Career opportunities
Linguistics gives you an edge in any career where language and communication are important – and that's everything!
Career pathways include:
- Teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) in New Zealand or abroad
- Interpreting, translation and heritage language support
- Copywriting, editing and media roles
- Technology-based work such as data analysis, natural language processing or user-experience research
- Speech-language therapy and communication-disorder services
- Policy advising, forensic linguistics and government language roles
How you will learn
In our programme you’ll get a mix of lectures, tutorials and hands-on projects that bring language to life. You’ll work with real linguistic data, collaborate with classmates on case studies, present findings, and develop arguments based on evidence. Many papers give you a chance to dig into things like speech sounds, syntax, semantics, sociolinguistics and second-language teaching. At Otago you’ll join a supportive community of students and staff who are excited about language, and you’ll learn by doing, not just reading.
Recommended high school subjects for undergraduate study
You don’t need prior knowledge of Linguistics to join us. If you enjoy English or language-rich subjects and you like thinking about how people communicate, you’re in a great position to start.
Choose a study option
Whether you're embarking on your academic journey with our comprehensive undergraduate programmes or aiming to reach new heights through our advanced postgraduate offerings, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Undergraduate qualifications
For new and current students studying towards a Bachelor's or other first degree. Explore undergraduate qualifications at Otago, designed to build a strong foundation in your chosen field, preparing you for a successful career or further study.
Note: this subject can also be studied as a minor.
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
A three-year degree offering flexibility to explore a major in Arts along with other subjects
Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom)
Combine two majors, one in Arts and one in Commerce, into a four-year degree and expand your future career prospects
Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
Combine two majors, one in Arts and one in Science, into a four-year degree and expand your future career prospects
Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr)
A three-year degree that equips you to change the world as you create new products, services and ideas
Ready to apply?
Take the first step towards your future in this subject.
Further study opportunities
Whether you are looking to bridge your undergraduate studies to advanced knowledge or aiming to specialise in a specific field, Otago offers a range of graduate and postgraduate options to suit your aspirations.
Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
The Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad), requiring study of at least seven papers (at least four of which are at 300-level o...
Postgraduate study in Linguistics
Explore postgraduate study in Linguistics at Otago. Gain advanced knowledge, skills, and research opportunities in a sup...
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Explore the world through language
Linguistics combines naturally with many other areas of study at Otago. It links to Psychology through the science of the mind, to Education through language learning, to Māori Studies through revitalisation and identity, and to Computer Science through artificial intelligence and data analysis. Otago's flexible degree structure lets you combine Linguistics with almost any other subject, so you can build a unique profile of knowledge and skills. Our minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) specifically equips you to teach English in New Zealand or overseas. Linguistics at Otago gives you a broad, adaptable foundation for wherever language takes you next.
Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject.
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | LING 111 A World of Languages | 18 |
One of GLBL 110 or any 100-level paper in Chinese, English (excluding ENGL 126), French, German, Greek , Hebrew, Japanese, Latin, Linguistics, Māori Language (MAOR 110, MAOR 111, MAOR 112), or Spanish | 18 | |
| 200-level | LING 217 What's Behind Language: Sound and Structure | 18 |
At least two further 200-level LING papers, one of which may be substituted with DHUM 201 Digital Humanities: Method and Critique | 36 | |
| 300-level | Four 300-level LING papers | 72 |
| Plus | 198 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above. | 198 |
Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts | ||
| Total | 360 |
Note: Students majoring in Linguistics are not able to take the TESOL minor subject.
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | LING 111 A World of Languages | 18 |
| One 100-level ENGL paper (excluding ENGL 126 English for University Purposes) | 18 | |
| 200-level | LING 217 What's Behind Language: Sound and Structure | 18 |
| Two 200-level ENGL papers | 36 | |
| One further 200-level LING paper (excluding LING 231 TESOL: Guide to Language Teaching) | 18 | |
| DHUM 201 Digital Humanities: Method and Critique may be substituted for one 200-level paper | ||
| 300-level | Two 300-level ENGL papers | 36 |
| Two 300-level LING papers | 36 | |
| Plus | 180 further points; must include 36 points at 200-level or above. | 180 |
| Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts | ||
| Total | 360 |
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | LING 111 A World of Languages | 18 |
| Two 100-level papers in one of the following languages: Chinese, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Latin, Māori, Spanish | 36 | |
| 200-level | LING 217 What's Behind Language: Sound and Structure | 18 |
| One further 200-level LING paper (excluding LING 231 TESOL: Guide to Language Teaching) | 18 | |
| Two 200-level papers in the language continued from 100-level | 36 | |
| 300-level | Two 300-level LING papers | 36 |
| Two 300-level papers in the language continued from 200-level | 36 | |
| Plus | 162 further points; must include 36 points at 200-level or above. | 162 |
| Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts | ||
| Note: In the case of Māori language, students will take MAOR 111, MAOR 211, and MAOR 311 at 100-, 200-, and 300-level respectively. | ||
| Total | 360 |
A minor subject can be included in many of our undergraduate degrees. To earn a minor, you typically must complete a minimum of 90 points in that subject, with at least 18 points at the 300-level.
Your minor can be a subject more commonly taken for a different degree. For example, a BCom majoring in Marketing can include Japanese as a minor subject. To include this subject as a minor in your application, first find a major subject through our Subject Search or Study Match.
You can check what’s required to receive the minor accreditation in the programme details below.
Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | LING 111 Language and Its Structure One of GLBL 110 or any 100-level paper in Chinese, English (excluding ENGL 126), French, German, Greek , Hebrew, Japanese, Latin, Linguistics, Māori Language (MAOR 110, MAOR 111, MAOR 112), or Spanish | 18 18 |
| 200-level | LING 217 What's Behind Language: Sound and Structure One further 200-level LING paper (excluding LING 231 TESOL: Guide to Language Teaching) | 18 18 |
| 300-level | Any 300-level LING paper | 18 |
| Total | 90 |
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
LING papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LING103 | 2026 | Language Myths | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| LING111 | 2026 | A World of Languages | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| LING140 | 2026 | Language, Brain, and Being Human | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| LING217 | 2026 | What's Behind Language: Sound and Structure | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| LING230 | 2026 | Interaction and Identity in Context | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| LING231 | 2026 | TESOL: Guide to Language Teaching | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| LING314 | 2026 | Morphosyntax: Diversity and Unity | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| LING315 | 2026 | Psycholinguistics | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| LING317 | 2026 | Child and Adult Language Development | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| LING330 | 2026 | Interaction and Identity in Context | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| LING331 | 2026 | Advanced TESOL: Branching Out | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| LING332 | 2026 | TESOL in Action: Teaching Practice | 18 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| LING390 | 2026 | Research Essay | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| LING415 | 2026 | Psycholinguistics | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| LING421 | 2026 | Special Topic | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| LING424 | 2026 | Linguistic Fieldwork | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| LING432 | 2026 | TESOL in Action: Teaching Practice | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| LING440 | 2026 | Advanced Topic in Linguistics | 30 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| LING490 | 2026 | Dissertation | 60 points | Full Year, 1st Non standard period (13 July 2026 - 11 June 2027) |
| LING495 | 2026 | Thesis Preparation | 40 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| LING590 | 2026 | Research Dissertation | 60 points | 1st Non standard period (27 February 2026 - 19 February 2027), 2nd Non standard period (17 July 2026 - 9 July 2027) |
More information
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2026 Calendar and supplementary material.
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