We are in the process of finalising our postgraduate taught courses for 2026/27 entry. In the meantime, you can view our 2025/26 courses.
Explore how language lies at the heart of human life and society – and put your skills into practice on a work placement – with our BA English Language and Linguistics with Placement Experience degree.
This four-year course examines how language is crucial to our understanding of ourselves as members of society, as individuals, and as a species. An integrated placement year provides a fantastic opportunity to put your skills into practice in preparation for your future career.
At the University of Reading, you’ll join our friendly, collaborative Department of English Language and Applied Linguistics. We’re proud of our:
In the Guardian University Guide 2025, we are ranked 9th for English, and we are ranked 3rd in UK for English Language in the Daily Mail University Guide 2025.
Our experts will support you to become a highly skilled user and analyst of the English language. As well as analysing language itself and how it works, you’ll investigate:
Alongside this, you’ll develop your knowledge of grammar, phonetics and discourse analysis, and understand how language and linguistics relates to contemporary social issues, including politics, migration, gender and sexuality.
In your third year, you will complete a year-long work placement in a relevant setting.
You’ll develop an awareness of key challenges and opportunities relating to professional communication in the global workplace. Your responsibilities and activities will vary according to the nature of your placement – for example, a company, university or school.
This is a fantastic opportunity to put your skills into practice, gain first-hand experience of the sector, and boost your employability. Depending on your interests, your placement could be in environments such as the media or education.
As part of the Reading Internship Scheme (RIS) you may also have the chance to work with staff members on their research projects. RIS offers a wide variety of internships across a multitude of sectors, including research internships on campus or with external organisations. Internships run flexibly throughout the year – both part-time during the semester and full-time during the summer vacation.
Our academics are passionate about exposing you to current English language research and practice. For example, Professor Rodney Jones has invited students to contribute to his latest research, which explores how digital media changes the way we communicate online. National Teaching Fellow Professor Jane Setter teaches five modules – in phonetics, pronunciation and varieties of English – and feeds her research into all of them.
You’ll be encouraged to follow your interests as they evolve with our diverse range of interdisciplinary modules, allowing you to gear your degree towards your career objectives.
In your final year, you will have the choice to either complete a dissertation or undertake a placement.
As part of your degree, you can apply to study abroad for a semester – during your second year – at one of our partner universities in Europe, Asia, the USA, Canada or Australia.
Visit the Study Abroad website for more information.
