All routes
Semester 1: Advanced Syntax 1, Advanced Syntax 2, Cross-Linguistic Variation in Semantics
Semester 2: Comparative Syntax, Advanced Phonology, Advanced Morphology
Suggested Electives: Advanced Typology, Statistics: Advanced Linear Models, Cognitive Neuroscience of Language, Field Methods, Machine learning for NLP, A theoretical research seminar on Language Variation and Language Change in Latin America, Statistics: Fundamentals of Linear Models, Individual Project (FGW).
Semester 1: Experimental Phonetics, Cognitive Neuroscience of Language, Methods in Speech Processing, Methods in Experimental Linguistic
Semester 2: Forensic Speech Science
Suggested Electives: Second Language Acquisition, Machine learning for NLP, Statistics: Fundamentals of Linear Models, Statistics: Advanced Linear Models, Individual Project (FGW)
Semester 1: Diversity Linguistics: Africa, Asia and the Americas, Field methods, Language Documentation
Semester 2: Advanced Typology, Fieldwork Internship/practicum
Suggested Electives: Language Contact, Cross-linguistic Variation in Semantics, Language Culture and Cognition: Linguistics, Individual Project (FGW)
Semester 1: Diversity Linguistics: Africa, Asia and the Americas, Experimental Phonetics, Advanced Syntax 1, Cross-linguistic Variation in Semantics
Semester 2: Fieldwork Internship/practicum, Comparative Syntax, Advanced Phonology
Suggested Electives: Advanced Typology, Advanced Morphology, Methods in Speech Processing, Field Methods, A theoretical research seminar on Language Variation and Language Change in Latin America, Individual Project (FGW)
Semester 1: Indo-European Linguistics I, Advanced topics in Indo-European Morphology: Verb,
Semester 2: Indo-European Linguistics II, Methodology of Comparative Indo-European Linguistics, Advanced topics in Indo-European Phonology
Suggested Electives: Vedic Sanskrit for Indo-Europeanists, Ancient Greek for Indo-Europeanists, Homeric Greek and Mycenaean, Anatolian Linguistics, Old High German for Indo-Europeanists, Individual Project (FGW)
Semester 1: Argumentation and Persuasion, Language, Culture and Cognition: Linguistics
Semester 2: Themes in Sociolinguistics: Speakers' choices across the globe
Suggested Electives: Qualitative Methods in Linguistics, Language, Culture and Cognition: Linguistics, Stilistiek: formuleringskeuzes en overtuigingskracht, Historische sociolinguïstiek: taal in de stad, De sturende kracht van taal, A theoretical research seminar on Language Variation and Language Change in Latin America, Language, Literature and Communication in Africa, Individual Project (FGW)
Semester 1: Second Language Acquisition, Experimental Phonetics
Semester 2: Forensic Speech Science, Themes in Sociolinguistics: Speakers' choices across the globe
Suggested Electives: Qualitative Methods in Linguistics, Methods in Speech Processing, Methods in Experimental Linguistics, Field Methods, Machine learning for NLP, Statistics: Fundamentals of Linear Models, Didactiek van het Nederlands als tweede taal, Statistics: Advanced Linear Models, Individual Project (FGW)
Semester 1: Machine learning for NLP, Methods in Speech Processing
Semester 2: Computational Corpus Analysis, Advanced topics in Deep Learning for Natural Language Processing
Suggested Electives: Evolutionary Algorithms, Social Network Analysis for Computer Scientists, Text Mining, Statistics: Fundamentals of Linear Models, Statistics: Advanced Linear Models, Computational Models and Semantics, Corpus Lexicography, Individual Project (FGW)
1. Theoretical Linguistics
Theoretical Linguistics
Theoretical linguistics seeks to understand the underlying principles of the nature of human language. Through investigating the (morpho-)syntax, phonology and semantics of linguistic structures, we come closer to explain the similarities and differences between languages as well as dialects. Theoretical linguistics in Leiden pays special attention to interface between subfields such as syntax-phonology interface, syntax-semantics interface, and syntax-processing interface. Through various electives, students of theoretical linguistics in Leiden also get connected with other subfields of linguistics such as experimental linguistics, descriptive linguistics, etc
2. Language Processing and Cognition
Language Processing and Cognition
Using the language system in real time - i.e. speaking and listening, or signing and watching sign - requires fast processing of information at different levels in our cognitive system. How do we do this? How is linguistic information activated, processed and integrated, and where in the brain do these processes take place? How can we device experiments that give us insight in the workings of our language processing system? The theme "Language processing and cognition" combines courses that center around these questions.
3. Language Description and Documentation
Language Description and Documentation
Languages spoken around the world differ vastly from the more familiar Indo-European languages. The courses in this theme aim to introduce you to the immense linguistic diversity still found in the world today. You will learn from experts who regularly carry out research in Africa, Asia and the Americas, and benefit from their knowledge of the many interesting features found in each of these regions. For example, you will learn how the perspective of the speaker determines syntax in languages of the Americas, the function of serial verb constructions in Africa, and special ways to connect sentences in Asia. You will learn how to compare and evaluate key research directions in descriptive linguistics and documentation, ultimately equipping you with the insights and skills required to carry out independent research in the field.
4. Theoretical Approaches to Linguistic Diversity
Theoretical Approaches to Linguistic Diversity
Describing a new language for the first time is an exciting and challenging intellectual experience. It is best done against a solid background in linguistic typology, as that helps us to recognize patterns in the language that are common versus those that are rare or unique among the world’s languages. In addition, theories of phonetics, phonology, morphology or syntax enable us to formulate research questions that can lead to a more detailed understanding and more insightful analysis of primary data in those various subfields. At the same time, the primary data can be used to modify or refine typological categorizations and theoretical models. The theme “Theoretical approaches to Linguistic Diversity” provides you tools to combine the study of primary data with typology and theory.
5. Comparative Indo-European Linguistics
Comparative Indo-European Linguistics
Almost all languages of Europe and of a large part of western Asia belong to a single language family: Indo-European. The Indo-European family includes modern languages like English, Dutch, Russian and Farsi, but also ancient ones like Ancient Greek, Latin, Hittite and Sanskrit. All these languages ultimately derive from a single ancestor language, Proto-Indo-European, which was spoken more than 5000 years ago.
The theme “Comparative Indo-European linguistics” offers courses on the methods and results of the reconstruction of the grammar and the lexicon of Proto-Indo-European, on its prehistoric origin and dispersal, and on the rise and development of the Indo-European daughter languages.
The theme is suitable for both linguistics students with and without a background in Indo-European studies. Students with a background in Indo-European studies, such as the Leiden University bachelor in Comparative Indo-European Linguistcs, may choose advanced courses such as “Advanced Indo-European Morphology (Noun)” and “Advanced Topics in Indo-European Phonology”, or, for instance, further specialise in a language of choice. Students without a background in Indo-European studies may choose courses such as “Indo-European Linguistics I” and “Indo-European Linguistics II” and, for instance, a language of choice.
For questions about the programme, please contact the coordinator of studies or Michaël Peyrot (m.peyrot@hum.leidenuniv.nl).
6. Language and Interaction
Language and Interaction
To make successful communication possible, people need much more than their knowledge of the language system. In the theme “Language and Interaction” we study language-in-use. How can we understand each other if we often intend more, or something else, than we are literally saying? How do people strategically use language to achieve certain effects? When is argumentation reasonable? How is our view of the world and the different groups we belong to reflected in the language that we use? This theme uniquely combines courses in pragmatics, sociolinguistics and argumentation/rhetorics.
7. Applied Linguistics
Applied Linguistics
The goal of the field of Applied Linguistics is to apply the findings and the techniques from research in linguistics to solve practical language-related problems in society. Within the theme 'Applied Linguistics' in our program you can focus on one of two such 'problems', namely Forensic Linguistics or Second Language Acquisition. For the direction Forensic Linguistics a combination of the courses Experimental Phonetics and Forensic Speech Science is recommended, while for Second Language Acquisition, we recommend to combine Second Language Acquisition and/or Didactiek van het Nederlands als tweede taal with Themes in Sociolinguistics.
8. Computational Linguistics
Computational Linguistics
The computational linguistics master track offers students who aspire to become Natural Language Processing (NLP) experts a solid background in various important sub-disciplines of this field. The track has 4 core courses and 6 electives. The core courses span the center field of computational linguistics, addressing corpus linguistics (5 EC), speech analysis and synthesis (5EC), machine learning-based NLP (10 EC), and a literature analysis course on deep learning-based approaches to NLP (10 EC). The 5-10 EC electives address text mining, Corpus Lexicography, evolutionary algorithms, computational semantics, social network analysis and statistics in linguistics.
Bachelor students who have taken the BA course on deep learning for NLP (LIACS & LUCL) will be able to pursue a deep learning-oriented pathway through this master. A corpus linguistics-oriented pathway, or a pathway with emphasis on machine learning are likewise possible, in addition to other trajectories.
All in all, this master track will supply students with a firm background in the core of current computational linguistics and additionally provides them with a solid comprehension of its neighboring fields.
All courses
All courses
Below you can find a list of all courses from which you can freely choose your electives. Listed per semester are all courses from Linguistics: Linguistics and from
Linguistics: Modern Languages. If a course is taught in another language than English it might be possible to participate if you have enough receptive language skills to follow the course. Please contact the course instructor to discuss if it would be possible to write your term paper in English.
Other courses that can be interesting as elective:
Courses from the Masterlanguage Programme (no more than 10 EC). These courses can be taken as an elective without approval of the Examination Board:
Courses from other MA programs. These courses can be taken as electives after approval of the Examination Board:
Career Preparation
Labour market preparation in MA Linguistics (all specializations)
In addition to offering you a solid university education, Leiden University aims to prepare you for today’s labour market. Your studies will contribute to the development of your employability. After finishing the programme, it will become easier for you to make the transition to the labour market, to remain employable in a dynamic labour market in a (career) job that suits your own personal values, preferences and development.
'Employability' consists of the following aspects that you will develop within your study programme, among others:
1. Discipline-specific knowledge and skills
Knowledge and skills specific to your study programme.
2. Transferable skills
These are skills that are relevant to every student and that you can use in all kinds of jobs irrespective of your study programme, for example: research, conducting analyses, project-based working, generating solutions, acquiring and developing digital skills, collaborating, oral communication, written communication, presenting, raising societal awareness, independent learning, and resilience.
3. Self-reflection
This concerns self-reflection in the context of your (study) career, including reflecting on the choices you make as a student during your studies, esp. with respect to what you can do with your knowledge and skills on the labour market.
In addition, reflecting on your own profile and your personal and professional development. Who are you, what can you do well, what do you find interesting, what suits you, what do you find important, what do you want to do?
4. Practical experience
Gaining practical experience through internships, work placements, projects, practical (social) assignments, which are integrated into an elective, minor or graduation assignment.
5. Labour market orientation
Gaining insight into the labour market, fields of work, jobs and career paths through, for example, guest speakers and alumni experiences from the work field, career events within the study programme, the use of the alumni mentor network, interviewing people from the work field, and shadowing/visiting companies in the context of a particular subject.
Employability in MA Linguistics (all specializations)
You will also find these employability elements in your study programme. Examples of subjects that pay attention to this are:
Discipline-specific knowledge and skills
A theoretical research seminar on Language Variation and Language Change in Latin America
Advanced Morphology
Advanced Phonology
Advanced Syntax 1
Advanced Syntax 2
Advanced topics in Deep Learning for Natural Language Processing
Advanced Topics in Indo-European Phonology
Advanced topics in Indo-European Morphology: Verb
Advanced Translation
Advanced Typology
Ancient Greek for Indo-Europeanists
Anatolian Linguistics
Argumentation and Persuasion
Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
Comparative Asian Linguistics
Comparative Syntax
Computational Corpus Analysis
Computational Models and Semantics
Cross-linguistic Variation in Semantics
Diversity Linguistics: Africa, Asia and the Americas
De sturende kracht van taal
English Historical Linguistics
English Word Formation
Evolutionary Algorithms
Experimental Phonetics
Forensic Speech Science
Historische sociolinguïstiek: taal in de stad
Homeric Greek and Mycenaean
Indo-European Linguistics I
Indo-European Linguistics II
Issues in Language Endangerment and Revitalization
Italiano L2 e metodi per l’apprendimento dell’italiano L2
Language Contact
Language, Culture and Cognition: Linguistics
Language, Literature and Communication in Africa
Legal Translation I
Legal Translation II
Les parlers jeunes dans l’espace francophone
Machine learning for NLP
Methodology of Comparative Indo-European Linguistics
Multimodal Translation
Old High German for Indo-Europeanists
Pragmatik des Deutschen: Interaktion und Gesellschaft
Second Language Acquisition
Sinographics: Chinese writing and writing Chinese
Sociolinguistics of Italian: Language, Identity, and Social Change
Stilistiek: formuleringskeuzes en overtuigingskracht
Subtitling in Theory and Practice
Themes in Sociolinguistics: Speakers' choices across the globe
Translation Studies
Universalien und Rarissima: Deutsch in der Sprachtypologie
Variation linguistique et modélisation
Vedic Sanskrit for Indo-Europeanists
Transferable skills
Advanced topics in Deep Learning for Natural Language Processing
Computational Corpus Analysis
Corpus Lexicography
Evolutionary Algorithms
Forensic Speech Science
Italiano L2 e metodi per l’apprendimento dell’italiano L2
Machine learning for NLP
Methods in Experimental Linguistics
Methods in Speech Processing
Qualitative Methods in Linguistics
Social Network Analysis for Computer Scientists
Statistics: Advanced Linear Models
Statistics: Fundamentals of Linear Models
Text Mining
The Translator’s Tools
Practical experience
Advanced topics in Deep Learning for Natural Language Processing
Computational Corpus Analysis
Corpus Lexicography
Didactiek van het Nederlands als tweede taal
Experimental Phonetics
Field Methods
Fieldwork (Internship/Practicum)
Forensic Speech Science
Individual Project
Internship Linguistics
Issues in Language Endangerment and Revitalization
Italiano L2 e metodi per l’apprendimento dell’italiano L2
Language Documentation
Machine learning for NLP
Methods in Experimental Linguistics
Methods in Speech Processing
Multimodal Translation
Qualitative Methods in Linguistics
Social Network Analysis for Computer Scientists
Statistics: Advanced Linear Models
Statistics: Fundamentals of Linear Models
Stilistiek: formuleringskeuzes en overtuigingskracht
Subtitling in Theory and Practice
Text Mining
The Translator’s Tools
Workplacement Translation
Labour market orientation
Activities to prepare for the labour market alongside / outside the curriculum
Every year, various activities take place, within, alongside and outside of your study programme, which contribute to your preparation for the labour market, especially where it concerns orientation towards the work field/the labour market, (career) skills and self-reflection. These activities could be hosted by your study program to discuss the key decision stages within your program. Furthermore, you may want to attend career workshops and events organised by the Humanities Career service or your study association.
For example:
Humanities Career Service, LU Career Zone and Career Workshops Calendar
Humanities Career Service
The Humanities Career Service offers information and advice on internships, study (re)orientation and master's choice, orientation on the labour market and careers.
Leiden University Career Zone
The Leiden University Career Zone is the website for students and alumni of Leiden University to support their (study) career. You can find advice, information, (career) tests and tools in the area of (study) career planning, career possibilities with your study, job market orientation, job applications, the Alumni Mentor network, job portal, workshops and events and career services.
Workshops and events
On the Workshops calendar you will find an overview of career and application workshops, organised by the Humanities Career Service.
