MSc Language Sciences at the University of Reading

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.

Leading experts will instruct you key, contemporary issues in language sciences. Building on core knowledge in linguistics and psycholinguistics, you'll gain professional training in the neuroscience of language, language development and disorders, and multilingualism.

Explore how language is implemented in the brain, including functional MRI and the electrophysiology of language, how language may be affected by developmental and acquired language disorders, and the linguistic and cognitive consequences of mulitlingualism.

Specialist facilities

You'll have access to a wide range of research 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. Working closely with one of our expert supervisors, you'll have the opportunity to carry out research within a lab for course credit within the fields of psycholinguistics and neurolinguistics, mulitlingualism, language development and language impairment.

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.

Careers

MSc Language Sciences is ideal for preparing graduates in linguistics, speech and language therapy, psychology, cognitive (neuro)science, 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.

Overall, 99% of graduates from Psychology are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating; of those in full-time employment, 96% are in graduate-level roles. (Based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2022, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20; includes postgraduate [taught] Psychology responders)

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.

Our programme 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
acquired language disorders in adulthood, including aphasia and language impairment in Alzheimer’s disease/dementia.

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

Overview

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.

Specialist facilities

Careers

Research impact

We also have strong expertise in:

language impairment, including fluency disorders
developmental language disorder
language in autism
acquired language disorders in adulthood, including aphasia and language impairment in Alzheimer’s disease/dementia.

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

Entry requirements

Please note that entry requirements for 2024/25 have not yet been confirmed. The entry requirements for 2023/24 were:

IELTS: 7.0 overall with no element less than 6.5 (or equivalent).

Entry requirements: Normally a good undergraduate honours degree (2:1 or above), or equivalent from a university outside the UK, in a field such as linguistics, psychology, cognitive (neuro)science, speech and language therapy, or education. Other degree subjects may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants who narrowly miss these entrance requirements (for example a high 2:2) may be considered based on additional relevant experience or expertise.

Pre-sessional English language programme

If you need to improve your English language score, you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.

Find out the English language requirements for our courses and our pre-sessional English programme

Structure

Modules

Compulsory modules

Language Acquisition and Processing

Discover the complex relationship between language and the human mind through both psychology and linguistics. As you explore theoretical approaches and study diverse populations, you’ll learn how individuals come to know their own language and what cognitive mechanisms are involved when we listen and speak.

Foundations of Linguistics, Phonetics and Phonology

Explore the key concepts of linguistics, phonetics and phonology. You’ll learn how to describe, analyse and interpret both typical and clinical speech and language data.

Neuroscience of Language

Gain in-depth knowledge of current research in the cognitive neuroscience of language, including the neuroanatomy of language in typical and atypical populations. You’ll also explore different neuroimaging techniques in relation to linguistic representation and language processing in different populations.

Research and Dissertation

Develop your critical evaluation skills and an understanding of current research issues through the design, planning and implementation of an independent research project. Focusing on speech and language therapy or a related discipline, you'll gain knowledge of research methodology, design and statistical analysis, with the support of an assigned supervisor.

Introduction to Speech and Language Pathology

Explore a variety of speech and language conditions and disorders found in adults and children, and the role of the speech and language therapist in assessing and managing them. You’ll gain insight into the problems of identifying and classifying normal and abnormal speech and language, and the broader issue of cognition in speech and language impairments.

Multilingualism and Impairment across the Lifespan

Explore how bi- and multilingual individuals develop and use language across the lifespan, with a focus on clinical practice. You'll study healthy children and adults, as well as children with language communication difficulties and adults with acquired language disorders. You'll also discover how the latest research affects the assessment of bi- and multilingual individuals with language disorders.

Optional modules

Placement
Language and Communication in Genetic Conditions
Clinical Phonetics and Phonology

Gathering Data for Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience

Gain working knowledge of cognitive neuroscience research, as well as practical experience of gathering and analysing fMRI and EEG data. You’ll become familiar with typical processing pipelines, learn how to script and automate analyses, and gain insight into best neuroimaging practice. (This module requires undergraduate-level competence in statistics.)

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/25 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £12,550

New international students: £26,950

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.

Careers

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.

Subjects A-B

Subjects C-E

Subjects H-M

Subjects N-T

Subjects A-C

Subjects D-G

Subjects H-P

Subjects A-B

Subjects C-E

Subjects F-G

Subjects H-M

Subjects N-T

Subjects U-Z

Subjects A-C

Subjects D-G

Subjects H-P

Subjects Q-Z

Overview

Entry requirements

Please note that entry requirements for 2024/25 have not yet been confirmed. The entry requirements for 2023/24 were:

Structure

Compulsory modules

Language Acquisition and Processing

Foundations of Linguistics, Phonetics and Phonology

Neuroscience of Language

Research and Dissertation

Introduction to Speech and Language Pathology

Multilingualism and Impairment across the Lifespan

Optional modules

Gathering Data for Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience

Fees

Tuition fee information

EU student fees

Additional costs

Financial support for your studies

Careers

MSc Language Sciences

Tuition fee information

EU student fees

Additional costs

Financial support for your studies

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