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Language Sciences (Sign Language and Deaf Studies) MSc

London, Bloomsbury

The Language Sciences MSc course provides an opportunity for in-depth study in one or more areas of language science. Each route follows a common structure, enabling students to tailor the degree to their own interests. On the Sign Language and Deaf Studies route, you will study language, cognition, and the brain from the unique perspective of deafness and deaf communication.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£16,800
£8,400
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£42,700
£21,350
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 27 Mar 2026

Applications closed

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally a minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a language science related area such as linguistics, speech sciences, English language, psychology, cognitive science, or a cognate discipline.

The English language level for this course is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree


The Language Sciences MSc offers a variety of aspects related to speech and language in its five routes relating to neuroscience, development, technology, principles/fundamentals of language and speech, and sign language and deaf studies. It is an umbrella degree with five separate specialised routes. Students will become specialists in their chosen route and complement their knowledge according to their tastes with further modules in speech, language or psychology. The modules are aimed at students with a background in linguistics and psychology. Modules are designed with an assumption of prior knowledge in these areas.

The Sign Language and Deaf Studies route explores language, cognition, and the neurological processing from the unique perspective of deafness and deaf communication. This pathway is unique amongst existing Master's degrees in including components in the psychology, linguistics, and neuroscience of deafness and sign language, and is taught by staff at the world-leading Deafness Cognition and Language Research Centre.

All students take a core set of modules, forming a basis from which to study and undertake research in diverse areas of language science. You will then tailor the degree to your own interests through choosing specialised modules to develop and build upon your existing research interests, enabling you to take full advantage of the breadth of expertise in Language Sciences in the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences.

Who this course is for

An MSc in Language Sciences is typically well-suited for graduates with a background in linguistics, psychology, speech and language therapy, cognitive science, or related fields. We anticipate that the course will appeal to those with an interest in healthcare and/or languages who wish to develop their interests and gain applicable skills.

Many of our alumni work in interdisciplinary teams where they contribute as specialists in speech and language or are valued for their expertise in rigorous scientific working. The latter enabled some of our former students to pivot their careers in to wide-ranging career fields.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

The course puts a large emphasis on the research project, which prepares students to pursue a PhD after completion. Many modules contain components with hands-on experience, such as lab or coding sessions, in which students obtain skills that are valued by industry and academia alike.  

The UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences undertakes world-leading research and teaching in mind, behaviour, and language (REF 2021). Staff and students benefit from cutting-edge resources including extensive laboratories for research in speech and language, perception, and cognition.

Opportunities for students to work with world-renowned researchers exist in all areas of investigation. The Division offers a supportive environment including numerous specialist seminars, workshops, and guest lectures.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

The majority of students who graduate from Language Sciences MSc course go on to further study or research. Recent graduates have gone on to PhD study in UCL, other UK institutions and overseas institutions. Others primarily go onto work in related sectors such as IT, technology and telecomms, publishing, translation, and health and social care (Graduate Outcomes survey 2022-23).

Employability

The Language Sciences MSc develops independent research skills, written and oral presentation skills, and data analysis, all of which are transferable skills that are very highly sought outside academia.

Networking

Opportunities for students to work with world-renowned researchers exist in all areas of investigation. The Division offers a supportive environment including numerous specialist seminars, workshops, and guest lectures.

Teaching and learning

The course is delivered through a combination of lectures, small-group teaching and a virtual learning environment. Some modules involve practical or lab-based workshops and larger modules will also have tutorial sessions. Some modules will give you the opportunity to complete an oral presentation or to present a critical review of a published paper, write computer programmes or analyse data in R or Python, supporting practical and transferable skills outcomes. All modules will require you to work independently to prepare and review module material, supporting intellectual, academic and research skills outcomes.

You will undertake a range of assessments including unseen-written exams; essay-based coursework; critical reviews of publications; oral and poster presentations and a research project.

Each assessment supports the course learning outcomes by requiring you to apply and supplement knowledge gained in teaching and to apply it in a critical way. Through coursework and the research project you will gain experience in independent research and collaborative working with colleagues and academic staff.

For full-time students in terms one and two, typical contact hours are around 10-12 hours per week, depending on the optional and elective modules chosen through lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. In term three and the summer period students will be completing their own dissertation research, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisors.

Students will also display a level of independent study (25-30 hours per week), for example, by engaging with key topics and required readings in preparation for the discussions promoted in the programme and completing coursework assignments.

Modules

On the MSc Language Sciences course (Sign Language and Deaf Studies route) you will complete 180 UCL credits from a range of compulsory, optional and elective modules. This selection of modules has been chosen to provide you with a flexible degree that you can tailor to your specific interests whilst meeting the learning outcomes of the specialised Sign Language and Deaf Studies route.

Three compulsory modules are taken by all MSc LangSci students, whatever their route of specialisation which comes to a total of 90 credits. One of which is the Research Project which is mostly carried out in the Summer period, after other assessments have been completed. 

In addition to the compulsory modules listed above, you will register for a number of optional modules and will register for these from a choice of five which totals 45 credits.

You will then register for a further three elective modules also worth 45 credits.

See the Language Sciences MSc webpage for additional information.

The course structure for part-time students will be dependent on the modules selected. Normally, part-time students are expected to complete at least the compulsory modules in the first year of study.

See the Language Sciences MSc webpage for additional information.

The course structure for Modular/flexible students will be dependent on the number of modules selected per academic year.

See the Language Sciences MSc webpage for additional information.

Compulsory modules





Optional modules







Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Language Sciences (Sign Language and Deaf Studies).

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Visit us

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Life and Medical Sciences Postgraduate Open Evening

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Join us on campus to discover our Master’s degrees in Brain Sciences, Life Sciences, Medical Sciences, Medical Engineering, Population Health Sciences and Medical Anthropology. This event is ideal for prospective postgraduate students interested in Brain Sciences, Life Sciences, Medical Sciences, Medical Engineering, Population Health Sciences and Medical Anthropology.

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Graduate Open Events: Language Sciences MSc

The MSc Language Sciences provides an opportunity for in-depth study in one or more areas of the language sciences. It is an umbrella degree with four separate specialised routes. Each route follows a common structure, enabling students to tailor the degree to their own interests. This virtual information session is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the programme, meet the programme team and ask any questions you have about the Language Sciences MSc programme or life at UCL.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £16,800 £8,400
Tuition fees (2026/27) £42,700 £21,350

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a £350 deposit will be charged.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a £500 deposit will be charged.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

Data collection for some Research Projects may involve contact with children or vulnerable adults. A Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check may be required for these projects. As a student you will not incur the cost of this application.

You may incur expenses in completion of your Research Project, for example travelling or paying test subjects. These costs will be approved in advance of being incurred and you will be reimbursed.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

There is an application processing fee for this course of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this course match what the course will deliver.

When we assess your personal statement, we would like to learn:

  • Why you want to study Language Sciences at graduate level
  • Why you want to study Language Sciences at UCL
  • Why you have applied to your chosen route
  • Which module(s) on the route interest(s) you most and why
  • If there is a particular research area, research question, or research project you would like to work on; if there is a specific staff member you would like to work with, we encourage you to include this
  • How your academic and professional background have prepared you for the course
  • How studying for the MSc will enable you to meet your short- and long-term career goals.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Division of Psychology and Language Sciences
Division of Psychology and Language Sciences

pals.langsci@ucl.ac.uk

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