This Master's programme focuses on the human language ability. You will study language acquisition, the structure of language and its characteristics, translations, or language disorders.
The programme in Linguistics takes one year. You will choose one of the following tracks:
Neurolinguistics focuses on the relationship between language and the brain. You will study language disorders such as aphasia, developmental language disorders and dyslexia. The track in Applied Linguistics - TEFL focuses on the process of learning and using a second language. This track is taught in English. Theoretical and Empirical Linguistics teaches you how language is constructed and what aspects can be distinguished and studied. To study this, you may choose any European language in which you have received a Bachelor's degree. The Multilingualism Master's track is unique in combining teaching of many societal, individual, educational, cultural and historical aspects of multilingualism with a practical, research-driven approach.
You will finish your Master's programme by writing a thesis.
| Programme options |
|---|
| Neurolinguïstiek (track) In deze mastertrack onderzoek je waarom mensen dyslectisch zijn en wat voor effect hersenbeschadigingen kunnen hebben op taal. Vanuit de taalkunde en neuropsychologie bestudeer je taalstoornissen. De eenjarige MA-track Neurolinguïstiek houdt zich bezig met vragen over taalstoornissen: Hoe komt het dat normaal ontwikkelende kinderen taal schijnbaar moeiteloos leren, terwijl dit niet geldt voor kinderen met gehoorafwijkingen of het syndroom van Down? Waarom hebben sommige kinderen grote moeite met leren lezen en hoe ontstaat afasie?In semester 1 worden drie onderzoekscolleges aangeboden: Verworven spraak- en taalstoornissen, Stoornissen in de spraak- en taalontwikkeling en Dyslexie. In semester 2 loop je stage. Als je een therapiebevoegdheid wilt behalen en je hebt tijdens je BA Taalwetenschap het logopedietraject gevolgd, wordt deze stage verzorgd door de opleiding Logopedie van de Hanze.Mocht je geen Logopedie hebben gevolgd maar wel je therapiebevoegdheid willen halen, is het mogelijk het logopedietraject in het geheel tijdens de MA te volgen. Dit traject duurt dan 2,5 jaar. Voor meer info kun je contact opnemen met de studieadviseur. Als je al een therapiebevoegdheid hebt, of je wilt geen therapiebevoegdheid halen, kun je voor een onderzoeksgerichte stage kiezen i.p.v. een klinische stage. Je sluit je opleiding af met een scriptie. Na afronding van je studie ontvang je het diploma Master of Arts in Taalwetenschappen. |
| Applied Linguistics (TEFL) (track) Can you learn a new language the same way you learned your mother tongue? How does our brain cope with multiple languages? Is there a teaching pedagogy that is the most effective? This Master's track focuses on research into second or foreign language learning and teaching. You study the learning process and the use of new languages and the track allows you to focus your research on your language of choice: English as a second language, Dutch, French, German, Swedish, Chinese, etc. The skills and knowledge you acquire in this track are highly valued in areas of language teaching and testing, educational publishing, language policy making, and linguistic research.You will approach second language acquisition from many angles, including linguistics, (social and cognitive) psychology, social interaction, and language teaching and assessment. The dynamic aspects of language development—how a wide range of factors (e.g. a learner's age, motivation, the amount of input) affect the learning process—receives particular attention. As such, our MA track trains you to become an all-round expert on second language development.While this is not a teacher training programme, there is ample opportunity to discuss teaching-related issues and it is possible in some cases to do a language teaching internship.Read more about the Department of Applied Linguistics. |
| Theoretical and Empirical Linguistics (track) How is language constructed and which aspects can be distinguished and studied? How are these aspects realized in different language families and specific languages? Theoretical and Empirical Linguistics is a one-year Master's track of the MA Linguistics which is based on the strengths of the Groningen Linguistics department (English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish). Students can choose between two specializations: The Human Language System (THLS) and Language Development and Variation (LDV).This MA track offers students a broad and attractive, but coherent and cohesive, range of options, oriented along the following approaches:* Empirical investigation of the structure of the European languages, with focus on synchronic and diachronic variation* Theoretical study of syntax, semantics, morphology, and phonology/phonetics* Use of a variety of data (native speaker intuitions, corpus data, language acquisition data) and methodsThe track focuses on language with all its complexities. The main focus is how to make sense of complex data in order to be able to study the structure, variation, change, and development of language, so as to obtain a better understanding of the human language faculty. It covers the principal subfields of linguistic study (sound, structure, meaning), and offers plenty of opportunity for students to focus on a particular language or language family (working with specialists in different modern European languages) or to pursue their interests in general linguistics. |
| Multilingualism (track) Do you know more languages than the one you are reading now? Chances are, you are bilingual or multilingual. We live in a world where multilingualism is the norm and monolingualism the exception. This comes with challenges and possibilities, for individuals, societies, and organizations. Do you want to take the lead in dealing with these challenges and possibilities? Then this is the MA track for you!This Multilingualism Master’s track trains you to become a diversity manager specialized in linguistic and cultural diversity. You will develop expertise on bilingualism and multilingualism from a variety of angles: sociolinguistic, educational, cognitive, cultural, historical, management and policy. You will learn how to do your own linguistic research, but also how to manage linguistic diversity in various settings, such as the workplace, in education, and on regional, national and transnational levels. You will deal with day-to-day issues such as helping companies overcome (intercultural) communication problems, design effective language policies or give schools advice on how best to teach pupils with diverse language backgrounds.Upon finishing the Multilingualism Master’s track, students will receive a MA degree in Linguistics. |
| Translation in Europe (track) . Ben je geïnteresseerd in verschillen tussen talen en culturen? Wil je leren hoe je de boodschap uit een andere taal met behulp van de nieuwste technologie effectief overbrengt in het Nederlands? En wil je actuele kennis en vaardigheden opdoen waar écht vraag naar is op de arbeidsmarkt? Dan is deze nieuwe mastertrack iets voor jou.In de eenjarige mastertrack Vertalen in Europa leer je strategieën toepassen waarmee je veelvoorkomende vertaalproblemen in zakelijke teksten op creatieve wijze kunt aanpakken. Aan de hand van taalkundige theorieën verdiep je je kennis van taalverschillen en ga je na hoe je constructies uit een vreemde taal naar keuze soepel kunt omzetten naar het Nederlands. Je krijgt niet alleen vaardigheid in het grondig analyseren en vertalen van anderstalige teksten, maar leert ook Nederlandse teksten herschrijven voor een specifieke doelgroep. Daarnaast krijg je met behulp van relevante vertaaltheorieën inzicht in hoe je je keuzes kunt verantwoorden. Beheersing van up-to-date vertaaltools maakt natuurlijk ook deel uit van je competenties. Wat is de meerwaarde van de mens ten opzichte van vertaalmachines en AI-toepassingen zoals ChatGPT? Het is in deze tijd essentieel om hiervan uitstekend op de hoogte te zijn. Bij het schrijven van de scriptie krijg je de gelegenheid al je kennis en vaardigheden toe te passen.Je krijgt in elk geval training in vertalen vanuit het Engels, de belangrijkste brontaal op de arbeidsmarkt. Verder worden, als dit voor jou relevant is, andere Europese talen ingezet: Frans, Duits, Spaans, Italiaans en Zweeds. De taal waarin je vertaalt is het Nederlands. Aan veelzijdig, zorgvuldig en puntig formuleren wordt daarom veel aandacht besteed.Naar academisch opgeleide vertalers is veel vraag op de arbeidsmarkt. ‘We staan te springen om vertalers!’ krijgen we regelmatig te horen van de directeur van een Gronings vertaalbureau. Om je hierop goed voor te bereiden zijn er diverse mogelijkheden om stage te lopen, niet alleen in Noord-Nederland maar ook bij een van de vertaalafdelingen van de Europese Unie in Brussel of Luxemburg. |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
For specific information on the entry requirements for the MA track Applied Linguistics - TEFL, see: https://www.rug.nl/masters/applied-linguistics/#!requirements For specific information on the entry requirements for the MA track Multilingualism, see: https://www.rug.nl/masters/multilingualism/#!requirements For specific information on the entry requirements for the MA track Neurolinguistics, see: https://www.rug.nl/masters/neurolinguistics/#!requirements For specific information on the entry requirements for the MA track Theoretical and Empirical Linguistics, see: https://www.rug.nl/masters/theoretical-and-empirical-linguistics/#!requirements For specific information on the entry requirements for the MA track Translation in Europe, see: https://www.rug.nl/masters/vertalen-in-europa/#!requirements |
| language test |
The additional English language requirements for all Master's tracks are as follows: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 100 (with a minimum of 25 on writing skills), or IELTS 7 (with a minimum of 6.5 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 185. Note: Translation in Europe requires its students to be native speakers of Dutch. |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 15 August 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 August 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
For specific information on the entry requirements for the MA track Applied Linguistics - TEFL, see: https://www.rug.nl/masters/applied-linguistics/#!requirements For specific information on the entry requirements for the MA track Multilingualism, see: https://www.rug.nl/masters/multilingualism/#!requirements For specific information on the entry requirements for the MA track Neurolinguistics, see: https://www.rug.nl/masters/neurolinguistics/#!requirements For specific information on the entry requirements for the MA track Theoretical and Empirical Linguistics, see: https://www.rug.nl/masters/theoretical-and-empirical-linguistics/#!requirements For specific information on the entry requirements for the MA track Translation in Europe, see: https://www.rug.nl/masters/vertalen-in-europa/#!requirements |
| language test |
The additional English language requirements for all Master's tracks are: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 100 (with a minimum of 25 on writing skills), or IELTS 7 (with a minimum of 6.5 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 185. Translation in Europe requires its students to be native speakers of Dutch |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 15 August 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 August 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
Many graduated linguists end up in specialized educational support or a linguistic rehabilitation centres. You could also work for the government, at policy agencies or at publishing houses. Additionally, you could choose to continue your research at a research institute or university.
Are you interested in a research oriented career? Please also check our Research Master's Programme of Linguistics.
