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Education Master's and PhD degree programmes Linguistics - Research Clinical Linguistics / EMCL - Research
Header image Clinical Linguistics / EMCL

Clinical Linguistics / EMCL

How is language stored in the brain? What effects can brain damage have on our ability to use language? And why do some children have difficulty learning language? Find it out in this track.

The two-year international Research Master's track in Clinical Linguistics is part of the prestigious international Erasmus Mundus programme in Clinical Linguistics, EMCL++. EMCL++ is an integrated two-year Master's programme offered jointly by a consortium of the Universities of Groningen (NL), Ghent (B) and Eastern Finland (FI) and 26 associated partners from the academic, R&D, and clinical sector, finishing with a joint Msc degree from the three institutions. It is a full-time interdisciplinary and transnational university programme at the Masters level, providing integrated training in neurolinguistics, psycholinguistics, and clinical linguistics.

The regular study period is 24 months. It consists of 4 semesters; 2 teaching semesters, the third semester is a combination of a teaching semester and internship, the fourth semester to finish the masters thesis. After finishing this track you will receive a joint degree.

Most recent information on the EMCL++ programme can be found at: emcl.eu

Facts & Figures
Degree
MA in Linguistics (research)
Course type
Research master
Duration
24 months (120 ECTS)
Croho code
60817
Language of instruction
English
Start
September
Faculty
Arts
Why study this programme in Groningen?

In Groningen, courses focus on neuroimaging, language processing, and developmental and acquired language disorders.

  • Developmental Language Disorders
  • Cross Linguistic Aspects of Aphasia
  • Language Testing during Awake Surgery
  • Neuro Imaging and Language
Programme
Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Development of serious games, apps and Virtual Reality for language impaired populations (Groningen) (6 EC)
Language and Culture (Groningen) (3 EC)
Language and speech disorders in adults (Groningen) (5 EC)
Language and speech disorders in children (Groningen) (5 EC)
Language testing during awake brain surgery (Groningen) (6 EC)
Neuroimaging and Language (Groningen) (5 EC)
Advances in Psycholinguistics (Ghent) (3 EC)
Bilingualism (Ghent) (4 EC)
Computational models in psycholinguistics (Ghent) (4 EC)
Dyslexia (Ghent) (4 EC)
Eye-tracking in language research (Ghent) (3 EC)
Language and Culture (Ghent) (3 EC)
Statistics and Research Methods in Psycholinguistics (Ghent) (9 EC)
Semesters
CoursesCourse Catalog >1a1b2a2b
Academic writing (thesis preparation) (Finland) (4 EC)
Articulatory, acoustic and perceptual analysis of speech motor disorders (Finland) (4 EC)
Language and autism (Finland) (2 EC)
Language and Culture (Finland) (3 EC)
Python programming for linguistic research (Finland) (3 EC)
Speech technology for speech impairment research (Finland) (4 EC)
Internship (Various Locations) (10 EC)
Thesis (Various locations) (30 EC)

Curriculum

For more course info go to: https://emcl.eu/

Study abroad

  • Study abroad is required
  • Maximum of 90 EC
Entry requirements

Transfer options

Transferring from...

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
LinguisticsAll Research universities

Additional requirements

More information:

Please note that this programme has a selection procedure.

Biomedische WetenschappenAll Research universities

Additional requirements

More information:

Please note that this programme has a selection procedure.

Psychology (EN)All Research universities

Additional requirements

More information:

Please note that this programme has a selection procedure.

Study programmeOrganizationTransition
LinguisticsUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Please note that this programme has a selection procedure.

PsychologyUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Please note that this programme has a selection procedure.

Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Groningen

Additional requirements

More information:

Please note that this programme has a selection procedure.

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

Prospective students with a Bachelor's degree in Linguistics or another Bachelor's degree with a substantial linguistics component are eligible for admission to this Master's track. Examples of these types of Bachelor's programmes are:

  • Speech and language pathology
  • Linguistics
  • Biomedical sciences
  • Psychology
  • Special education
grade list

An excellent academic record: An overview of the results achieved so far within the Bachelor's degree programme and/or other university degree programmes is required.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A CV in EuroPass format, see the link below

language test

Minimum English Language requirement of: TOEFL 600 (paper), 250 (computer) or 100 points (internet, with at least a score of 25 on the component 'writing') / IELTS of at least 7,0 (or above with at least a score of 6.5 on all separate components)/ Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency Certificate.

reference letter

Two personal letters of recommendation from staff members who can comment on the students' affinity with and capacities for research.

(motivation-) letter

A letter outlining the prospective student's motivation for applying to the EMCL++ programme, including their expectations and interests.

other admission requirements

Students must be willing to follow part of the programme at the partner universities.

Please note that other documents also have to be submitted in order to complete your application, such as a copy of your passport, a scan of your original diploma and a scan of your original academic transcripts. For more information, see: https://www.emcl.eu/admission/

Registration procedure

Note: it's not possible to start in February. For more information, please contact the study advisor.

Please read about the admission procedure on Admission EMCL+

Selection procedure

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 December 202401 September 2025
01 December 202501 September 2026
EU/EEA students01 December 202401 September 2025
01 December 202501 September 2026
non-EU/EEA students01 December 202401 September 2025
01 December 202501 September 2026

Admission requirements

Specific requirementsMore information
previous education

Prospective students with a Bachelor's degree in Linguistics or another Bachelor's degree with a substantial linguistics component are eligible for admission to this Master's track. Examples of these types of Bachelor's programmes are:

  • Speech and language pathology
  • Linguistics
  • Biomedical sciences
  • Psychology
  • Special education
grade list

An excellent academic record: An overview of the results achieved so far within the Bachelor's degree programme and/or other university degree programmes is required.

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A CV in EuroPass format, see the link below

language test

Minimum English Language requirement of: TOEFL 600 (paper), 250 (computer) or 100 points (internet, with at least a score of 25 on the component 'writing') / IELTS of at least 7,0 (or above with at least a score of 6.5 on all separate components)/ Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency Certificate.

reference letter

Two personal letters of recommendation from staff members who can comment on the students' affinity with and capacities for research.

(motivation-) letter

A letter outlining the prospective student's motivation for applying to the EMCL++ programme, including their expectations and interests.

other admission requirements

Students must be willing to follow part of the programme at the partner universities.

Please note that other documents also have to be submitted in order to complete your application, such as a copy of your passport, a scan of your original diploma and a scan of your original academic transcripts. For more information, see: https://www.emcl.eu/admission/

Language requirements

ExamMinimum score
C1 Advanced (formerly CAE)C1
IELTS overall band7
TOEFL paper based600
TOEFL computer based250
TOEFL internet based100

Registration procedure

Note: it's not possible to start in February. For more information, please contact the study advisor.

Please read about the admission procedure on Admission EMCL+

Selection procedure

Application deadlines

Type of studentDeadlineStart course
Dutch students01 December 202401 September 2025
01 December 202501 September 2026
EU/EEA students01 December 202401 September 2025
01 December 202501 September 2026
non-EU/EEA students01 December 202401 September 2025
01 December 202501 September 2026
Tuition fees

EU-students: €4.500 per year // non-EU students: €9.000 per year

Practical information for:

After your studies

Job prospects

The aim of the Masters' track is to train highly qualified and advanced students who are excellently prepared for wide employability, by the unique combination of research training and an internship with an academic, R&D in neurotechnology, or clinical component. This means that we prepare the students for employment in the academic, R&D and clinical field. Importantly, the track is not meant to train students to become speech and language therapists.

Job examples

  • Research oriented career
  • PhD student
Research

The Clinical Linguistics/EMCL track in Groningen, which is offered by the Graduate School for the Humanities, is linked to excellent, multidisciplinary research which is carried out at the Centre for Language and Cognition Groningen (CLCG) and the Groningen Research School for Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience (BCN).

Apply nowBrochureEventsContact

Contact

  • Ask Your Question Here (please fill in this contact form, we will answer you as soon as possible.)
  • Dr. Roel Jonkers (local coordinator)
    Email: r.jonkers rug.nl
    Telephone: +31 50 363 6129
  • Alice Pomstra (study advisor)
    Email: emcl rug.nl

EMCL strengthened my desire to pursue an academic career

I decided to apply for EMCL because I aspired to pursue a career in academia. I wanted to spend two semesters studying at the UG because I had a particular interest in aphasia, and so I wanted to work with Prof. Roelien Bastiaanse. That was a really good decision! The city of Groningen is simply charming, and the University's facilities are impressive.

As for the courses, I particularly enjoyed the research-oriented teaching methodology. By the end of the taught semesters, I did not feel stressed about coming up with my own ideas for a thesis. This also prepared me for writing an application for a PhD position.

I finished my PhD in the International Doctorate in Experimental Approaches to Language and Brain (IDEALAB). I have travelled between IDEALAB partner universities in Italy, Australia and The Netherlands (Groningen), where I was supervised by internationally renowned researchers, and I have access to neuroimaging and neuromodulation techniques which I was able to use during my experiments. The fact that I had already learned about Event Related Potentials (ERPs) during EMCL, made it easier for me to address my PhD topic from different perspectives. Currently I am working as one of the teachers at the neurolinguistics departement in Groningen.

EMCL has strengthened my desire to pursue an academic career. I am confident that the network that I have established and the skills that I have acquired will be key to reach my goals.

Read more

A Research Master in Linguistics seemed a perfect fit

I moved to Groningen from the Baltic States in 2012, to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in English Language and Culture with a minor in Media and Journalism. I have always been passionate about languages, research, writing and editing, so the choice to move abroad for the sake of higher education was not a particularly hard one.

Choosing a Research Master

After my experiences in both fields of Linguistics and Journalism, I decided to take the academic path, so a Research Master in Linguistics seemed a perfect fit. This degree is nothing less but challenging, but if you are an aspiring researcher who is passionate about Linguistics like me- it is most definitely worth it.

Read more

Holland Scholarship

Are you an international student from a non EU/EEA member state starting a Research Master's programme or Erasmus Mundus Master's programme at the Faculty of Arts? If so, you could qualify for the Holland Scholarship, a partial scholarship which helps you to finance your studies.

Read more on the Holland Scholarship.

University of Groningen Orange Tulip Scholarship/Talent Grant of Faculty of Arts


Are you a non-EU/EEA student from Russia, India or Indonesia, starting a Master's programme at the Faculty of Arts? If so, you could qualify for the University of Groningen OTS/Talent Grant, Faculty of Arts, a partial scholarship which helps you to finance your studies.

Read more about the OTS/Talent Grant Faculty of Arts.

Master’s degree programme in Linguistics

The Faculty of Arts also offers a one year master’s degree programme in Linguistics.

Read more

Study associations

Synthesis

Synthesis is the new study association for all Research Master students from the Faculty of Arts. Synthesis is both a social network and a platform for the academic development of young scholars. Given our shared interest in academic research, Synthesis organizes a variety of seminars, lectures and workshops about academic skills or career strategy with interesting speakers from different fields.
Synthesis also aims to create and maintain an active Research Master community by organizing social activities such as drinks, dinners and fun trips. Join our Facebook group for more information.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/468316950175210/
Read more
Study support

If you have any questions or doubts about your studies, you can always contact the study advisor. He or she knows all the ins and outs of the program and personal planning. Study advisors are impartial and everything that is discussed is treated confidentially. They can also help you find the right institutions and student desks for your problems.