Linguistics

Personalised by

Use this icon to personalise the page to your pathway, preferred campus and study level.

Personalisation is not available through private browsing.

Starting point for a wide range of specialised careers

You love words. You like debating pronunciation or the origin of a slang phrase. You're an insatiable reader, and you have the vocabulary to prove it.

In linguistics, you'll study the 'how' and the 'why' of the vernacular we use today and discover how our words have evolved over time. You'll research where new words come from and the way in which, when we're children, our spoken vocabulary develops more quickly than anything else.

Many linguists will spend a great deal of time investigating a specific language, collecting evidence and documenting a language.

If words are your passion, studying linguistics at Griffith is for you.

Skip to degrees

Key dates

Stay up-to-date with the latest Griffith events and activities

Find out more about key dates

Study linguistics at Griffith

A scientific approach to studying language

Linguistics is the science, nature and function of language and how it's used in society. It provides students with an insight into the most fundamental of all human faculties, develops strong analytical skills and a foundation for work in multiple areas—from marketing and publishing to media and mass communications, audiology, speech and language therapy, and so much more.

If you're into technology, linguistics makes you a great candidate for tech companies. You'll be on their radar because you comprehend how and why people interact in their day to day lives and how and why they respond to businesses, and through online communication.

Studying here, you'll benefit from dedicated teaching practice like no other. You'll learn in small classes, getting individual attention from award winning lecturers with years of teaching experience.

You'll apply your knowledge of linguistics and your chosen language in real world challenges including second language learning and teaching, intercultural communication, and translating and interpreting.

You'll learn in small classes, getting individual attention from award winning lecturers with years of teaching experience.

Harry Harding

From Ipswich schoolboy to Chinese talk show host and Internet pop sensation, the journey to international stardom is a dream come true for Griffith University languages graduate Harry Harding. Harry has been working as a journalist and a presenter at GDTV World channel in Guangzhou, South China for the past three years, where he hosts a talk show, a travel show and a documentary program. Such is Harry's prodigious talent that rival Hong Kong-based stations HKSTV has poached him, offering him a new position as a television presenter.

'Griffith gave me the language and communication skills to tackle this enormous challenge and communicate effectively with guests and co-workers from all different backgrounds and cultures,' he said.

Study options

{"query":null,"originalQuery":null,"collection":{"id":"gu-study-programs","profiles":{"_default":{"id":"_default","facetedNavConfConfig":null,"padreOpts":null}},"facetedNavigationConfConfig":null,"facetedNavigationLiveConfig":null,"textMinerBlacklist":[],"metaComponents":[],"type":"local"},"profile":"_default","clive":null,"form":"simple","cnClickedCluster":null,"cnPreviousClusters":[],"metaParameters":["+discipline:0092|T:Single|B:|W:|J:"],"systemMetaParameters":[],"additionalParameters":{"personalise":["yes"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"origin":["36.0,138.0"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["43.245.40.214"],"REQUEST_URI":["/s/search.json"],"fmo":["on"],"sort":["title"],"REQUEST_URL":["http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0092%7CT%3ASingle%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"],"HTTP_HOST":["search.griffith.edu.au"],"location":[""]},"environmentVariables":{"REMOTE_ADDR":"43.245.40.214","REQUEST_URI":"/s/search.json","HTTP_HOST":"search.griffith.edu.au","REQUEST_URL":"http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0092%7CT%3ASingle%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"},"dynamicQueryProcessorOptions":["-qlog_file=/opt/funnelback/data/gu-study-programs/live/log/queries-griff-funnelback01.log","-username=1beec5ea-481b-459a-9d44-97a9427c70f6"],"userKeys":[],"selectedFacets":[],"selectedCategoryValues":{},"facetsQueryConstraints":[],"facetsGScopeConstraints":null,"impersonated":false,"requestId":"43.245.40.214","rawInputParameters":{"personalise":["yes"],"query_and":["discipline:0092|T:Single|B:|W:|J:"],"HTTP_HOST":["search.griffith.edu.au"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["43.245.40.214"],"REQUEST_URI":["/s/search.json"],"fmo":["on"],"location":[""],"sort":["title"],"collection":["gu-study-programs"],"REQUEST_URL":["http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0092%7CT%3ASingle%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"]},"inputParameterMap":{"city":"","fmo":"on","personalise":"yes","sort":"title","collection":"gu-study-programs","location":"","HTTP_HOST":"search.griffith.edu.au","REQUEST_URL":"http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0092%7CT%3ASingle%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on","REQUEST_URI":"/s/search.json","REMOTE_ADDR":"43.245.40.214","query_and":"discipline:0092|T:Single|B:|W:|J:","num_ranks":"1000"},"questionType":"SEARCH","locale":"en_US","location":{"areaCode":0,"city":null,"countryCode":"JP","countryName":"Japan","dmaCode":0,"latitude":36,"longitude":138,"metroCode":0,"postalCode":null,"region":null},"hostname":null,"customData":{},"queryStringMapCopy":{"personalise":["yes"],"query_and":["discipline:0092|T:Single|B:|W:|J:"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"fmo":["on"],"location":[""],"sort":["title"],"collection":["gu-study-programs"]},"extraSearch":false}

Degrees	Campus	OP
Bachelor of Arts	Online
Bachelor of Arts	Nathan	15
Bachelor of Arts	Gold Coast	15
Bachelor of Arts (Honours)	Nathan
Bachelor of Arts (Honours)	Gold Coast
Bachelor of Languages and Linguistics	Gold Coast	15
Bachelor of Languages and Linguistics	Nathan	15
Bachelor of Languages and Linguistics (Honours)	Nathan

{"query":null,"originalQuery":null,"collection":{"id":"gu-study-programs","profiles":{"_default":{"id":"_default","facetedNavConfConfig":null,"padreOpts":null}},"facetedNavigationConfConfig":null,"facetedNavigationLiveConfig":null,"textMinerBlacklist":[],"metaComponents":[],"type":"local"},"profile":"_default","clive":null,"form":"simple","cnClickedCluster":null,"cnPreviousClusters":[],"metaParameters":["+discipline:0092|T:Double|B:|W:|J:"],"systemMetaParameters":[],"additionalParameters":{"personalise":["yes"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"origin":["36.0,138.0"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["43.245.40.213"],"REQUEST_URI":["/s/search.json"],"fmo":["on"],"sort":["title"],"REQUEST_URL":["http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0092%7CT%3ADouble%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"],"HTTP_HOST":["search.griffith.edu.au"],"location":[""]},"environmentVariables":{"REMOTE_ADDR":"43.245.40.213","REQUEST_URI":"/s/search.json","HTTP_HOST":"search.griffith.edu.au","REQUEST_URL":"http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0092%7CT%3ADouble%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"},"dynamicQueryProcessorOptions":["-qlog_file=/opt/funnelback/data/gu-study-programs/live/log/queries-griff-funnelback01.log","-username=e01d1741-718d-4220-8f4a-1d190c6dda92"],"userKeys":[],"selectedFacets":[],"selectedCategoryValues":{},"facetsQueryConstraints":[],"facetsGScopeConstraints":null,"impersonated":false,"requestId":"43.245.40.213","rawInputParameters":{"personalise":["yes"],"query_and":["discipline:0092|T:Double|B:|W:|J:"],"HTTP_HOST":["search.griffith.edu.au"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"REMOTE_ADDR":["43.245.40.213"],"REQUEST_URI":["/s/search.json"],"fmo":["on"],"location":[""],"sort":["title"],"collection":["gu-study-programs"],"REQUEST_URL":["http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0092%7CT%3ADouble%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on"]},"inputParameterMap":{"city":"","fmo":"on","personalise":"yes","sort":"title","collection":"gu-study-programs","REQUEST_URL":"http://search.griffith.edu.au/s/search.json?personalise=yes&num_ranks=1000&city=&sort=title&collection=gu-study-programs&query_and=discipline%3A0092%7CT%3ADouble%7CB%3A%7CW%3A%7CJ%3A&location=&fmo=on","query_and":"discipline:0092|T:Double|B:|W:|J:","location":"","HTTP_HOST":"search.griffith.edu.au","REQUEST_URI":"/s/search.json","num_ranks":"1000","REMOTE_ADDR":"43.245.40.213"},"questionType":"SEARCH","locale":"en_US","location":{"areaCode":0,"city":null,"countryCode":"JP","countryName":"Japan","dmaCode":0,"latitude":36,"longitude":138,"metroCode":0,"postalCode":null,"region":null},"hostname":null,"customData":{},"queryStringMapCopy":{"personalise":["yes"],"query_and":["discipline:0092|T:Double|B:|W:|J:"],"city":[""],"num_ranks":["1000"],"fmo":["on"],"location":[""],"sort":["title"],"collection":["gu-study-programs"]},"extraSearch":false}

Expand your qualifications and your career options with our range of double degrees. As a double degree graduate, you’ll have a special skill set that will help you stand out with future employers.

Double Degrees	Campus	OP
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business	Nathan	15
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business	Gold Coast	15
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts	Nathan
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Arts	Gold Coast

It is important to check the degree requirements including placement requirements, before you apply.

Scholarships

Over 600 Scholarships available

Find out more about Scholarships

Career outcomes

Job opportunities that can take you anywhere

A background in linguistics is highly relevant to many professions including teaching, translation, language and speech pathology.

It also complements a wide range of contemporary career paths such as tourism, hospitality, publishing, advertising, public relations, sales and marketing, media and international business. With a linguistics qualification you may consider opportunities such as:

Translator
Interpreter
Tourism
Journalism
Language teacher
Company manager
International educator
Diplomatic officer
Marketing executive
International development worker
Law
Commerce
The arts

Create a personalised study guide

Explore what Griffith has to offer

Get started

Life at Griffith

You can gain more than just a degree at Griffith. With plenty of opportunities to balance life and study, you can make memories and mates to last a lifetime.

Learn more about life at Griffith University

News

View all news articles

23 Aug 2019

Aussie 7s star Demi Hayes returns to represent Griffith Uni

19 Aug 2019

Griffith staff and students join global charge on water security

Key dates

View all key dates

Monday 9 September — Tuesday 10 September

Mature Student Open Evenings

If you’re considering further study, get the right advice and information you need at our September Mature Student Open Evenings. No matter whether you're returning to university after a few years off, starting study for the first time or looking for a postgraduate degree to further your career, we can help.

Find out more.

Thursday 12 September — Thursday 12 September

Mature Student Open Evenings

Find out more.

Monday 23 September — Friday 4 October

Q&A Sessions

Do you have questions about studying at Griffith? Book a personalised 30-minute Q&A session with one of our expert study advisers to get advice about your study options, available scholarships and support services.

Find out more.

Monday 21 October — Friday 25 October

Trimester 3: Orientation

Get the right start and find out everything you need to know about starting at Griffith.

Find out more.

Tuesday 29 October — Thursday 31 October

Application Support Nights

Need help with your university application? Receive personalised advice and assistance from one of our expert study advisers to start and/or complete your university application.

Find out more.

Monday 16 December — Thursday 19 December

Explore your options

If your OP or ATAR result changes your direction, chat online with our expert study advisers to explore your study options. Find out about admissions pathways, entry requirements and changing your preferences.

Find out more.