MA Linguistics

The UCL Division of Psychology & Language Sciences undertakes world-leading research and teaching in linguistics, language, mind, and behaviour. More specifically, UCL Linguistics is one of the leading departments for research in theoretical linguistics in the UK and its staff includes world leaders in theoretical syntax, semantics, pragmatics, phonology, and experimental linguistics.

Our work attracts staff and students from around the world. Together they create an outstanding and vibrant environment, taking advantage of cutting-edge resources such as a behavioural neuroscience laboratory, a centre for brain imaging, and extensive laboratories for research in speech and language, perception, and cognition.

Our world-class research is characterised by a tight integration of theoretical and experimental work spanning the full range of the linguistic enterprise and forms the bedrock of the department’s eminent reputation, which is also reflected in other markers of excellence, such as its editorial involvement with top journals in the field.

Department: Division of Psychology & Language Sciences

Student / staff ratios › 181 staff including 173 postdocs › 780 taught students › 440 research students

Research Excellence Framework (REF)

The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

In the UK’s 2021 Research Excellence Framework, as part of the Faculty Unit of Assessment, UCL Psychology and Language Science’s Research Environment ranked equal First in the UK. Additionally, 92% of our research was graded 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’).

Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. The programme consists of four compulsory taught modules (total of 60 credits), two modules selected from a group of three choices (total of 30 credits), two optional modules (total of 30 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits). All modules have the value of 15 credits (apart from the dissertation).

Detailed module descriptions are available at Linguistics 'PLIN' Modules page. 

Students must take the compulsory modules below:

Core Modules (Term 1):

Students take the following core modules:

• PLIN0045 – Semantics and Pragmatics I (15 credits)
• PLIN0084 – Phonetics and Phonology I (15 credits)
• PLIN0047 – Syntax (15 credits)
• PLIN0048 – Foundations of Linguistics (15 credits)
• PLIN0049 – Dissertation in Linguistics (60 credits)

Optional Modules (Term 2):

Students must select TWO out of the following three modules:

• PLIN0081 – Semantics and Pragmatics II (15 credits)
• PLIN0053 – Interfaces in Syntax (15 credits)
• PLIN0074 – Phonetics and Phonology II (15 credits)

In addition, students choose TWO 15-credit option modules in consultation with the programme director. You can find further information at https://www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-sciences/pals/research/linguistics/study-linguistics/linguistics-plin-modules

Tailor your programme

Students will be able to tailor the programme to meet their personal linguistic interests either by focusing on one particular area, or by diversifying into other branches. For example, a student could choose to study an option (such as language acquisition or language evolution) only indirectly related to the core areas, and to write his or her dissertation on yet another area (for instance, sociolinguistics). Alternatively, a student could choose to study an option taken from one of the core areas (such as advanced syntactic theory or issues in pragmatics), and to write his or her dissertation in a related area. As a consequence, students may spend as much as three fifths or as little as one fifth of their time working in one particular part of the discipline.

Time table
You can view the timetable for the current academic year at www.ucl.ac.uk/timetable. Click on "degree programme", enter "Linguistics", choose MA Linguistics, Year 1, and click on "Show Timetable". You will now see all classes for all compulsory modules for the whole year. You can click on "Change Display" at the top left to see classes for Term 1 and Term 2 separately. You need to attend all lectures and for most modules, you will attend one additional tutorial.

Programme Director: Dr Jamie White

Teaching staff (NB: staff may occasionally be absent for a term or more on research or other leave):

• Prof Klaus Abels
• Prof Richard Breheny
• Prof Robyn Carston
• Dr Wing Yee Chow
• Dr Kearsy Cormier
• Dr Bronwen Evans
• Dr Nathan Klinedinst
• Dr Andrew Lamont
• Prof Ad Neeleman
• Prof Andrew Nevins
• Dr Nausicaa Pouscoulous
• Dr Tim Pritchard
• Dr Andrea Santi
• Dr Yasutada Sudo
• Dr Elena Titov
• Dr Hans van de Koot
• Prof Yi Xu

Many linguistics graduates from UCL carry on studying linguistics at MPhil/PhD level with a view to pursuing an academic career. Others go on to teach languages, especially English (as a first or foreign language) or embark on a range of other careers, from law, media, computing and speech and language therapy to all aspects of commerce and industry.

Recent career destinations for this degree

• Lecturer, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
• Investigations Specialist, Amazon
• Translator, Hunan University
• English as a Foreign Language Teacher, Wall Street Institute
• PhD in Translation Studies, Imperial College London

Employability

Linguistics MA students acquire a wide range of transferable skills, which opens up opportunities in many different sectors include language teaching, translating and interpreting, marketing, communication, journalism, management, and law.

Graduates who achieve good results are well placed to go on to a research degree in linguistics at top universities, often with a view to pursuing an academic career.

Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.

Read general information on careers open to Linguistics graduates and information on the career paths taken by some of our alumni.

We have collated frequently asked questions and answers at https://www.ucl.ac.uk/pals/sites/pals/files/ma_ling_offerholder_2024_faq.pdf. 

Please get in touch if you have a question that is not covered!