Phonetics and Phonology Integrated PhD

Overview

The focus of this iPhD is the application of phonetics and phonology in:

• first and second language acquisition
• sociolinguistics
• speech science
• language patterning

The Phonetics and Phonology integrated PhD has a large taught and assessed component as well as a supervised research element. The foundation is a common core of modules dealing with essential theoretical issues and research methods. You are also offered specialised modules which act as the basis for your thesis.

You'll have an individual course of study based on your needs and the sponsor's requirements.

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

 

What you'll learn

In year one you'll take 6 core modules. You'll also be able to select one optional module from one of the following areas:

• sociolinguistics
• language development
• second language acquisition

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

 

Phonetics and Phonology Integrated PhD modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Issues in Phonological Theory I	20
Research Methods for IPhD and MLitt Students	20
Advanced Topics in Phonology	20
Fundamental Elements of Phonetics and Phonology	20
Phonetics and Phonology Research Project	60

Optional Modules	Credits
Language Learning	20
Language and Society	20
Metropolitan Sociolinguistics	20
Topics in Multilingualism	20
Advanced Topics in Second Language Acquisition	20
Learning and Learnability	20
ToDLR: Topics on Developmental Linguistics Research	20
Melody in Language	20
Foundations in Second Language Acquisition	20
Phonological Acquisition	20

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

The iPhD is structured over four years, full time. A typical course consists of:

• taught stage (year one) - you'll take six core modules
• research stage (years two, three and four) - you'll undertake a supervised research project within our areas of specialisation

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Case study
• Computer assessment
• Essay
• Lab exercise
• Professional skills assessments
• Oral examination
• Oral presentation
• Performance
• Practical lab report
• Poster
• Reflective log
• Research proposal
• Research paper
• Written exercise

Additional assessment information

The research element is assessed through a thesis of 80,000 words.

 

Postgraduate student support

Our mission is to help you:

• stay healthy, positive and feeling well
• overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
• get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
• carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
• understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules

We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.

You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:

• research and professional skills
• careers support
• wellbeing
• health and safety
• public engagement
• academic development

Our staff

The core supervisory team in theoretical and experimental phonetics and phonology includes colleagues from:

Speech and Language Sciences

• Professor Ghada Khattab
• Dr Laurence White

School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics

• Dr Rory Turnbull

School of Modern Languages

• Dr Damien Hall

Biosciences Institute in the Medical School

• Dr Kai Alter

Your development

Research skills

When you reach the research stage, you are encouraged to become a member of the British Association of Academic Phoneticians (BAAP). This is the professional organisation for phoneticians in Britain.

Its members are involved in research in:

• phonetics
• teaching phonetics in higher education
• the application of phonetic knowledge in areas such as speech and language therapy, speech technology and forensic science

The Association holds a Colloquium every two years. This provides an opportunity for members and invited participants to:

• meet
• present their research
• discuss issues of concern to the academic community

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) researcher development programme 

Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:

• perform better as a researcher
• boost your career prospects
• broaden your impact

Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.

You’ll cover:

• techniques for effective research
• methods for better collaborative working
• essential professional standards and requirements

Your researcher development programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.

Find out more about the Researcher Education and Development programme

Your future

Graduate destinations

Recent graduates of phonetics and phonology at Newcastle University have worked on a variety of languages and dialects, including:

• Arabic (a range of dialects)
• Chinese
• English
• German
• Japanese
• Malaysian
• Malayalam
• Polish
• Serbian
• Thai

Our graduates go on to work in:

• academic institutions across the world
• public and private institutions specialising in health sciences, media and communication, speech technology and forensic science

Our Careers Service

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

The Phonetics Lab forms part of Newcastle's linguistics laboratory that received recent funding from the UKRI World-Class Science Laboratories (c.80K for improvements and new purchases of equipment and software). This is one of the UK's largest groupings of speech and language specialists. Alongside standard acoustic analysis software and high-quality recording equipment, our facilities include:

• ultrasound tongue imaging (UTI) (fixed and portable)
• electropalatography (EPG)
• nasometry and airflow measures
• electroglottography (EGG) (fixed and portable)
• eye-tracking
• Electroencephalography (EEG)

This provides the means of undertaking a wide range of acoustic, articulatory and perceptual investigations.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

PGR Home fee note

Home fees for research degree students

For 2024-25 entry, we have aligned our standard Home research fees with those set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The standard fee was confirmed in Spring 2024 by UKRI.

For 2025-26 entry, we will be aligning our standard Home research fees with those set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The standard fee will be confirmed in Spring 2025 by UKRI.

 

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support. You will be eligible for a scholarship worth 15% off the international fee. 

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

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How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

 

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

Apply Online  

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