A comprehensive grounding in the theory and practice of phonetics
This programme will give a comprehensive grounding in the theory and practice of phonetics. Students will learn the core phonetic topics of speech production, speech acoustics, and speech perception, and will learn how phonetics relates to many other language-related disciplines.
The programme has a strong practical emphasis. It is designed primarily for graduates wishing to continue studying phonetics at PhD level, and for those wishing to use phonetics as a tool for investigation in related fields, e.g. historical linguistics, phonology, developmental linguistics, psychology, speech technology, etc.
The taught MSc in Phonetics will provide students with an intensive grounding in phonetics and related disciplines, its methodologies, research questions, and techniques of research.
Why study Phonetics at Edinburgh?
- Linguistics & English Language is rated 3rd in the UK by Times Higher Education for the quality and breadth of the research using the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021).
- We're ranked 4th in the UK and 5th in the world for linguistics (QS World University Rankings by subject 2024).
- Edinburgh was the second university in the UK, and first in Scotland, to establish a phonetics department, led from 1948 by David Abercrombie.
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Programme structure
All students will be required to take three core courses in phonetics plus one core course in statistics. Note that at the discretion of the programme director, students with sufficient background in phonetics may be excused from Introduction to Phonology & Phonetics.
In addition, you will take at least 60 credits of options from a wide range of courses offered in Linguistics & English Language and related subject areas, and will write a dissertation project.
Teaching on the programme takes a number of different forms, including lectures (often with associated tutorials), hands-on laboratory sessions, seminars, and workshops.
At the dissertation stage, you will be assigned a supervisor with whom you will meet to plan your reading and to discuss your work and progress.
Learning outcomes
The taught MSc in Phonetics will give you all of the intellectual and practical skills to engage in phonetics research, either for its own sake, or as part of research in another sub-area of linguistics, speech technology or speech pathology.
You will understand:
- Basic anatomy and physiology of speaking and hearing
- Speech acoustics
- The relationship of phonetics to phonology and other parts of grammar
- Current theories of speech production and perception
- How to test these theories using empirical data
We offer a strong focus on practical skills. You will learn:
- The mechanisms involved in recording sound
- How to elicit, collect, measure, and analyse phonetic data
- How to create and analyse perceptual experiments
- Core elements of scripting and statistical analysis
When to apply
We operate a gathered field approach to applications. You may submit your application at any time.
All complete applications that satisfy our minimum entry requirements will be placed on a shortlist and held until the next batch processing deadline. Applications will then be ranked and offers made to the top candidates.
Find out more about the degree programme and how to apply:
Connect with us
If you have any programme-specific enquiries please get in touch with the programme director:
Dr Bert Remijsen (Programme director)
Feel free to get in touch with our friendly Postgraduate Team with any questions you might have about academic or English language requirements, course information, enquiries about your application and information on arriving at the University.
Postgraduate Team enquiries:
Email: pplspgoffice@ed.ac.uk
How to apply and fees & funding information:
Degree Finder for MSc Phonetics
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