English Language
- BA (Hons)
- 3 Years
- Full-time
- 21 September 2026
- Undergraduate
- Main Site
Course summary
Our BA English Language course is ideal for analytical minds who want to delve into the science of language - an everyday phenomenon which impacts our lives on an individual and a global scale.
English Language covers the history of the English language and the variation between English dialects in the UK and further afield.
You will acquire the skills required for analytical language study alongside the means to apply those skills to the study of historical and present-day English.
In addition, you will practise key transferable skills, such as essay writing and how to give a presentation.
English Language at The University of Manchester is unrivalled in its breadth of subject areas and theoretical approaches.
Our strengths include phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax (lexical-functional grammar, role and reference grammar, construction grammar, and minimalism), and formal semantics and pragmatics.
You'll be encouraged to take an active role in funded teaching-enhancement projects.
For example, some of our students have developed an online atlas of dialect variation in the UK.
How to apply
Apply by
14 January
Application codes
- Course code:
- Q1Q3
- Institution code:
- M20
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus Code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
Entry requirements
UCAS Tariff Not accepted
A level AAB
AAB including one essay based/humanities subject.
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
Typical Contextual Offer: BBB including one essay based/humanities subject.
Practical skills are a crucial part of science education and therefore will be a requirement to pass the practical element of any science A Level taken. Where applicants are applying for science and related degrees, this is likely to be made explicit in the offer you will receive.
Applicants taking A Levels are normally expected to offer three full A Levels. If you’re taking more than three A Levels, these won’t be included in your offer. We will only make offers consisting of three A Levels.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) DDD
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma: we consider the National Extended Diploma for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to this course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Extended Diploma with grades Dist, Dist, Dist, in a humanities-related subject such as English Literature, History or Politics.
Access to HE Diploma D: 39 credits M: 6 credits
We require a QAA-recognised Access to HE Diploma (a minimum of 60 credits overall with at least 45 at Level 3), with merit or distinction in a subject area relevant to the chosen course.
The specific course requirements are a minimum of 39 credits with a Distinction grade, plus 6 credits with a Merit grade, all in a Humanities-related subject. Where possible, 15 of the Distinction credits should be in the pre-requisite subject required for A-levels.
Applicants to Languages programmes are also required to have a minimum of GCSE grade B/6 in a modern language or in English Language.
Scottish Higher
AABBB in Scottish Highers.
English Language and Mathematics not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 grade C/ Intermediate 2 grade C/ Standard Grade Credit level grade3).
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the Academic School(s) to which you plan to apply.
AS
AS level results are not considered as part of the standard admissions process at The University of Manchester.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) DD
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma: we consider the National Diploma for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to this course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Diploma with grades Distinction, Distinction, plus one A-level at Grade A in an essay-based subject.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) D
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma: we consider the National Foundation Diploma for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to this course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Foundation Diploma with a Distinction grade, PLUS one A-level at Grade A in an essay-based subject, PLUS an EPQ or AS at Grade B.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016) D
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate: we consider the National Extended Certificate for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to this course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full National Extended Certificate with a Distinction grade, PLUS two A-levels at Grades AA, one of which must be in an essay-based subject.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (first teaching from September 2016) Not accepted
Scottish Advanced Higher
AABBB in Scottish Highers.
English Language and Mathematics not taken at Higher/Advanced Higher must have been achieved at SCQF level 5 (minimum National 5 grade C/ Intermediate 2 grade C/ Standard Grade Credit level grade3).
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the Academic School(s) to which you plan to apply.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme 35 points
35 points overall. 6,6,5 in Higher Level subjects
Applicants studying the International Baccalaureate Career Related Programme (IBCP) should contact the admissions team prior to applying so that their academic profile can be considered.
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
The University welcomes and recognises the value of the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma/Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate and usually requires two A Levels or equivalent to be included within this.
The minimum grade required will normally be the same as the lowest grade listed in the A Level entry requirements.
If you require further clarification about the acceptability of this qualification please contact the academic School(s) you plan to apply to.
Extended Project
The University recognises the benefit of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the opportunities it provides for applicants to develop independent study and research skills. We strongly encourage you to provide information about the EPQ in your personal statement and at interview. For this programme, as well as the regular conditions of offer, we may make students who are currently taking or completed the EPQ an alternative offer. For this course it would be ABB at A level plus the Extended Project at Grade A.
GCSE/National 4/National 5
Applicants must demonstrate a broad general education including acceptable levels of Literacy and Numeracy, equivalent to at least Grade 6 or B in GCSE/IGCSE English Language and 4 or C in Mathematics. GCSE/IGCSE English Literature will not be accepted in lieu of GCSE/IGCSE English Language.
Please note that if you hold English as a second language IGCSE qualification, we may also require you to offer one of our acceptable equivalent English Language qualifications or achieve a higher grade in your IGCSE than the one stated above. Please contact the admissions team in your academic School/Department for clarification.
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma Not accepted
OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma DD
Cambridge Level 3 Technical Diploma (CTEC): we consider the Technical Diploma for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to the chosen course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full Technical Diploma with grades Distinction, Distinction, plus an additional level 3 qualification such as an A Level at grade A in an essay-based subject such as English Literature, History or Politics .
OCR Cambridge Technical Foundation Diploma DD
Cambridge Level 3 Technical Foundation Diploma (CTEC): we consider the Technical Foundation Diploma for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to the chosen course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full Technical Foundation Diploma with grades Distinction, Distinction, plus an additional level 3 qualification such as an A Level/A Level at min. Grade A in an essay-based subject such as English Literature, History or Politics, PLUS an EPQ or AS Level at grade B.
OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate D
Cambridge Level 3 Technical Extended Certificate (CTEC) : we consider the Technical Extended Certificate for entry, preferably in a subject relevant to the chosen course. Entry requirements are based on achievement of the full Technical Extended Certificate with grade Distinction, plus two additional Level 3 qualifications such as A Levels at grades AB, one of which must be in an essay-based subject such as English Literature, History or Politics.
The University recognises a number of foundation programmes as suitable for entry to this undergraduate programme:
Applicants completing the INTO Manchester in partnership with The University of Manchester international foundation programme are required to achieve AAB in academic subjects and grade A in the EAP with writing, speaking, listening and reading grade B.
Applicants completing the NCUK International Foundation year are required to achieve AAB in academic subjects and grade A in the EAP with writing, speaking, listening and reading grade B.
Please read this in conjunction with our A-level requirements, noting any pre-requisite subjects.
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 7 | 7.0 overall with no less than 6.5 in any one component. |
Acceptable English Language Qualifications http://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/international/admissions/language-requirements/
Contextual admissions
We operate contextual admissions meaning many applicants receive an offer and are admitted at least one grade below standard entry requirements. Entry requirements for applicants meeting contextual admissions criteria are listed next to the standard entry requirements on course profiles.
Contextual admissions means we consider your application in context helping us to ensure everyone has a fair chance of getting into Manchester. The data we use is automatically provided on your UCAS form.
Historical entry grades data
This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).
It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.
Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
Not enough data available
We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Related courses
At University of Manchester

