COURSE CURRICULUM

Within the Linguistics specialisation at Leiden University, students can select one of eight thematic routes, each designed to prepare them for careers in areas such as speech technology, artificial intelligence, education, language documentation, and language policy. At the start of the program, students choose from Applied Linguistics, Comparative Indo-European Linguistics, Computational Linguistics, Language and Interaction, Language Description and Documentation, Language Processing and Cognition, Theoretical Approaches to Linguistic Diversity, or Theoretical Linguistics. Each route provides a structured set of courses tailored to its specific focus while allowing flexibility to explore related topics.The program also offers numerous opportunities for practical experience through internships, which allow students to apply their knowledge in real-world contexts. Recent Linguistics specialisation students have undertaken internships at a variety of organisations and institutions, including the Leiden University Centre for Linguistics, Koninklijke Brill NV, Transnational Consulting S.L., Taalmuseum Leiden, Meertens Instituut, the Dutch Embassy in Rome, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, KERN B.V. translation services, LiBC Babylab for language acquisition, the European Parliament, Pro Comunidades Indigenas, and the Institute for Sign Language, Language & Deaf Studies. These placements provide hands-on experience in research, translation, language documentation, communication, and policy-making.The program’s curriculum is detailed in the Prospectus, which outlines the courses and structure for the current academic year. This combination of thematic specialisation, practical training, and exposure to diverse linguistic approaches equips students with the knowledge and skills needed for a successful career in linguistics-related fields, whether in research, technology, education, or policy.