Venues

Gilmorehill Campus

Content

Year 1: Initially, you will focus on phonetics and grammar of modern English and on Old English, the ancestor of our modern language. You then study varieties of English, semantics, the language of literature, Scots, the history of English and medieval English literature.

You will also study two other subjects in year 1 according to your interests: see Degrees in Arts, Science and Social Sciences.

Year 2: In second year you will study the nature and types of speech behaviour in conversational contexts, the role of persuasive language in society, Old, Middle and Early Modern English language and literature (together with Old Icelandic literature in translation), lexicology and semantics, an introduction to English historical linguistics, and the theoretical bases of linguistic study.

You will also study one or two other subjects in year 2 according to your interests: see Degrees in Arts, Science and Social Sciences.

Years 3 and 4: You can study English Language on its own as a Single Honours degree, or in combination with another subject (Joint Honours). If you choose to study English Language to Honours level, you will explore a selection of topics in great depth, relate these topics to each other and, where relevant, to topics studied in another subject.

Entry Requirements

2026 entry requirements

Standard entry: 5 Highers at AAAAB (by end S6 with min BBBB after S5) including English and a humanities subject at AA (AB or BA may be considered).

Entry to year 2 may be possible with 3 Advanced Highers at AAA in relevant subjects.

Widening access entry: 4 Highers at AABB or BBBB (by end S6) including English and a humanities subject. Completion of pre-entry programme is necessary.