Investigate the cognitive science of language
Year of entry: 2023 (September)
1 year full-time,
2 years part-time
September 2023 (semester dates)
Meet us online or in person to find out more about postgraduate study at York.
See upcoming eventsaccording to the Times Higher Education’s ranking of the latest REF results (2021).
according to the latest National Student Survey (2022).
according to the latest QS World Rankings by subject (2022).
Psycholinguistics is a vibrant and growing subfield of linguistics. Interested in the mechanisms that allow people to acquire, produce and comprehend language, our field spans an incredibly diverse set of topics.
The MA programme offers two pathways: Language Processing, and Language Acquisition and Development. Researchers in first and second language acquisition ask questions about what typical development looks like, such as 'how do infants move from producing isolated sounds to understanding whole conversations in the span of just a few years?' On the other hand, research in adult language processing asks questions about the "target state" of language development, such as 'what is it that fully-fledged language users are doing when they produce and perceive linguistic input?'
We offer different study routes if you have already studied linguistics at undergraduate level, or if you are new to linguistics.
The structure of the programme is very flexible to adapt to a student's prior background, offering both introductory modules (for conversion students) and specialistic advanced modules for students with a background in linguistics and/or psychology.
All students progress to specialist modules in the second semester within their psycholinguistics area of choice (Language Processing or Language Acquisition and Development), through which you deepen your subject knowledge while also developing your abilities in dealing with controversial proposals, weighing up the evidence, evaluating the quality of the arguments, and articulating your own conclusions.
In addition, both routes include practical training in experimental methods and quantitative methods in psycholinguistics. Finally, in collaboration with our staff, you design and conduct your own psycholinguistic research for your dissertation, which closes the programme and allows you to apply the concepts and skills acquired during the MA (including experimental design and statistical analysis).
The Programme Leader will discuss with you the best modules for you to study, based on your prior background and the modules you studied in Semester 1.
The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course. For further information please get in touch.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
You'll prepare and write a research dissertation over Semester 2 and the vacation 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 (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £10,480 | £23,350 |
| Part-time (2 years) This is the year 1 fee. Fees for future years are subject to confirmation. |
£5,240 | £11,675 |
Students on a Student Visa (formerly 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.
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2023/24 throughout the year.
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.
All modules 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.
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.
On successful completion of the MA in Psycholinguistics programme you will have gained a solid and detailed grounding in psycholinguistics, along with the practical and technical skills to carry out original research in this field, guided by some of the world’s foremost experts. You will develop your confidence, critical skills, problem-solving abilities, and other transferable skills including time-management and communication, equipping you to exercise independent learning in your future career. Our MA provides excellent training for doctoral research. Graduates are also well-equipped to undertake careers in a range of sectors including marketing, publishing, education, government administration, and journalism.
| 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:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 7.0, minimum 6.5 in each component |
| C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency | 185, minimum 176 in each component |
| Duolingo | 130, minimum 120 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | C1 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert International ESOL | C1 Expert: Pass with 25/50 in each component |
| PTE Academic/PTE Academic Online | 67, minimum 61 in each component |
| TOEFL | 96, minimum 23 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Distinction in all component |
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 English language test 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.
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 a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
Explore campus and city life and hear what our current students have to say about living here.
Lively, full of culture and beautiful, York is regularly voted one of the best places to live and visit in the UK.
Find out more about York. Chat to staff and students and take the tour, on campus or online.
