Teaching and assessment
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
Teaching format
You’ll be empowered to actively participate in your own learning by asking questions, evaluating your thoughts and searching for answers. You’ll do this theoretically in group discussions and practically in hands-on laboratory experiments, under the supervision of a tutor who is an expert in the field. You’ll learn through a mixture of:
- small group seminars (12 - 20 students)
- reading groups
- lectures
- experiments (in our state-of-the-art labs)
- written work with written feedback
- visiting speakers.
Additionally, every staff member has a 'Feedback and Advice Time' every week that students are encouraged to use for one-to-one contact and informal discussion. In your first year, you’ll also be able to get extra support in several ways:
- from other students via our Peer Assisted Learning programme
- an additional (optional) contact hour every week
- specific help easing into university life.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
Facilities
You may use our state-of-the-art Language and Linguistic Science facilities to deconstruct and analyse language. We have three areas that you may use.
Psycholinguistics lab
Comprising two experimental booths with black-out blinds so you can measure pupil response using the world’s most precise video-based eye trackers. Two additional workstations are used for behavioural experiments. These are equipped with multiple E-prime software licences, devices for recording response times and technology for controlling auditory stimuli. The lab also has a generous multi-purpose computer laboratory with access to linguistics software for experimental design and coding.
Speech lab: Articulograph and ultrasound
Using ultrasound imaging and electromagnetic articulography, you can track the movement of the tongue and lips in real-time to analyse speech.
Recording studio
Our professional recording studio can produce clear, quiet, professional recordings suitable for academic use.
Teaching location
You will be based in the departments of Philosophy and Language and Linguistics which are based on Campus West.
Teaching on this course takes place at various locations across Campus West including Vanbrugh, Derwent and the Spring Lane Building.
About our campus
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.
Assessment and feedback
Depending on your course and the modules you choose, you'll be assessed differently.
Essays, exams and coursework will make up most of your assignments, but there will also be some group work.
You'll submit summative work, which counts towards your final degree score, and formative work, which doesn't count towards your final grade but gives you the chance to practice techniques and identify areas to improve. We'll provide detailed feedback on the work you submit, supporting you in developing your academic skills.
We can make appropriate adjustments to assessment procedures for students with disabilities. See the University's disability support pages for further details.
