MA in Linguistics
Aarhus, Denmark
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
EUR 8,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* 15 January for non-EU citizens and 1 March for EU citizens
** for non-EU/EEA students only | EU/EEA/Swiss citizen students study for free
Introduction
The MA in Linguistics at Aarhus University explores the various aspects of language through project-based research under expert supervision. Students in the programme learn to use qualitative, quantitative, and computational methods to examine language description and diversity, the role of language in communication and society, functionalist theories of language, language as a cognitive phenomenon, and experimental and computational approaches to the study of language. In addition to gaining specialised skills in linguistic analysis, students also gain general proficiency in statistics and programming.
A Close Community
Linguistics at AU is a medium-sized programme with about a hundred students – so new students are welcomed into a tight-knit academic and social community. Expect many opportunities for dialogue with professors, detailed feedback, and many after-class activities.
The programme is known for its strong international research profile. Teachers have worldwide connections and integrate the newest research developments in their courses. Each semester, students are invited to participate in research projects on a range of subjects.
Student Life
Between Lingoland (the department’s common room) and the regular Lingobar gatherings in the Kommabar on Fridays, life as a linguistics student at AU can extend far beyond coursework.
The department’s ViGør student committee (“We can do it” in Danish) and the MA course café are constantly busy organising weekly events for students – so between gatherings inspired by classic Danish hygge (cosiness) with coffee and cake, guest lectures, and Tour de Bars (pub crawls), students have lots to choose from.
The program has its student committee, which functions as a forum for students to communicate with the university and share ideas regarding both practical and school-related matters. All students can be active in the programme degree committee, where students and staff make decisions on matters relating to academic affairs.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please visit the university website for more information.
Curriculum
The MA program builds toward a thesis project on a subject of the student’s choosing. The courses in the program prepare students to design experiments and do statistical analyses of the results, investigate the relationship between structure and meaning in language, explore the relationship between linguistic structure and the contextual constraints of usage, understand the diversity of means by which the world’s languages solve similar communicative problems, and use computational methods to investigate linguistic phenomena. Students in the MA program are involved in two research projects on exciting new topics and have the opportunity to explore the application of linguistics in the workplace through an internship. All students are assigned a staff member as a mentor for the duration of their studies.
Students have a chance to complete project-oriented work with their peers in the first year, and with an external partner in the third semester—a chance to work in a practical setting. Students are encouraged to
choose their research focus throughout the program, especially for their MA thesis, and are encouraged to align their projects with their future career goals.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the MA in Linguistics program are equipped with skills in communication and the systematization of complex data. Depending on the area they choose to specialize in, graduates are qualified to take on work as consultants, bilingualism specialists, communications officers, teachers, editors, language therapy consultants, developers of language technology, specialists in endangered languages, and, of course, in public relations.