Course overview

Whether you are a beginner or have previous experience, we can help you advance your BSL skills. We will place you at the appropriate level when you arrive. By the end of the course you will be able to hold fluent conversations in BSL, allowing you to use the language for academic, social and professional purposes. Our higher entry point for people who have studied BSL already will ensure you will still learn new things, although there might be some elements of revision.

Our approach to teaching Deaf Studies draws on the latest research. You will explore the experiences of deaf people and consider how they have changed over time. Together we will look at different perceptions of deafness and how deaf communities in the UK are changing. In your second year you will examine the challenges faced by BSL users in the workplace on a dedicated work based module. You can also choose to study for nationally recognised Signature British Sign Language qualifications for no extra fee.

The Linguistics part of the course allows you to learn how language is structured, learnt and used. You can choose from different linguistics modules that interest you and support your ambitions. This could include exploring attitudes to language or examining multilingual classrooms. Linguistics can help you discover how language relates to identity, society and culture.

As your language skills develop you will gain an understanding of how society impacts the use of BSL. You will develop this by engaging with our welcoming community of BSL speakers. Together with your tutors and classmates, you will consider the development of the language. This includes exploring the translation processes between BSL and English. British Sign Language, Deaf Studies and Linguistics will provide the foundations for you to move onto further studies for careers such as teaching, speech therapy and interpreting.