PhD Linguistics

at University of Surrey

Assessment

Your final assessment will be based on the presentation of your research in a written thesis, which will be discussed in a viva examination with at least two examiners. You have the option of preparing your thesis as a monograph (one large volume in chapter form) or in publication format (including chapters written for publication), subject to the approval of your supervisors.

Research support

The professional development of postgraduate researchers is supported by the Doctoral College, which provides training in essential skills through its Researcher Development Programme of workshops, mentoring and coaching. A dedicated postgraduate Careers and Employability team will help you prepare for a successful career after the completion of your PhD.

Research themes

Theoretical linguistics
 

• Theoretical morphology (including Network Morphology and Paradigm Function Morphology) 

• Morphological interfaces 

• Linguistic typology (including Canonical Typology) 

• Language documentation and description (including Austronesian, Nakh-Daghestanian, Niger-Congo, Nilo-Saharan, Oto-Manguean, Papuan, Slavonic, Tibeto-Burman languages). 

Applied linguistics 
 

• Intercultural communication in commercial and educational settings 

• Interlanguage/intercultural pragmatics 

• Face management and (im)politeness 

• Ethnolinguistic minorities 

• Language ideologies and practices in transnational areas 

• Corpora and language learning 

• Corpus-based lexicography 

• TESOL/SLA (topics focusing on classroom interaction, spoken language use and development, teacher training) 

• Oracy skills in higher education 

• Linguistic issues emerging from internationalisation. 

Applicants are expected to hold a good first degree (a minimum 2:1 or equivalent) and an MA in a topic relevant to Linguistics or Applied Linguistics. In exceptional cases, students with a good first degree will be considered.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:1, you must achieve at least 60% or 65% in the final two years of your undergraduate study depending on the institution you have completed your degree.

To apply for one of our postgraduate courses that require a UK 2:2, you must achieve at least 55% or 60% in the final two years of your undergraduate study depending on the institution you have completed your degree.

For courses that require a UK first-class degree to be eligible for a scholarship, you must achieve at least 65% or 70% in the final two years of your undergraduate study depending on the institution you have completed your degree.

English language requirements
 

• IELTS Academic: 6.5 or above (or equivalent) with 6.0 in each individual category and at least 7.0 in the writing component.

​​​​​​​If you do not currently meet the level required for your programme, we offer intensive pre-sessional English language courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.

Annual Tuition Fees:
 

• UK: £4,596

• Overseas: £18,100