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Bachelor of Arts in English and Linguistics

The Bachelor of Arts in English and Linguistics is a four-year degree programme that provides students with a rigorous understanding of the English language and the scientific study of language structure.

Duration
4 Years
Next intake January 2027
Public tuition
Ksh 189,004
Ksh 756,016 total
Private tuition
Ksh 242,800
Ksh 971,200 total
Job market
Moderate
Market demand for graduates

The short answer

What it costs
Up to Ksh 189,004 a year at a public institution, Ksh 756,016 for the whole course. Up to Ksh 242,800 a year at a private one.The detail
Who can get in
A KCSE mean grade of C+ (Plus) or above. There is another way in without it.The detail
How long, and when
Takes 4 years, full-time, with 3 months of attachment. Next intake January 2027, at 5 institutions.The detail
Where it leads
8 careers in the catalogue. The least exposed to AI is Dental Ceramist, at 3 out of 100.The detail

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Overview

The curriculum covers English grammar, phonetics and phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, discourse analysis, second language acquisition, varieties of English, historical linguistics, field linguistics, and research methods.

Students develop competencies in linguistic analysis, phonetic transcription, grammatical description, research methodology, academic writing, and translation. The programme includes practical courses in field linguistics, language and speech disorders, and text writing. An attachment period provides hands-on experience in a language-related work environment.

Graduates pursue careers as language teachers, linguists, lexicographers, translators, researchers, curriculum developers, speech therapists, and media consultants. They find employment in educational institutions, research organisations, publishing houses, media houses, and government agencies concerned with language policy.

The programme is offered at Kenyatta University, Moi University, Kisii University, Rongo University, and Pwani University.

Accreditation is provided by the Commission for University Education (CUE), ensuring the programme meets national quality standards. Admission requires a KCSE mean grade of C+ with a minimum of a B pass in English, reflecting the language-focused and academically rigorous nature of the programme.

What you study

10 subjects
  • Introduction to the Study of Language
  • Introduction to the Grammar of English
  • Phonetics and Phonology
  • Morphology, Syntax and Semantics
  • Sociolinguistics
  • Psycholinguistics
  • Discourse Analysis
  • Second Language Acquisition
  • Field Linguistics
  • Research Methods in Linguistics

Modules

12 in the programme

  • Introduction to the Study of Language

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Foundational concepts in linguistics, including the nature of language, linguistic levels, and basic terminology.

  • Introduction to the Grammar of English

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Introduction to the grammatical structure of English, including parts of speech, sentence structure, and grammatical rules.

  • The Use of English for Academic Purposes

    Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore

    Academic writing skills, including essay structure, argumentation, citation, and academic conventions.

  • Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology

    Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore

    Study of speech sounds, their production, transcription using IPA, and phonological organisation.

  • Phonology of English

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Detailed study of English phonological systems, including phonemes, allophones, and phonological processes.

  • Morphology, Syntax and Semantics

    Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore

    Study of word formation, sentence structure, and meaning in language, with emphasis on English and cross-linguistic comparison.

  • Discourse Analysis

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Analysis of spoken and written discourse, including conversation analysis, text linguistics, and pragmatics.

  • Second Language Acquisition

    Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore

    Theories and processes of second language learning, including factors affecting acquisition and interlanguage development.

  • Psycholinguistics

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Study of the psychological processes involved in language comprehension, production, and acquisition.

  • Field Linguistics

    Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore

    Methods and techniques for collecting, analysing, and documenting linguistic data from local language communities.

  • Advanced Theoretical Studies in Grammar

    Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore

    Advanced study of grammatical theory, including contemporary approaches to syntax and grammatical analysis.

  • Research Project

    Year 4Semester 26 creditsCore

    Independent research project on a linguistic topic, often involving analysis of African language data, culminating in a written dissertation.

Specialisations

  • English Grammar and Syntax

    Detailed study of English grammatical structure, including contemporary syntactic theory and grammatical analysis.

  • Phonetics and Phonology

    Study of speech sounds, their production, transcription, and phonological organisation across languages.

  • Sociolinguistics

    Study of the relationship between language and society, including language variation, language contact, and language policy in multilingual contexts.

  • Psycholinguistics

    Study of the psychological processes involved in language comprehension, production, and acquisition.

  • African Linguistics

    Study of African language structures and linguistic phenomena, contributing to the documentation and analysis of African languages.

  • Applied Linguistics

    Application of linguistic theory to practical areas including language teaching, translation, lexicography, and speech therapy.

A day as a student

A typical day combines linguistic analysis lectures with English language studies. Morning sessions may cover phonetics, morphology, or syntactic theory, while afternoons focus on sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, or field linguistics. Language laboratory sessions provide practical training in phonetic transcription and analysis. Field linguistics courses may involve data collection from local communities, documenting African language structures. The attachment period in a research institution, publishing house, or educational organisation provides hands-on experience applying linguistic skills.

The trade-offs

In its favourAgainst it
Kenyatta University's Department of English and Linguistics is one of the oldest and most established in Kenya, with strong expertise in African linguistics.The programme is academically demanding, requiring strong analytical skills and extensive study of theoretical frameworks.
Programme emphasises African language data, contributing to the documentation and preservation of African linguistic heritage.Direct career paths such as lexicography and speech therapy may require additional postgraduate qualifications.
Graduates are equipped for diverse careers including lexicography, translation, speech therapy, and language technology.Job market for pure linguists in Kenya is relatively niche, with most opportunities in education and research.
Strong analytical and research skills developed through the programme are valued in academic and professional settings.The requirement of a B pass in English at KCSE is higher than many other arts programmes, limiting entry.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 188 arts & humanities courses
Public139k to 189k
139k at Pwani University189k at University of Nairobi
Private160k to 243k
160k at Catholic University of Eastern Africa243k at Daystar University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Pwani 138,720/yr; UoN 189,004/yr; CUEA 160,000/yr; Daystar 242,800/yr. Src: educationnewshub.co.ke

Government-sponsored students receive fee subsidies through KUCCPS placement. HELB loans are available for eligible students. Universities also offer internal bursaries and merit-based scholarships for financially needy and academically outstanding students.

Funding options

  • Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)

  • KUCCPS Government Sponsorship

  • University Internal Bursaries

Scholarships

4 recorded

  • University Internal Bursaries

    University bursaryKenyan

    Registered students demonstrating financial need. Application through the respective university financial aid office.

  • County Government Bursaries

    BursaryKenyan

    Residents of respective counties pursuing undergraduate studies

  • Higher Education Fund (HEF)

    Government subsidyKenyan

    Kenyan students who meet KUCCPS cluster cut-off points and are placed in the programme through the central placement system.

  • Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan

    Government loanKsh 60,000Kenyan

    Kenyan students admitted to recognised universities through KUCCPS or self-sponsored. Must demonstrate financial need.

Scholarships you could apply for

8 usable where it is taught
Save one and be reminded before it closes

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade
C+ (Plus)minimum entry
Alternative entry

KACE with two principal passes and one subsidiary; OR a Diploma in a relevant field from a recognised institution; OR a mean grade of C (Plain) at KCSE with a Diploma from a recognised institution.

When it next starts

Taught at 5 institutions
January 20275 institutions

Including Pwani University, Karatina University, Machakos University.

May 20275 institutions

Including Pwani University, Karatina University, Machakos University.

September 20275 institutions

Including Pwani University, Karatina University, Machakos University.

How you are assessed

4 components

  • Continuous Assessment Tests

    Coursework30% of the mark

    Regular written tests, linguistic analysis assignments, transcription exercises, and research reports conducted during the semester.

  • End of Semester Examinations

    Examination70% of the mark

    Comprehensive written examinations covering linguistic theory, English grammar, phonetics, and applied linguistics content.

  • Field Linguistics Assessment

    Practical100% of the mark

    Assessment of field linguistics data collection and analysis, including transcription, grammatical description, and language documentation.

  • Research Project

    Research100% of the mark

    Final-year independent research project on a linguistic topic, often involving analysis of African language data, culminating in a written dissertation.

Accreditation

  • Commission for University Education (CUE)

    Academic accreditationRequired

    CUE is the statutory body responsible for the accreditation and quality assurance of university programmes in Kenya.

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), the statutory body responsible for quality assurance and regulation of university education in Kenya.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

  • Language Teacher

    High demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 80,000

    Teaches English language at secondary or tertiary level, requiring additional teaching qualification for school employment.

  • Lexicographer

    Low demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 90,000

    Compiles and edits dictionaries and language reference materials for publishing houses or language research organisations.

  • Translator

    Moderate demandKsh 32,000 to Ksh 80,000

    Translates written materials between English and other languages for organisations, publishing houses, or government agencies.

  • Researcher

    Moderate demandKsh 35,000 to Ksh 90,000

    Conducts linguistic research in academic institutions, research organisations, or language documentation projects.

  • Curriculum Developer

    Moderate demandKsh 38,000 to Ksh 95,000

    Develops language curriculum materials for educational publishers, KICD, or educational institutions.

  • Speech and Language Therapist

    Moderate demandKsh 40,000 to Ksh 95,000

    Assesses and treats speech and language disorders, requiring additional clinical qualifications beyond the degree.

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as language teachers, linguists, lexicographers, translators, and researchers. Demand is steady in education, research, publishing, and language technology sectors.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

  • Praat

    Phonetic analysisPrimary

    Software for phonetic analysis of speech sounds, including spectrogram analysis, pitch tracking, and formant measurement.

  • Microsoft Office

    ProductivityPrimary

    Word processing, presentations, and spreadsheets for linguistic analysis, research writing, and academic work.

  • ELAN

    Language documentation

    Software for annotating and analysing audio and video recordings, used in field linguistics and language documentation.

  • FLEx

    Language documentation

    FieldWorks Language Explorer software for linguistic analysis and dictionary compilation, particularly for African languages.

  • SPSS

    Statistical analysis

    Statistical analysis software for linguistic research, including data analysis and interpretation.

Certifications

Common misconceptions

  • Linguistics is just about learning many languages.

    Linguistics is the scientific study of language structure, including how languages work, rather than learning to speak multiple languages. While linguists may know several languages, the focus is on analysis and theory.

  • An English and Linguistics degree only leads to teaching.

    Graduates pursue diverse careers including lexicography, translation, speech therapy, language technology, curriculum development, research, and media consultancy.

  • Linguistics is not relevant in Kenya.

    Kenya's multilingual context creates significant demand for linguists in language policy, curriculum development, translation, and documentation of African languages.

  • The programme is only for native English speakers.

    The programme is designed for all students with strong English proficiency, and many graduates go on to study and document African languages.

Further reading

Read next