The programme aims to develop your theoretical basis and methodological competence for setting up and carrying out linguistic research within a specific domain (e.g. fundamental, descriptive, comparative, sociovariational, computational, educational). 

This advanced master offers a high degree of flexibility and you have the option to craft individual programmes from background and specialization courses, enabling them to develop specific theoretical insights and methodological and analytical expertise.

Furthermore, in accordance with your own research interests, you can choose to follow intensive courses taught by international scholars or to do an internship in one of the many research groups at the universities of Leuven and Ghent. Special attention is paid to the writing up of research results and participation in the international scientific debate.

Four specializations are offered:

• Cognitive and Functional Linguistics (Leuven)

• Multilingual and Foreign Language Learning and Teaching (Leuven)

• Natural Language Processing: Theory and Practice (Leuven and Ghent)

• Linguistics in a Comparative Perspective (Ghent)

Master's thesis:

Throughout the degree, you are expected to work towards a master's thesis where you have the opportunity to write an extensive and original linguistic study using the skills and knowledge you have acquired throughout the courses.

Interuniversity programme:

Internationally renowned researchers from the University of Leuven and the University of Ghent collaborate and help students to develop theoretical insight and methodological and analytical expertise.

Admission requirements:

You must have obtained a master's degree in linguistics. You should have a good command of both spoken and written English.

Student profile:

• You hold a master's degree in linguistics, linguistics and literature, or an equivalent degree.

• You have completed your master’s thesis on a linguistic topic.

• Basic knowledge of the various linguistic subfields is required, and you are thoroughly familiar with the latest developments in at least one subfield of linguistic research.

• You have already carried out personal, but supervised, research in this subfield.

• Your previous academic work demonstrates an interest in either cognitive and functional linguistics or educational linguistics and you have developed adequate insight into the theoretical principles underlying this type of research.

Tuition fees:

It is worth noting that our tuition fees are cheaper than in many other European countries thanks to the generous financing of the higher education system by our government. Although all of our programmes are very affordable compared to equivalent universities around the world, the fees for any individual student are contingent upon their choice of academic programme and the nationality of the student. 

Scholarships:

Our aim is to offer affordable tuition fees for all students, which means we only have a limited number of scholarships available for students from particular backgrounds or studying in particular fields.

Career perspectives:

Graduates will be equipped with a high degree of contemporary research knowledge in a particular field of linguistics and will, therefore, be well-equipped to undertake research at a higher level (PhD programmes/research projects, etc.). Upon completion of the programme, graduates will also have developed the communicative skills required to report, both orally and in writing, on research findings and new insights. These transferable skills can be applied in a broad range of professional contexts where the ability to understand, synthesize, and present complex phenomena is essential.