated from Kent in 2015 were the most successful in the UK at finding work or further study opportunities (DLHE).
Course structure
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.
Teaching and assessment
On average, you have two one-hour lectures each week plus two seminar classes of two hours each. However, this varies depending on the material and the nature of the module, and there may be additional workshops, discussion groups and practical sessions. You have group or one-to-one tutorials for research projects and dissertations, and also have tutorials with your lecturers and seminar leaders to discuss coursework and assignments. In addition, you have access to further information and support via Moodle, our interactive web-based learning platform.
At each stage, some modules are continuously assessed, while others combine coursework and examination. Stage 2 and 3 modules count towards your final degree result.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- attract and meet the needs of those considering a career in education, publishing, commerce or tourism and those with an interest in the study of linguistics
- contribute to widening participation by offering access to those with non-standard qualifications and experience
- attract students locally, nationally and internationally
- develop new areas of teaching in response to scholarship, the needs of the community and student feedback
- offer a grounding in linguistic study and sensitivity to the social, cultural and political issues which surround it
- provide teaching informed by current research, scholarship and good practice
- enable responsibility and management for students’ own learning and foster the skills to carry out independent research that is systematic, organised, evidence-based and logically presented
- develop general critical, analytical and problem-solving skills
- raise awareness of how the English language operates and its effects on individuals and the wider community.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- the wide range of issues in, and the interdisciplinary nature of, linguistics
- the varieties of English and their social, cultural and political ramifications
- the local, national, international and global influences of, and upon, the English language
- the rapid and ongoing change and development occurring in the English language
- terminology to describe and understand the nature and use of language
- the way speech sounds are articulated, described and change in isolation and also in natural speech
- the structure and properties of individual words and sentences
- the use and perception of words, structures and longer stretches of language, both spoken and written, to convey meaning in a variety of settings.
Intellectual skills
You gain the following intellectual abilities:
- develop lines of argument and make judgements (both orally and written) according to the basic theories and concepts of linguistics and related studies
- engage in critical reflection, verbal discussion and written and interpretative analysis of key material
- present, evaluate and interpret a variety of evidence and data using defined techniques in a logical and systematic fashion
- develop lateral thinking and the ability to make links between elements of the area studied
- collect, analyse and manipulate various kinds of data using appropriate methods and tools
- consider the ethical aspects of collection, and the handling and storing of data
- assess the merits of contrasting theories and explanations, including those from other disciplines
- to select and use a variety of methods and assess the efficacy of each of them.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in the following:
- the central and analytical concepts and methods of enquiry appropriate to linguistics and its sub-fields
- the relevance of theories and research in disciplines which relate to linguistics
- technical issues in the collection of reliable data
- basic techniques for the analysis of linguistic data
- reasons and criteria for evaluating alternative analyses of a given set of data
- presentation of linguistic data by means of charts, graphs, tables, matrices, diagrams and quotation.
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in the following:
- the ability to communicate appropriately, effectively, accurately and fluently in speech and writing
- understand the dynamics of communication
- work independently and in groups, demonstrating goal achievement, initiative, self-organisation, sensitivity (in groups) and time-management
- to manage your own learning self-critically.
Careers
Single and joint honours programmes in English Language and Linguistics help you acquire high-level skills in communication, problem solving, group work, IT and numeracy, which will be very important in your future career. The programme prepares students for a wide range of careers where an in-depth understanding of how language functions is essential. These include advertising, journalism and professional writing, media, the law, public relations, marketing and sales, publishing, teaching at all levels, company training, broadcasting, and the civil or diplomatic services. The single honours programme is particularly useful for students who are thinking of English teaching either in the UK or abroad.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
New GCSE grades
If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | BBB |
| GCSE | Mathematics grade C or 4 |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If we make you an offer, you will need to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The University will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF; OCR) on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 15 at HL including Mathematics 4 at HL or SL |
International students
The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
Meet our staff in your country
For more advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2017/18 tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | ||
| Part-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
UK/EU fee paying students
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
General additional costs
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Funding
University funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
Government funding
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.
Scholarships
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.