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MSc Language Sciences

  • Year of entry
    2023/24 See 2022/23 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  12 months Part Time: 24 months
  • Year of entry
    2023/24 See 2022/23 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  12 months Part Time: 24 months

Our flexible MSc Language Sciences programme is aimed at graduates and professionals who work in language-related careers and seek in-depth specialised knowledge in the language sciences. Study one of our three areas of international expertise: the neuroscience of language, language development and disorders, or multilingualism.

Leading experts will instruct you on the core areas within the language sciences. Building on this knowledge in linguistics and psycholinguistics, you will choose one of three dedicated pathways:

  • Neuroscience of language

This pathway will introduce you to current advances in cognitive neuroscience, including functional MRI and the electrophysiology of language.

  • Language development and disorders

This pathway will focus on language development and disorders, including developmental language disorders during language acquisition, and acquired language disorders such as aphasia.

  • Multilingualism

This pathway provides a flexible multidisciplinary course focusing on linguistic and cognitive aspects of multilingualism.

You will have access to a wide range of facilities for experimental and other empirical work in the language sciences. These include eye-tracking, EEG and MRI facilities, numerous computer labs and clinic rooms. Your chosen pathway will guide which laboratory you work in.

This programme also includes a research placement module that will give you the opportunity to work in one of our research laboratories for course credit. While on placement, you can work on projects within the fields of psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics, multilingualism, language development and language impairment.

MSc Language Sciences is ideal for preparing graduates in linguistics, speech and language therapy, psychology, education and allied disciplines for research-related careers and PhD study in the language sciences. It is also appropriate if you are a professional already working in speech and language therapy and would like to update your knowledge of the language sciences.

Research impact

The University of Reading is host to the Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism (CeLM) and the Centre for Integrated Neuroscience and Neurodynamics (CINN). Both of these world-class research centres inform our teaching, and staff from both CINN and CeLM teach on this master's programme.

MSc Language Sciences reflects the cutting-edge work carried out by key members of staff. Our research encompasses fields such as language acquisition and processing in monolingual and multilingual environments, language and literacy development, the neuroscience of language and multilingualism, and the development of cognition and its relation to language at the beginning and end of the lifespan. We also have strong expertise in language impairment, including fluency disorders, developmental language disorder, language in autism, and acquired language disorders in adulthood, including aphasia and language impairment in Alzheimer’s disease/dementia.

Accreditation

This course is recognised as a member of the Linguistics Pathway for the ESRC South East Network for Social Sciences (SeNSS). SeNSS provides funding for UK and international students interested in PhD research. This means that students on the MSc Languages Sciences who are interested in continuing onto PhD studies are eligible to apply for PhD funding via the SenSS Linguistics Pathway.

Funding

There are four International Excellence Scholarships awards, to the value of £2,500 each, for students from outside the EU. For more information, please visit our master's scholarships page.

For more information about this programme, please visit the School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences' website.

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £12,100

New international students: £25,800

Tuition fee information

The fees listed are for full-time study, unless otherwise stated. Fee information will be confirmed in offer letters sent out to successful applicants. You can find further information, including information for part-time study, through our dedicated fees and funding page.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government's guidance for EU students.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

MSc Language Sciences will prepare you for doctoral research across the range of language sciences, or for a career as a research scientist.

The combination of linguistics knowledge, training in statistics and strong analytical skills acquired on this programme is also particularly applicable to careers involving research management, such as government and market research, as well as in education and health.