Undergraduate degrees in languages and linguistics
Source: https://www.york.ac.uk/language-linguistic-science/study/undergraduate/ Parent: https://www.york.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/subject-explorer/
See how to apply Sign up for updates
Immerse yourself in the study of linguistics, modern languages or English language, or combine these with another subject.
Why study languages and linguistics at York?
If you're studying linguistics, you'll discover the hidden patterns and structures in language through dedicated and supportive teaching. If you're studying a language, we'll guide you to become a confident user with a deep understanding of the culture behind it.
Our modern language courses are primarily taught in the target language, which allows you to easily enhance your comprehension skills. We foster a supportive learning environment to equip you with the skills needed to become a proficient speaker ready for a multicultural career. You can study a new language or continue your studies in an existing one.
Our linguistics courses equip you with knowledge of the 'building blocks' of language, including grammar and sound systems. You'll learn how language is used and processed, how it varies and changes, and how we can apply our knowledge about language to other domains. You can shape your degree towards a more science-based or humanities-based approach, or integrate the two.
Our courses
Contact us
Related links
English language and linguistics
Linguistics
Linguistics with a language (with and without a year abroad)
- French and Linguistics (with a year abroad) (BA)
- German and Linguistics (with a year abroad) (BA)
- Italian and Linguistics (with a year abroad) (BA)
- Spanish and Linguistics (with a year abroad) (BA)
- Linguistics with French (BA)
- Linguistics with German (BA)
- Linguistics with Italian (BA)
- Linguistics with Spanish (BA)
Two languages (with a year abroad)
- French and German (with a year abroad) (BA)
- French and Italian (with a year abroad) (BA)
- French and Spanish (with a year abroad) (BA)
- German and Italian (with a year abroad) (BA)
- German and Spanish (with a year abroad) (BA)
- Italian and Spanish (with a year abroad) (BA)
Cross-faculty courses
Business and management with a language (with a year abroad) and (with a year in industry)
- Business and Management with French (with a year abroad) (BA)
- Business and Management with French (with a year in industry) (BA)
- Business and Management with German (with a year abroad) (BA)
- Business and Management with German (with a year in industry) (BA)
- Business and Management with Italian (with a year abroad) (BA)
- Business and Management with Italian (with a year in industry) (BA)
- Business and Management with Spanish (with a year abroad) (BA)
- Business and Management with Spanish (with a year in industry) (BA)
Education and a language (with a year abroad)
- Education and French (with a year abroad) (BA)
- Education and German (with a year abroad) (BA)
- Education and Italian (with a year abroad) (BA)
- Education and Spanish (with a year abroad) (BA)
English literature and linguistics
English literature with a language
- English Literature with French (BA)
- English Literature with German (BA)
- English Literature with Italian (BA)
- English Literature with Spanish (BA)
History and a language (with a year abroad)
- History and French (with a year abroad) (BA)
- History and German (with a year abroad) (BA)
- History and Italian (with a year abroad) (BA)
- History and Spanish (with a year abroad) (BA)
History of art with a language (with a year abroad)
- History of Art with French (with a year abroad) (BA)
- History of Art with German (with a year abroad) (BA)
- History of Art with Italian (with a year abroad) (BA)
- History of Art with Spanish (with a year abroad) (BA)
International relations and a language (with a year abroad)
- International Relations and French (with a year abroad)
- International Relations and German (with a year abroad)
- International Relations and Italian (with a year abroad)
- International Relations and Spanish (with a year abroad)
Liberal arts with a language (with a year abroad)
- Liberal Arts (BA)
- Liberal Arts with French (BA) (with a year abroad)
- Liberal Arts with German (BA) (with a year abroad)
- Liberal Arts with Italian (BA) (with a year abroad)
- Liberal Arts with Spanish (BA) (with a year abroad)
Philosophy with a language (with a year abroad)
- Philosophy with French (with a year abroad) (BA)
- Philosophy with German (with a year abroad) (BA)
- Philosophy with Italian (with a year abroad) (BA)
- Philosophy with Spanish (with a year abroad) (BA)
Philosophy and linguistics
Course options
Many of our courses include a year abroad. There are also opportunities for you to spend time overseas though the University's study abroad programme. Some of our courses also offer a year in industry.
Teach English as a foreign language
Join our five-week CertTESOL course and gain a qualification to teach English to speakers of other languages. York students receive a discount on the course fee.
Visiting students
If you're studying at a university outside the UK, you may be able to spend up to a year in York as a visiting student.
Scholarships and funding
Find out about scholarships and studentships that are available to students in the Department of Language and Linguistic Science.
4th in the UK
for French (Complete University Guide 2026).
for the quality of our linguistics research, according to the Times Higher Education's ranking of the latest REF results (2021).
1st in the UK
for Iberian languages (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026).
We have specialist labs to study speech, forensics, psycholinguistics, translation and interpreting.
Extracurricular language courses
Anyone can learn a language through our Languages for All courses. We offer 8-week and 18-week courses in many different languages, from beginner to advanced.
If you're a student at York, you'll also receive a discount on the course fee.
Careers
Find your career advantage: Turn ambition into achievement with our expert guidance and connections. From your first day here to life after graduation, we’ll help you succeed.
- You'll have direct careers support through our dedicated careers and employability team. We host regular workshops for you to find out about careers in areas such as speech and language therapy, broadcasting and language technology.
- A degree in modern languages and linguistics will equip you with a broad range of skills that can help you succeed in a variety of careers. This includes expert communication in multiple languages, research skills and specialist software knowledge.
- Our graduates have gone on to succeed in careers like speech and language therapy, AI, teaching, journalism, marketing and academic research.
Learn more about careers and employability
Student and graduate stories
Hear what our students and graduates have to say about studying with us.
To all prospective students considering studying a new language at York, I wholeheartedly encourage you to take the leap. There are language learning opportunities for everyone.
Cameron, BA Linguistics with Spanish. Read Cameron's blog post.
When I was looking at different courses for French and Spanish, I prioritised not only those with language-specific content, but also linguistics. I found that York struck a great balance between both of these aspects.
Amy, BA French and Spanish (with a year abroad). Read Amy's blog post.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lceOYVyhM30
Free online course
Look into how our visions of ourselves and others interact, and engage with one of the largest centres for the study of sociolinguistics in the UK.
We make alternative offers for some of our undergraduate degrees, including the completion of a MOOC for eligible applicants. This includes this MOOC. Offer holders should check their offer letter for further details.
Next steps
Applications
Scholarships
Student life