MA Linguistics FAQs
Quick answers to common queries from prospective students.
What does a typical week look like on this course?
In each term, full-time students will normally take four modules. Timetables are usually designed so that one day per week is free of compulsory classes, although this cannot be guaranteed. Most modules consist of a larger lecture attended by all students on the module, alongside a smaller tutorial or workshop.
In terms of workload, each module is designed to require approximately 10 hours per week. This includes time spent in lectures and tutorials, as well as independent study such as reading, preparing for classes, and working on assignments.
What is the difference between lectures and tutorials?
Lectures introduce key concepts and content, but there may not always be sufficient time for extended questions or discussion. Tutorials are designed to complement lectures and are held in smaller groups. They give you the opportunity to engage more actively with the material, participate in discussions, work collaboratively, and get to know both your classmates and your tutor. Together, lectures and tutorials provide a varied and interactive learning experience.
Where is most of the teaching held?
All teaching on the MA Linguistics takes place on UCL’s historic Bloomsbury campus in central London, placing students at the heart of the university and within easy reach of libraries, study spaces, and academic events across UCL.
Chandler House is the main base for Linguistics at UCL. It houses academic staff, the teaching office, the Linguistics library, as well as some lecture and tutorial rooms. However, teaching spaces are allocated by the UCL Central Timetabling team, which means that not all classes will take place in Chandler House.
How are students assessed on this course?
Assessment methods vary across modules. These may include weekly quizzes, coursework (often in the form of essays), written examinations, oral presentations, and a substantial independent research project (the dissertation).
Other than coursework, what opportunities are there to learn about current research and interact with other departments?
Students can broaden their learning by taking elective modules outside Linguistics or by auditing modules in other departments. With the agreement of the module tutor, auditing allows you to attend lectures and access course materials, although you will not be assessed or receive academic credit.
Within the Linguistics department, a regular seminar series runs during term time, typically on a fortnightly basis. External speakers present their research and discuss current work in specific areas of Linguistics, offering insight into cutting-edge research and opportunities to engage with researchers.
More broadly, UCL provides a lively academic environment with a wide range of research seminars, talks, workshops, and public events across the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences and the wider university. These events allow students to explore related disciplines, hear from leading researchers, and become part of UCL’s active research community.
After one year of studying Linguistics, what kind of jobs are available?
This programme is designed as a conversion course and provides a strong foundation for further study in Linguistics or related fields. It also equips students with a wide range of analytical, research, and communication skills that are highly transferable across many careers.
Graduates have gone on to work in areas such as marketing and journalism, media and communications, language teaching, speech and language technology, translation and interpreting, and management. Others continue their studies in Linguistics with the aim of pursuing academic careers.