You will normally require a good undergraduate degree, or its equivalent, from a recognised university. For the MA by research and the MLitt, your first degree should normally be in linguistics or a linguistics-related discipline. In some instances it may be possible for candidates who have entered the department intending to study for an MA or MLitt to upgrade their registration and continue their studies to MLitt or PhD respectively. Each research student accepted is guaranteed a supervisor, assigned in the area of the proposed research. Detailed regulations concerning postgraduate research are laid down in the University Guidelines for Postgraduate Students and Supervisors.
Candidates work as early as possible with their supervisor to formulate a thesis proposal.
Students and supervisors meet at the beginning of each term to agree a plan of work. Each has 3 meetings per term with each supervisor. Each year members of staff offer around five advanced 9-10 week seminars. Staff-student reading groups, organised in conjunction with other universities, e.g. Newcastle, Edinburgh, York and Cambridge, supplement these seminars. Study requirements MA by research Students are required to attend advanced departmental seminars or relevant MA modules.