Applied Linguistics MA(Res)

An MA by Research in Applied Linguistics enables you to undertake a project led by your own passions and interests, without committing to a full PhD.

Your project will take one year full-time or two years part-time.

Our staff are members of the Language Research Centre (LRC) and we are especially interested in projects concerning:

  • Computer Assisted Language Learning
  • Cognitive Psychology of Language
  • Discourse analysis
  • Lexical Studies
  • Pragmatics
  • Psycholinguistics
  • Second language acquisition
  • Sociolinguistics
  • Vocabulary learning


This programme is suitable preparation for doctoral work, but a proven ability to conduct independent research in the field will also improve your employment prospects in English language teaching and outside academia in the media, publishing or government bodies.

Your project will be agreed in consultation with supervisors and we recommend these discussions are started before applying, to help draw up an initial proposal.

You will be closely supervised by two experienced academics with relevant expertise throughout the course of the project. This involves fortnightly meetings in your first term and meetings at regular agreed intervals thereafter.

As a research student, you are required to attend skills and training courses. You deliver presentations to research students and staff at departmental seminars, at the annual departmental postgraduate symposium in June, and at the School of Culture and Communication Postgraduate conference.

MA(Res) Award
October, January, April, July Start
Full-time, Part-time Study Mode
1 - 2 years Duration

Entry Requirements For This Course

You should hold or expect to achieve a minimum of an upper second class honours degree (2:1), or equivalent, in a related subject or hold relevant work experience. If you hold a qualification from a non-UK institution please see our academic entry requirements - Country-specific Information for International Applicants.

If English is not your first language you will need an acceptable pass in an approved English Language qualification to make sure you get the full benefit from studying at Swansea. We consider a wide range of qualifications, including the Swansea University English Test, the British Council IELTS test (with a score of at least 6.5 and 6.5 in each component). A full list of acceptable English Language tests can be found here.

Applicants to this programme would normally be expected to meet the minimum entry requirements indicated above. The School reserves the right to ask for higher academic grades and qualifications. Admissions decisions take into account not only prior academic qualifications, but also factors including the standard of the research synopsis/proposal submitted by the applicant, their performance at interview (if required), intensity of competition for limited places and relevant professional experience (where appropriate).

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