BSL and Deaf Studies

Our BSL and Deaf Studies at the University of Central Lancashire has great heritage with nearly 30 years of teaching.
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British Sign Language (BSL), sign linguistics, and deaf studies at the University of Central Lancashire have long been recognised for their world-leading research. The programmes also boast continuous top student satisfaction rates and pioneering work on the development of employability skills.

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Book a student-led campus tour to explore our facilities and discover what university life is really like.

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Why study with us

  • Immerse yourself in real world experiences outside of the classroom at real-life events and field trips.
  • You will be taught by a mixed deaf and hearing team and there will be opportunities to take a work placement.
  • Staff include experts in the field of Deaf Studies, BSL/English interpreting and Deaf Studies-related research.
Sound interesting?
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I decided to study here as this course gives students a chance to enhance their signing skills and understanding of the Deaf community, their culture and the barriers faced in society.
Rachel Seshie Vanderpuije BSL and Deaf Studies Testimonial Profile Picture
Rachel Seshie Vanderpuije
BA (Hons) British Sign Language and Deaf Studies
United Kingdom
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BA (Hons) British Sign Language and Deaf Studies

SignTeach Online

SignTeach Online was a European project of which our BSL and Deaf Studies Team were the Lead Partner. This project was funded by the Erasmus+ program and involves seven partners from seven EU countries. SignTeach Online is both developed and intended for sign language teachers.

SignTeach Online focuses on the challenges and successes of transitioning to online sign language teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project aims to explore these experiences through videos, interviews, podcasts, and research. Updates and discussions are available on the project's Facebook page, where educators can share questions and insights about online sign language teaching.

Find out more

Deaf Museums Project - (Oct 2020 – Mar 2023)

The Deaf Museums Project is an Erasmus+ Project, funded by the EU. We are a consortium of people from seven organisations in six European countries. We believe it's important to preserve, protect and display Deaf Heritage and Deaf History. This helps us to understand Deaf people’s lives, culture, and world.

Our Deaf Museums website shows the exhibitions created by the project partners. It holds vast resources about Deaf museums and explains what we did and why we did it. We have also produced a basic course in museum skills: a ‘cookbook’ for people who want to help preserve the Deaf Heritage.

Our exhibition is both a physical and an online exhibition. It covers three overarching themes Deaf Access, Deaf Workplace and Deaf Space. The exhibition looks across three timelines of the past, present and future. As we explore what life used to be like for Deaf people, what it is like now and what it might look like in the future.

Visit the website

What can I do with a BSL qualification?

Graduates from our undergraduate BSL and Deaf Studies programmes enter a variety of careers:

  • BSL/English interpreters (freelance and agency)
  • Deaf welfare organisation worker
  • Interpreter in the media
  • Educational support workers
  • Police approved interpreter
  • Social workers

Explore the facilities

BSL and Deaf Studies Laboratory

Meet the team

Dr Nicola Nunn
Senior Lecturer in British Sign Language and Deaf Studies
Ricci Collins
Senior Lecturer
Dr Luigi Lerose
Senior Research Fellow
Dr JunHui Yang
Senior Lecturer

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Study a degree at UCLan

Interested in studying a degree with us? From exploring accommodation to visiting us at an Open Day, find out everything you need to know about life at UCLan.

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