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PhD Analysing Language Use

University of Essex

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Course options

  • Qualification

    PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

  • Location

    Colchester Campus

  • Study mode

    Full time

  • Start date

    JAN-25, APR-25

  • Duration

    4 years

Course summary

We offer supervision for our PhD Analysing Language Use in the areas of: conversation analysis, language variation and change, dialects and language contact, gender differentiation in language, multilingualism, intercultural pragmatics, language maintenance and shift, Pidgin and Creole linguistics, and language and human rights.

Examples of PhD projects which our students have undertaken include studies of the consequences of language contact between Arabic and Cypriot Greek, dialect contact and acquisition of American children in British schools, responses to different types of announcements, and linguistic resources to express agreement.

Many of our former PhD students work in higher education institutions around the world, as teachers and/or as academic researchers. Other career paths our former PhD students have taken include publishing, social work, administration, and retail.

Assessment

On our four-year route (the Integrated ‘new route’ PhD), your first year is a preparatory MRes year so you take six taught modules and write an assessed MRes dissertation. This programme is ideal if you wish to develop your knowledge of existing research and improve your understanding of research methods before embarking on independent research.

On our three-year supervised research route, if you already have a solid knowledge of existing research in your field and a good understanding of research methods, plus a suitable research proposal, you immediately begin your independent research, under the guidance of your supervisor.

Within the Department of Language and Linguistics, throughout your research studies, your training needs will be regularly assessed. Every six months your progress is formally checked by a supervisory panel consisting of your supervisor, an adviser, and a chairperson. At least once a year this meeting takes place face to face to discuss how you are getting on. You report on your progress in writing by completing a form twice a year.

Your thesis has a maximum length of 80,000 words.

Your future

Given the breadth of our provision within the Department of Language and Linguistics, career prospects for our graduates vary depending on the study undertaken. Often the career destination of our PhD students is university lecturing or research. Given the interdisciplinary nature of the areas of linguistics we cover, this could be in departments of English, linguistics, education, sociology, or cognitive science.

Tuition fees

Students living in United States
(International fees)

£ 18,750per year

Tuition fees shown are for indicative purposes and may vary. Please check with the institution for most up to date details.

University information

University of Essex

  • University League Table

    30th

  • Campus address

    University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ, England

The careers team offer dedicated international careers advice and support throughout studies and after graduation.
Central London is easily accessible from all of the university's campuses.
Gain access to the curriculum from nine European universities through the YUFE (Young Universities for the Future of Europe) virtual campus.

Subject rankings

  • Subject ranking

    22nd out of 29

  • Entry standards

    / Max 204
    125 61%

    20th

  • Graduate prospects

    / Max 100
    66.0 66%

    16th

    4
  • Student satisfaction

    / Max 4
    3.11 78%

    14th

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