How do people learn languages? How does multilingualism shape our lives and inform our identities? And how can we respond to linguistic diversity in education, organizations and society?
The Master's in Applied Linguistics and
Multilingualism explores these and many other related questions by
approaching language from the perspective of both the individual
and society.
You will study how people learn, develop and use
additional languages, while also examining the social, educational,
cultural and policy dimensions of multilingualism. In doing so, you
will learn to analyse language-related questions from different
theoretical and methodological perspectives and develop the
research skills to investigate them yourself.
Based in the north of the Netherlands, the
programme combines our staff's expertise across second language
development, multilingualism, language teaching and assessment,
cognition, social interaction, minority and heritage language
education, and language policy.The programme offers two routes:
Applied Linguistics and Multilingualism. The programme's broad
perspective allows you to develop your own area of specialism while
gaining a solid foundation in research methodologies.
Whether you are interested in language learning,
multilingual education, linguistic diversity, language policy or
language research, this programme gives you the knowledge and
skills to investigate the role of language in an increasingly
multilingual world, from the advantage point of a highly
multilingual Groningen. The programme also offers the opportunity
to specialise in Frisian.
The Master's track Applied Linguistics and Multilingualism at the University of Groningen is a unique track designed to teach all students about the important theories and methodologies within the fields of second language learning, development, and teaching in the first semester.
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| Essential Statistics (5 EC) | ||||
| Second Language Development, Teaching and Assessment (10 EC) | ||||
| Theory of 2nd Language Development (10 EC) | ||||
| Masterstage Taalwetenschappen (5 EC, optional) | ||||
| Research Training 1 (5 EC, optional) | ||||
| Stage MA Taalwetenschap (10 EC, optional) | ||||
| Res. Meth. Language Development (5 EC) | ||||
| CALL (10 EC, optional) | ||||
| Master's Thesis in Applied Linguistics (20 EC) | ||||
| Programme options |
|---|
| Master's Placement (specialization) This Master's track includes an optional work placement for which you are awarded ECTS credit points. It is your responsibility to find a placement yourself, but the Office for Student Affairs can offer help with this where necessary. |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
Students with a Bachelor's degree from the University of Groningen in:
are directly admissible to this Master's track. This also applies to students who have earned these Bachelor's degrees from other Dutch research universities, with one addition: Students with a BA in English Language and Culture, Dutch Language and Culture, European Languages, Cultures and Politics or any other foreign language have to have specialized in linguistics during their BA. Students with any Bachelor's degree from the University of Groningen with a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) or pre-Master's (30-60 ECTS) in Linguistics, are also admissible to this Master's track. |
| language test |
Language requirement for English: You must have completed this at VWO level (mark 6 or higher) or obtained one of the following English certificates:
TOEFL iBT tests taken after 21 January 2026 will use TOEFL's new 1 - 6 scoring system. This does not apply if you completed an English-taught bachelor programme at the University of Groningen. In this case, you do not need to show a certificate for English. |
| other admission requirements |
Students who are not eligible for direct admission can apply for this MA programme and may then be offered a pre-master programme ranging from 30 to 60 ECTS. This pre-master programme is tailored to your background and is an excellent preparation for the MA programme in Applied Linguistics and Multilingualism. Note that you cannot apply directly for a pre-master programme, as this is only decided on by the Admissions Board for the MA programme to which you apply. |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Culture | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:With a specialization or pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| European Languages, Cultures and Politics | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:With a specialization or pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Dutch Language and Culture | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:With a specialization or pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Frisian Language and Culture | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
| Linguistics | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Bewegingswetenschappen | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Chemical Engineering | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Applied Physics | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Applied Mathematics | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Computing Science | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Mathematics | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Artificial Intelligence | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Industrial Engineering and Management | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Philosophy of a specific discipline | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Global Politics & Sustainability | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Data Science & Society | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a premaster/minor in Linguistics |
| Biomedical Engineering | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a premaster/minor in Linguistics |
| Chemistry | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| English Language and Culture | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| European Languages, Cultures and Politics | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| Dutch Language and Culture | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| Bedrijfskunde - Technology Management | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| IT-recht | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Economics and Business Economics - Business Economics | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Psychology (EN) | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Pedagogical Sciences | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Theology | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Astronomy | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Physics | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| American Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| International Relations and International Organization | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Arts, Culture and Media | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Religious Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Media Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Human Geography and Planning | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Classics (part-time) | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| History (part-time) | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Philosophy | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Middle Eastern Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| International Business | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Pharmacy | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Spatial Planning and Design | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Life Science and Technology | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Medicine | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Dentistry | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Sociology | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Archaeology | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Art History | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Communication and Information Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| International and European Law | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Econometrics and Operations Research | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
| Information Science | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/Minor in Linguistics |
Note: it's only possible to a very limited extent to start in February. For more information, please contact the study advisor.
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 15 August 2027 | 01 September 2027 |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2027 | 01 September 2027 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2027 | 01 September 2027 |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
Students with a Bachelor's degree from the University of Groningen in:
are directly admissible to this Master's track. This also applies to students who have earned these Bachelor's degrees from other Dutch research universities, with one addition: Students with a BA in English Language and Culture, Dutch Language and Culture, European Languages and Cultures or any other foreign language have to have specialized in linguistics during their BA. Students with any Bachelor's degree from the University of Groningen with a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) or pre-Master's (30-60 ECTS) in Linguistics, are also admissible to this Master's track. Students with a Bachelor's degree from a different Research University in Linguistics, with a specialization in linguistics, or with a sufficient number of linguistics courses and research components are also eligible for admission to this Master's track. |
| language test |
Language requirement for English: You must have completed this at VWO level (mark 6 or higher) or obtained one of the following English certificates:
TOEFL iBT tests taken after 21 January 2026 will use TOEFL's new 1 - 6 scoring system. This does not apply if you completed an English-taught bachelor programme at the University of Groningen. In this case, you do not need to show a certificate for English. |
| other admission requirements |
To assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, we will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies. This evaluation is carried out by our Admissions Office and the Admissions Board. Students who are not eligible for direct admission can apply for this MA programme and may then be offered a pre-master programme ranging from 30 to 60 ECTS. This pre-master programme is tailormade to your background and is an excellent preparation for the MA programme in Applied Linguistics and Multilingualism. Note that you cannot apply directly for a pre-master programme, as this is only decided on by the Admissions Board for the MA programme to which you apply.
General
information about the pre-master programme can be found
here.
|
Note: it's only possible to a very limited extent to start in February. For more information, please contact the study advisor.
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 15 August 2027 | 01 September 2027 |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2027 | 01 September 2027 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2027 | 01 September 2027 |
Upon graduation, students will obtain an MA degree in Linguistics with a specialization in Applied Linguistics and Multilingualism.
The combination of subject expertise, research
experience, analytical thinking and strong communication skills is
applicable across a range of organisations and professional
contexts. Therefore, thanks to the nature of our programme, our
graduates follow multiple career paths after graduation, from
joining research institutes and engaging in PhD research, to
entering the language education profession as material developers
and teachers, and taking up roles in policy development and the
corporate world.
Our programme is also an excellent preparation for
the accelerated one-year teacher training programme (LVHO) (insert
link) which is open to graduates meeting the subject-specific entry
requirements of the LVHO programme based on their prior Bachelor's
degree.
Research in Applied Linguistics focuses on the process of learning and using a second language. It covers various fields of study because learning and using a second language can be approached from many different angles, including cognition, psychology, social interaction, language teaching and culture.
Are you interested in the different processes that take place in our heads when we learn a new language? Would you like to know more about different approaches to language teaching? Do you want to learn about the wide range of research methods to study and analyze language development? And would you like to gain some hands-on experience in language teaching and research?
Are you interested in a research oriented career? Please also check our Research Master's Programme of Linguistics.
