Corpus Linguistics (Distance)

PgCert

  • Entry year 2025 or 2024
  • Duration Part time 1 year

Overview

Take your Postgraduate Certificate in Corpus Linguistics in one of the best Linguistics Departments in the world. We are placed 3rd in the QS World Rankings 2024.

Lancaster’s Postgraduate Certificate in Corpus Linguistics (Distance) is a one-year online programme, whose main aim is to equip students with core skills that will allow them to analyse large amounts of linguistic data (corpora) using cutting-edge computational technology. Students will also learn about the structure of the English language.

Course information

Lancaster University, with a specialised corpus research centre - The ESRC Centre for Corpus Approaches to Social Science, CASS - is one of the world leaders in corpus linguistics. We build corpora such as the British National Corpus 2014 and the Trinity Lancaster Corpus, and develop innovative corpus tools such as #LancsBox, Lancaster Stats Tools online and CQPweb. In 2015, Lancaster University was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for innovative corpus linguistic research.

During your studies, you will learn from experts in the field and will be given access to a wealth of corpus resources. You will be able to acquire core skills in corpus linguistics and data analysis, which will help you grow professionally.

After completing the course, you will have the option to continue onto the MA in Corpus linguistics by taking specialisation courses and writing a dissertation.

Taster webinar and free lectures

You are invited to get a taste for the subject and some of the Department's specialisms by viewing our taster webinar and free lectures.

Have you studied our MOOC?

If you are currently studying on our FutureLearn Corpus Linguistics: Method, Analysis, Interpretation MOOC, or if you actively participated and completed the course within the last three years, you are eligible to apply for our MOOC entry route for this programme. By doing so, you would not take the first core module of the programme, Fundamentals of Corpus Linguistics, but would be expected to submit two written assessments, in January of year 1, using the knowledge you developed through the MOOC. This entry route has a fee discount of £500 which will be deducted from the first year of your fees.

Entry requirements

Academic Requirements

2:1 Hons degree in a related subject is normally required. We will also consider applications where you have a degree in other subjects, have a 2:2 or equivalent result and/or extensive relevant experience. In these cases, you should clearly demonstrate how your experience and skills have prepared you for postgraduate study.

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously. For example, we normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.5 in reading and writing and 6.0 in listening and speaking or TRINITY ISE (C1/C2). We also consider other English language qualifications.

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Pre-master’s programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master’s pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master’s degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Course structure

You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Core

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Fees and funding

1 year programme

  Year 1 (60 credits)
Home £3,900
International £3,900

Cost per 20 credit Module (2025-26) Home £1,300; International £1,300

General fees and funding information

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Scholarships and bursaries

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

If you're considering postgraduate research you should look at our funded PhD opportunities.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Important Information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.