Linguistics (research) (MA)

Why study Linguistics (research) at Leiden University?

During this two-year research master’s programme you will be able to choose from the largest selection of languages offered in Europe and an exceptional range of linguistic approaches including historical, descriptive, formal, cognitive, computational, sociolinguistic, psycholinguistic, experimental and corpus-based studies. You will be able to explore sub-fields including phonetics, phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, discourse, or pragmatics.

Develop your research skills

An important aspect of this programme is developing your ability to conduct original and innovative research. You will have the opportunity to attend conferences, workshops and lecture series organised in Leiden, all of which will help you forge an outstanding start to your career. Small classes ensure that you have plenty of direct contact with your lecturers and a high level of guidance and support throughout your studies.

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What are your career prospects?

Our graduates pursue careers at research agencies or in the research departments of companies or government organisations. Many enter PhD programmes at Leiden or another university, both in the Netherlands or abroad. Outside of research, your knowledge of linguistics and advanced analytical and problem-solving skills can be applied within a range of vocations, from publishing and translating to teaching.

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Felix Ameka: ‘Multilingualism is the answer to many problems

Senior lecturer at the Centre for Linguistics, Felix Ameka, has been appointed professor by special appointment of Ethnolinguistic Vitality and Diversity in the World. ‘I am looking forward to promoting ethnolinguistic diversity and vitality. Humans are the only species with more than seven thousand languages, even birds don’t reach that number. This diversity defines us, but in research we often focus on standardisation. I want to make people aware of the differences.' Read more.

Is Linguistics (research) the programme for you?

Discover how languages have evolved since prehistoric times. Learn about language contact between African languages, indigenous American and European languages. Gain an understanding of statistics and programming in R. Delve into computational and corpus linguistic aspects in the field of lexicography. Learn about the emerging field of experimental pragmatics and understand the many data collection methods used in sociolinguistics. Sounds good?

Do you want to find out if you are eligible for this Master's programme?

Check the admission requirements

Learn from experts

Academics from the renowned Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL) teach in the master’s programme in Linguistics (research). During your studies, you will have access to a breadth and depth of expertise that is almost unmatched in Europe, as well as exceptional resources such as the famous collections at the Leiden University Library. The courses are taught by a diverse group of scholars, all of whom are engaged in international research, which is also part of the teaching syllabus. Their expertise incorporates the latest theoretical knowledge and practice-based skills, such as translation or text analysis.

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