Buhan Guo, Linguistics MA

How did you know that the MA Linguistics course at UCL was the right course for you?

MA Linguistics at UCL stood out as a course that offered both solid training and flexibility. It provides a strong grounding in core areas of linguistics, which makes it suitable for students who may not have a deep background in the subject. At the same time, there is room to explore different subfields, from theoretical areas such as syntax and phonology to sociolinguistics and language acquisition. Knowing that UCL has a leading linguistics division, and an excellent academic reputation also gave me confidence that the teaching and research environment would be of a high standard.

What have you gone on to do since graduating? How did the course help you get there?

After completing the MA, I continued at UCL with the MSc in Language Sciences with a focus on neuroscience, language, and communication. I am now a PhD candidate in psycholinguistics at the University of York. The wide range of modules on the MA helped me identify my interest in psycholinguistics, and the dissertation gave me valuable first experience with independent research, which confirmed my decision to pursue an academic path. The course also strengthened my academic reading, writing, and presentation skills through seminars, coursework, and feedback, and these skills have been essential in my current doctoral research.

What was the student community/social side of things like on the course?

The student community was very welcoming and supportive. The induction activities at the start of the year helped everyone get to know one another before classes began, which made the transition into the programme much easier. The cohort was diverse in academic and cultural backgrounds, which made discussions and the social side feel more enriching and inclusive. As an international student, I found this especially valuable. We sometimes organised informal study or revision sessions for challenging content, and these not only helped with understanding the material but also created a strong sense of connection and support among classmates.

Were you able to tailor the course to your interests? What did you enjoy the most?

The programme is structured in a very clear and logical way that allows students to tailor it to their interests. In the first term, we took core introductory modules that built a strong foundation in key areas of linguistics. With that background in place, I was able to choose more advanced and specialised modules in the second term that aligned with my interests. I particularly enjoyed the psycholinguistics module, and I appreciated being able to choose a dissertation topic in this area, which allowed me to explore it in more depth and shape my research interests.

What advice would you give to students considering applying to the UCL MA Linguistics course?

When applying, I found it helpful to look through the module catalogue to see which topics I might want to explore and how the programme could fit my goals. I would encourage prospective students to do the same, but also stay open to discovering new areas once you start, as interests can develop in unexpected ways. Once on the course, engaging with current research, for example by reading introductory papers in areas that interest you, can make it easier to choose a specialism. It is also valuable to make use of academic support such as office hours and feedback sessions, which can help you understand the content better and prepare for the dissertation.