It consists of a one year introductory course, leading to the Preliminary Examination, and a two year Honours course, with the year abroad coming between the second and Final years. The emphasis is on introducing the basic concepts and methodology of General Linguistics, although some close reference is made both to English and to the modern language being studied. At the end of the year, there are three-hour exams in each of the three component areas. During the first year, students also prepare for the Preliminary Examination in their language, which involves two examinations in language, and two in literature. The Honours course interveaves more advanced General Linguistics with detailed linguistic study of their language.
Students take four or five linguistics units.
These include obligatorily one unit on Linguistic Theory, and two on the language, generally one on its historical development and one on the analysis of its current structure. Students then choose one or two other options, drawn from a wide range of areas covering theoretical questions, historical developments and problems in the description of languages as they are today. They take examinations in all these units in their final year. These are generally conventional three hour papers, although some of the options may be examined by other means. At the same time, students will follow courses in their languages, leading to examinations in translation, essay writing, oral proficiency and two or three literature options.