The Master Linguistics in short
- Application deadline is on September 15 for winter semester and on March 15 for summer semester.
- Duration: 4 semesters
- Focus on research → ideal preparation for a doctoral program in linguistics
- Unlike in many other departments in Germany, all courses on offer are exclusively for students pursuing a Master’s degree (no B.A. in Linguistics on offer in Münster)
- Small group size (at the most 15 students per year)
- Individual supervision and support by a faculty advisor throughout your entire course of studies
- Combines a strong emphasis on naturalistic data with sophisticated methodological and theoretical reflection
- Empirical → collection, analysis and storage of linguistic data (linguistic field work, descriptive linguistics, language documentation); this includes use of state-of-the-art technology
- Theoretical → grammatical theory, linguistic typology, language universals research; a special focus is placed on the interfaces between social cognition, language structure and language use (discourse and conversation analysis, anthropological linguistics)
- Cross-linguistic approach: next to non-standard varieties of European languages, especially non-European languages play an important role in the program
Contact
Dr. Dörte Borchers
Westfälische WIlhelms-Universität Münster
Institut für Allgemeine Sprachwissenschaft
Aegidiistr. 5
48143 Münster, Germany
Tel.: (49) 251 83 244 97
Fax: (49) 251 83 298 78
E-mail: d_borc01 uni-muenster.de [please add @!]
Admissions Information
Formal Requirements
- Proof of final secondary-school examinations, permitting a general or subject-restricted entrance to university
- B.A. or equivalent degree (Diploma, Staatsexamen, etc.) in linguistics or neighboring field (see below), having completed a course of studies covering at least 6 semesters
- Proof of special qualification
Entrance Requirements
Normally, the acceptance to a graduate program in linguistics requires a Bachelor’s degree with a focus on linguistics. Should linguistics not have been (one of) your B.A. subject(s), then a linguistic focus as part of your studies in a neighboring subject (e.g. German, French) must be obvious, especially in the choice of a linguistic topic for your Bachelor thesis.
Language Skills
Applicants who achieved their university entrance permission outside Germany are required to demonstrate appropriate German language skills in order to follow courses taught in German. The proof has to be verified by the DSH standards of the University of Münster and is dispensable with native speakers. Satisfactory proficiency in English as a language of science and discourse has to be demonstrated before taking up your studies. The required skills correspond to the general level B1 for spoken language and C2 for reading comprehension.
Documents to Be Submitted
- Proof of final secondary-school examinations, permitting a general or subject-restricted entrance to university
- Proof of having acquired a B.A. or equivalent degree. Should you not yet have your final results at the time of registration, a preliminary transcript listing your currently completed courses and exams will suffice
- Proof of required English skills
- CV
- Proof of completed requirements during your current/previous courses of study (e.g. transcript of records)
- A short explanation (750 words at most), detailing your reasons for choosing this course of study and which topics you are interested in
- Optionally, anything else showing your suitability for this program (e.g. references, proof of internships or other relevant additional qualifications
University entrance regulations (in German)
Examination regulations (in German)
Details on application procedure and online application
Overview of the modules
| Module | Details | CP | % |
| Obligatory Module Data Structures | 3 courses | 15 | 12,5% |
| Obligatory Module Linguistic Typology and Language Universals | 3 courses | 15 | 12,5% |
| Elective Module 1 | 3 courses | 15 | 12,5% |
| Elective Module 2 | 3 courses | 15 | 12,5% |
| Guided Studies | Individual course selection | 15 | 0% |
| Teaching Assistance/Internship | Teaching of a 2-hour Tutorial or Internship | 5 | 0% |
| Research Project | Reading Assignments/ Independent Research | 10 | 0% |
| M.A. Thesis | M.A. Thesis | 30 | 50% |
Illustrative schedule
| Sem. | Module | CP | Sem. hours |
| 1. | Linguistic Typology and Language Universals: Seminar 1 + Term Paper | 8 | 2 |
| Data Structures: Tutorial Data Analysis | 3 | 2 | |
| Data Structures: Field Methods + Term Paper | 9 | 3 | |
| Guided Studies | 3 | 2-3 | |
| Elective Module 1: Lecture + Tutorial | 7 | 4-6 | |
| Semestertotal | 30 | 13-16 | |
| 2. | Data Structures: Seminar | 3 | 2 |
| Linguistic Typology and Universals: Lecture + Tutorial | 4 | 4 | |
| Linguistic Typology and Universals: Seminar 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| Elective Module 1: Seminar + Term Paper | 8 | 2 | |
| Elective Module 2: Lecture/Seminar | 3 | 2 | |
| Guided Studies | 3 | 2-3 | |
| Research Project (Workshop) | 6 | 2 | |
| Semestertotal | 30 | 16-18 | |
| 3. | Elective Module 2: Seminar + Term Paper | 8 | 2 |
| Elective Module 2: Tutorial | 4 | 2-4 | |
| Teaching Assistance/Practical Studies | 5 | 2 | |
| Guided Studies (including final exams) | 9 | 5-6 | |
| Research Project (Workshop) | 4 | 2 | |
| Semestertotal | 30 | 13-16 | |
| 4. | M.A. thesis | 30 | |
| TOTAL | 120 |