PhD Applied Linguistics (Distance Learning) at Swansea University

Programme overview

Research degree in applied linguistics at Swansea University's Singleton Park Campus, supervised by members of the Language Research Centre.

Faculty: School of Culture and Communication | Department: English Language, TESOL and Applied Linguistics | Duration: 6 years part-time (distance learning) | Intake: October 2026, or April or July 2027 | Study mode: online | Location: Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom

What you will study

Original research towards a thesis of up to 90,000 words (PhD) or 60,000 words (MPhil) followed by a viva. There are no taught PhD classes, though students may attend relevant MA modules. Projects concern areas such as computer-assisted language learning, cognitive psychology of language, discourse analysis, lexical studies, pragmatics, psycholinguistics, second language acquisition, sociolinguistics and vocabulary learning. Two supervisors, with fortnightly meetings in the first term.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

PhD: Applicants must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2:1 level and a master's degree with a minimum overall grade of Merit (or non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University); applicants with a UK first-class honours degree and no master's degree are considered individually. International applicants: IELTS 6.5 overall with no component below 6.5, or a Swansea-recognised equivalent. One reference is required. Admissions decisions may also take into account the standard of the research proposal, performance at interview, competition for places and relevant professional experience.

Domestic applicants: GBP 2,619 a year (2026/27). part-time distance-learning tuition, Year 1 fee; fees in later years increase by 3%. Source

International applicants: GBP 9,500 a year (2026/27). part-time distance-learning tuition, Year 1 fee; fees in later years increase by 3%. Source

Intake: October 2026, or April or July 2027

Duration: 6 years part-time (distance learning)

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