Investigate the psychology of language
Year of entry: 2020
1 year full-time,
2 years part-time
September 2020 (term dates)
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Find out moreExplore the human mind through the structures and processes of language and communication.
Our course will provide you with a detailed foundation in the key theories and questions in psycholinguistics, while giving you practical training in the techniques, methodologies, and quantitative analysis methods associated with this field. You’ll analyse the ways in which language is represented and processed in real time, and study the factors that enable us to comprehend and use language. You'll have the opportunity to develop your interest in areas such as bilingualism, syntactic and semantic processing, and early phonetic and phonological development.
With world-class tutors, you’ll gain knowledge of the key theories, controversies, and research methods, and develop skills in understanding and designing experiments. You’ll apply your skills to psycholinguistic data, and learn to perform original research in psycholinguistics.
This course offers different routes to suit your level of experience studying linguistics.
Our Department has the second highest proportion of world-leading linguistics research in the UK (Research Excellence Framework 2014).
We are in the world top 100 for linguistics (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020).
We offer different study routes if you have already studied linguistics at undergraduate level, or if you are new to linguistics.
In Term 1, there are two route options: Route A for those who are new to linguistics and psycholinguistics; and Route B, for those having completed an undergraduate degree in linguistics. On Route A, you begin with intensive training in core areas of linguistics and psycholinguistics. On Route B you expand your prior linguistic knowledge, selecting from a flexible range of options.
In Term 2, both routes progress to two specialist modules of your choice. Through these options, you deepen your subject knowledge while also developing your abilities in dealing with controversial proposals, evaluating the quality of the arguments, and articulating your own conclusions.
Across Terms 2 and 3, you also get practical training in statistical analysis, and in building experiments for psycholinguistic research using techniques such as eye-tracking and self-paced reading.
Across all three terms you'll study a Research Training module. You'll complete the programme with a dissertation over Term 3 and the vacation.
Route A: For students who have minimal linguistics or psycholinguistics background
Psycholinguistics (10 credits)
Language Acquisition (10 credits)
Phonetics and Phonology (10 credits)
Syntax (10 credits)
If you have already studied the equivalent of any of the above modules, you may be able replace them with options from Route B.
Route B: For students with prior background in linguistics or psycholinguistics, choose 40 credits from among the Route A modules and the following
Advanced Syntax (10 credits)
Advanced Phonetics (10 credits)
Advanced Phonology (10 credits)
Directed Reading in Phonological Development (10 credits)
Directed Reading in Psycholinguistics (10 credits)
Phonological Development (20 credits)
Choose two from a range of options. Example modules:
Bilingualism (20 credits)
Learning Mechanisms in Phonological Development (20 credits)
Advanced Topics in Psycholinguistics (20 credits)
Syntactic Theory (20 credits)
Prosody of English (20 credits)
Articulatory and Impressionistic Phonetics (20 credits)
Experimental Methods in Psycholinguistic Research (10 credits)
Quantitative Methods (10 credits)
Research Training Seminar (20 credits)
Please note, modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
In Summer Term and over the vacation you'll prepare and complete your dissertation of between 8,000 and 12,000 words (60 credits), supervised by a member of staff. You'll submit your dissertation in September.
Topics have ranged from:
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
Studying psycholinguistics allowed me to explore how language is processed in my mother tongue and second language. This splendid programme provided me with a specialist toolkit to explore the relationship between linguistic behaviour and psychological processes, from theoretical approaches to research techniques. You might encounter some challenges but you will be fully supported by staff.Xingyi, MA PsycholinguisticsRead more on what our students say about us.
| Study mode | UK/EU | International |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £8,040 | £18,240 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. |
£4,020 | £9,120 |
Students on a Tier 4 Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
For courses which are longer than one year, the tuition fees quoted are for the first year of study. Fees for subsequent years are subject to increase (no more than 2% each year).
UK/EU or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK/EU or international student.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
Find out more about funding specific to Language and Linguistic Science.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
You'll be taught with a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and practical training. You'll have approximately three contact hours a week for each module. For some modules you’ll complete collaborative group work outside your classes. You’ll be set essential reading, and will complete weekly assigned exercises.
A Research Training module runs throughout the Autumn, Spring, and Summer Term teaching periods, to support your development in academic skills as a linguist.
All modules, including the Research Training module, offer developmental assessments that do not contribute to your final mark. These provide a chance to practice your skills and gain useful feedback on your progress and understanding, before you take the final assessments. A member of the teaching staff will act as your supervisor throughout the degree, to help guide your studies and monitor progress.
All of our modules have Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) websites where all crucial materials—reading lists, handouts, discussion boards—are accessible.
Our e-Lab gives you access to a variety of resources, including specialist linguistics software, corpora of different varieties, and online language-learning materials.
You will be based in the Department of Language and Linguistic Science on Campus West. Most of your contact hours will be in or close to Vanbrugh College, with some additional teaching in other locations on Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
A range of assessments formats are used. You’ll submit exercises or short essays, or take examinations, for your Autumn Term modules. You'll produce 5,000 word essays for your Spring Term option modules. You'll submit four short assignments over the course of the Key Ideas in Linguistics module.
For the Research Training module you'll take one examination, and write a methodological critique of a linguistics research paper. You will also complete a dissertation.
The support from the staff, especially those lecturers who I have had contact with, has been excellent. I have always been welcomed into their offices to talk about both academic and personal aspects. During the masters degree, I constantly asked myself a question: and now? what's next? Staff in the department have given me excellent advice and encouraged me to trust myself.Eloi, MA LinguisticsRead more on what our students say about us.
Effective communication, critical thinking and project management skills are central to most careers. The study of linguistics at York equips you with these skills and others, which translate readily into any work context.
Our graduates have an excellent record of pursuing fulfilling paths after graduation. Their work spans advertising, teaching English as a foreign language, IT, accountancy, broadcasting, clinical and forensic linguistics, retail management, and other careers.
Apart from your knowledge of linguistics, you will leave with the confidence and skills that come from successfully completing a demanding course and participating fully in university life.
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:1 or equivalent |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 7.0, minimum 6.5 in each component |
| PTE Academic | 67, minimum 61 in each component |
| C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency | 185, minimum 176 in each component |
| TOEFL | 96, minimum 23 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Distinction in all component |
| Duolingo | Minimum overall score of 120 |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current IELTS scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
You can apply and send all your documentation electronically through our online system. You don’t need to complete your application all at once: you can start it, save it and finish it later.
Get in touch if you have any questions
If you are new to the field or have only minimal prior background:
If you have considerable prior background we offer two specialist MA programmes:
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