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Masters Degree in Linguistics

Find postgraduate programs in LINGUISTICS

Linguistics – one of the social sciences – is the study of the science of languages. It involves detailed analysis of how languages have evolved, how they are related to one another, the correlation between sound and meaning, and many other intricate and complicated aspects. For those students who wish to explore the world of languages at large, a masters degree in linguistics is very enlightening, as besides developing expertise in the subject, it involves the use of several other fields of study, such as psychology, sociology and anthropology, to study the nuances of language development in depth.

Studying a masters degree in linguistics

Studying linguistics at postgraduate level involves instruction in a variety of subjects including:


Linguistics also covers a detailed study of the structure of language components such as phonetics, syntax, grammar, phonemics, semantics, functional grammar, dialectology, lexicography, morphology, typology, orthography, stylistics, structuralism and rhetoric. Those who take on a masters degree in one of these functionalities can also expect to learn about things from applications to artificial intelligence, in keeping with the demands of technological invasion in everyday life.

A masters course in this field will aim to instill in students a basic foundation in linguistics. It will also provide training in linguistics analysis, methods of research, and application of skills to interpret linguistic data. Many universities in the UK have facilitated masters in linguistics as a full-time course or part-time course, and also through distance learning.

A full-time masters in linguistics should take approximately one year to complete – depending on the university – and will probably be divided into two terms with core and selective modules. The core subjects usually include:

  • Phonetics
  • Semantics
  • Syntax
  • Sociolinguistics.


Further into the masters degree, students can also usually choose two subjects to specialise in, such as phonetics and phonology, and syntax and semantics. However, there may be different core specialisms depending on which course you choose. For example, the University of Bangor offers specialisms such as Bilingualism and the opportunity to dive into a theoretical dissertation covering topics like Morphosyntax.

The whole masters program will culminate with a dissertation or presentation by the student, based on research conducted on a selected topic under the guidance of tutors or mentors. Assessment is spread out over the terms and is carried out through a series of assignments, essays, projects and, of course, a dissertation and research.

The University of Portsmouth offers an MA in Linguistics that can be studied full time, part time or online. This masters degree provides students with the opportunity to explore linguistics beyond grammar and vocabulary and gain a full understanding of how language works in the real world.

Eligibility requirements for a lingusitics masters

Students who want to study a masters in linguistics should have at least an upper second class honours degree (2.1), or the international equivalent, in a preferred and relevant subject like classics, modern foreign languages, psychology, and most of the social sciences, including sociology, anthropology, archaeology, history and English. It is also advisable to have good English language skills and some experience with statistics.

For foreign students who originate from non-English speaking countries, evidence supporting minimum English language requirements has to be produced. An IELTS score of either 6.0 or 7.0 (depending on the university) in both the written and oral assessment components, or a TOEFL score of 100+, with a minimum of 25 in writing and speaking, is acceptable.

Linguistics student case study

Linguistics student case studyGhazaleh Kazeminijad, an international student of linguistics, was interested in pursuing a project in machine-based translation that can bridge current gaps between Farsi – her first language – and English. “I am interested in improving the weakness in translation between this language pair. So, I decided to do something about it.” She took up computational linguistics for her masters in order to achieve her goal.

Career prospects for linguistics graduates

There are several excellent careers directly related to the study of linguistics.

One of the most attractive careers for a postgraduate in linguistics is teaching. It is a good opportunity to interact with young people with a keen interest in languages. A reliable career with a decent salary and regular summer and winter breaks, teaching can prove to be a fruitful career for those with a passion for languages.

Interpreters and translators are in high demand in today’s interpersonal and social world. Governments also require communicators to interact with personnel at multinational levels. Private companies, international agencies and non-profit organisations require people with multi-linguistic skills to enable effective communication. Interpreters are also useful for security purposes, likely due to the increased threat of terrorism spreading around the world. Trained linguists can discreetly interpret cryptic data broadcast through communication and navigation systems.

Speech and language therapy is yet another area where good knowledge of linguistics is mandatory. A deep understanding of the nuances of language is necessary before one can attempt to correct or improve another person’s vocabulary. Many lingual problems, such as dyslexia and stammering, can be overcome by using the skills of a trained therapist.

Editing and proofreading are areas where a degree in linguistics can be put to good use. Many well-known books and works by famous authors in native languages are being translated into English or into other languages. Here again, a deep understanding of the native language as well as English is required for conveying the intended meaning without distortion.

Other roles could include:

  • Copywriting
  • Marketing executive
  • Public relations officer
  • Researcher
  • Journalist


With so much potential, a masters degree in linguistics is bound to provide a fruitful and interesting career path.

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