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 programme 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.
Semesters | ||||
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CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
Essential Statistics (5 EC) | ||||
Minority Languages: The Case of Frisian (5 EC) | ||||
Language Planning and Policy (10 EC) | ||||
The Multilingual Mind (5 EC) | ||||
The Multilingual School (5 EC) | ||||
Internship (10 EC, optional) | ||||
Language, Narrative and Values (10 EC, optional) | ||||
Ma Thesis Multilingualism (20 EC) |
Programme options |
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Master's Honours Programme (honours program) The Master's Honours Programme was developed especially for students who want to get more from their studies. It is a programme worth 15 ECTS that is followed in addition to the standard Master's programme. It is a one-year interdisciplinary programme that is designed to introduce students to various aspects of leadership. |
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. |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
English Language and Culture | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a specialization or premaster/minor in Linguistics |
Minorities & Multilingualism | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
American Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a premaster/minor in Linguistics |
Information Science | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a premaster/minor in Linguistics |
Dutch Language and Culture | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a specialization or premaster/minor in Linguistics |
Linguistics | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
International Relations and International Organization | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a premaster/minor in Linguistics |
Classics (part-time) | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a premaster/minor in Linguistics |
European Languages and Cultures | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a specialization or premaster/minor in Linguistics |
Middle Eastern Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a premaster/minor in Linguistics |
Communication and Information Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a premaster/minor in Linguistics |
Study programme | Organization | Transition |
---|---|---|
Duitse Taal en Cultuur | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:With a specialization or premaster/minor in Linguistics |
European Languages and Cultures | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:With a specialization or premaster/minor in Linguistics |
English Language and Culture | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:With a specialization or premaster/minor in Linguistics |
Franse Taal en Cultuur | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:With a specialization or premaster/minor in Linguistics |
Dutch Language and Culture | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:With a specialization or premaster/minor in Linguistics |
Taal- en Cultuurstudies | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:With a specialization or premaster/minor in Linguistics |
Linguistics | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
Specific requirements | More information |
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previous education |
A Bachelor diploma in the field of:
Students who have a bachelor's degree from a research university in the Netherlands are eligible for enrollment if they have completed modules in linguistics as part of their degree. These students can enrol in Studielink.nl and then get in touch with us to receive an admission letter. This admission letter must be taken to the Student Desk of the Faculty of Arts (https://www.rug.nl/let/onze-faculteit/organisatie/diensten-en-voorzieningen/bsz) where a Declaration of Admissions to Final Exams (VTAE) must be filled in to complete the enrollment. Students from other backgrounds (such as other Arts degrees, or degrees in the Social Sciences or Law) are also very welcome to apply to the programme. Please get in touch with the programme coordinator to determine whether you need to complete a pre-master programme before enrolling. |
language test |
Additional requirements English: 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. If you have a VWO diploma a language test is not required. |
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. |
Note: it's not possible to start in February. For more information, please contact the study advisor.
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 15 August 2023 | 01 September 2023 |
15 August 2024 | 01 September 2024 | |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2023 | 01 September 2023 |
01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 | |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2023 | 01 September 2023 |
01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
Specific requirements | More information |
---|---|
previous education |
A Bachelor diploma in the field of:
Students who have a bachelor's degree from a university in the Netherlands are eligible for enrollment if they have completed modules in linguistics as part of their degree. These students can enrol in Studielink.nl and then get in touch with us to receive an admission letter. This admission letter must be taken to the Student Desk of the Faculty of Arts (https://www.rug.nl/let/onze-faculteit/contact/) where a Declaration of Admissions to Final Exams (VTAE) must be filled in to complete the enrolment. Students from other backgrounds (such as other Arts degrees, or degrees in the Social Sciences or Law) are also very welcome to apply to the programme. Please get in touch with the programme coordinator to determine whether you need to complete a pre-master programme before enrolling. |
language test |
Additional requirements English: 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. |
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. |
Note: it's not possible to start in February. For more information, please contact the study advisor.
Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
---|---|---|
Dutch students | 15 August 2023 | 01 September 2023 |
15 August 2024 | 01 September 2024 | |
EU/EEA students | 01 May 2023 | 01 September 2023 |
01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 | |
non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2023 | 01 September 2023 |
01 May 2024 | 01 September 2024 |
Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
---|---|---|---|
EU/EEA | 2022-2023 | € 2209 | full-time |
non-EU/EEA | 2022-2023 | € 14570 | full-time |
EU/EEA | 2023-2024 | € 2314 | full-time |
non-EU/EEA | 2023-2024 | € 16000 | full-time |
Practical information for:
Upon graduation students hold a (60 ECTS) MA degree in Linguistics with a track in Multilingualism from the University of Groningen. A student's career after that depends on the kind of person they are. The field of multilingualism is open for enterprising minds. Being one of the main challenges in a globalizing world, multilingualism creates many issues, situations and problems that can be solved only by experts.
Language is central to studying human behavior and activities. A degree in Linguistics can therefore also see you into a career in related fields such psychology, social-, computer- or education sciences. Many of the skills a Linguistics MA teaches are transferable. You will probably find that your analytical competence, ability to write, and capacity to solve problems will significantly improve after completing an MA degree.
We encourage our students to complete a 10 EC internship in a field of their interest. In the first term of the MA, a career event is organised to give students information and resources to realise their internship.
With your MA-degree you could become a diversity manager, policy consultant, or an advisor to (inter)national governmental organizations and NGOs. You could also become an expert on dealing with multilingualism in education and companies, or on advising government agencies on language policies. You may also choose to pursue a career as lecturer or researcher in higher education.
Through a combination of a research-driven approach and knowledge of applying theory to real life situations, our programme prepares students for the following jobs:
The Multilingualism Laboratory
The Dutch northern provinces carry a long tradition of research into multilingualism, especially the Fryslan province. These regions have been a multilingual area for centuries, where closely related endogenous languages and language varieties co-exist with exogenous varieties like English, German and Low-Saxon. Since the 1960s many immigrant languages, mainly belonging to different language families, have been added to this repertoire. The standardisation and official recognition of Frisian as a national language have resulted in a rather extensive infrastructure of language research, for instance on the fields of cultural heritage, education and language policy. Thus, Fryslân and the other northern provinces of the Netherlands offer an excellent natural setting for conducting ground-breaking multidisciplinary research on multilingualism.
We believe that a multidisciplinary approach is the only answer to the many questions multilingualism confronts us with. That is why our research groups are encouraged to closely collaborate and inspire each other, fueling innovative solutions, recommendations, and policy advice. By combining approaches from different backgrounds, (fundamental) research on multilingualism becomes truly innovative, able to combine societal needs with scientific questions.
Research areas
The research on multilingualism innovatively combines cognitive, sociological and technological approaches to language in a natural setting. Research areas are:
Language, Culture and Society
Investigating the complex relationships of globalization, migration and expressions of linguistic and cultural identity in multilingual contexts to ensure an open, democratic and fair society.
Language, Cognition, and Variation
Investigating language processing in the individual’s mind in combination with language variation in a multilingual society, and its consequences for language change and language learning, with the intention to develop new techniques to facilitate language learning.
Language, Equity and Social Justice
Investigating how language in societies, schools or organisations can contribute to equity, peace and social justice and how forms of linguistic discrimination (linguicism, accentism or racism) can lead to inequity.
Read moreIn the future I would like to develop language tests and educational material for multilingual children
Multilingualism is a very recent development in our society and it is no longer exceptional to speak several languages. We need to make adaptations in the field of language policy and education, we need to better protect language minorities, and we need new research about language change and variation. These are just a few examples of the fields you can specialize in during this Master's track.
I chose to do a Master’s track abroad because I wanted to seize the opportunity get to know another language and culture, as well as to improve my English. This all adds up to quite an advantage if you want to work in the field of multilingualism, especially if you live and study in a bilingual area as in Friesland.
One of the course units I’m following this semester is Language Minorities: The Case of Frisian. This course unit is a bit different in that every week we have an excursion and some practical work to do. For example, we conducted a survey at the NHL in Leeuwarden and asked students about their attitudes towards Frisian, and another time we analysed the distribution of different languages in a street in Leeuwarden.
One of the best things about the programme is that you can combine your thesis with a placement, which gives you the chance to make an initial connection with the companies you would like to work with after your studies.
Read more“The program is unique in its kind.”
This study focuses especially on multilingualism from a social perspective such as linguistic minorities, language change, contact linguistics and language policy and planning. Next to this, I chose this study as it focuses more on the practical sides. There are excursions to events and institutions that deal with multilingual settings and in these excursions you get to experience in which ways multiple languages are used.
I chose to do this study as I think the program is unique in its kind. The program takes place in Leeuwarden, a bilingual province with multilingual practices. I think the master is challenging as it makes you think about multilingualism in different perspectives. I would say it is a full-time study as the pace of studying is quite high. I certainly study around 40 hours per week. However, I do not mind the workload that much as I really like the topics that we discuss in class. The program of the first semester is very fixed with the planned excursions and the weekly classes. The second semester will consist of your internship or another course at the RUG and your Master’s thesis.
Read moreI chose the MA Multilingualism as it offered a wide variety of courses that allow you to zoom in on a specific group but also to see multilingualism in a broader picture
I chose the MA Multilingualism as it offered a wide variety of courses that allow you to zoom in on a specific group but also to see multilingualism in a broader picture. The MA Multilingualism has allowed me to study the bilingual province of Fryslân that I grew up in and has sparked my interest in Frisian and multilingualism in education. I have been fortunate enough to work on various projects to enhance the position of Frisian and multilingualism in education. To further my knowledge I started a second masters degree to get my teaching certificate for Frisian!
Read moreThis programme is a one of a kind programme which blends many languages and cultures into one unique track
This programme is a one of a kind programme which blends many languages and cultures into one unique track. I chose this study after having finished my BA in European Languages and Cultures. Since I chose courses on German, Spanish and linguistics in the BA, I figured doing the MA Multilingualism was the perfect next step. I was not disappointed.
For me, the whole experience was learning new people, new points of view and new cultures. You learn to see things from many different angles. Alongside the very interesting material and discussions on languages, the thing I remember the most was the fun and warm environment in which the courses were taught. If you are into languages and cultures, this programme is definitely for you. It is a study that makes you think for yourself, by making you do assignments in the field and writing papers on interesting topics. You will learn to develop your own attitude towards language and language policies.
For me, this has ultimately given me a great job in the field of language research. After being able to do an internship with NHL Stenden Hogeschool, I now get to use Dutch, English, German and even my own dialect Drents on a daily basis, and get paid doing it. How great is that! Keeping that in mind, I see the friends I made while doing this study spread out into a very diverse field of work. This MA does not train you to be good at one specific job, but instead gives you the skills and tools to be able to work in a very broad spectrum within the field of language policy and linguistics.
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.
Are you interested in a research oriented career? Please also check our Research Master's Programme of Linguistics.
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.
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