This two-year programme is meant for students who wish to combine rigorous training in the discipline of linguistics, with the intensive study of one or more African or Asian languages. At the end of the programme students will be able to embark on professional careers in language-related fields with emphasis on the region in which the language chosen for the programme is spoken. They will also be able to undertake further study, e.g. for a research degree in linguistics.

Start of programme: September intake only

Mode of Attendance: Full-time

Who is this programme for?:

The programme is run on a modular basis to suit students with little or no training in linguistics who:

• Wish to acquire a more profound knowledge of the discipline or take the degree as a conversion course before proceeding to a research degree.
• Are looking to gain a working knowledge of an Asian, Middle Eastern or African language.

May be combined with:

The following Intensive Language pathways are available with the MA Linguistics:

• Arabic
• Japanese
• Korean
• Persian
• South East Asian Languages: Burmese, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese
• Swahili
• Turkish (available from 2019/20)

Students must take 315 credits in total, comprised of 255 taught credits (45 of which are taught abroad as part of a Summer School) and a 60-credit dissertation as outlined below.

In their first year, students on the two-year Intensive Language programmes take 60 credits of intensive language instruction and 60 credits in the discipline. During the summer, they participate in a Summer School abroad. In the second year, they take another 30 language credits as well as 60 credits in the discipline; they also complete their dissertation in the discipline. 

There are two different pathways for the Linguistics component of this programme: one for students with a background in Linguistics, and one for students who have no previous knowledge of the subject.

For information on the programme structure for the four-year part-time version of the programme, please see the pdf programme specification at the bottom of this page.

Please see the relevant web pages in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures and in the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics for information on the Intensive Languagepart of the programme.

Programme Specification

• MA Linguistics and Intensive Language Programme Specification 2018/19 - WITH background in Linguistics (pdf; 224kb)
• MA Linguistics and Intensive Language Programme Specification 2018/19 - WITHOUT background in Linguistics (pdf; 223kb)

Important notice

Teaching & Learning

Programme Aims

• To provide students with knowledge of the discipline of linguistics
  and research methodology in the study of language, both from a theoretical
  and practical viewpoint
• To provide students with sufficient transferable skills to enable them to
  function in other professional environments related to language
• To provide either a further qualification in linguistics or a preparation for
  research (MPhil/PhD) study. By the end of the course students are able to
  pursue further research or training, at either PhD or professional level
• To provide the opportunity of studying one or more Asian, Middle Eastern and African languages. By the end of the course students are able to have an intermediate-level command of at least one language

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1. Acquiring a solid foundation in the ‘core’ areas of theoretical linguistics, syntax, phonology and semantics
2. Familiarity with the basic concepts and assumptions of different theoretical
   frameworks in the discipline, and the ability to critically question and evaluate
   these assumptions
3. Familiarity with the relevant conventions and methodology applicable to working
   with both raw linguistic data and linguistic descriptions
4. Opportunity to specialise in the area of interest
5. The student will have the opportunity to gain knowledge (or further knowledge) of one or more Asian, Middle Eastern or African languages

Intellectual (thinking) skills

Having completed the programme, students should have:

1. The ability to formulate appropriate linguistic problems, propose and evaluate
   analyses and present evidence (for and/or against) these analyses
2. Knowledge of how to assess data and evidence critically from the literature
   and original sources, how to formulate analyses and arguments within the
   system of concepts and assumptions in the discipline, how to solve problems
   of conflicting sources and conflicting interpretations

Subject-based practical skills

Having completed the programme, students should be able to:

1. Practise research techniques in specialised research libraries and through
   consultant work
2. Retrieve and select information from a variety of linguistic sources such
   as specialised papers and reference grammars
3. Have strong practical language skills which will help them in any context where the language is used and which will also be of benefit if they need to learn another language in the future

Transferable skills

Having completed the programme, students should be able to:

1. Locate materials and use research sources (library holdings,
   ‘raw’ language data, periodicals, internet)
2. Structure and communicate ideas effectively in writing
3. Question, understand and evaluate competing proposals

Many linguistics graduates continue their studies and go to do a PhD, either at SOAS or elsewhere. Others work in the domains of education, translation, information and media technology, journalism, publishing, consultancy for law and medicine, product-naming companies, as well as governmental organisations concerned with language planning, language policy and foreign affairs.