Why be an Affiliate Linguist?
For over 100 years the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) has been working for the promotion of languages, linguists and culture.
Our motto ‘Universal Understanding’ has never been more relevant than in today’s world where people across the globe are more connected than ever, and learning languages and appreciating other cultures has never been more important.
As the UK’s professional lead for languages, we can only do this with the support of our members, linguists and all those who care about languages.
Although best known for translators and interpreters, CIOL has always welcomed those who use their languages in business, the professions, government work and international organisations.
By joining us as an Affiliate Linguist you are:
- Directly supporting the work we do to promote and advocate for linguists and languages worldwide
- Supporting and valuing our specialist qualifications and assessments which qualify professional linguists and enable careers with languages
- Visibly demonstrating your own support for languages
As an Affiliate Linguist we will ask you to support our commitment to respecting other languages, linguists and different cultures, by following our Affiliate Linguist Code of Conduct available here.
Who is Affiliate Linguist for?
Affiliate Linguist is for those who are passionate about English and world languages and for everyone who is themselves a linguist. Affiliate Linguists come from all backgrounds, including people who:
- Studied English and all other world languages at university
- Use their languages in their daily work
- Have lived in other countries and used languages working internationally
- Are learning or maintaining their languages through self-study, via Apps or online courses
Please note that Affiliate Linguist makes you a part of the CIOL membership community, but it is not a professional-level (CEFR C1+) CIOL membership grade.
To find out about our membership grades for practising professional linguists see the other options section at bottom of this page.
Benefits of joining
Joining us as an Affiliate Linguist not only helps CIOL to support and promote languages and linguists all over the world, it also helps you as a linguist to stay connected with the world of languages, including the following benefits:
- Joining a vibrant international community of excellent English speakers and fellow linguists
- Access to CIOL webinars
- Access to the CIOL Mentoring platform
- Our monthly eNewsletter with updates from CIOL on the world of languages and linguists
- The digital edition of The Linguist magazine sent to you every quarter
What is the cost?
Joining is simple and just £30 per year. You will receive an email when it is time to renew.
To become an Affiliate Linguist click here
Other options
CIOL welcomes, supports and represents linguists in many different ways and has a range of professional membership options, with enhanced recognition specifically for:
- People who work as professional Translators or Interpreters (see MCIL and Chartered Linguist)
- People who are language academics or who teach languages in schools, further or higher education (see MCIL and Chartered Linguist)
- People who use their languages day-to-day in their work within a professional or business environment (see Career Affiliate, MCIL and Chartered Linguist)
- Anyone who is seeking to directly gain work or employment via the use of their languages (see Find-a-Linguist, ACIL, MCIL and Chartered Linguist)
If this sounds like you, please take a look at all our membership grades here.
We also offer free Student Affiliate membership for people in full time study and Career Affiliate membership for people who use their languages (including English for non-native speakers) regularly in their work.
