English Language & Linguistics / History, MA (Hons)

The English Language and Linguistics program examines the structure, meaning, and evolution of the English language across history to reveal insights into culture, society, and human identity. Over the past 50 years, we have developed the world-leading Historical Thesaurus of English, a distinctive resource tracking the semantic growth of its vast vocabulary. Students also gain access to specialized laboratories for analyzing spoken and written language.The History program investigates changes and continuities in human societies through time, offering a broad curriculum from medieval to modern periods and across global contexts. It features small group teaching, varied assessments including practical tasks like policy papers and blogs, and individualized feedback sessions. The university hosts renowned research centers in gender history, war studies, slavery studies, American studies, and Scottish and Celtic studies.