Welsh and Linguistics Cardiff University

Overview

With the  Welsh and Linguistics programme offered at Cardiff University , you will achieve a high level of skill in written and spoken Welsh, key skills in collaboration and critical thinking, and well-developed employability and creative skills relevant to modern Wales.  

Key facts

The program welcomes those who’ve studied Welsh either as a first or second language. If Welsh is a second language to you, you’ll be provided with specific modules in the first and second years to practise and enhance your communication and language skills. 

After this, first and second language students come together for the majority of second year, and all final year, modules. Module options allow you to explore topics such as historic and contemporary Welsh writing, language policy, and professional translation.

In linguistics, you’ll be provided with a rigorous grounding in the analysis of language (including key aspects of phonetics, morphology and syntax). You’ll also be able to select modules on varied topics, letting you follow your passions and interests, using the latest approaches to study with a critical eye and making connections to debates in the public sphere. 

Acquiring career-enhancing skills, you’ll have the opportunity to produce different types of texts and work with specialised software. You’ll gain skills from analysing real-world examples of language and learn how to construct arguments and communicate ideas to different audiences. 

You’ll also have the opportunity to undertake a work placement in a workplace where Welsh is used daily, to develop your confidence and professional skills. During your final year, you’ll undertake a dissertation, in which you’ll design and carry out a research project on a topic of your choice related to Welsh language, culture or literature.

Graduating with a range of academic, linguistic and practical skills – including teamworking, leadership and communication – the confidence to use them and the ability to see the big picture, you’ll be valued by employers and ideally placed to progress into a range of careers. 

The ability to use the Welsh language at a professional level is also extremely attractive to employers, which means that you have a unique opportunity to ensure an interesting and varied career where you can influence the linguistic, cultural, civic and economic future of Wales. 

Career prospects

Graduates from this programme possess a range of transferable skills and areas of knowledge that are sought after by many employers.

These include the ability to communicate effectively to different audiences, and to use reflection and feedback to further develop your skills. The demand for Welsh speakers means that a degree in Welsh can be highly valuable for jobs and roles that require bilingual speakers. In linguistics, you’ll combine the best of humanities skills (flexibility, communication, critique) and social science skills (technical analysis and systematic method). This combination of specialist and transferable skills, alongside your powers of expression and critical thinking, will be valued by employers.

During your degree, you’ll benefit from the university’s range of careers support. The Cardiff Award provides a framework through which to develop your employability while our Students Futures service can provide opportunities to develop or increase your professional experience through placements or internships and maximise your skills and preparation with careers workshops and one-on-one advice sessions. 

Equally, you could work with the Enterprise and Start Up team to bring your ideas to life, grounding you with the know-how to succeed. Alternatively, you can take advantage of initiatives like Languages for All to gain new (or improve existing) language skills, enhancing both your CV and your personal experiences.

With the breadth of academic and professional skills, as well as personal development opportunities, open to them in Cardiff, our graduates can be found in a variety of roles and sectors. These include marketing and PR, sakes and advertising, media and broadcasting, education and teaching, speech and language therapy, the civil service and public administration, among many more.