What is British Sign Language?
British Sign Language (BSL) is the visual language used by the Deaf community in the UK. It uses hand shapes, facial expressions, and body language to communicate, rather than spoken words. Over 150,000 people use BSL daily across the UK, and since 2022, it has been legally recognised as an official language. BSL isn’t just a different way to communicate, it’s a vibrant language with its own grammar, structure, and culture. By learning BSL, you’re gaining access to a wide, diverse community and building skills that make communication more inclusive and meaningful.
Why should you learn BSL?
- Create a more inclusive world: Even learning a few basic signs removes communication barriers and ensures everyone can be part of the conversation.
- Connect with others: BSL opens opportunities to meet new people in your community, at work, or during volunteering.
- Develop new skills: Learning BSL strengthens your memory, creativity, and non-verbal communication skills. It builds confidence and empathy, helping you become a more effective communicator.
- It’s fun and expressive: The visual and physical nature of sign language makes it an engaging, creative way to learn and express yourself!
- Support accessibility: Learning BSL shows your commitment to equality and accessibility within university, work, and everyday life.
Will it help my career?
Learning BSL can make a real difference to your future career. Many sectors actively seek people who can sign, from education and healthcare to social work, interpreting, customer service, and community engagement.
By adding BSL to your skill set, you can:
- Stand out in job applications for roles that value inclusion and communication.
- Support Deaf and hard of hearing colleagues, stakeholders or clients.
- Access voluntary and paid roles like Communication Support Worker, Audiologist, Youth Worker, or Teacher of the Deaf.
- Build confidence in interacting with people from diverse backgrounds.
Put simply, BSL isn’t just a language, it is professional skill that demonstrates empathy, leadership, and inclusive practice.
Join our BSL Learning Community
Whether you’re curious about Deaf culture, wish to communicate with friends or colleagues who use BSL, or want to strengthen your employability, our BSL offer is are open to everyone. You’ll learn from qualified tutors and gain practical experience through interactive sessions with the SU’s Skills and Employability team.
Discover a new way to connect. Learn BSL – and help make communication accessible for everyone.
Learn with BSL Club
Our BSL Club is an in-person opportunity to learn BSL, meet new people and develop your signing skills with our amazing BSL Tutors Ruth and Marian. During our six-week BSL Club you will learn finger spelling and greetings as well as being able to engage in conversation with a sign language user, as in the final session we will celebrate your signing with a party with members of the local Deaf community.
Matthew Hoult
2nd Year Geography Student
I loved the BSL sessions and how we learnt genuinely useful signs such as directions and signs linking to education and employment. I also really enjoyed learning about Deaf culture. Marian's passion and personality she made every session really interesting and always made time for us outside of class.