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.

Learn more about the study programme

Felix Ameka

Professor

"The Linguistics Research MA focuses on diversity; both in terms of languages spoken in the world and in terms of the diversity in approaches that linguists use to study and understand languages in the world. In Leiden, we can expose you to several approaches (such as descriptive, historical, theoretical, psycho- and neurolinguistics, sociolinguistics and pragmatics). Leiden is the place to find a wide variety of languages that are studied in the Netherlands, including the only place to study African languages. The Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL) is the home of the research master in Linguistics and of all linguists in Leiden; you can approach any member of the centre to direct you in your studies."

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?

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.

Chat with a student

Do you have a question about student life in Leiden, studying at Leiden University or do you want more information about the Linguistics master's programme?

Chat with a current student to get answers to your questions!