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The MA (Hons) British Sign Language and Applied Language Studies programme will prepare you to become a professional working with deaf communities who use British Sign Language.

This degree is designed to lead you from a beginner's level of British Sign Language (BSL) to achieving professional competence in signed interactions. You will learn from a series of intensive courses which will provide you with the necessary cultural, social, political, and linguistic knowledge which will serve as a foundation for various careers, including roles in education, advocacy, counselling, research, and working with deaf individuals in different community settings. It also provides a solid base for those interested in pursuing further studies in areas like deaf education, sign language interpreting, or related fields.

Throughout this four-year degree, youll learn from intensive courses that will equip you with the necessary skills to work as a professional in applied BSL settings. In your fourth year, you can choose optional courses from the contemporary workforce, employment relations, applied linguistics, translation and interpreting studies, diversity management, and more. This allows you to customise your degree to match your specific interests or career pathway by selecting a specialist course option. 

In your third year, youll take part in a work-based placement within BSL-focused, Deaf-led organisations. This will allow you to develop your BSL skills and apply your knowledge of working with members of the Deaf community. Youll develop your linguistic abilities and will be able to produce and understand complex language in a wide range of social and work situations. Youll also be equipped with intercultural awareness while gaining qualities of self-reliance and other generic skills. You will be supported by your tutor throughout the placement.

In your final year, youll explore a chosen area of BSL studies in-depth through your dissertation. This requires independent research and will extend your knowledge considerably in your chosen topic. Youll develop discursive and analytical skills that are required for original and creative thinking. Youll present your findings of the research in an appropriate academic form.