Key Information
Duration
- Full-time: 48 months
- Part-time: 96 months
Start Dates & Application Deadlines
- Starting January 2027: Apply before Oct 2026
- Starting April 2027: Apply before Jan 2027
- Starting July 2027: Apply before Apr 2027
- Starting October 2027: Apply before Jul 2027
Language
English
English language requirements: Duolingo English Test 120; TOEFL iBT 88; PTE Academic 67; IELTS 6.5.
Delivered
On Campus
Campus Location
Guildford, United Kingdom
Disciplines
Language Studies; Translation & Interpreting; Linguistics
Overview
We look at the grammatical structure of languages and the ways in which language-related research can have practical applications, and the consequences of linguistic diversity. Surrey's research reflects the evolving nature of the discipline, encompassing a critical understanding of technology-enabled language mediation as well as quality, ethical and social dimensions of a fast-evolving language services industry.
Visit the programme website for more information
It normally takes three to four years of full-time study or six to eight years of part-time study to complete University of Surrey PhD in Linguistics.
You'll be assigned two supervisors, who you'll meet with monthly to discuss your progress. Your supervisors will guide you through your PhD and will give you feedback and advice on your work.
As a doctoral student, you'll receive a structured training programme covering the practical aspects of being a researcher, including grant-writing, publishing in journals, and applying for academic jobs.
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.
You'll take a confirmation viva at 12-15 months (or 24-30 months part-time) and then be assessed by a thesis and viva examination.
Programme Structure
Research themes
- 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).
- 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
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
Upper Second Class
English Requirements
- Duolingo English Test: 120
- TOEFL iBT: 88, or TOEFL iBT 1-6 score: 4.5 (CEFR-aligned; equivalent to the 0-120 score)
- PTE Academic: 67
- IELTS: 6.5
Other Requirements
- Applicants are expected to hold a minimum of an upper second-class (2:1) UK degree and an MA in a topic relevant to linguistics or applied linguistics.
- In exceptional cases, students with a good first degree will be considered without the need for an MA.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
- International: 39,523 AUD / year (approx 21,000 GBP / year)
- Domestic: 9,858 AUD / year (approx 5,238 GBP / year)
- Part-time: UK 2,619 GBP; Overseas 10,500 GBP
Living Costs
Guildford, United Kingdom: 1,242-2,146 AUD / month