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The programme for the Modern Languages specialisation is a one-year programme within the Master degree in Linguistics at the Leiden University. In the course of the programme you will be able to focus on one of five language themes, or a combination thereof: Chinese Linguistics, English Linguistics, French Linguistics, German Linguistics or Italian Linguistics. The programme equips you with unique skills relevant to a career in academia, teaching, writing and communications.
The MA Modern Languages provides you with a solid foundation in the languages of the world's most influential societies. You will look at how these languages can vary by place, by situation and by social group (sociolinguistics, dialectology); how they evolve over time (historical linguistics); how people acquire or learn them (language acquisition); and how people use them in context (pragmatics).
The programme is aimed at students who are interested in Chinese Linguistics, English Linguistics, French Linguistics, German Linguistics or Italian Linguistics. You might also be interested in second language learning, or in combining linguistics with literary studies of your language of choice. These options are an excellent preparation for a subsequent educational master.

In the one-year Linguistics Master specialisation you will be able to focus on a specific thematic or disciplinary route, reflecting the linguistics expertise present at Leiden University.
In the course of the programme you can explore the full breadth and depth of linguistics and language use. Courses on a broad array of topics can be combined along thematic or disciplinary lines that interest you most. This allows you to focus on, for example, core theoretical areas (syntax, semantics, phonology), forensic and phonetic speech science, pragmatics and communication, language documentation in remote areas, language acquisition, or Indo-European linguistics.
You may choose one of the ready-made thematic or disciplinary routes through the programme, or potentially create one according to your individual interests. You will benefit from Leiden's excellent research facilities, including the Experimental Linguistics Labs: the Phonetics Lab, the EEG Lab, the Eye-tracking Lab and the Babylab.
The MA Linguistics specialisation is aimed at students who have an analytical mind and are fascinated by the human capacity for language, by the structure of languages, whether Western, non-Western, ancient or modern, or by the ways in which language can be used to inform, influence and mislead.

The MA Translation at Leiden University offers a unique combination of translation theory, research and practice, preparing you for either a further academic career as a researcher or a professional career in the language industry as a translator, subtitler, terminologist, project manager or language consultant. Thanks to our use of professional translation software and our attention to developments in computer-assisted and machine translation, you will have all the necessary tools in your translator’s toolkit, as well as the ability to use them critically and reflect on their value in a world of increasing globalization and multicultural communication.
The MA Translation is a member of the prestigious European Master’s in Translation Network and offers state-of-the-art training that includes the use of new tools and a strong focus on professional practice. The instructors all have experience in both professional practice and academic research, and their expertise is reflected in the different electives: legal translation, literary translation, medical translation, and multimodal translation (including subtitling). Our programme includes translation practice both from English to Dutch as well as Dutch to English. At the end of your studies, you will earn a qualification that will give you entry to the national register of sworn interpreters and translators.