Applied Linguistics (MRes) - 2012/2013 entry

Our current research centres around: bilingualism and multilingualism; child language development; second language acquisition; psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics; sociolinguistics; cross-cultural pragmatics; discourse and conversation analysis; translation theory; intercultural communication; language teaching.

Find out more about studying linguistics at Birkbeck.

• Applied linguistics has been taught at Birkbeck since 1965, making this one of the oldest departments in the world, by leading researchers in the field.
• Develop an informed and critical awareness of general and subject-specific academic research skills, while expanding knowledge in an subject area within applied linguistics.
• Prepares you for substantial and independent research, leading eventually to a doctoral degree.

Take the core compulsory module Research Skills and Methods (worth 30 credits), covering topics such as: understanding the link between theory, method and data; qualitative research methods; recording, transcription and coding techniques; descriptive and inferential statistics; quantitative research methods; experimental paradigms; the use of standardised measurement instruments; linguistic corpora and tools for analysing them.

You will also take one specialist module (worth 30 credits) offered as part of the MA Applied Linguistics or MA Bilingualism, which include:

• Core Issues in Language Teaching and TESOL
• International Management Communication  
• Introduction to Applied Linguistics
• Issues in Translation
• Language Behaviour and Brain Mechanisms
• Language, Culture and Communication
• Linguistic Analysis
• Marketing Communications: An Introduction 
• Pragmatics
• Professional and Business Communication
• Professional Development for Language Teaching
• Psycholinguistics of Second Language Acquisition and Bilingualism
• Second Language Acquisition
• Sociolinguistics.

You will carry out a research project and write a dissertation (worth 120 credits) on a chosen topic. You will be supported by regular meetings with your supervisor and will present your work-in-progress at research seminars.

As a research student, you will be given training in research methods. You will also have access to a wide range of generic research training courses offered by the College Research School and the Bloomsbury Postgraduate Skills Network. You will also have the opportunity to present your work annually for discussion by fellow students and staff at seminars.

Find out more about the student support and facilities we offer.

If you are interested in further research, we offer a PhD/MPhil in Applied Linguistics.

• You can apply at any time during the year.
• If you wish to apply for a scholarship, you will need to apply by certain deadlines. Consult the websites of relevant bodies for details.