Corpus Linguistics (Distance)

MA

  • Entry year 2025
  • Duration Part time 2 years
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Overview

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

Course information

We aim to equip you with skills that will enable you to analyse large amounts of linguistic data (corpora) using cutting-edge computational technology. You will also learn about the structure of the English language and a wide variety of applications of corpus linguistic methods for the analysis of English and other languages. This includes discourse analysis (newspapers, business reports, social media etc.), sociolinguistic analysis of spoken language as well as pedagogical applications of corpora (Data Driven Learning, English for Academic Purposes, teaching materials development etc.).

There are five core modules and two options, which are expected to run at the following times. You will find further information about modules in the course structure section.

Core modules:

  • Fundamentals of corpus linguistics (October-December year 1)
  • Corpus design and data collection (January - March year 1)
  • Statistics and data visualization (April - June year 1)
  • Corpus based grammar and vocabulary of English (October - December year 2)
  • Dissertation (April - August/September year 2)

Optional modules:

  • Using corpora in Language teaching (January - March year 2)
  • Corpus-based discourse studies (January - March year 2)

Lancaster University has a specialised corpus research centre, The ESRC Centre for Corpus Approaches to Social Science, CASS , and 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 have access to a wealth of corpus resources. The programme will help your professional growth in variety of fields where analytical skills are required. Typical graduate careers include data analysts, market analysts, educators, journalists, teachers, communications consultants, sales representatives, local government officials etc. The programme will also prepare you for research at the PhD level in corpus linguistics and related subject areas if you choose to continue with your studies.

By the end of the MA programme, you will have had the opportunity to master research techniques as well as general academic skills of structuring and writing research reports and carrying out extensive independent research. This will enhance your chances of success in the competitive job market.

Supporting your studies

If you’re returning to education or you’re not familiar with academic conventions used in UK, we’ll provide the support you need to successfully complete your MA. We will help you to polish your academic reading, writing and presentation skills, sharpen your critical thinking skills and help you to work more effectively.

Outside the lecture theatre, we encourage you to join our diverse departmental research centres, vibrant student and university societies to share ideas, socialise and make friends.

You may have the opportunity to attend one of our international summer schools, where you can experience the local culture, enhance your academic knowledge and potentially work on your dissertation.

Taster webinar and free lectures

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

Please note: It is also possible to take modules on a standalone basis. Please contact the department if you would like further information.

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.

Study Corpus Linguistics at Lancaster

Are you a data or market analyst? Are you an educator? Are you a journalist? Do you require an understanding of language? If so then our online courses in Corpus Linguistics are the right course for you. Choose between our MA, PGCert or you can take our individual specialist postgraduate modules for institutional credit.

Advance your career with a Master's at Lancaster University - Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Hear from alumni in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Lancaster University. What did they study and how did their course propel their career?

Entry requirements

Academic Requirements

2:1 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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Core

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Optional

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Fees and funding

2 year programme

  Year 1 (60 credits) Year 2 (120 Credits)
Home £3,900 £7,800
International £3,900 £7,800

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.

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MA in Corpus Linguistics taster course

You can now try lectures, practical exercises, quizzes etc. from the MA in Corpus linguistics programme in our taster course. Just follow these two simple steps:

  1. Create a free OpenLearning account
  2. Self-enrol. Use the enrolment key: macorpus
MA in Corpus linguistics taster course

Corpus linguistics at Lancaster: Taster session

This webinar introduces a new Master’s Programme (MA) in Corpus linguistics and a new PG Certificate (PGCert) in Corpus linguistics offered by Lancaster University. The webinar starts with a short introduction to corpus linguistics (lecture) and a brief hands-on session demonstrating newest software tools in the field. We also discuss the structure of the programme, entry requirements and the student experience.

Language description in corpus linguistic

This short lecture introduces basic linguistics concepts used in corpus linguistics. It is the second lecture of a lecture series introducing corpus linguistics from a new module on Fundamentals of corpus linguistics offered by Lancaster University as part of an MA programme, PGCert and also individually for credit.

Introduction: Statistics meets Corpus linguistics

This lecture introduces basic concepts of statistics in Corpus Linguistics. It is a part of the new online MA programme in Corpus Linguistics at Lancaster University.

Short Courses in Corpus Linguistics

As an alternative to taking a complete Master's course, you can take our individual specialist postgraduate modules for institutional credit.

Short Courses in Corpus Linguistics
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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.

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