How is language constructed and which aspects can be distinguished and studied? How are these aspects realized in different language families and specific languages?
Theoretical and Empirical Linguistics is a one-year Master's track of the MA Linguistics which is based on the strengths of the Groningen Linguistics department (English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish). Students can choose between two specializations: The Human Language System (THLS) and Language Development and Variation (LDV).
This MA track offers students a broad and attractive, but coherent and cohesive, range of options, oriented along the following approaches:
The track focuses on language with all its complexities. The main focus is how to make sense of complex data in order to be able to study the structure, variation, change, and development of language, so as to obtain a better understanding of the human language faculty. It covers the principal subfields of linguistic study (sound, structure, meaning), and offers plenty of opportunity for students to focus on a particular language or language family (working with specialists in different modern European languages) or to pursue their interests in general linguistics.
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| Language Comparison (10 EC) LDV + THLS | ||||
| Language Development (10 EC) LDV | ||||
| Language Variation in Europe: Crossing Borders (10 EC) LDV | ||||
| The Interpretation of Language (10 EC) THLS | ||||
| The Structure of Language (10 EC) THLS | ||||
| The Sound of Language (5 EC) LDV + THLS | ||||
| Master's Thesis Theor. and Emp. Ling. (20 EC) LDV + THLS | ||||
| Architecture of the Language System (5 EC) THLS | ||||
| Debates in Linguistics (5 EC) LDV | ||||
In addition to the range of course units provided by this track itself, students can also follow Masterlanguage courses. Masterlanguage is a national programme that offers courses for students of i.a. German, English, French and Italian.
The courses are taught in the target language (except Greek and Latin) and are jointly organized by lecturers from Radboud University, the University of Groningen, Leiden University, Utrecht University, the University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam. More information about the courses, entry requirements and registration can be found on the Masterlanguage website: https://masterlanguage.nl/taal/engels/. You may follow Masterlanguage courses in consultation with the Board of Examiners of your Master's degree programme.
| Programme options |
|---|
| Master's Placement (specialization) This Master's track includes an optional work placement for which you are awarded ECTS credit points. It is your responsibility to find a placement yourself, but the Office for Student Affairs can offer help with this where necessary. |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
Students with a Bachelor's degree from the University of Groningen in:
are directly admissible to this Master's track. This also applies to students who have earned these Bachelor's degrees from other Dutch research universities, with one addition: Students with a BA in English Language and Culture, Dutch Language and Culture, European Languages and Cultures or any other foreign language have to have specialized in linguistics during their BA. Students with any other Bachelor's degree from the University of Groningen with a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) or pre-Master's (30-60 ECTS) in Linguistics, are also admissible to this Master's track. |
| language test |
Additional requirements English: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 100 (with a minimum of 25 on writing skills), or IELTS 7 (with a minimum of 6.5 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 185. |
| other admission requirements |
To assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, we will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies. This evaluation is carried out by our Admissions Office and the Admissions Board. |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| Linguistics | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
| Duitse Taal en Cultuur | All Research universities |
No additional requirements More information:With a specialization or premaster/minor in Linguistics |
| Engelse Taal en Cultuur | All Research universities |
No additional requirements More information:With a specialization or premaster/minor in Linguistics |
| Minorities & Multilingualism | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
| Dutch Language and Culture | All Research universities |
No additional requirements More information:With a specialization or premaster/minor in Linguistics |
| Romaanse Talen en Culturen | All Research universities |
No additional requirements More information:With a specialization or premaster/minor in Linguistics |
| Scandinavische Talen en Culturen | All Research universities |
No additional requirements More information:With a specialization or premaster/minor in Linguistics |
| Slavische Talen en Culturen | All Research universities |
No additional requirements More information:With a specialization or premaster/minor in Linguistics |
| European Languages and Cultures | All Research universities |
Additional requirements More information:With a specialization or premaster/ minor in Linguistics |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| International Business | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| European Languages and Cultures | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| Economics and Business Economics - Economics | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Pharmacy | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| International and European Law | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| English Language and Culture | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| Dutch Language and Culture | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| Communication and Information Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Information Science | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| American Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Linguistics | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| Minorities & Multilingualism | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| International Relations and International Organization | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Middle Eastern Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Classics (part-time) | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Tax Law | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Internationaal en Europees recht | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Bedrijfskunde - Business and Management | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Econometrics and Operations Research | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Philosophy | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Biology | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Biomedical Engineering | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| IT-recht | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Archaeology | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Bedrijfskunde - Accountancy and Controlling | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Economics and Business Economics - International Economics and Sustainable Development | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Data Science & Society | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Global Responsibility & Leadership | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Juridische Bestuurskunde | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Human Movement Sciences | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Economics and Business Economics - Business Economics | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Academic training primary school teacher | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| History (part-time) | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Medicine | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Bedrijfskunde - Technology Management | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Economics and Business Economics | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Human Geography and Planning | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Philosophy of a specific discipline | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Computing Science | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Business Administration | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:With a pre-Master's/ Minor in Linguistics |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 15 August 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 August 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
Students with a Bachelor's degree from the University of Groningen in: Linguistics Minorities and Multilingualism Dutch Language and Culture English Language and Culture European Languages and Cultures are directly admissible to this Master's track. This also applies to students who have earned these Bachelor's degrees from other Dutch research universities, with one addition: Students with a BA in English Language and Culture, Dutch Language and Culture, European Languages and Cultures or any other foreign language have to have specialized in linguistics during their BA. Students with any Bachelor's degree from the University of Groningen with a Faculty Minor (30 ECTS) or pre-Master's (30-60 ECTS) in Linguistics, are also admissible to this Master's track. Students with a Bachelor's degree from a different Research University in Linguistics, with a specialization in linguistics, or with a sufficient number of linguistics courses and research components are also eligible for admission to this Master's track. |
| language test |
Additional requirements English: minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 100 (with a minimum of 25 on writing skills), or IELTS 7 (with a minimum of 6.5 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 185. |
| other admission requirements |
To assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, we will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies. This evaluation is carried out by our Admissions Office and the Admissions Board. |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 15 August 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 August 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 01 May 2026 | 01 September 2026 |
A Master's degree in Linguistics (Master's track Theoretical and Empirical Linguistics) is:
Are you interested in a research oriented career? Please also check our Research Master's Programme of Linguistics.
