BA Applied Linguistics
This programme explores language’s role in cognition, culture, and artificial intelligence (AI), emphasising inclusive communication. Blending linguistics, literature, and translation studies, it equips students to analyse language across social, cultural, and technological contexts. You will investigate how language shapes identity, bridges society and technology, and influences cognition. The curriculum develops expertise in discourse analysis, cross-cultural communication, language teaching, speech pathology, and technology, with applications in healthcare, advertising, and AI. Through an interdisciplinary approach, you will gain theoretical knowledge and practical skills for careers in education, technology, media, and beyond. The programme fosters social responsibility while preparing graduates for diverse, language-focused professions in our interconnected world.
September 2026
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 analyse 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; and
- 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 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 technology, 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.
Dr 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.
Core Modules
Artificial Intelligence for Humanities and Social Sciences: Empowering Research and Practice
Frontiers in Humanities and Social Sciences Projects
Sounds of English
Introduction to Linguistics: Grammar
Language and Society
Introduction to Linguistics: Spoken & Written Discourse
Semantics and Pragmatics
Optional Modules
Introduction to Literary Studies
Literature and AI
Literature and Film
Syntax
History of English
Morphology
AI-Empowered Translation Skills
Introduction to Translation and Interpreting
Optional Modules
China: culture, language and communication
Literature and Gender
Jane Austen
Language and Media
Bilingualism
Language and Gender
Cognitive Linguistics
Language Acquisition
Psycholinguistics
Corpus Linguistics
Language Documentation
Chinese Linguistics
Historical Linguistics
Computational Linguistics
Language Studies for Translation
Translation and AI Technology
Translation and Computation
Translation and Interpreting for International Business
Core Modules
Final Year Project
Optional Modules
Health Humanities
Postmodern Literature (1945-present)
Climate Change and Literature
Language and Power
Language of the Law
Intercultural Communication
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Applied Linguistics
Applied Linguistics
Ecolinguistics: Language and the Environment
Language and Consumer Behaviours
Language Pathology
Technology-Enhanced Audiovisual Translation
Translation and Society
The systematic study of linguistics has opened up a fascinating new world for language enthusiasts like me. From phonological patterns to syntactic structures, and from semantics to pragmatics, it has been an extraordinary journey into the intricacies of language. At the same time, applied linguistics has introduced me to real-world language challenges across diverse social contexts, significantly enhancing my critical thinking, analytical skills, and academic writing. The department's rich resources have also been instrumental in preparing me for advanced study.
Keyi Gu
XJTLU alumna of 2024, MPhil Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, University of Cambridge
Careers
Graduates will be well-equipped for diverse careers such as language specialists in AI and technology companies, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) educators in international schools, intercultural communication advisors for multinational firms, localisation experts in media, language policy analysts for governments or non-governmental organisations (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 – including Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, TESOL, Education, Translation Studies, and Literary Studies – at prestigious institutions all over the world, such as University of Cambridge, UK; University of Oxford, UK; Harvard University, US; Johns Hopkins University, US; University of Warwick, UK; University College London, UK; University of Sydney, Australia; University of Edinburgh, UK; Duke University, US; University of Pennsylvania, US, among others.
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 One and Two), followed by specialised optional modules (Years Three and Four) that align with students’ professional aspirations.
The programme’s 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:
Why should I study Applied Linguistics?
By studying this programme, you will: