BA Applied Linguistics
This programme explores language’s role in cognition, culture, and AI, emphasizing inclusive communication. Blending linguistics, literature, and translation studies, it equips students to analyze language across social, cultural, and technological contexts. You’ll investigate how language shapes identity, bridges society and technology, and influences cognition. The curriculum develops expertise in discourse analysis, cross-cultural communication, language teaching, pathology, and technology, with applications in healthcare, advertising, and AI. Through an interdisciplinary approach, you’ll gain theoretical knowledge and practical skills for careers in education, tech, media, and beyond. The programme fosters social responsibility while preparing graduates for diverse, language-focused professions in our interconnected world.
September 2025
Full time
Three or four years
Available
Suzhou
XJTLU undergraduate students earn two degrees: an XJTLU degree recognised by the Chinese Ministry of Education and a globally respected University of Liverpool degree.
Knowledge and skills
By the time you graduate from the BA Applied Linguistics programme, you will have:
- Developed theoretical and applied linguistic expertise, enabling you to analyze language in education, business, and cross-cultural contexts
- Gained interdisciplinary perspectives through literature, translation, and interpreting studies to navigate global communication challenges;
- Mastered professional discourse strategies and intercultural communication skills for diverse business and academic environments;
- Acquired critical research and analytical skills, including data interpretation and problem-solving for international markets;
- Built transferable competencies in language teaching, media, and policy-making with a focus on cognitive and social linguistics.
Our BA in Applied Linguistics is more than a degree—it’s a gateway to understanding how language shapes the world, especially the world in the era of AI. This programme uniquely bridges theory and practice, equipping students with analytical rigour, intercultural fluency, and cutting-edge skills in fields from AI to education. What sets it apart is its commitment to inclusivity and real-world impact. Graduates leave not only as expert communicators but as critical thinkers ready to tackle global challenges—whether in tech, policy, health communication, or beyond. I’m continually inspired by how our students harness language to drive change. If you’re passionate about the power of words, this programme will transform your curiosity into expertise.
Hong Liu
Programme director
Modules
*Programme modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change. XJTLU students are advised to log in to the e-Bridge Portal to view the effectuated module structure.
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University offers a wide range of courses in the first year, including English for academic purposes (EAP), mathematics and physics, and humanities and social sciences. Click to learn more.
Systematic study of linguistics has opened up a fascinating new world for language enthusiasts like me. From phonological patterns to syntactic structures, from semantics to pragmatics, it's been an extraordinary journey of exploring language's mysteries. Simultaneously, applied linguistics has exposed me to diverse real-world language issues across social contexts, significantly enhancing my critical thinking, analytical skills, and academic writing proficiency. The department's rich resources have also been instrumental in preparing me for advanced studies.
Keyi Gu
XJTLU Linguistics Patheway (2024) | MA Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, University of Cambridge
Careers
Graduates of this programme will be well-equipped for diverse careers such as language specialists in AI and tech companies, TESOL educators in international schools, intercultural communication advisors for multinational firms, localization experts in media, language policy analysts for governments or NGOs, and conference interpreters or literary translators. Additional pathways include forensic linguistics and health communication roles, ensuring broad opportunities across technology, education, business, and public sectors. Our linguistics graduates in the past have chosen to pursue a variety of postgraduate programmes (e.g. Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, TESOL, Education, Translation Studies, Literary Studies, etc.) in prestigious institutions all over the world such as Cambridge University, Oxford University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Warwick, UCL, University of Sydney, University of Edinburgh, Duke University, University of Pennsylvania, etc.
Overview
This carefully structured programme combines rigorous linguistic training with career-focused flexibility. The curriculum progresses through three key phases: foundational courses in core linguistics (Years 1-2), followed by specialized optional modules (Years 3-4) that align with students’ professional aspirations.
The programme’s distinctive strength lies in its defined career pathways, spanning technology (AI/computational linguistics), healthcare (speech therapy), public sector (policy/intelligence), and creative industries (publishing/media). Students can tailor their studies through targeted module combinations – for example, pairing Psycholinguistics with Language Pathology for clinical careers, or Computational Linguistics with Corpus Linguistics for tech roles, or Language Education with Bilingual and Multilingual Development for education roles.
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