This module provides you with a clear path to decipher, discuss and dive deep into the core concepts that make linguistics an endlessly fascinating field. It will introduce you to key theories, concepts, and analytical approaches that will improve your understanding of language and its use. Developing your knowledge of linguistics will allow you to evaluate contexts where language plays a central role.
Throughout the module, you’ll encounter a broad range of case studies, drawing on a variety of social, geographical, and professional contexts, that show how linguistics can be applied in the real world. While the module is taught in English, you’ll be encouraged to engage with examples from a range of different languages, as the discipline of linguistics goes beyond the analysis of a single language. You’ll learn to describe how texts work, understand why communication sometimes breaks down, and be able to explain how things can be improved.
The module consists of four blocks, each focusing on distinct elements of linguistic study.
In Block 1, you’ll explore what is meant by ‘language’ and ‘linguistics’. You’ll consider how linguistics developed and journey through its history, uncover the secrets of child language acquisition, and take a closer look at the types of data linguists work with.
Block 2 provides a closer examination of the nuts and bolts of language. You’ll learn about different approaches to grammar, phonetics, and language documentation. You’ll also consider how language is used in, and shaped by, its wider social contexts.
Block 3 introduces you to a wide range of different methods and methodologies used to analyse different aspects of language. You’ll be introduced to ethnography, discourse analysis, corpus linguistics, text mining, and language transcription.
In Block 4 you’ll think more broadly about what makes quality research, and you’ll be encouraged to apply the knowledge that you’ve gained on the module to real-world scenarios.
The module is also designed to help you develop the academic and digital literacies that you’ll need to study at postgraduate level. This includes developing your writing skills and finding your academic voice. You’ll be encouraged to engage critically with the broad range of topics covered, drawing on your own perspective, understanding, and experiences, combining that with the evidence presented in professional and academic research.
The module will appeal to anyone interested in a profession where language plays a central role. This includes administration, advertising, communications, data analysis, education, human resources, journalism, marketing, politics, public relations, publishing, social media management, and tourism, as well as those who teach English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), English as an additional language (EAL), or English as a foreign language (EFL).
If you are involved in language education, or any context that involves training and mentoring, you’ll are likely to be interested in studying this module and then following the MA in Linguistics (Applied) route. If your interests lie in uncovering the relationship between language, society, and developments in artificial intelligence, then progressing onto the MA in Linguistics (Artificial Intelligence) route may be for you.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
L804 is a compulsory module in our:
L804 is an option module in our:
Sometimes you cannot count a module towards a qualification if you have already counted another module with similar content. To verify any excluded combinations with this module, check with an adviser before registering.
Core concepts in linguistics starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2037.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
To study for this postgraduate module, you must hold a bachelors degree from a UK university or another recognised degree-awarding body, or a qualification at an equivalent level.
As our modules are taught in English, your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study in the UK. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum score of 7 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see their website for details.
If you are new to the study of Linguistics, you may wish to complete the free short course Describing language on our OpenLearn website before your study starts. Another useful resource that will help you to prepare, especially if this is the first time you’ll be learning at a distance, is the free short course Succeeding in postgraduate study. Neither of these short courses is compulsory, but they will help you to prepare for your studies between the time you enrol and when your module officially starts. You can also explore the School of Languages and Applied Linguistics website to learn more about what we offer.
Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader (and where applicable: foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way). Other alternative formats of the module materials may be available in the future.
| Start | End | Register by | England fee |
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| 03 Oct 2026 | 30 Jun 2027 | 10 Sep 2026 | Not yet available* |
| *This start date is open for pre-booking, which means you can reserve your place ahead of the fees being confirmed. We’ll publish updated 2026/27 fees and funding information on the 25th of March. |
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in England.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate tuition fee loans in Northern Ireland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to help with your tuition fees. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Scotland.
If you study this module as part of an eligible qualification, you can apply for a postgraduate loan to support your study costs. To find out more, see Postgraduate loans in Wales.
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Read more about Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA).
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We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may get support from your employer to pay part of your tuition fee and pay the remainder by credit or debit card.
For more information about combining payment options, contact an adviser.
Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
