Linguistics – (M.A.)

Contents

This programme is uniquely flexible because it offers you the opportunity to combine courses with a general linguistic perspective and courses with a language specific focus.

The eight courses are all worth 5 ECs and may be scheduled in a single period or in a semester (two periods). An internship can replace two of the courses. Most take place in the first semester of the academic year, but some are offered in the second semester. This makes it possible to enter the programme in the second semester and obtain your degree a year later. In other words, you can start in September and February.

The emphasis is on integrating theoretical and empirical work. During the year, you will cover - depending on the subjects you choose - the full range of linguistics from the description of languages to changes in languages, from phonology to pragmatics. You will get acquainted with different methodologies in language research, such as corpus research, experiments and elicitation. You will study these topics from a variety of points of view, including psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, and language and speech technology.

The idea is that by the end of the programme you should be able to carry out independent linguistic research, interpret your results and write an academic report.

You will be asked to choose six courses from the following list (for other options see below):

• Languages in society: variation and diversity
• Psycholinguistics
• Linguistic universals and diversity
• Historical linguistics of English and Dutch
• Phonology
• Early language production and perception
• Second language learning
• Computer-assisted language learning
• Translation studies
• Global English
• Language testing

Currently, not all course descriptions are available yet. We will publish those as soon as possible. Note that these courses are not introductions to linguistic disciplines. Psycholinguistics, for example, may vary each year, depending on the research topic chosen by the instructor.

Additional courses

Apart from these general courses there is a wide range of additional courses (see below). The first three (methods in language research, the colloquium and the internship) are open to all students of Linguistics, while for the last two there are additional requirements. These courses also include options for the language-specific courses in English, Dutch, French, Spanish, and German.

Methods in language research

You may choose to take a course in methodology and statistics to get up to speed if you have not covered these skills sufficiently in your Bachelor's programme.

Colloquium

You are strongly encouraged to attend the Centre for Language Studies (CLS) colloquium, which is held once a month throughout the academic year. If you choose this option, which is worth 5 ECs, attendance is compulsory and at the end of the year you will be expected to write a paper related to one of the lectures.

Internship

Instead of two courses (worth 5 ECs each), you can choose an internship (worth 10 ECs), either within the Centre for Language Studies (a research internship) or at a related institutes such as the Baby Research Center, Max Planck Institute, the Centre for Language and Speech Technology or the University language centre Radboud in'to Languages. Alternatively, you can apply for an internship outside the University, for example at an Institute for Education, Communication or Language policy, in a company or in a school. Finally, if you select the course in Translation Studies, your internship can take the form of a translation project. An internship can be a great way to start research for the topic of your Master's thesis, which is compulsory for all students of linguistics.

Cognitive neuroscience options

The following courses within the Research Master's programme in Cognitive neuroscience are available to linguistics students (note that you must get special permission for this from the coordinator of the programme).

• Phonetics and phonology
• Morphology and syntax
• Semantics and pragmatics
• Multilingualism
• Gesture and sign language

[bw] Specialisations

There are language-specific programmes in English, French, Spanish, Dutch and German linguistics, which can be used as the basis for teacher training in a Masters in Education programme. Within these programmes, you will get an advanced linguistic training in your target language. You will further take courses from the General linguistics programme and/or an internship, and you will conclude the study with a thesis.

Funding details

There are various scholarships available for studying at Radboud University Nijmegen. Please check which scholarship is applicable in your case.

Radboud Scholarship Programme

Radboud University Nijmegen has its own Radboud Scholarship Programme. This programme offers a selected number of talented prospective non-EEA students the opportunity to receive a scholarship to pursue an English-taught Master´s degree programme at Radboud University Nijmegen.

Erasmus Mundus SAPIENT

The Erasmus Mundus programme (2009-2013) is an EU cooperation and mobility programme in the field of higher education. SAPIENT provides all South African students the possibility to study at one of the top universities of the International Research Universities Network (IRUN).

Programmes under the auspices of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science

Netherlands Fellowship Programme: This Fellowship Programme offers scholarships for selected NFP programmes including selected programmes of Radboud University Nijmegen.

Dutch study grant system: EU/EEA students who wish to take a degree programme in the Netherlands can sometimes be eligible for a Dutch student grant.

STUNED: The Stuned programme is applicable to postgraduate students from Indonesia.

National scholarships

Please also check if there are scholarships or grants available in your own country for studying in the Netherlands. Below we have listed a number of scholarships that are available from specific countries.

Fulbright scholarships: Fulbright Scholarships are available for American graduate students and researchers.

Ford Foundation: Sometimes private foundations may be willing to fund your study period abroad. The international Fellowship Programme from the Ford Foundation is one example.

Soros Foundations: Grants, scholarships and fellowships are available for students and researchers coming from 23 countries, especially in Central and Eastern Europe.

HEC: The Higher Education Commission was set up by the Government of Pakistan and has created a scholarship programme for students from Pakistan.

Colfuturo: This programme is available for students from Colombia.

Nuffic Grantfinder

Please check also the grantfinder of the Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC). This grantfinder enables you to find scholarships applicable to students from particular countries.