PhD in Applied Linguistics by Thesis and Coursework
Director of Studies: Jane Sunderland
Programme length: part-time (60 months; most students are part-time), full-time (36 months, minimum registration)
Audience: those who want/need a PhD but cannot leave their jobs (part-time); those who would like a considerable element of coursework (Applied Linguistics and Research Methods) in their doctoral programme
Coursework: 3 Research Methods modules; 3 Applied Linguistics modules
Teaching mode: 50% face-to-face on Residentials in Lancaster; 50% distance study
Entry requirements:
- Academic: usually an MA, with a good mark (e.g. at least 60%) on the dissertation
- English language level: for non-native speakers of English or those who have not completed an MA in an English medium University: minimum IELTS 6.5 (with at least 6.0 in Reading and Writing)/ paper-based TOEFL 580 or equivalent
Assessment: 6 x 5000-word essays or equivalent (120 credits); thesis of 70,000 words
Enquiries: Elaine Heron (e.heron@lancs.ac.uk)
(Please note that 'Applied Linguistics' here includes but goes beyond issues of language education to encompass the theoretical and empirical study of language in real world problems more widely.)
The MPhil/PhD in Applied Linguistics by Thesis and Coursework provides a broader background in Applied Linguistics than the traditional PhD. Unlike traditional PhD study, this programme is designed so that you can study mainly from home, and so do not have to leave your job.
You start with a package of relevant, compulsory modules in Applied Linguistics and Research Methods modules and at the same time begin work on your own research project, which leads to a thesis.
In Years 1 and 2 you attend a series of four brief, intensive residentials in Lancaster for modules, resource consultation, supervision and other academic support. You are also supported via email and other forms of communication. You will be assigned a supervisor right from the start. The degree of PhD is awarded solely on the basis of the thesis.
Aims
- To provide a programme which facilitates intellectual stimulation between a group of students at a similar stage of the PhD, who can then offer mutual support in researching for and writing a thesis.
- To include a series of key, relevant postgraduate modules to broaden and strengthen your backgrounds in Applied Linguistics.
- To meet the needs of those of you who cannot study full-time because of professional or family commitments.
Structure
If you are holding down a job while working for your PhD, time is limited. We have designed modules that will be relevant to your PhD, and you will be able to integrate some of your coursework into your thesis.
You normally take three Applied Linguistics modules, selected from a list which includes:
- New Directions in Language Analysis
- Issues in Language Testing
- Pragmatics
- Critical Discourse Analysis
- Stylistics
- Corpus Linguistics
- Managing Innovation in Language Education
You also normally take three Research Methods modules. These will be selected from the following list:
Full modules
- Introduction to quantitative data and analysis for applied linguistics (compulsory)
- Qualitative methods for applied linguistics (compulsory)
- A critical approach to social data for applied linguistics
Half modules:
- Reading research papers in applied linguistics
- Collecting, transcribing, and analysing spoken data
- Interview methods and questionnaire design
- Classroom research
- Researching reading and writing
With the exception of New Directions in Language Analysis, all modules are taught approximately 50% face-to-face, on residentials, and 50% by distance.
Assessment
Assessment for the taught part of the programme is based on 5000-word assignments for the Applied Linguistics modules, and 5000/2500-word assignments for research projects for the Research Methods modules. You are required to pass all the coursework, but the final award of the PhD depends entirely on the thesis. The thesis length is 70,000 words.