Linguistics (research) (MA)

Why study Linguistics (research) at Leiden University?

This two-year programme immerses you in an environment that is exceptional for both its scholarly depth and its disciplinary range.

You can choose from the largest selection of languages offered in Europe and an exceptional range of courses spanning subfields including phonetics, phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, discourse, or pragmatics, as well as Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing.  

Engage with LUCL researchers

The courses are taught by Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL) researchers working across six dedicated clusters (i.e., Theoretical Linguistics, Experimental Linguistics, Descriptive Linguistics, Historical and Comparative Linguistics, Sociolinguistics and Discourse Studies, Applied Linguistics). Their research ranges from fieldwork in under-documented language communities to laboratory-based studies of how the brain processes speech.

Rather than simply learning about these fields, you will engage with them as a researcher — attending seminars alongside scholars who shape research fields, contributing to cutting-edge research projects, and developing your own research interests and projects.

Develop your research skills

You will have ample opportunities to develop your ability to conduct original and innovative research.

Leiden is one of very few places in Europe where a student can, in the same week, attend a colloquium on AI and language,  a seminar on morphosyntax in an under-described  African language, a workshop on historical reconstruction, a talk on language processing drawing on psycholinguistic and neurolinguistic methods, and an event at the Heritage Language Center highlighting the sociocultural dimensions of language. That genuine breadth, grounded in active research, is what distinguishes this programme.

Students can engage directly with the six research clusters of the Leiden University Center for Linguistics (LUCL) through independent study, internships, project involvement as a research assistant, or thesis supervision.

Field-based work

For students interested in field-based work, LUCL's descriptive and documentary linguists conduct active fieldwork in Africa, Asia, and the Americas and routinely involve Research MA students in these projects.

Experimental linguistics

Students have access to the full range of LUCL’s research infrastructure. Experimental linguistics at Leiden is supported by a dedicated EEG laboratory for neuroimaging studies of speech and language processing, a phonetics lab equipped for high-quality sound recording and acoustic analysis, and a babylab that uses fNIRS, preferential looking, and head-turn paradigms to study early language acquisition. For research questions requiring whole-brain imaging, students can additionally draw on fMRI facilities at the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), thanks to the close ties between LUCL and Leiden's broader scientific community.

Summer and winter schools

Beyond LUCL, students benefit from membership of the National Graduate School of Linguistics (LOT), the Netherlands' premier graduate network in linguistics. Through LOT, students attend intensive summer and winter schools, access courses and workshops offered by linguistics programmes across the country and connect with peers and researchers from other Dutch universities.

Learn more about the study programme

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.

Find out more about your career prospects

Is Linguistics (research) the programme for you?

The Research MA in Linguistics is designed for students who have already developed a genuine research interest within linguistics and who want to deepen it through rigorous, mentored training. You are likely to be drawn to this programme if you find yourself enjoying primary research articles not only for coursework but also out of curiosity; if you want to understand not just what linguists know but how they come to know it; and if you are considering a career in academic or applied research, or fancy any profession in which advanced linguistic knowledge and research skills provide a meaningful advantage. A strong undergraduate background in linguistics is expected, though students from adjacent fields — cognitive science, computer science, language studies — with knowledge and experience in linguistic research are also encouraged to apply. Sounds good?

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.

Video: Leiden University experts on Languages and Cultures

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