Language Sciences: Principles of Language and Speech MSc

UCL (University College London)

The Language Sciences MSc course provides an opportunity for in-depth study in one or more areas of language science. The Principles of Language and Speech route explores the fundamental theories and methods behind the science of spoken language. The Language Sciences MSc offers a variety of aspects related to speech and language in its five routes relating to neuroscience, development, technology, principles/fundamentals of language and speech, and sign language and deaf studies. It is an umbrella degree with five separate specialised routes. Students will become specialists in their chosen route and complement their knowledge according to their tastes with further modules in speech, language or psychology. The modules are aimed at students with a background in linguistics and psychology. Modules are designed with an assumption of prior knowledge in these areas. The Principles of Language and Speech route explores the fundamental theories and methods behind the science of spoken language, in order to understand how we perceive and produce speech, how we tailor our speech for others, and how we acquire the sounds of our language(s). Throughout your studies, the emphasis is on developing research skills alongside theoretical knowledge: you’ll have the opportunity to learn about and use specialist methods, including acoustic analysis, behavioural experiments, EEG, ultrasound, and computational modelling. All students take a core set of modules, forming a basis from which to study and undertake research in diverse areas of language science. You will then tailor the degree to your own interests through choosing specialised modules to develop and build upon your existing research interests, enabling you to take full advantage of the breadth of expertise in Language Sciences in the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences. An MSc in Language Sciences is typically well-suited for graduates with a background in linguistics, psychology, speech and language therapy, cognitive science, or related fields. We anticipate that the course will appeal to those with an interest in healthcare and/or languages who wish to develop their interests and gain applicable skills. Many of our alumni work in interdisciplinary teams where they contribute as specialists in speech and language or are valued for their expertise in rigorous scientific working. The latter enabled some of our former students to pivot their careers in to wide-ranging career fields. This programme is also available on a modular (flexible) basis, with a duration of 5 calendar years.

Brain Sciences