Linguistics, M.A.

Leiden University, Faculty of Humanities

Disciplines:

Linguistics

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Quick facts

Country:	Netherlands	Duration:	12 Months
City:	Leiden	Start Date:	March, September
Educational Form:	Taught	Languages:	English
Education Variants:	Full Time
Application Deadline:	April 1 for start in September; October 15 for start in February
Annual Tuition Fee:	€ 1565 - Details € 13750 (non-EEA)

Programme Description

Leiden´s MA in Linguistics concentrates on the study of the complexity of natural languages, offering you the chance to study from the more than eighty different languages taught through the Faculty of Arts or from courses offered by other universities in the Netherlands. This one-year programme offers advanced courses in all areas of formal grammar-syntax, semantics, phonology-as well as experimental approaches to speech, acquisition and modelling of speech and language. The courses are all based upon-or derived from-actual linguistic research carried out at the Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL), one of the largest linguistics institutes in the Netherlands.

The programme´s main intention is to enhance your academic skills and insights, allowing you to pursue a career in linguistic research, language education, natural language processing, neurolinguistics and language advising. Taught by a relatively small but dedicated staff of active researchers, you will be offered a good deal of academic freedom. You will be able to select advanced courses and seminars and will spend one trimester working on original research, under the guidance of a staff member. The research will contribute to your linguistic profile.

As a graduate in linguistics you will be equipped to work in almost all branches connected to linguistic development or research. Areas of interest that you will be qualified to consider include, but are certainly not limited to: * The continually developing fields of language and speech technology or clinical linguistics
* The biological, neurological and psychological dimensions of the analysis of language and speech
* Working within the industry that develops translation programmes or programmes for automatic speech recognition
* Pursue a career in health services as a clinical linguist
* Working as a company journalist
* Continue as a researcher in linguistics.

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The courses vary annually and you can take courses either through other study programmes at Leiden from other universities or institutes. The programme is composed of four successive courses and a thesis. In the two courses taught in the first semester-advanced theory and a seminar-the emphasis is on theoretical background, while the lectures in the second semester focus on the interdisciplinary aspects of linguistic research. You will conclude the year by writing a thesis based on your original research work.

Specialisations

* Computational Models of Speech and Language
* Clinical and Experimental Linguistics
* Theoretical Linguistics

Specialisation: Computational Models of Speech and LanguageIn computational linguistics you are introduced to the modelling of linguistic phenomena. Computer simulations are used to study linguistic structures. They also contribute to the development of language and speech technology.

Specialisation: Clinical and Experimental Linguistics

In this specialisation, you focus on the exact identification of language and speech behaviour. It will teach you how to define congenital or acquired linguistic disorders. Methods of experimental linguistic research are essential in this track.

Specialisation: Theoretical Linguistics

This specialisation involves the in-depth study of syntactic, phonological or semantic topics. You will explore the formal structures of linguistic phenomena and the way they reveal the human knowledge of language and the cognitive aspects of grammar. Deep comparison of languages is an important part of this track.

The most obvious aim of the MA in Linguistics is to develop the knowledge you acquired following a Bachelor´s programme. However, the programme´s ambition extends beyond this.

You will be confronted with a high level of theoretical, computational, clinical and experimental linguistics, all of which will prepare you for a variety of professions within the linguistics arena. You will-to a greater or lesser extent-be equipped to compare linguistic data using advanced theoretical means, and to apply formal methods in the modelling and researching of phenomena in language and speech.

You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test if you come from a non-English speaking country.

Most European Universities recognise the IELTS test.

More information

Requirements

* BA degree in Linguistics or a related discipline
* Thorough proficiency in English: IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 570/230/88-90 for non-native speakers of English.
* Dutch students with VWO level English are exempt from this requirement.