Professional and Intercultural Communication with Intercalated Year BA
Explore our Professional and Intercultural Communication (with Intercalated Year) degree at Warwick
The world’s problems require experts in language and communication to solve them. Students in the BA Professional and Intercultural Communication engage with language and communication in professional, multicultural, and international teams and organisations. They work with real-world data and situations to address some of the most important communication issues facing humanity. As well as gaining expertise and practical experience in analysing and understanding human interactions, students develop the communication and critical-thinking skills necessary to thrive in today’s knowledge economy.
General entry requirements
A level typical offer
ABB
A level contextual offer
We welcome applications from candidates who meet the contextual eligibility criteria and whose predicted grades are close to, or slightly below, the contextual offer level. The typical contextual offer is BBB. See if you’re eligible.
General GCSE requirements
Unless specified differently above, you will also need a minimum of GCSE grade 4 or C (or an equivalent qualification) in English Language and either Mathematics or a Science subject. Find out more about our entry requirements and the qualifications we accept. We advise that you also check the English Language requirements for your course which may specify a higher GCSE English requirement. Please find the information about this below.
IB typical offer
32
IB contextual offer
We welcome applications from candidates who meet the contextual eligibility criteria and whose predicted grades are close to, or slightly below, the contextual offer level. The typical contextual offer is 30. See if you’re eligible.
General GCSE requirements
Unless specified differently above, you will also need a minimum of GCSE grade 4 or C (or an equivalent qualification) in English Language and either Mathematics or a Science subject. Find out more about our entry requirements and the qualifications we accept. We advise that you also check the English Language requirements for your course which may specify a higher GCSE English requirement. Please find the information about this below.
BTEC
We welcome applications from students taking BTECs.
Scotland Advanced Highers
AB in two Advanced Highers where you have achieved BBB in three further Highers subjects.
Welsh Baccalaureate
BBB in three subjects at A level plus grade C in the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales.
Access to Higher Education Diplomas
We will consider applicants returning to study who are presenting a QAA-recognised Access to Higher Education Diploma on a case-by-case basis.
Typically, we require 45 Credits at Level 3, including Distinction in 33 Level 3 credits and Merit in 12 Level 3 Credits. We may also require subject specific credits or an A level to be studied alongside the Access to Higher Education Diploma to fulfil essential subject requirements.
General GCSE requirements
Unless specified differently above, you will also need a minimum of GCSE grade 4 or C (or an equivalent qualification) in English Language and either Mathematics or a Science subject. Find out more about our entry requirements and the qualifications we accept. We advise that you also check the English Language requirements for your course which may specify a higher GCSE English requirement. Please find the information about this below.
International qualifications
English Language requirements
All applicants have to meet our English Language requirementsLink opens in a new window. If you cannot demonstrate that you meet these, you may be invited to take part in our Pre-sessional English course at WarwickLink opens in a new window.
This course requires: Band B
Learn more about our English Language requirementsLink opens in a new window.
Frequently asked questions
Warwick may make differential offers to students in a number of circumstances. These include students participating in a Widening Participation programme or who meet the contextual data criteria.
Differential offers will usually be one or two grades below Warwick’s standard offer.
All students who successfully complete the Warwick IFP and apply to Warwick through UCAS will receive a guaranteed conditional offer for a related undergraduate programme (selected courses only).
Find out more about standard offers and conditions for the IFP.
We welcome applications for deferred entry.
We do not typically interview applicants. Offers are made based on your UCAS form which includes predicted and actual grades, your personal statement and school reference.
Course overview
Warwick’s BA Professional and Intercultural Communication is an innovative interdisciplinary programme that will prepare you to forge a career as a communicator in the global marketplace.
The degree combines elements of interpersonal communication, organisational communication, linguistics, social psychology, media studies, and public relations. You will develop a unique combination of intellectual, analytical, research, and communication skills, and apply them in a range of authentic situations. Students also develop expertise in communicating effectively in different contexts, cultures and languages, and have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience living and working in multicultural contexts.
Your coursework will engage extensively with language and communication in professional and organisational contexts. These contexts will include selling products and building brands, creating and managing teams, and interacting successfully and effectively within and across cultures.
You will also intensively explore interactions among language, culture, and social structure. You will unpick the ways that we build and navigate our social interactions through language, and the ways our experiences and understandings of the world are shaped by language and culture. You will shed light on the ways that language, communication, and understanding function - and sometimes break down - in multilingual, multicultural, and multinational contexts.
You will learn approaches for describing and analysing language and communication empirically. This will equip you to engage with communication from perspectives informed by linguistics, sociolinguistics, and pragmatics.
Additionally, you will customise your learning with optionality during your second and final years. This will allow you to tailor your degree to your professional and intellectual interests.
Courses offered in Applied Linguistics are unique for prioritising engagement with real-world datasets and problems and for challenging students to conduct independent research from the very start. You will develop proficiency in gathering and synthesising information, in analysing language and communication data, and in communicating effectively and persuasively. As a student, you will work in a rigorous and highly supportive learning community to create knowledge and solve problems. As a graduate, you will be imminently prepared for a successful and fulfilling career in a wide array of communication-related professions in the international marketplace.
Study abroad
If you wish to study abroad, this will take place in your third year, meaning that you will complete your degree in four years instead of three. You will be able to design a study-abroad experience at one of Warwick’s partner universities to complement your academic and professional development. Eligibility for study abroad is contingent upon meeting departmental academic requirements.
The Student Mobility Team offers support for these activities, and the Department's dedicated Study Abroad Co-ordinator can provide more specific information and assistance. Students who elect not to complete the year abroad, or who do not academically qualify for it, will complete the course as a three-year programme.
Core modules
Year One: 120 CATS is core.
Intermediate Year: 90 CATS is core and 30 CATS is optional.
Final Year: 60 CATS is core and 60 CATS is optional.
Year One
Culture, Cognition and Society
In this module, you will gain a thorough and critical understanding of the concepts, theories and research findings of cognitive and social psychology. You will start by learning the fundamental features of cognition, such as perception, attention and memory, before going on to examine the extent to which cognition is influenced by culture and society. By the end of your studies, you will be able to explain key concepts of culture, cognition and society, and describe their principal applications in cross-cultural psychology.
Read more about the Culture, Cognition and Society moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Global Public Relations
Intercultural Competence
Linguistics: Understanding Language
What is language? What is it made of? What rules do we follow when we put sounds together to create words and when we combine words to create sentences? How many languages are spoken in the world today, and in which ways are they similar or different? These are some of the questions that you will explore on this module. Using examples from different languages, you will analyse real-life language data in order to develop the practical skills required for linguistic analysis.
Read more about the Linguistics: Understanding Language moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Language in Society
In this module, you will learn to unpack the ways in which language shapes and is shaped by society. You will analyse critically how language operates in different linguistic and cultural settings, using a range of theoretical concepts, empirical research and methodologies to understand, describe and interpret language use in society. This includes an investigative study of language use, during which you will also develop your communication and study skills.
Read more about the Language in Society moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Research, Academic and Professional Skills
Providing a foundation for modules ET214 (Qualitative Research) and ET215 (Quantitative Research Methods), this module will help you develop the research, academic and professional skills needed to succeed at university and beyond. You will explore research, data-collection and analytical methodologies, using real-life examples of language, culture and communication. You will develop an analytical toolkit to serve you in multiple contexts, including your future career. You will also become familiar with research conventions, including ethical approval, literature review, communication and critical understanding of academic writing.
Read more about the Research, Academic and Professional Skills moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Intermediate Year
Culture and Interpersonal Relations
This interdisciplinary module will provide you with a multifaceted understanding of the ways that language, culture, and human psychology come together in the process of understanding and communicating meanings in intercultural communication. You will explore concepts and theories from a number of disciplines that attempt to explain the influence of culture on communicative processes. You will also consider how social attitudes affect perceptions of self and other, and how stereotypes and prejudice impact on intercultural communication. In this module, students have many opportunities to take the initiative in their learning and to understand more deeply their own ways of perceiving and responding to cultural diversity.
Read more about the Culture and Interpersonal Relations moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Intercultural Business Communication
How does culture affect the way we do business? How can we communicate effectively across culturally different workplaces and with diverse stakeholders? What is (g)localisation and why is it relevant? This module will help you to gain a better understanding of communication within and across global businesses at individual and corporate levels, internally and externally. You'll try out different IBC training activities in the seminars, which is an approach designed to give you hands-on insights into the ways global companies develop their staff. We’ll consider the way digital technology has changed the landscape of business communication and how values and beliefs about culture are having an impact on new media use in the modern business world. This module will promote your awareness and understanding of key aspects of communication, and importantly help you to develop your ability to communicate effectively across differences within the context of global business culture.
Read more about the Intercultural Business Communication moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Sociolinguistics
Why do we speak differently in different situations? Can you identify the features of a Geordie and a Scouse accent? Do men and women speak differently, and if so, why? These are questions you will explore as we examine the relationship between language use and social context. Building on module ET119 (Language in Society), you will develop a greater understanding of linguistic variation. With the opportunity to conduct your own research study, you can expect to complete your course armed with a set of theories, insights and skills to enable you to address such questions, and to explore your own questions about the role of language in society.
Read more about the Sociolinguistics moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Qualitative Research
In this module, you will develop your ability to conduct qualitative research on language, culture and communication related topics and issues. As well as content from engaging lectures and seminars, you will drive your own learning by designing, carrying out and writing up your own original qualitative research project on a language, culture and communication issue or topic you are interested in. You will be guided every step of the way through constructive feedback and reflective tasks as you put your qualitative toolkit into practice to build your own theoretical ideas about language, culture and communication. Additionally, this module is designed to give you an opportunity to develop skills and attributes you need to be able to conduct research in the future including resilience, intellectual curiosity, confidence in making decisions, personal and project management and critical thinking. The ability to conduct research is a highly sought-after skill by employers as the world becomes increasingly reliant on research-informed insights and this module arms you with a toolkit to meet this need.
Read more about the Qualitative Research moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Quantitative Research Methods
Building on the foundations in ET120 Research, Academic and Professional Skills, you will progress to developing your research skills through deeper insights into the generic principles of planning, collecting and analysing quantitative data. In addition to weekly engagement with real-life problem-solving tasks, you will be a member of a group project conducting empirical research. You will appreciate the purpose and application of different quantitative research designs and their relevance in applied contexts, such as organisational analysis and consulting. At the end of the module, you will be able to critically review quantitative data and understand its power as well as its limitations, and also demonstrate the skills needed to generate, analyse and interpret such data in the workplace.
Read more about the Quantitative Research Methods moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Final Year
Dissertation
Do you have a topic or question about Language, Culture and Communication or English Language and Linguistics that you would like to explore in depth? By the time you get to the third year you are likely to have a lot of potential areas of interest. For the dissertation module you get the opportunity to develop a project around one of these interests and, with the support of a supervisor, conduct research and write it up! As well as developing content knowledge in an area of interest to you, the dissertation will help you enhance your research, critical and creative thinking, time management and academic writing skills. The dissertation module also provides excellent training if you are interested in undertaking postgraduate study beyond the BA.
Read more about the Dissertation moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Professional Communication
Communication Modes
In this module, you will learn how the sounds, gestures and facial expressions we make combine with linguistic choices to give meaning to our messages and influence our interpretation of the messages of others. You will develop a deeper awareness of the impact of different modes of communication and increase your understanding of the research and analysis that underpin our knowledge of human communication in all its complexity.
Read more about the Communication Modes moduleLink opens in a new window, including the methods of teaching and assessment (content applies to 2024/25 year of study).
Optional modules
Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:
- Multilingualism and Culture
- Multilingualism and Diversity
- Dialects
- Language, Society and Power
- Intercultural Pragmatics
- Foreign Language module
- Issues in TESOL
- Language in Sport
- Phonetics and Phonology
- Morphology and Syntax
- Analysing Written Discourse
- Analysing Spoken Discourse
Assessment
Assessment will normally take the form of 50% coursework and 50% examination.
The final degree classification is determined by your second and final year marks, and each contributes 50%.
Teaching
You will study six to seven modules per year. Most modules are comprised of the equivalent of a weekly two-hour lecture and one-hour small-group seminar. You will spend independent study time preparing for classes, reading primary texts, and completing practical exercises. Practical exercises emphasise student-led research projects.
Most modules meet on-campus for about three hours per week. Meetings include lectures, seminars, workshops, laboratories, and tutorials. On-campus meetings are dynamic and emphasise practical engagement with learning materials and consolidation of concepts.
You will also study independently. Self-directed learning will include engaging with recorded learning materials, reading primary texts, completing practical exercises, and working with peers. Your independent engagement with these activities will provide you a foundation from the best knowledge about course concepts in the world.
Class sizes
Large-group meetings vary depending on the module. Small-group meetings are typically around 15 students.
Typical contact hours
You will have about 12 hours per week timetabled for large- and small-group meetings with your lecturers. You will also spend substantial time each week in independent learning.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees cover the majority of the costs of your study, including teaching and assessment. Fees are charged at the start of each academic year. If you pay your fees directly to the University, you can choose to pay in instalments.
Undergraduate fees
If you are a home student enrolling in 2024, your annual tuition fees will be £9,250. In the future, these fees might change for new and continuing students.
How are fees set?
The British Government sets tuition fee rates.
Undergraduate fees
If you are an overseas or EU student enrolling in 2024, your annual tuition fees will be as follows:
- Band 1 – £24,800 per year (classroom-based courses, including Humanities and most Social Science courses)
- Band 2 – £31,620 per year (laboratory-based courses, plus Maths, Statistics, Theatre and Performance Studies, Economics, and courses provided by Warwick Business School, with exceptions)
Fees for 2025 entry have not been set. We will publish updated information here as soon as it becomes available, so please check back for updates about 2025 fee rates before you apply.
Fee status guidance
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.
Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?
If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.
Find out more about how universities assess fee status.Link opens in a new window
Additional course costs
As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.
For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on this web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module CatalogueLink opens in a new window (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).
Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2024/25 year of study). Information about module specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:
- Core text books
- Printer credits
- Dissertation binding
- Robe hire for your degree ceremony
Further information
Find out more about tuition fees from our Student Finance team.
Scholarships and bursaries
Learn about scholarships and bursaries available to undergraduate students.
We offer a number of undergraduate scholarships and bursaries to full-time undergraduate students. These include sporting and musical bursaries, and scholarships offered by commercial organisations.
Find out more about funding opportunities for full-time students.Link opens in a new window
If you are an international student, a limited number of scholarships may be available.
Find out more information on our international scholarship pages.Link opens in a new window
You may be eligible for financial help from your own government, from the British Council or from other funding agencies. You can usually request information on scholarships from the Ministry of Education in your home country, or from the local British Council office.
Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship
We believe there should be no barrier to talent. That's why we are committed to offering a scholarship that makes it easier for gifted, ambitious international learners to pursue their academic interests at one of the UK's most prestigious universities.
We provide extra financial support for qualifying students from lower income families. The Warwick Undergraduate Bursary is an annual award of up to £3,000 per annum. It is intended to help with course-related costs and you do not have to pay it back.
As part of the 'City of Sanctuary' movement, we are committed to building a culture of hospitality and welcome, especially for those seeking sanctuary from war and persecution. We provide a range of scholarships to enable people seeking sanctuary or asylum to progress to access university education.
Further information
Find out more about Warwick undergraduate bursaries and scholarships.
Eligibility for student loans
Your eligibility for student finance will depend on certain criteria, such as your nationality and residency status, your course, and previous study at higher education level.
Check if you're eligible for student finance.
Tuition Fee Loan
You can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your tuition fees. It is non-means tested, which means the amount you can receive is not based on your household income. The Loan is paid directly to the University so, if you choose to take the full Tuition Fee Loan, you won’t have to set up any payments.
Maintenance Loan for living costs
You can apply for a Maintenance Loan towards your living costs such as accommodation, food and bills. This loan is means-tested, so the amount you receive is partially based on your household income and whether you choose to live at home or in student accommodation.
If you’re starting a course on or after 1 August 2021, you usually must have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement SchemeLink opens in a new window to get student finance.
Tuition Fee Loan
If you are an EU student and eligible for student finance you may be able to get a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your fees. It is non-means tested, which means the amount you may receive is not based on your household income. The Loan is paid directly to the University so, if you choose to take the full Tuition Fee Loan, you won't have to set up any payments.
Help with living costs
For the 2024 academic year, you may be eligible for help with your living costs if both of the following apply:
- You have lived in the UK for more than 3 years before the first day of the first academic year of your course
And
- You have Settled Status (see further details on Settled Status)Link opens in a new window
If you are coming to the UK from 1st January 2021, you may need to apply for a visaLink opens in a new window to study here.
Please note: Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.
Find out more about government student loans for EU studentsLink opens in a new window
Repaying your loans
You will repay your loan or loans gradually once you are working and earning above a certain amount (for students starting their course after 1 August 2023 the repayment threshold is £25,000). Repayments will be taken directly from your salary if you are an employee. If your income falls below the earnings threshold, your repayments will stop until your income goes back up above this figure.
Find out more about repaying your student loan.Link opens in a new window
Placements and work experience
You may decide to make use of the optional intercalated third year by organising a work placement. The University Careers Office can advise on potential work placement opportunities; however, it will be entirely your responsibility to find and apply for a work placement.
Your career
Graduates from these courses are working in:
- Global PR
- Consultancies
- Multinational companies
- Higher education
- Further study (Speech Language Therapy courses, and masters and doctoral programmes)
Helping you find the right career
Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant to support you. They offer impartial advice and guidance, together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:
- Finding experience to boost your CV in Year One and Two
- Careers options with a degree in Statistics
- Warwick careers fairs throughout the year
- Interview skills for Statistics students
- Maths and Stats Careers Fair
Find out more about careers support at Warwick.
Explore the career journeys of Warwick Social Sciences alumni. See how their university experience opened doors across industries and imagine where a degree from Warwick could take you.
Applied Linguistics at Warwick
Apply your learning from day one.
Find meaningful solutions to real-world problems. We want you to become empowered, vocal, opinionated and bold. Our close-knit learning community will make it easy for you to speak up and discuss your learning with your fellow students and enthusiastic academics.
Find out more about us on our websiteLink opens in a new window
Our courses
- English Language and Linguistics with Intercalated Year (BA)
- Linguistics with Modern Language with Intercalated Year BA
- Professional and Intercultural Communication with Intercalated Year (BA)
Related degrees
Life at Warwick
Within a close-knit community of staff and students from all over the world, discover a campus alive with possibilities. A place where all the elements of your student experience come together in one place. Our supportive, energising, welcoming space creates the ideal environment for forging new connections, having fun and finding inspiration.
Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.
Warwick Accommodation
Finding the right accommodation is key to helping you settle in quickly.
We have a range of residences for undergraduate students on campus.
Our campus
You won't be short of ways to spend your time on campus - whether it's visiting Warwick Arts Centre, using our incredible new sports facilities, socialising in our bars, nightclub and cafés, or enjoying an open-air event. Or if you need some peace and quiet, you can explore lakes, woodland and green spaces just a few minutes’ walk from central campus.
Food and drink
We have lots of cafés, restaurants and shops on campus. You can enjoy great quality food and drink, with plenty of choice for all tastes and budgets. There is a convenience store on central campus, as well as two supermarkets and a small shopping centre in the nearby Cannon Park Retail Park. Several of them offer delivery services to help you stay stocked up.
And don't miss our regular food market day on the Piazza with tempting, fresh and delicious street food. Soak up the atmosphere and try something new, with mouth-watering food for all tastes.
Clubs and societies
We currently have more than 300 student-run societies.
So whether you’re into films, martial arts, astronomy, gaming or musical theatre, you can instantly connect with people with similar interests.
Or you could try something new, or even form your own society.
Sports and fitness
Staying active at Warwick is no sweat, thanks to our amazing new Sports and Wellness Hub, indoor and outdoor tennis centre, 60 acres of sports pitches, and more than 60 sports clubs.
Whether you want to compete, relax or just have fun, you can achieve your fitness goals.
Studying on campus
Our campus is designed to cater for all of your learning needs.
You will benefit from a variety of flexible, well-equipped study spaces and teaching facilities across the University.
- The Oculus, our outstanding learning hub, houses state-of-the-art lecture theatres and innovative social learning and network areas.
- The University Library provides access to over one million printed works and tens of thousands of electronic journals
- Different study spaces offering you flexible individual and group study spaces.
Travel and local area
Our campus is in Coventry, a modern city with high street shops, restaurants, nightclubs and bars sitting alongside medieval monuments. The Warwickshire towns of Leamington Spa and Kenilworth are also nearby.
The University is close to major road, rail and air links. London is just an hour by direct train from Coventry, with Birmingham a 20-minute trip. Birmingham International Airport is nearby (a 20-minute drive).
Wellbeing support and faith provision
Our continuous support network is here to help you adjust to student life and to ensure you can easily access advice on many different issues. These may include managing your finances and workload, and settling into shared accommodation. We also have specialist disability and mental health support teams.
Our Chaplaincy is home to Chaplains from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. We provide regular services for all Christian denominations and a Shabbat meal every Friday for our Jewish students. There is also an Islamic prayer hall, halal kitchen and ablution facilities.
How to apply
Learn more about our application process.
Key dates
Key dates for your application to Warwick.
Writing your personal statement
Make an impression and demonstrate your passion for your course.
After you've applied
Find out how we process your application.
Our Admission Statement
Read Warwick's Admission Statement
3 ways to connect
Talk to us
Join us at a live event. You can ask about courses, applying to Warwick, life at Warwick, visas and immigration, and more.
Warwick Experience
Take a virtual, student-led campus tour. Then join an interactive panel session, where you can hear from and chat to our current students and staff.
Student blogs
Explore our student blogs in Unibuddy. You can read about campus life from students themselves, and register to post questions directly to students.
Explore campus with our virtual tour
Our 360 tour lets you:
- Watch student videos
- View 360 photography and drone footage
- Learn about facilities and landmarks
Explore our campus virtually through our 360 campus tour now
Come to an Open Day
Don’t just take it from us, come and see for yourself what Warwick is all about. Whether it's a virtual visit or in-person, our University Open Days give you the chance to meet staff and students, visit academic departments, tour the campus and get a real feel for life at Warwick.
Sign up for updates
Discover more about our courses and campus life with our helpful information and timely reminders.