Program Overview
The Linguistics (Research) at Leiden University is a MA programme in Humanities over 24 months, delivered On-campus. This programme equips graduates with advanced knowledge and practical skills for professional and academic careers in the field.
Students gain a rigorous grounding in both the theoretical foundations and applied dimensions of humanities. The programme combines coursework, research components, and practical projects that develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and specialist expertise relevant to industry and research needs.
Graduates of the Linguistics (Research) programme are well-prepared for careers in academia, industry, government, and the private sector across Netherlands and internationally. The programme provides an internationally recognised qualification within the Bologna higher education framework.
Key Program Features
- Duration: 24 months
- Language of instruction: English
- Study mode: On-campus
- English requirement: IELTS 7
- Tuition: EUR 16,000 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; EUR 1,951 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
- Location: Leiden, Netherlands
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Linguistics (Research) programme are prepared for diverse careers in humanities:
- Researcher / Academic
- Cultural Programme Manager
- Editor / Writer
- Translator / Interpreter
- Museum Curator
- Communications Specialist
Program Curriculum
- A bachelor’s degree from a research university, equivalent to the level of a Dutch academic bachelor’s degree, including general Academic Skills, in Linguistics, a language and culture programme or a comparable degree with a relevant specialisation with at least 30 EC of academic study of linguistics subjects, of which at least 20 EC in core subjects (such as phonology, phonetics, syntax, morphology, semantics, language typology).
- Knowledge, understanding and skills with respect to:
- The ability to understand basic linguistic analyses and read linguistic literature (in English) at the appropriate (handbook) level; and
- The ability to collect linguistic data and discover patterns in them.
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
- A bachelor\xc2\x92s degree from a university, not being a university of professional education, equivalent to the level of a Dutch academic bachelor\xc2\x92s degree, or demonstrate to meet the requirements for such a degree, including the General Academic Skills listed here.
- Affinity with and suitability for academic research, demonstrated by good grades comparable with an average mark of at least 7.5 (Dutch grading system) for the entire bachelor\xc2\x92s programme, and a grade for the bachelor\xc2\x92s thesis of an 8 or higher.
- Completion of a bachelor\xc2\x92s programme in Linguistics, a language and culture programme or a comparable degree with a relevant specialisation.
- The following qualities regarding knowledge, understanding and skills:
English Proficiency: IELTS 7 or equivalent.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
EUR 16,000 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; EUR 1,951 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
Tuition fees: EUR 16,000 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; EUR 1,951 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
IELTS requirement: 7
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Contact Leiden University directly for scholarship, grant, and financial aid information for this programme. Many European universities offer merit-based and need-based funding for international and domestic students.
About Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden, Netherlands
Leiden University is a distinguished institution of higher education committed to academic excellence, innovative research, and preparing students for leadership in their chosen fields. The...
University Profile- Start Date January 2026
- Language English
- Duration 24 months