Linguistics and Japanese The University of Manchester

Overview

You will study topics such as the ways in which children acquire their first language, differences between the speech of men and women, how the sound systems and grammars of different types of language are organised, what happens when speakers of different languages come into contact, and much else besides.

You can also develop your proficiency in Japanese while studying the language within its cultural and historical context. You can start as an absolute beginner and go through to an advanced level over four years.

Language study offers much more than just language fluency. You'll explore diverse aspects of the culture, society, history, politics and literature of Japan, helping you to develop intercultural awareness and communication skills - both highly valued by employers.

You'll benefit from excellent teaching, student support and cutting-edge study facilities, as well as from the vibrancy and cultural diversity of Manchester itself, Western Europe's most multilingual city.

With placement options available at partner universities and in professional environments in Japan, a compulsory third year abroad gives our undergraduate students unforgettable and invaluable personal and professional experience.

Our Linguistics and Japanese course offered at The University of Manchester will help you to develop analytical and problem-solving skills. Often dealing with granular and complex data, your combination of humanities and scientific understanding will allow you to make connections across multiple fields of employment.

Career opportunities

A degree in linguistics and modern languages paves the way for an exceptionally broad range of careers. You will develop analytical and problem-solving skills together with intercultural awareness and communication skills - which are highly valued by employers.

Your in-depth understanding of language will open up numerous paths with an international dimension, and you'll have developed excellent all-round communication skills that will make you a strong contender for openings in the media, PR and similar areas.

Many of the graduates go straight into business services, marketing, advertising, management, banking or communications. Others opt for postgraduate study or further vocational training to become accountants, lawyers, teachers (in the UK or abroad) or enter the Civil Service.

Employers who have taken on graduates of our Linguistics and Japanese courses in the past include The Guardian, L'Oréal, Universal Music Group, and Vodafone, as well as Berlitz, Nova (Kyoto) and Dell.