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Linguistics with a Specialisation in Phonology MA

London, Bloomsbury

The MA Linguistics with a Specialisation in Phonology is a research-oriented programme designed for students looking for concentrated study in phonology, with a focus on theoretically driven empirical research. Students will use typological comparison, data collection, experimental methods, or modelling techniques and will receive extensive training in research methods and the scholarly presentation of ideas.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£16,000
£8,000
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£29,800
£14,900
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 04 Apr 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
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 is required.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

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

Students gain knowledge and understanding of current research in phonology and are prepared for independent research. On completion of the programme, they will be able to formulate appropriate research questions, find and evaluate relevant literature, develop and test new hypotheses, and produce cogent, structured and professionally presented reports.

Who this course is for

The programme is designed for students who already have a strong background in linguistics and wish to pursue a deeper focus on phonology. Applicants should typically have the equivalent of an undergraduate degree with a majority of course-units taken in linguistics, including prior study of phonetics as well as formal theoretical phonology.

Students who have less prior experience with formal linguistics, or limited experience in phonology, may be better suited for our general MA Linguistics programme.

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

What this course will give you

The UCL Division of Psychology & Language Sciences undertakes world-leading research and teaching in mind, behaviour and language.

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 width 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.

You can find further information at ucl.ac.uk/pals/study/masters/linguistics-specialisation-phonology-ma.

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

The foundation of your career

The MA Linguistics with a Specialisation in Phonology equips graduates with the necessary skills to carry out advanced research in linguistics with a particular focus on phonology. It additionally provides transferable skills that prepare students for a wide range of careers within and outside of academia, including analytical thinking, problem solving, project management, and writing and oral presentation skills.

Depending on module selection, the degree can also provide training in experimental methods, statistical analysis, and computational linguistics.

These skills open up opportunities in many different sectors, including language teaching, translating and interpreting, speech, technology, marketing, communication, journalism, management, and law.

Employability

Although the degree can be an end in itself, this advanced programme is an excellent preparation for independent doctoral research in phonology. Graduates from our specialisation MA programmes in linguistics have a very strong track record of securing funded doctoral studentships and have in recent years gone on to research at UCL and other global universities. Recent graduates have also gone on to work in the technology and publishing sectors.

Networking

Students have ample opportunity to interact with world-renowned researchers in linguistics and other areas within the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences; they will serve as your teachers, mentors, and research supervisors throughout the programme.

The department also runs a number of research seminars and invited lectures throughout the year, allowing students to engage with prominent researchers from other universities.

Finally, students have the opportunity to engage with UCL’s Careers support service and to connect to UCL’s extensive alumni network.

Teaching and learning

The teaching and assessment of this programme is strongly research-oriented. It is delivered through a combination of lectures, small-group teaching and a virtual learning environment. Some modules also involve workshops or practical classes.

Assessment is through take-home and unseen examination, essays, presentations, assignments and a research dissertation.

For full-time students, typical contact hours are around 10-14 hours per week, depending on the optional and elective modules chosen. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

In terms one and two full-time students can typically expect between 10 and 14 contact hours per teaching week through a mixture of 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.

Modules

The MA Linguistics with a Specialisation in Phonology involves a combination of core modules and optional modules, selected in consultation with the programme director, and the dissertation. The core modules focus on advanced study in the area of specialisation. More detailed information is available at ucl.ac.uk/pals/study/masters/linguistics-specialisation-phonology-ma.

Part-time students take the same modules as full-time students but spread over two years. They take the dissertation in Year 2 of their studies.

Compulsory modules



Optional modules



Experimental Phonology











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 MA in Linguistics with a Specialisation in Phonology.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £16,000 £8,000
Tuition fees (2025/26) £29,800 £14,900

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme 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 a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

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

This programme has no additional costs.

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 £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. 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

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

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

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Linguistics with a specialisation in Phonology at graduate level
  • why you want to study Linguistics with a specialisation in Phonology at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to the chosen programme
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this rigorous programme
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree.

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

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (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: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

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

pals.lingteachingoffice@ucl.ac.uk

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