Undergraduate
Linguistics
Contact us
Address
Student Central
The University of Western Australia (M355), 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, Western Australia 6009
Telephone
131 UWA (131 892)
International
(+61 8) 6488 1000
Hours
Frequently asked questions
Careers and further study
This course opens up a world of future study pathways and career opportunities.
Career Pathways
Studying Linguistics will provide you with a strong foundation for careers that involve language, human social organisation and culture, or understanding the human mind. This can open doors to diverse fields like language teaching, speech therapy, journalism, broadcasting, translation, interpreting, Indigenous education, and support work. With the spread of language technology and the development of Artificial Intelligence, linguistic expertise is increasingly relevant – AI will not replace human understanding of linguistic structures.
Potential career paths include:
- Community Linguist
- Language Technologist
- Forensic Linguist
- Teacher*
- Speech Therapist
- Translator*
*Postgraduate study required
Further Study
Master of Translation Studies
Fees and scholarships
Domestic Student Fees
For Commonwealth-supported places, student contribution amounts are charged by unit, based on area of study. For a fee estimate, go to the Fee Calculator and select “I want to price my units”. Fees are subject to annual indexation. Refer to the Handbook to identify the units required. More information on how fees are calculated.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.
Cost of living
International Student Fees
Onshore international students are charged an annual course fee, charged per credit point at a rate dependent on the course in which the student is enrolled. Annual course fees are calculated based on an annual study load. Check the handbook to confirm the annual study load for your course.
Find out more about international student tuition fees and visit the fee calculator for the relevant course fees.
Fees are subject to annual indexation.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.
Cost of living
Admission requirements
The University of Western Australia welcomes applications from international and domestic school-leavers. If you’re interested in studying one of these majors, find out the admission details below.
Minimum entry requirements
- 3.6
- 75.5
- 254
- 324
- 14.5
- 280
- 61
- 1130
- 56
- 75
Admission requirements
English competency
English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.
Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.
How to apply
The application process to this course is different for the assured and graduate entry pathways, and for international and domestic applicants.
Refer to the below regarding application processes for each of the pathways . More information regarding admission requirements and prerequisites for each pathway can be found on the 'Admission Requirements' tab.
Domestic Pathways
- Domestic Assured Pathway/School Leaver Entry: Applications are lodged via TISC. Refer to TISC Online for current course codes and application deadlines.
- Domestic Graduate Entry: Applications are lodged via GEMSAS, which open and close in accordance with the GEMSAS timeline. All domestic applicants must submit a valid GAMSAT score by the application closing date.
International Pathways
- International Assured Pathway/School Leaver Entry: Applications are lodged via UWA's online application system or via an authorised international education agent.
- International Graduate Entry: Applications are lodged via UWA's online application system or via an authorised international education agent.
Course details
About the course
Quick details
- Available
- Perth (Crawley campus)
- Albany (Regional campus)
- Full-time
- Part-time
- On-campus
- Semester 1, Semester 2
- Up to 3 contact hours plus your own study time
- Undergraduate
- MJD-LINGO
- 3 years (BA); 4 years (BPhil [Hons])
Emily Taplin
Emily Taplin
Troy Reynolds
Troy Reynolds
Put theory into practice
Current UWA students are eligible to take one of our professional experience units. These units bridge the gap between university and the workplace by providing opportunities to gain hands-on, practical experience. You can master new skills, make connections and network, get a taste of the opportunities in the workforce and add experience to your resume, all before graduating.
Find out more about Work Integrated Learning.
Course Structure
Our undergraduate degrees offer you a broad range of options allowing you to combine subjects in a way that matches your career goals and personal interests.
Popular combinations
You'll learn to
- understand key focuses of, and key concepts in, core sub-areas of linguistics – phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, discourse analysis, semantics, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, and historical linguistics
- describe key features of major approaches to language structure, use and variation
- demonstrate knowledge of the diversity of structures across languages
- critically interpret and synthesise the content of scholarly publications in linguistics
Work integrated learning
Jessie Gordon
Jessie Gordon
Alumna story
Jessie Gordon
Bachelor of Arts Linguistics and Anthropology graduate, Jessie Gordon, is an internationally acclaimed, multi-award winning musician whose musical passions span across jazz, blues, gospel and roots music. She is a jazz blues vocalist, vintage jazz dancer, raconteur and self-proclaimed cheese enthusiast.
Jessie’s passion for music has taken her around the world, touring Southeast Asia, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the UK. She has won 15 Music and Cabaret awards at FRINGE WORLD Festival and has received 22 nominations. Jessie has collaborated with local Perth bands including Sassafras, Apocalypse Lounge, The Dirty Blues Band, Perth Cabaret Collective, and the Anatomically Incorrect Gentlemen, and recently released two albums with her original music, A Work of Fiction and Best Friends.
My degree
In 2004, Jessie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Linguistics and Anthropology. Following graduation, she undertook an honours year in anthropology and began a PhD which she never completed, having succumbed to the lure of bright stage lights.
Have you ever seen a connection between Linguistics and jazz? As a matter of fact, many singers take a keen interest in the way linguistics helps understand languages. Here’s what Jessie has to say about it:
“For me the intersection of language and music provides a constant tension in performance. There are so many interpretations of a melody that can support the lyric of a tune, or provide a counterpoint to it. I use the skills I learned in my arts degree every day to think analytically about musical and lyrical content and find new ways to interpret and communicate on stage."
You may also be interested in these courses
German Studies 
Psychological and Behavioural Sciences 
Chinese Studies Your degree options
This major is offered as a degree-specific, or first, major for these degrees. It is also offered as a second major in our other bachelor's degrees.
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Philosophy
Why study this course?
- Linguistics is a robust educational foundation that equips you with the core skills an employer looks for, in particular, good communication and thorough analysis
- Linguistics is the study of language, and language is key to most human interactions. As such, studying linguistics opens many doors
Become a bilingual citizen of the world at the largest language hub in Western Australia
Become a bilingual citizen of the world at the largest language hub in Western Australia
With four European, four Asian and two Classical languages on offer, UWA is the leading institution in WA for language learning.
Immerse yourself in another language. Learn to see the world in a new way. Move between cultures with ease.
With our unique course structure, you can combine a language with your other interests to create your perfect study plan. French and Finance? Chinese and Chemistry? German and Geography? Japanese and Jurisprudence? It’s up to you.
You’ll learn to translate not just words, but ideas.
During your studies you can put your skills into practice by travelling overseas with one of our many global learning opportunities, from short courses to long-term student exchange programs.
After completing an undergraduate major in any of our eight modern languages (Chinese Studies, Indonesian Studies, Japanese Studies, Korean Studies, French Studies, German Studies, Italian Studies, and Spanish Studies), you could continue on to our Master of Translation Studies (the only course of its kind in Western Australia) to gain a prestigious professional qualification. The Master of Translation Studies (12520) is accredited by the National Accreditation Authority of Translators and Interpreters (NAATI).
Where could your language studies take you?
Access UWA Language HubLinguistics - Language Across Time
Why take a second major
- Expand your skills - Taking a second major either in a complementary area or in something like Economics or Business Law will show you have developed transferable skills such as, teamwork, critical thinking, digital literacy and presentation skills – which are highly sought after in the workforce.
- Add it to your resume – Employers are looking for graduates who have skills in a variety of areas. Two majors will expand your career prospects and help you stand out amongst the crowd.