English Language and Linguistics

English language and linguistics with TESOL brings together the scientific study of language with the professional qualification needed to teach English to speakers of other languages. Linguistics is the systematic analysis of how language works: its structure, its use in social contexts, how it varies across communities, how it is acquired, and how it changes over time. TESOL, or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, is one of the world's most internationally portable professional qualifications, opening the door to teaching careers in schools, language institutes, and university settings across the globe.

At the University of Sussex, this three-year full-time BA develops a broad outlook on language and linguistics alongside a wide range of research and communication skills. You will study phonology, morphology, syntax, sociolinguistics, pragmatics, and language acquisition, developing a rigorous scientific understanding of how language operates. In addition, you will prepare for the Trinity College London Level 5 Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Trinity CertTESOL) teaching qualification, giving you a professional credential alongside your academic degree.

The programme includes an integrated foundation year and a year abroad. Entry typically requires around 136 UCAS tariff points.

Graduates of this programme are qualified to teach English as a foreign or second language in the UK and internationally, and many go on to careers in English language teaching, curriculum development, teacher training, educational publishing, speech and language therapy (with further training), translation, and a wide range of roles in the language and education sectors.