Hub for current students

Linguistics

Close-up image of the word language in a dictionary, printed in bold. Surrounding text blurs slightly, honing focus on language, a cornerstone of linguistics. The page is black and white, emphasizing the typographys elegance.

Linguistics

Linguistics is the scientific study of human language and its structure, including the study of morphology, syntax, phonetics, and semantics. It deals with both the structure of the language (what language is – Competence) and with the way it functions in different settings (how language works – Performance), as well as the way it relates to social organisation and changes over time. In other words, what to say (how a sentence is structured) and how to say it (which words, grammar, tone of voice – even – to choose according to a particular setting) in any language is at the core of linguistics, and, as such, explains why linguistics has links with different subject matters such as psychology or sociology.

Entry Requirements

Churchill College’s standard A Level offer in Linguistics is A*A*A. For IB, our standard offer is 43 points overall with 777 at Higher Level.

If you are taking other qualifications, please see the following University webpage for equivalent entry requirements: Check which qualifications we accept | Undergraduate Study

There are no subject requirements for this course. It’s recommended you take at least one essay-based subject.

For more information on this course, see the University course page: Linguistics, BA (Hons) | Undergraduate Study

Admissions Assessment

All Linguistics applicants are required to take an admissions assessment if they are invited to interview.

You can find more information about this assessment on the University webpage: College admission assessments | Undergraduate Study

Written Work

Churchill does not require written work for Linguistics.

Director of Studies
A person with shoulder-length blonde hair is smiling outdoors, perhaps pondering a recent discovery in linguistics. They are wearing a dark top, and behind them are trees with autumn leaves and a building with large windows.

Dr Theresa Biberauer

Learn More

Studying Linguistics at Churchill College

We learn languages to communicate as language is central to our human nature.

The subject matter of Linguistics is language (not any particular language) as a human activity.

Cambridge’s Department of Theoretical and Applied Linguistics is persistently high performing. The Department pursues an interdisciplinary approach to theoretical and applied linguistics, and its staff includes many internationally known experts in their respective fields.

Full course details are provided on the Department’s Prospective Undergraduates webpage and the University’s Undergraduate Study webpage.

You may also be interested in:

A group of students wearing pink t-shirts standing by a sculpture
Undergraduate applications
A tutor sits at a table in discussion two students. They all have laptops open.
Undergraduate course list
A modern brick building with large windows is surrounded by a green lawn and trees. In the foreground, there is a metal sculpture and wooden picnic tables. The sky is partly cloudy.
Campus and facilities