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What can you do with a degree from Applied Linguistics?

Transferable Skills

It's hard to imagine a professional path that wouldn't benefit from one of our courses. You'll leave with skills to help your professional life and career progression including:

  • Expertise in linguistics, culture, communication and languages.
  • Ability to apply your expertise to solve real-world problems concerning language.
  • A global mindset and heightened cultural awareness.
  • The ability to think critically and innovatively around a range of language and communication issues.

CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to speaker of other languages)

Independent of your course, you may apply to complete training in CELTA through the Department. This is a globally recognised English language teaching qualification that is highly respected by employers.

EuniceEunice Chan

Eunice is an Executive at Edelman Public Relations and studied for a BA Language, Culture and Communications

"Five years ago, I chose to study at Warwick mainly because of one reason, it offers a degree that no other university offers.

I wanted to learn the theory behind the use of language, I wanted to know how these theories are and can be applied in real life, and I wanted to explore how I can use what I have learnt in areas that I am interested in.

It is easy to graduate with a certificate that shows you have achieved a certain level of academic excellence, but it is not easy to graduate and say that you have truly learnt something that you can apply in real life and stay with you as a skill set that is treasured everywhere you go.

Communications is an art that cannot be mastered but appreciated, and graduating from this degree has taught me not only the knowledge but a way of thinking that goes beyond the subject being studied. This is especially true when I was doing my dissertation, where I was allowed to use my knowledge and skills in language as a method to explore a subject matter that I was interested in but never studied before. Looking back, being in a small class also really helped the learning experience and enriched my student experience. Being in a small class means you are given more attention to and you have a tighter community who you can explore and exchange ideas with, which is something that only this degree can offer.

After I graduated, I interned at a public relations company in Hong Kong for three months and was turned into a permanent worker afterwards. I was attracted to public relations because it is very fast-paced, and you get to meet people from different industries. Having worked in this industry for over a year now, it still amazes me how many different people that I get to meet with and how challenging, but rewarding, that can be.

My advice to students? Hone your writing skills and it is okay to start as an intern or trainee. Everyone has to begin somewhere before becoming a giant, and it is through completing every small task that you gain the knowledge and skills to conquer the big challenges."

Christina Milton

Christina is a management trainee at National Express

"Before starting here, I felt I struggled academically with work, so having the presence of personal tutors and the constant offer of help reassured me that I wouldn’t struggle on my own. In fact, that support and help has changed my whole opinion of myself: I wasn’t academically weak, I just needed the right course and teaching to make me thrive – I went from having to repeat a year of A-levels to getting a first in my first year!

I have done work experience shadowing an Educational Psychologist and a Speech and Language Therapist as I was interested in a potential career that could help people with communication difficulties. I also volunteered for a charity organisation called Dyscover which helps people with aphasia – due to this, learning about aphasia this year in linguistics was really interesting and applicable!

Before I came to Warwick, I wanted to work in Speech and Language Therapy, but after getting so involved with the department as the President of GloCAL society, I realised I wanted to pursue a career where I could be constantly active and arrange events. I sought advice from staff and the careers advisor and I am now picking third year optional modules which focus on communication from a career point of view. I plan to choose “Professional Communication” and “Global PR” modules and seek more work experience to refine my options. The department has been extremely helpful."