Master of Arts in English Linguistics

Overview

This two-year, English‑taught MA in English Linguistics is a single‑subject programme designed to give students deep theoretical and practical knowledge in linguistic study, with a particular emphasis on linguistic variation. You will examine how language differs across social, regional, contextual and psycholinguistic dimensions, and how it evolves over time (language change).

The programme places strong emphasis on empirical methods: you will build methodological competence in collecting and analysing quantitative linguistic data, which also strengthens general data literacy. Courses are practice‑oriented, and the curriculum includes a compulsory research‑based or vocational internship so you can apply classroom learning in a real‑world setting and gain clearer perspective on career options.

From the second semester onward, students have the option to study abroad through established partnerships with universities in Great Britain and France. The MA is also interdisciplinary: you choose from four elective areas—Anglophone Literatures and Media; Natural Language Processing; Digital Humanities; and Phonetics—allowing you to combine core linguistic training with complementary skills and shape a personalised academic profile.

Key facts and programme features

• Duration: 2 years (full-time)
• Language of instruction: English
• Structure: single‑subject MA with a thematic focus on linguistic variation and language change
• Methods training: strong emphasis on quantitative data collection and analysis (data literacy)
• Practical component: includes a research‑based or vocational internship
• Study abroad: possible starting in the second semester via partnerships in Great Britain and France
• Elective/interdisciplinary areas: Anglophone Literatures and Media; Natural Language Processing; Digital Humanities; Phonetics

Curriculum overview

This four‑semester MA programme is built around seven modules that combine theoretical study, hands‑on research training and practical experience. Courses are delivered as seminars and project‑based seminars, giving you opportunities for close discussion, collaborative projects and supervised empirical work. The programme culminates in an independently researched Master’s thesis which must be written and defended.

Key modules focus on two complementary strands: language variation and empirical research methods. Language Variation I and II develop your ability to describe and analyse how language differs across speakers, settings and time. Research Methods in Empirical Linguistics I and II train you to design studies, collect and evaluate linguistic data, and present robust, evidence‑based conclusions. The Applied Linguistics module shows how linguistic insights address real‑world problems, while the Practical Module requires an academic or professional internship to put skills into practice.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the programme you will be able to:

• Design and carry out empirical studies in linguistics, including data collection, analysis and interpretation
• Analyse patterns of language variation and relate them to social and communicative contexts
• Apply linguistic theory and research findings to practical problems or institutional settings
• Communicate research results in written (Master’s thesis) and oral (thesis defence, seminars) formats
• Gain supervised practical experience through an internship that enhances employability or prepares for doctoral research

Program requirements (curriculum at a glance)

• Duration: four semesters, seven modules
• Semester 1: Module 1 "Language Variation I" and Module 2 "Research Methods in Empirical Linguistics I"
• Semester 2: Module 3 "Language Variation II" and Module 4 "Research Methods in Empirical Linguistics II"
• Semester 3: Module 5 "Applied Linguistics" and Module 6 "Practical Module" (academic or professional internship)
• Semester 4: Module 7 "Master’s Thesis" (written thesis and oral defence)
• Teaching formats: seminars and project-based seminars

Graduates will be well prepared for careers that require advanced skills in linguistic analysis and empirical research, such as roles in corpus linguistics, language documentation, lexicography, language policy, education, and publishing. The programme's emphasis on quantitative methods and data literacy also suits positions in language technology, computational linguistics, NLP-related industry roles, and digital humanities projects.

The integrated internship and study-abroad options provide practical experience and professional networking that facilitate entry into research positions or continued academic study (e.g., PhD programmes). Elective tracks (NLP, Digital Humanities, Phonetics) further enable graduates to tailor their profile towards applied industry roles or interdisciplinary research careers.