English Language and Linguistics (with TESOL) BA (Hons)

Explore how language and linguistics shape our world. Gain the Trinity CertTESOL to open up extensive career opportunities.

Select your start date

This course will be available in Clearing.

Key information

Why choose this course at Sussex?

  • Gain the Trinity CertTESOL qualification and hands-on experience, opening doors to teaching and beyond across the UK and abroad.
  • Develop wide-ranging specialist skills in language pedagogy, research, collecting and analysing data, critical thinking, analysis and communication.
  • Choose from our extensive range of modules, alongside a supportive learning environment and opportunities to grow studying abroad or on a placement.

On this BA, you’ll develop a broad outlook on language and linguistics, as well as a wide range of research and communication skills. In addition, you’ll prepare for the Trinity College London Level 5 Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Trinity CertTESOL) teaching qualification.

You’ll have the opportunity to tailor your degree to your passion. This BA enables you to choose from a wide range of specialist areas and examine language from psychological, cultural and historical perspectives. 

From child language acquisition to forensic linguistics – our extensive range of modules and supportive learning environment means you graduate with the skills to develop your career in a range of areas. This includes areas from journalism, PR and new media, to language teaching, and speech and language therapy. And gaining the Trinity CertTESOL puts you in an excellent position for roles in language teaching in the UK or abroad. You also have the opportunity to apply for study abroad or a professional placement year.

You’ll be part of a close-knit community of staff and students who support each other.

I don’t just learn how to be a teacher but I also get to practise it. And that practice is throughout the year, and it’s very beneficial for my future.Amelia Hines
English Language and Linguistics (with TESOL) BA
  • Video transcript

    Amelia: My favourite thing about my course is the mix of theory and practical elements that I get. So I don’t only just learn how to be a teacher but I also get to practise it. And that practice is throughout the year, and it’s very beneficial for my future.

Campus tours

Join a campus tour this summer and get a feel for life at Sussex. With award-winning campus food, a National Park setting and buzzing Brighton on our doorstep, our location and facilities are hard to beat.

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On campus - in person

You’ll study for this degree on our campus, joining our academics and fellow students. With in-person contact time, digitally supported educational resources, library collections and independent study, this course is designed to give you an inclusive education. Your learning experience may also include work placements, field trips, studying abroad and internationalisation experiences.

Find out about our beautiful campus

Virtual tour

Want to learn more about life at Sussex?

Our 360° virtual tour has been designed to introduce you to life in our diverse, supportive and inclusive community. Join our students for an immersive experience as they reveal why Sussex offers a space to follow your passions, find your voice, and discover people and places that will inspire you.

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ResearchPlus

As a founding partner of ResearchPlus, a collaboration of research-focused universities, we engage with government, industry and civil society to support economic growth, prosperity and wellbeing across the whole of the UK.

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Modules

This is a single-honours course, allowing you to focus in depth on your core subject. Find out more from our guide to undergraduate study

Spirit of Sussex Award

Feel involved in life at the University, make friends and enrich your experience with us – the Spirit of Sussex Award is our way of recognising your extracurricular and voluntary achievements.

Find out more about the Spirit of Sussex Award

  • Video transcript

    Hi everyone! As I'm sure you've all heard by now, the Spirit of Sussex Award is now live.

    Students across the Sussex community are already earning their points

    What will you do to earn yours?

    There's so many ways to get involved.

    Head over to the website to start your Spirit of Sussex journey.

    Text: The Spirit of Sussex Award is an exciting new programme designed to recognise and celebrate the things you do outside your course.

    Participating in the Award makes it easy and fun for you to get involved and make the most of university life.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

Our experts

Careers

  • 86% of Sussex undergraduates have completed work experience by the end of their course (University of Sussex Career Readiness data at point of graduation 2023/24)

On your course, you’ll have opportunities to apply your knowledge of linguistics in real-world settings. And the TESOL pathway gives you specialist skills in language pedagogy. This means that when you graduate, you’ll have a broad range of skills including:

  • quantitative and qualitative research skills
  • finding and critically understanding relevant existing knowledge
  • collecting and analysing data
  • critical thinking and analysis skills
  • writing, speaking and communicating visually for different types of audiences
  • pedagogical skills, for teaching language and related subjects
  • personal and interpersonal management skills (for example, time management, project planning, teamwork, and appreciation of cultural and linguistic diversity).

You’ll have the knowledge and hands-on experience for a range of rewarding careers in sectors including:

  • education at all levels, in the UK and abroad
  • technology, including edutech, natural language processing, search engine optimisation
  • speech and language therapy
  • traditional publishing and social media
  • journalism, public relations and marketing
  • the arts and charity sectors.

Where do our graduates work now?

Surveyed 15 months after finishing their courses, our recent English Language and Linguistics graduates worked for employers including: 

(Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017-2022) 

Working while you study

Our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work

I’m thinking of travelling after graduating and the TESOL will come in really handy with teaching abroad.Emily Holland
English Language and Linguistics (with TESOL) BA

Design your future at Sussex

Taking the next step in your career can feel daunting, but we’ll help you to explore, connect and flourish throughout your studies and beyond.

As a Sussex student, you’ll learn how to tackle real-world challenges and have access to tailored programmes of careers support:

  • our Career Lab helps you to explore your options, build key skills and connect with employers. Take part in internships, community consultancy projects and insight visits, where you can learn about life at organisations such as Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, the Knepp Rewilding Project, and fashion brand Puig
  • one-to-one appointments with your Faculty Careers Consultant can enable you to identify your career goals, write an effective CV and prepare for future interviews
  • entrepreneurship initiatives like StartUp Sussex and Ideas Lab can empower you to turn your concepts into reality.

Explore how our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can support you

Entry requirements

Find your place in Clearing

This course will be available in Clearing. Explore your options at Sussex – right here, right now.

Fees

Note that your fees, once they’re set, may be subject to an increase on an annual basis. Find details on our Tuition fees page.

Home students

£9,790 per year

Channel Islands and Isle of Man students

£9,790 per year

On 19 March 2026 the UK Parliament set out that the tuition fee cap for 2026 entry will be £9,790. As the University of Sussex keeps fees for Home students and Channel Islands and Isle of Man students in line with UK Government-approved levels, fees will be £9,790 in 2026. In line with our terms and conditions, the University charges fees at the maximum levels set by the UK Government.

International students

£23,500 per year

Study abroad

Find out about grants and funding, tuition fees and insurance costs for studying abroad

Placement

Find out about tuition fees for placements

Living costs

We know the rising cost of living is on everyone’s mind, and affects us all in different ways. Our guide to living costs has been designed to help you plan and budget for life as a Sussex student.

Learn more about typical living costs

Scholarships

Our goal is to ensure that every student who wants to study with us is able to regardless of financial barriers, so that we continue to attract talented and unique people.

Contact us

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Enquiries

Contact us with any questions about your course:

+44 (0)1273 876787
Ask us a question

Find out about the Faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities

Legal information

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Find out about our terms and conditions, including the student code of conduct and your cancellation rights

Find out about our complaints and appeals process

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