The master’s programme in Linguistics at Leiden University is by any measure among the best in Europe, offering linguistics expertise that covers all corners of the world and the choice of ten areas of specialisation.
Within the master’s programme in Linguistics, you may choose one of ten specialisations, each offering a wide range of courses. You will examine issues from a broad range of perspectives and diverse theoretical approaches, including descriptive, experimental, theoretical and applied. You have the opportunity to choose from the widest selection of languages offered by any institution in the region. With an unmatched curriculum and flexible programme design, at Leiden you can truly customise your qualification to match your interests and career goals.
Academics from the renowned Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL) teach in the master’s programme in Linguistics. During your studies, you will have access to a breadth and depth of expertise that is almost unmatched in Europe, as well as exceptional resources such as the famous collections at the Leiden University Library. All courses are taught by a diverse group of scholars, all of whom are engaged in international research, which is also part of the teaching syllabus. Their expertise incorporates the latest theoretical knowledge and practice-based skills, such as translation or text analysis.
At Leiden, our master’s students are considered valuable members of a close-knit academic community. Small classes, regular individual mentoring, and an informal, open-door policy, create an environment that is ideal for the exchange of ideas and the development of your knowledge and intellectual abilities. An important objective of the programme is to develop your aptitude for critical-thinking: in everything you do, from independent research to peer-to-peer feedback and in-class debates, you will learn to take a broad, investigative and critical approach to problem solving that can be applied to any future challenge, within any role.
The research master’s programme in Linguistics at Leiden University combines leading expertise with a flexible programme format.
During this two-year research master’s programme you will be able to choose from the largest selection of languages offered in Europe and an exceptional range of linguistic approaches including historical, descriptive, formal, cognitive, sociolinguistic, experimental and corpus-based studies. You will be able to explore sub-fields including phonetics, phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, discourse, or pragmatics.
An important aspect of this programme is developing your ability to conduct original and innovative research. You will have to opportunity to attend conferences, workshops and lecture series organised in Leiden, all of which will help you forge an outstanding start to your career. Small classes ensure that you have plenty of direct contact with your lecturers and a high level of guidance and support throughout your studies.
Academics from the renowned Leiden University Centre for Linguistics (LUCL) teach in the master’s programme in Linguistics (research). During your studies, you will have access to a breadth and depth of expertise that is almost unmatched in Europe, as well as exceptional resources such as the famous collections at the Leiden University Library. The courses are taught by a diverse group of scholars, all of whom are engaged in international research, which is also part of the teaching syllabus. Their expertise incorporates the latest theoretical knowledge and practice-based skills, such as translation or text analysis.
