The research master’s programme in Linguistics at Leiden University combines leading expertise with a flexible programme format.
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.
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.
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?
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?
Leiden University offers ambitious students the latest knowledge and the freedom to develop their own area of expertise.
A top-ranked university
Leiden University's Humanities department consistently ranks in the top 30 Humanities faculties in the THE World University Rankings. At Leiden University, the oldest university in the Netherlands, learning incorporates the latest research and resources found nowhere else in the world, such as those of the famous Leiden University Library and its collections of original manuscripts and periodicals.
Benefit from an international academic environment
You will also gain access to the internationally renowned research programmes led by Leiden University’s senior researchers – and the opportunity to join international peers from around the world at conferences, summer and winter schools, workshops and lecture series, connecting you to the leading minds in the field as well the latest academic developments.
Create your own specialisation
We encourage original and innovative research. You will have the opportunity to develop your own academic path in an environment that is both international and inspiring. Our research master's programme in Linguistics allows you to study specific areas of interest many of which are not available in research master programmes elsewhere in the Netherlands, for example descriptive and historical linguistics. You will have the freedom to pick 50 EC worth of Linguistics courses on a vast range of languages and sub-fields, follow courses at another university, or conduct field research abroad.
An excellent start to your career
Your qualification from Leiden University is respected by organisations worldwide. But that's not the only advantage of studying at Leiden. We challenge you to question established wisdom, consider new perspectives, and apply what you learn to real-world situations. Our students learn how to become critical thinkers – a quality that will ensure they stand out in any future career.
Diversity and inclusion
We are convinced that our education can only flourish if everyone within the programme feels supported, respected and empowered to do their best work. We find it important to offer a learning environment that allows for different perspectives and points of view that students bring with them, depending on their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, health, religion, age or socio-economic background. Every new generation sees the world from a new perspective – and our students are the newest generation. We look forward to hearing more about your perspective. Leiden University has been pursuing diversity policy since 2014, with the aim of creating a diverse and inclusive learning and working environment for all staff and students.
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The Research Master in Linguistics is a specialised research-based programme offered at the Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL). It is modelled on LUCL’s unique profile of studying language diversity by means of a wide variety of theoretical and methodological approaches.
Please note that this guide applies to the current academic year, which means that the curriculum for next year may slightly differ.
Felix Ameka
Researcher and University Lecturer
"All students who choose Leiden's Linguistics (research) are passionate and curious about the enormous communicative and linguistic diversity in the world and benefit from the wide range of languages and linguistic approaches on offer in Leiden. Students critically reflect on the key role of the languages sciences in understanding human nature, and addressing contemporary socio-cultural challenges."
Claartje Levelt
Professor
"We offer an exceptional range of subject areas and theoretical approaches, due to our affiliation with the Leiden University's Centre for Linguistics (LUCL). The Linguistics specialisation offers thematic programmes that you can choose from, which represent the different specialisations within the university's centre for linguistics and the programme. There are also a lot of experimental labs within the institute and programme. This way, you can as a MA student get hands-on experience with experimental research in several labs. You also have to possibility to do field work, such as individual projects or an internship."
Admission and Application
Do you want to find out if you are eligible for this Master's Programme?
Get the most out of your studies at Leiden University by taking part in our extracurricular activities.
LUCL events
As a Linguistics MA student you will be able to take part in regular events organised by the Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL), including lecture series such as the LUCL Colloquium. Please check the Linguistics in Leiden Facebook page to keep up to date with the events.
Masterlanguage
During your studies you will have the option to take a Masterlanguage course. Masterlanguage is a Dutch network of courses for language master's students. The courses are offered country-wide providing you with a unique opportunity to study with like-minded students from other universities.
Leiden Leadership Programme
Are you interested in developing your leadership potential? The Leiden Leadership Programme (LLP) is an Honours Programme specifically developed for ambitious master's students at Leiden University and the Delft University of Technology who recognise the importance of leadership abilities. The LLP offers in-depth training sessions, assessments, seminars, and the creation of a Personal Leadership Roadmap – a five-year plan for reaching and developing your leadership potential.
Study at the Academy of Creative and Performing Arts
The Academy of the Creative and Performing Arts (ACPA) is a research institute and part of the Faculty of Humanities. The ACPA offers education such as electives, and talent programmes such as the Practicum Artium (PA), which gives you the opportunity to study photography, graphic design or drawing, and the Practicum Musicae at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague, where you can study classical music, singing, early music or jazz. Find out more about ACPA.
Meet our staff
Prof.dr. F.K. Ameka
Felix Ameka is Professor by Special Appointment and Senior University Lecturer at the Centre for Linguistics. His primary research interests are the quest for the meaning of linguistic signs and exploring their use in social interaction. View his full profile here.
Prof.dr. M.A.F. Klamer
Marian Klamer is Director PhD programs and Professor of Austonesian and Papuan Linguistics. She works on the description and comparison of small, under-described Austronesian and Papuan languages in Indonesia and is interested in the history and culture of the populations who speak the languages. View her full profile here.
Prof.dr. G.J. Rutten
Gijsbert Rutten is Professor by special appointment of Historical Sociolinguistics of Dutch at the Centre for Linguistics (Stichting Merweborgh). His fields of interest are history of Dutch, historical linguistics and language variation and change. View his full profile here.
Prof.dr. M. Terkourafi
Marina Terkourafi is professor Sociolinguistics at the Leiden University Center for Linguistics. Her expertise is in pragmatics and sociolinguistics, with an emphasis on issues of pragmatic variation and experimental pragmatics. View her full profile here.
Dr. G.J. van der Wal
Jenneke van der Wal is Associate professor at the Centre for Linguistics. She is interested in the interface between morphosyntax and pragmatics, and the crosslinguistic variation in this area. Her research focusses on information structure in the Bantu languages. View her full profile here.
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.
Examples of the diverse roles of our graduates include:
PhD Candidate at universities in the Netherlands or abroad, such as the US, the UK, Sweden, France and Germany
Junior advisor at an institute for linguistic research and language teaching
Editor at a publishing house
Freelance translator
Consular officer at a ministry of foreign affairs
Technical writer
Content manager, editor, translator at NGO's
Translator within EU organisations
Author of digital educational materials
Research assistant at an university in Canada
Project manager at a translation agency
Teacher at a secondary school
Anne-Mieke Thieme
Alumna
"What I enjoyed most about my Research Master in Linguistics was the emphasis on critical thinking and academic skills, as well as the ability to tailor the programme to my own interests. My thesis was about the language policy of the multilingual city of The Hague (supervised by professor Ingrid Tieken-Boon van Ostade). I found that the municipality generally takes a monolingual approach, unless expats or internationals are involved. "
Opening new doors "My Research Master opened a lot of new doors for me: I got to present my research at various conferences, I got invited to a debate about multilingualism in The Hague, and I am now researching multilingual daycare at the University of Amsterdam. I hope to continue to contribute to socially relevant matters in linguistics in the future!"
Kim Groothuis
Graduated in Italian Language and Linguistics (MA) and Linguistics (Research Master)
“My masters in Leiden have given me the opportunity to explore my interests in many ways: I combined the master in Italian with the Research Master in Linguistics in order to follow my interests in both Italian dialectology, and theoretical and historical syntax.”
A wide variety of courses
“Both programmes offer a wide variety of courses, which you can combine exactly as you see fit: whether you wish to dive into one specific subfield or combine various interests. All courses are taught by specialists in the field, who are not only very knowledgeable, but also extremely helpful and enthusiastic.”
An excellent preparation
“At the moment I am studying for my PhD in comparative Romance syntax at the University of Cambridge. Apart from doing research, I also teach undergraduates during supervisions (something comparable to small ‘werkcolleges’). My masters in Leiden have been an excellent preparation for this next step, because they combined theory with ongoing research – part of which you will have to do yourself, during the courses and later for your thesis. It is this aspect of the masters which in my opinion is the most valuable, especially if you wish to continue in academia.”
In which sector do students find jobs?
The graphs below are based on alumni data from the Research Master Linguistics 2016-2020.
60 %Research
13 %Education
13 %Government and semi-government organisations
7 %Business services
7 %Information management
Career preparation
Find out how this programme exactly prepares you for your future career and check our career preparation activities.
The development of in-depth knowledge in the field, and the ability to think critically and analytically are key goals of this programme. The research master in Linguistics will introduce you to the history, basic concepts, research methods, and recent developments in linguistics, including historical, descriptive, theoretical, experimental and corpus-based studies. You will learn to use linguistic concepts and approaches in researching and analysing data. Your thesis work will give you the opportunity to apply these methods in your own research.
We also provide opportunities for you to broaden your experience and professional skills in preparation to excel in a career inside as well as outside of academics.
During your studies you have the opportunity to gain experience studying, working, or conducting research at an organisation or institution. Some of our students choose to do an internship during their study. Internships are a great way to gain invaluable first-hand experience in your area of interest before you decide on making it a career.
In recent years, students from the Research Master have participated in internships at:
Meertens Instituut
Leiden University Centre for Linguistics
Koninklijke Brill NV
Nederlands Kanker Instituut
Huygens ING
CALDI Centre for African Language Diversity
Koninklijke Auris Groep
Museu Emílio Goeldi
Nederlands Helsinki Comité
Tatung University
Summer Institute of Linguistics - Papua New Guinea
Our staff can help you identify both the career that is right for you, and the necessary steps to get you there. Our team at Humanities Career Service provide all Leiden University humanities students with professional advice and guidance on everything from internships and career planning to job applications. Humanities Career Service also organises regular workshops on topics such as effective interview skills and creating a successful CV.
The Leiden University Career Zone is an online career portal that helps you to prepare for the job market. Here you can find information, tools and tips to help you gain more personal insight, learn about the job market, develop your application skills, plan your academic and professional career, find job vacancies and discover what the Career Service can do for you.
Join the Mentor Network to contact alumni with experience on the labour market and ask them for advice. More than 1200 alumni are happy to help you!
Jelle on finding an internship via Leiden University's Mentor Network
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To be eligible for Linguistics (research) at Leiden University, you must meet the following admission requirements.
Diploma requirements
You are eligible to apply for the Research MA Linguistics if you have:
A bachelor’s degree from a research university, equivalent to the level of a Dutch academic bachelor’s degree, in Linguistics, a language and culture programme or a comparable degree with a relevant specialisation with at least 30 EC of academic study of linguistics subjects, of which at least 20 EC in core subjects (such as phonology, phonetics, syntax, morphology, semantics, language typology).
Knowledge, understanding and skills with respect to:
The ability to understand basic linguistic analyses and read linguistic literature (in English) at the appropriate (handbook) level; and
The ability to collect linguistic data and discover patterns in them.
In addition, you must also meet the following qualitative admission requirements:
Good grades comparable with an average mark of at least 7.5 (Dutch grading system) for their entire bachelor’s programme; and
A grade for the bachelor’s thesis of an 8 or higher; and
Affinity with and suitability for linguistics research in the specific field of the programme; and
Demonstrable motivation to study the research MA programme
You are asked to provide a transcript of records and diploma of the relevant obtained academic degree.
Affinity with the field should be demonstrated by a “Research Proposal”. All applicants are required to submit a Research Proposal of approximately 1000 words, accompanied by an annotated bibliography of at least five (5) items, outlining the topic or field of research that the applicant wishes to pursue at Leiden University, indicating the names of one or two faculty members who might guide that research.
Your motivation should be demonstrated by a well-argued and structured admission letter in which you indicate why you want to follow the programme and convincingly discuss what makes you a good candidate for the research MA programme. The statement should be between 700 and 1,500 words.
You are required to submit two letters of recommendation (from your teachers, mentors, or supervisors) that comment on your independence as a researcher, your originality and motivation and affinity with linguistics and languages.
For further information on the admission procedure and required application documents please see this web page.
Language requirements
In order to successfully participate in this programme, you must be proficient in English. The following requirements apply:
IELTS: 7.0; for the ‘speaking’ and ‘writing’ components a minimum score of IELTS 6.5 is required.
We do not accept IELTS General Training or IELTS Indicator.
TOEFL (Internet based) 100, for the ‘speaking’ and ‘writing’ components a minimum score of TOEFL 22 is required.
We are not able to accept The TOEFL IBT Home Edition™, except in the following situations only: You took the test before 1 Sept 2022 (and it is not more than 2 years old), or you are unable to take an in-person test on location because test centres are inaccessible or closed due to unsafe conditions in a country.
We do not accept the following types of test: TOEFL My Best™ scores (multiple test scores combined), TOEFL Essentials™ or institutional tests such as ITP.
Note that English test results may not be more than two years old.
You do not have to submit an English proficiency test if you have completed your education in the USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada (except French-taught programmes in Canada) Singapore, South-Africa or Malta; or if you have completed an English-taught bachelor at a Dutch research university.
Note that for this research master programme you cannot be granted an exemption for the English proficiency test based on a Dutch pre-university (vwo) diploma.
According to Dutch law, Leiden University is required to reimburse students with a Dutch pre-university (VWO) diploma for any extra costs they make for meeting the English language requirements. You can be reimbursed for the costs of the English language test if you meet the following conditions:
- You have obtained a Dutch VWO-diploma; and
- You have successfully completed the English language test; and - You are admitted unconditionally to the research master programme; and - You are enrolled in the research master programme.
After admission to the programme, you will be informed on how to submit the request for reimbursement of the test costs.
For detailed information, including exemption criteria and methods of submission, refer to English language proficiency.
Please note that Leiden University does not offer a pre-master's programme for Linguistics (research).
Applicants who need a visa or residence permit or need to extend their residence permit must apply for admission before 1 April.
All other applicants must apply for admission before 15 May.
Starting in February
Applicants who need a visa or residence permit or need to extend their residence permit must apply for admission before 15 October.
All other applicants must apply for admission before 15 November.
Please note: You must submit your application via Studielink and Leiden University’s application system (uSis), before the deadlines mentioned above.
Other deadlines
Leiden University reserves a limited number of rooms each year for international students. However, as the number of housing requests always greatly exceeds the number of rooms available, we strongly recommend that you also look into other housing options at the same time. Read more about how and when to arrange housing. If you want to request accommodation via Leiden University, submit both your application for admission and your housing request well before the deadlines! Accommodation is offered on a first-come first-served basis and is not guaranteed. You don’t have to await admission before requesting housing.
If you want to apply for a scholarship, grant or loan, please bear in mind that different deadlines apply, and these deadlines can often be earlier. Deadlines vary per scholarship. Visit the scholarship website for more details.
When you apply for admission, you’ll be asked to submit several documents.
Note: If you have a Dutch diploma that grants direct admission, you will generally not be asked to submit additional documents.
Required application documents
You’ll need to submit the following documents:
Please upload a copy of the page(s) in your passport containing your personal details and photograph. If you are from the EU/EEA, you can submit a copy of your identity card instead. Please upload copies of both sides.
If you are a non-EU/EEA national already living in the Netherlands, upload copies of both sides of your Dutch residence permit.
Your CV (curriculum vitae) must be written in English and should contain your basic personal data, as well as a clear overview of your educational and professional history to date.
You can apply for admission before receiving the results of your English language test. However, a sufficient result will then be a condition of your eventual admission. Of course, if you already have your English language test results, you can upload them directly.
Digital copies of diplomas and transcripts are initially required. Once you have been admitted, we will inform you how to submit certified copies.
The documents must be in the original language. If they are not in English, Dutch, German or French, they must be accompanied by official translations into one of these languages.
If you have not yet completed your current programme, state your expected graduation date and submit copies of all transcripts obtained to date plus a list of subjects still to be completed.
Additional requirements specific to Linguistics (research)
This programme requires two letters of recommendation (from your teachers, mentors, or supervisors) that comment on your independence as a researcher, your originality and motivation and affinity with linguistics and languages.
All applicants are required to submit a Research Proposal of approximately 1000 words. The proposal should contain information about the research plan of the candidate for the research they plan to carry out at Leiden University (e.g. for the ResMA thesis). The Research Proposal is not binding (the candidate can change the topic or field during her ResMA study), it primarily serves the purpose of giving an indication of the candidate’s suitability for linguistic research.
Guidelines for writing the Research Proposal:
Specify the topic or the field of research that you wish to pursue at Leiden University
Motivate your choice of the topic or field of research, also with reference to previous studies on the topic and your own background
Provide a short description of the research methodology you would like to implement
Include an annotated bibliography of at least five (5) items relevant for the research topic
Include the names of one or two faculty members who could possibly guide the proposed research, and a list of courses you will take at Leiden University that would help you to achieve your research goals
Your motivation and suitability for your chosen specialization should be demonstrated by a well-argued and structured motivation letter in which you indicate why you want to follow the programme and convincingly discusses what makes you a good candidate for the research MA programme. The statement should be between 700 and 1,500 words.
Letters of recommendation must be written on letterhead paper, signed and (for verification purposes) they must bear the full contact details of the applicable referee.
Your referee should describe your skills, qualities and competencies.
Option 1. Uploading the letter yourself You can upload the letter(s) of recommendation in the online application portal (uSis).
Option 2. Sent by your referee Your referee can send the letter directly to the university, as follows:
1. Your referee must clearly state your name and student number in the letter.
2. He or she should send the letter to us, either:
digitally, by uploading the letter in our contact form
by posting it to:
Leiden University Admissions Office
“Gravensteen” Pieterskerkhof 6
2311 SR Leiden, the Netherlands
3. Complete this form and upload it in the online application system (uSis), instead of your letter of recommendation.
The application procedure is broken down into three parts.
Part 1. Application in Studielink
All students applying for a degree programme at Leiden University must start the application process in Studielink, the national online registration system for students wishing to follow a degree programme at a Dutch university. Studielink is open for applications from 1 October in the year preceding the academic year in which you wish to start.
1. Go toStudielink and enter your details according to the instructions provided. For this step you will need:
a copy of your valid passport or European ID card, or
Be aware! If you wish to apply for a specialisation of a master's programme: first select the master’s programme in Studielink, then select the specialisation for which you wish to apply in Step 4 (Institutional Questions) in Studielink.
2. Within two days you will receive:
an email with information on the next steps you'll need to take;
your university ULCN student account details (unless, of course, you already have a ULCN account)
the link to Leiden University’s online application portal (uSis)
After receiving your ULCN student account details, log into Leiden University’s online application portal (uSis), using the link provided. Here you can view the status of your application, which will be one of two possibilities.
1. You can be directly admitted
If your (Dutch) diploma grants you direct admission, Leiden University's online application portal (uSis) will let you know. The portal provides an overview of what you have to do to complete your application, for example arranging housing, scholarships, applying for a visa/residence permit and insurances. Please follow the instructions carefully and proceed to step 3 Student registration.
2. You cannot be directly admitted: additional action is required
If you do not have a (Dutch) diploma that grants you direct admission, we will require additional documents to allow us to decide about your application. The online application portal (uSis) will tell you this and explain how to do so. See also Part 2: Admission to Leiden University.
Part 2. Admission to Leiden University
If you cannot be directly admitted, you must apply for admission via Leiden University’s online application portal (uSis). Please follow all steps below.
In our online application portal (uSis) you can finalise your application by uploading the necessary documents and answering a few questions. This portal provides an overview of what you need to do to complete your admission application. Please follow the instructions carefully and make sure to include all the items that are asked for. We strongly recommend that you complete your application well in advance of the application deadline.
All applicants with an international degree must pay a non-refundable €100 application fee, which entitles you to apply for up to three programmes/specialisations in the same academic year. We cannot start processing your application until we receive this application fee, so please pay it as soon as possible. The online application system explains how you can pay it.
Can I be exempted from paying the application fee? You do not have to pay the application fee if:
You are following, or have completed, a bachelor’s degree at a Dutch university (of applied sciences).
You have previously registered as an exchange, bachelor’s, master’s or pre-master’s student at Leiden University.
You have previously been admitted to the same degree programme at Leiden University, but you decided to postpone your studies. This does not apply if you are applying for a different study programme or specialisation.
You have refugee status in the Netherlands (with a residence permit for asylum).
Exemptions cannot be granted for any other reasons.
After you have submitted your application, the online application portal (uSis) will, if applicable, ask you if you want to apply for student housing, a visa/residence permit or a scholarship. Be sure to make a careful note of the relevant deadlines for these options.
After receiving your application fee payment (if applicable), the Admissions Office will check whether all the necessary documents have been uploaded and they will inform you by email whether any further items are required. The Board of Admissions of the faculty will then:
decide whether you meet the admission requirements for the programme;
strive to issue a decision on your completed application within four to six weeks of the University receiving it.
Once a decision has been reached you will be informed by email. You can view your admission status in the online application portal (uSis).
There are three possible outcomes:
You are admitted
You have met all conditions for admission.
You are conditionally admitted
You will be admitted, provided that you meet certain conditions. These conditions will be specified in the online application portal (uSis).
You are not admitted
The reason(s) for non-admission will be clearly stated in the online application portal (uSis). If you are informed that you have been (conditionally) admitted, you will have to take a number of additional steps.
If you are (conditionally) admitted, the Admissions Office will ask you to confirm whether you will join the study programme. You can do so in the online application portal (uSis).
1. Go to ‘Application study programme’ in the online application portal (uSis).
2. Open the ‘Confirm’ screen. Here you will see three options:
Yes, I want to study at Leiden University.
No, I no longer wish to study at Leiden University and hereby withdraw my application.
Maybe later; I do not wish to start this semester/academic year. I would like to receive further instructions by email.
The sooner the better
Confirm attendance as soon as possible, to avoid missing other important deadlines and information about your study programme.
Changing your mind
You can still change your mind if necessary, either in uSis or by contacting the Admissions Office master team.
Deadline final decision
Do you need a student visa or residence permit? You can only request one after confirming attendance. So make sure to confirm attendance before the visa/residence permit deadline.
If you don’t need a visa or residence permit, the latest deadline for confirming attendance is before the start date of your study programme.
Part 3. Student registration
If you’ve been (conditionally) admitted, follow these steps to register as a student at Leiden University:
Check in the online application portal (uSis) whether you need to submit any documents to meet the conditions of your admission. Instructions on how to do so will be provided in uSis.
Arrange the payment of your tuition fee before the official start date of your programme. You will receive instructions and information on the available payment methods by email.
If you are an international student, go to the Prepare your stay page of our website for information about the practical matters you should take care of before and upon arrival. These include, for example, arranging housing, scholarships, applying for a visa/residence permit and insurances.
The tuition fee for this programme is €2,314 for the academic year 2023-2024 (statutory fee) and €2,530 for the academic year 2024-2025 (statutory fee).
This tuition fee applies if this is your first master’s programme and you are a national of one of the following countries:
Austria
Latvia
Belgium
Liechtenstein
Bulgaria
Lithuania
Croatia
Luxembourg
Cyprus
Malta
Czech Republic
Norway
Denmark
Poland
Estonia
Portugal
Finland
Romania
France
Slovakia
Germany
Slovenia
Greece
Spain
Hungary
Suriname
Iceland
Sweden
Ireland
Switzerland
Italy
The fee applies for both full-time and part-time study.
The tuition fee for this programme is €19,300 for the academic year 2023-2024 (institutional tuition fee) and €20,900 for the academic year 2024-2025 (institutional tuition fee).
If you are not a national of an EEA country, Suriname or Switzerland, generally speaking you will have to pay an institutional tuition fee. This fee applies for both full-time and part-time study.
However, if, on the basis of your Dutch residence permit, you are eligible for student finance from the Dutch education agency (DUO) you are entitled to pay the statutory tuition fee. Information on qualifying residence permits can be found at the DUO website.
Only applicable to EU/EEA, Swiss and Surinamese nationals.
The tuition fee for this programme is €15,400 for the academic year 2023-2024 (institutional tuition fee) and €16,300 for the academic year 2024-2025 (institutional tuition fee).
If you are following a second Dutch master’s programme you will generally have to pay an institutional tuition fee that is higher than the statutory tuition fee. Some exceptions apply.
Are you unsure which tuition fee applies to you? Consult our Tuition Fee Calculator.
Tuition fee if the pre-master's or conversion programme has less than 60 study credits (EC)
2023-2024
2024-2025
€39,- per EC
€42,- per EC
If the pre-master's or conversion programme has 60 study credits or more, you pay the statutory tuition fee of that college year.
Scholarships, grants and loans
Leiden University offers a wide range of scholarships for students from specific regions of the world, or for specific programmes. Leiden University also offers the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS), a programme specifically designed for non-EU/EEA students enrolling in a master’s programme. Find out more about scholarships, grants, loans and deadlines
If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss national and under 30, you may be eligible for a loan from the Dutch government to cover your tuition fees.
You’ve been accepted! Leiden University looks forward to welcoming you as a new student. Your next step is to prepare for your studies. Below you can find some tips to help you get a head start as you embark on your studies at Leiden University.
For international students
If you are an international student, a wealth of information can be found on the ‘Prepare your stay’ page of our website. This includes information about visas, housing, financial matters, what to arrange upon arrival, and much more.
For Dutch students
The ‘student website’ page on Leiden University’s student website contains information about practical aspects, introduction weeks and student associations. It’s also a handy source of study-related information and advice.
For detailed information about courses, schedules and reading materials, check out the Prospectus.
Sign up for the introduction week in Leiden (OWL) or The Hague (HOP)! It’s the best way to get acquainted with student life and the student cities of Leiden and The Hague.
Your student card is your proof of registration as a student of Leiden University. You can find your digital student card in the Leiden University app three days after your student registration is finalised. Read more about your student card here.
As soon as you receive notification that your student registration has been finalised you should apply for a Leiden University ID card, or LU-Card. It also serves as your library card, print & copy card and access pass. Read more about applying for an LU-card here.
Student life
Your time at Leiden is about more than just studying. Some of your best experiences will stem from being a part of our lively and diverse student community, as well as from life in the beautiful city of Leiden.
Welcome and orientation programme
In August and February each year, Leiden University hosts the English-language Orientation Week Leiden (OWL), which welcomes both international and Dutch students. The OWL is an excellent way to get to know Leiden University, the city, and other students.
Life in Leiden
Picturesque and the perfect size, Leiden is the ideal place to spend your university days. The Faculty of Humanities is located within the heart of the city, where dozens of cafes, shops and bars line its historic laneways and leafy canals. Small enough to run into familiar faces, but big enough to keep offering surprises – you will treasure your time at Leiden. And for adventures further afield, the major cities of The Hague and Amsterdam are a short train ride away, along with Schiphol Airport, which is just half an hour away by train.
Our study and student associations organise a huge variety of social, cultural, and study events to keep you busy all year round. You can also join the University Sports Centre, which offers scheduled group sports and fitness classes, amongst other activities.
The study associations related to Linguistics are:
Leiden has several student organisations that specifically cater for international students. These associations organise regular social events and activities that help create the strong sense of community that exists within our international student body. The main two organisations are:
Erasmus Student Network Leiden (ESN) ESN Leiden is an international student organisation which hosts a range of activities and programmes. They also have a buddy programme which provides new students with the right support to assimilate into Leiden and the university.
AEGEE Leiden AEGEE is a leading European student association with sister organisations in over 40 countries across Europe. AEGEE organises many activities in Leiden, from dinners and pool nights to boat trips and guest lectures.
The Humanities Master’s Buddy Programme has been set up by the Faculty of Humanities to help all students who are new to the university to integrate quickly and easily into university life. You will be matched to a buddy who can help you out with your academic and practical questions. Additionally you will be able to attend fun monthly activities and make friends from all over the world.
Get to know us through our online and in-person events for prospective students!
Two speakers at the open day
Are you thinking about joining this Master's programme, and want to determine if it will be the right fit for you? Below, you can browse the events that we have coming up, and sign up to experience Leiden University and the programme for yourself. Alternatively, take a look at the Master Talks videos to find out more about the programme or check out our virtual campus tours!
Upcoming events
Master's Open Days
The next Master's Open Day will take place on 16 February 2024. You can also still watch the recordings of all the presentations from the last Online Open Days. The videos can be found on the Master Talks page.
Master Talks: Programme videos
On the Master Talks: programme videos platform you can find videos for each master’s programme. This includes a video which gives a short introduction to the programme. You can also find the recording of the Master's Online Open Days of 5-6 October and watch the programme presentation on the platform.
Get to know the campus
Check out our virtual campus tours, filmed in 360 degrees – by dragging the video, you can look around at the surroundings yourself. Below is the video recorded at the Humanities faculty, where most of your lectures will take place; you can also view other 360 campus tours of the various university faculties here.
360 Campus tour: the Humanities faculty
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If you have a question, there are various ways to get in touch with us.
This website and our Frequently Asked Questions are the quickest ways to find an answer to many of your questions.
Chat with our Student Ambassador
Via Unibuddy you can get in touch with our Student Ambassador for the MA Linguistics, Hester Groot, to find out more about any aspect of the MA Linguistics programme you are interested in.
Please note: Unfortunately we cannot answer detailed questions about admissibility because this depends on the assessment of your previous education.
Questions about the application procedure, tuition fees and scholarships
Student Affairs Front Office
Phone: +31 (0)71 527 80 11
Email: Contact form
Or visit their website
Visiting address
Leiden: Plexus Student Centre
Kaiserstraat 25, ground floor
2311 GN Leiden
Monday to Friday between 11.00 and 16.00, Tuesday between 11.00 and 17.30.
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!
