English Language
English language as a university subject is the formal and empirical study of how language works: how it is structured at the levels of sound, grammar, and meaning; how it is used in real social contexts; how it varies across communities, regions, and time; and how it is acquired and processed by the human mind. It is distinct from the study of English literature, though the two overlap, and it draws on linguistics, psychology, and social science to ask questions about the most fundamental human capacity we have. In a world where communication is at the heart of every profession, the ability to understand language systematically and critically is an unusually valuable skill.
At the University of Chester, this four-year full-time programme begins with a foundation year, making it accessible to students who may not have studied English language formally at A-level but have the intellectual curiosity and ability to engage with the subject at degree level. You will progress from the foundations of linguistic analysis through to more advanced study in areas such as sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, language acquisition, psycholinguistics, and the history of English. Chester's context in the north-west of England, a region with a rich and varied linguistic landscape, provides a natural laboratory for exploring language variation and change.
The typical entry tariff of 136 points reflects the analytical demands of a degree rooted in rigorous linguistic thinking.
English language graduates are found across a wide range of careers. Teaching English as a foreign or second language, speech and language therapy (with further postgraduate training), publishing, journalism, communications, the civil service, marketing, and human resources are among the most common destinations. The precise, analytical way of thinking about language that this degree develops is valuable in any context where words matter and where clear communication is essential.
Postgraduate study in linguistics, TESOL, speech and language therapy, or applied language studies is a natural next step for those who want to develop specialist expertise or pursue professional qualifications.