MA in Linguistics

The MA in Linguistics at Aarhus University explores the various aspects of language through project-based research under expert supervision. Students in the programme learn to use qualitative, quantitative, and computational methods to examine language description and diversity, the role of language in communication and society, functionalist theories of language, language as a cognitive phenomenon, and experimental and computational approaches to the study of language. In addition to gaining specialised skills in linguistic analysis, students also gain general proficiency in statistics and programming. 

A CLOSE COMMUNITY

Linguistics at AU is a medium-sized programme with about a hundred students – so new students are welcomed into a tight-knit academic and social community. Expect many opportunities for dialogue with professors, detailed feedback, and many after-class activities.

The programme is known for its strong international research profile. Teachers have worldwide connections and integrate the newest research developments in their courses. Each semester, students are invited to participate in research projects on a range of subjects.

STUDENT LIFE

Between Lingoland (the department’s own common room) and the regular Lingobar gatherings in the Kommabar on Fridays, life as a linguistics student at AU can extend far beyond coursework.

The department’s ViGør student committee (“We can do it” in Danish) and the MA course café are constantly busy organising weekly events for students – so between gatherings inspired by classic Danish hygge (cosiness) with coffee and cake, guest lectures, and Tour de Bars (pub crawls), students have lots to choose from.

The programme has its own student committee, which functions as a forum for students to communicate with the university and share ideas regarding both practical and school-related matters. All students can be active in the programme degree committee, where students and staff make decisions on matters relating to academic affairs.

CAREERS

Graduates of the MA in Linguistics programme are equipped with skills in communication and in the systematisation of complex data. Depending on the area they choose to specialise in, graduates are qualified to take on work as consultants, bilingualism specialists, communications officers, teachers, editors, language therapy consultants, developers of language technology, specialists in endangered languages and, of course, in public relations.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

The MA program builds toward a thesis project on a subject of the student’s own choosing. The courses in the program prepare students to design experiments and do statistical analyses of the results, investigate the relationship between structure and meaning in language, explore the relationship between linguistic structure and the contextual constraints of usage, understand the diversity of means by which the world’s languages solve similar communicative problems, and use computational methods to investigate linguistic phenomena. Students on the MA programme are involved in two research projects on exciting new topics and have the opportunity to explore the application of linguistics in the workplace through an internship. All students are assigned a staff member as a mentor for the duration of their studies.

Students have a chance to complete project-oriented work with their peers in the first year, and with an external partner in the third semester—a chance to work in a practical setting. Students are encouraged to choose their own research focus throughout the programme, and especially for their MA thesis, and are encouraged to align their projects with their future career goals.

DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS, COGNITIVE SCIENCE AND SEMIOTICS

The Department of Linguistics, Cognitive Science and Semiotics is one of the nine departments at the School of Communication and Culture at the Faculty of Arts.

The teaching at the department is not only research-based, but also research-oriented. Students are encouraged to collect and analyse data and to design and carry out experiments or other empirical investigations, either alone or in cooperation with the research staff. In some cases, students may even have their research published. Students regularly present their research to fellow students and staff at research seminars.