Cambridge – Linguistics

The internationally renowned Cambridge Linguistics course is not about learning a language, but understanding the historical processes behind it. How did this word come to mean this thing? Why is it pronounced that way? How, physically, do we pronounce that word? And how can we understand antiquated languages? These are a few of the questions that you will think about during the course of your degree.

Your first year is formed of four compulsory papers, where you will learn phonetics, semantics, sociology, and the  historical evolution of the English language.

In second year, you will have the option to focus on the subjects you especially enjoy, choosing four papers from a rotating selection. Available subjects encompass linguistic, history, and psychology modules.

In your last year, you take a broad theory paper, as well as two additional papers from the second-year options you have not sat. You also write a dissertation of 8,000-10,000 words.

Linguistics at Cambridge is a smaller faculty, with an average of 40 places given per year. It has an equal balance of female and male students. No one A-Level subject is necessary, though an arts/science mix (perhaps including English, Maths, and a language) would be useful.

Your experiences with analysing data and trialling theories allow you to pursue many post-graduate options. Some graduates have taken up employment in Silicon Valley tech organizations; some find work in speech therapy; some in language technology, and some in the Diplomatic Service. Many have also taken up further study in UK and USA.