Linguistics
This programme is aimed at students who have a degree from a University of Applied Sciences (such as HBO) or an academic Bachelor’s degree that does not grant direct access to the following Master's tracks in Linguistics: MA General Linguistics and MA Language and Society. It does not grant access to the Research Master's Linguistics and Communication.
If you successfully complete the pre-Master’s programme within a year, you will automatically be admitted to the Master's programme you wish to pursue. However, you do need to complete the programme within one year, as you cannot start the Master's without fully meeting the entry requirements. After completing the pre-Master's programme you will not receive a diploma or certificate.
Programme
If you have obtained an academic Bachelor’s degree, you do not need to take the two Academic Skills courses (2 x 6 ECTS), which means that the programme will comprise 30 ECTS instead of 42 ECTS. Below you see the programme of the current academic year; the courses in the coming academic year may differ slightly. The Course Catalogue for the new academic year will be published in May.
You will follow one of the programmes listed below. All of them give access to all of the Master’s programmes listed above, but we strongly recommend that you choose the variant that corresponds with the Master’s you are looking to do.
Recommended for General Linguistics
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Academic Skills pre-Master's (only for hbo students)Period 1Period 312
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For hbo students: Philosophy of the Humanities (Language and Cognition)Period 16
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For students with an academic background: Introduction to LinguisticsPeriod 16
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PhonologyPeriod 26
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Research methods & statisticsPeriod 26
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SyntaxPeriod 36
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Language and Speech Disorders*Period 46
* If you hold a Bachelor's degree from a Dutch university of applied sciences in Sign Language, you can choose to follow the course Lexicon and Syntax of Sign Languages (block 5) instead of Language and Speech Disorders.
Recommended for Language and Society
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Academic Skills pre-Master's (only for hbo students)Period 1Period 312
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For hbo students: Philosophy of the Humanities (Language and Cognition)Period 16
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For students with an academic background: Introduction to LinguisticsPeriod 16
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Research Methods & StatisticsPeriod 26
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English Linguistics 6: The Changing English LanguagePeriod 46
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SociolinguisticsPeriod 56
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First year project group LinguisticsPeriod 66
Application deadlines
Please check the deadlines below very carefully, because they are strict. Missing one of the deadlines means that your application cannot be processed.
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I have a Dutch nationality
Register in Studielink (see step 1 of the application process)
8 May 2025, 23:59 CETSubmit complete application (see step 2)
15 May 2025, 23:59 CET -
I have an EU/EEA-nationality
If you wish to apply for housing
Register in Studielink (see step 1 of the application process)
23 February 2025, 23:59 CETSubmit complete application (see step 2)
1 March 2025, 23:59 CET
If you do NOT wish to apply for housing
Register in Studielink (see step 1 of the application process)
8 May 2025, 23:59 CETSubmit complete application (see step 2)
15 May 2025, 23:59 CET -
I have a non-EU/EEA nationality
Register in Studielink (see step 1 of the application process)
23 February 2025, 23:59 CETSubmit complete application (see step 2)
1 March 2025, 23:59 CETImportant information regarding visa
If you need a visa for your stay in the Netherlands, please note that the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) only issues visas to pre-Master's students for the duration of one year. If you do not complete the programme in one year, you cannot continue your studies anywhere in the Netherlands.
Application procedure
Your application to the Graduate School of Humanities always starts by submitting an enrolment request in Studielink and MyInfo application for the Master's programme you wish to pursue, even if you think you are eligible for the pre-Master’s programme.
An enrolment request in Studielink for the pre-Master’s programme alone is not sufficient and will not be taken into consideration.
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1. Submit an enrolment request in Studielink for the Master's Linguistics or Taalwetenschappen 60 EC
All students applying will need to start their application by submitting an enrolment request in Studielink, the Dutch online system for students applying for a degree programme at a Dutch university.
Applicants for the pre-Master's in Linguistics need to submit an enrolment request in Studielink for the Master's in Linguistics 60 EC or Taalwetenschappen 60 EC. Please note: even if you think you are eligible for the pre-Master’s programme, you must start your application by submitting an enrolment request for the Master’s Linguistics 60 EC or Taalwetenschappen 60 EC.
It is extremely important that you register in Studielink at least 48 hours before the application deadline (see above). This is to ensure that you receive your login information (UvAnetID) in time to fill in your UvA application in MyInfo (see step 3). -
2. Pay the application fee (international prior education only)
All students applying for a (pre-)Master’s programme with a non-Dutch degree must pay a non-refundable application fee of €100. The UvA cannot start processing your application until this fee has been paid. You can pay the application fee by credit card (Master or Visacard) or iDEAL.
You do not have to pay the application fee:
- If you have obtained or will obtain a Bachelor’s degree from a Dutch research university or university of applied sciences (HBO);
- If you have already applied and paid the application fee for another Master’s programme at the UvA for the academic year 2024-2025;
- If you have already applied and paid the application fee for a Master's programme at the Graduate School of Humanities for the academic year 2023-2024;
- If you have started a UvA Master’s programme in 2021, 2022 or 2023.
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3. Submit a complete application in MyInfo
Complete all of the steps of the application process for the Master's programme, including the application in MyInfo and the submission of all required application documents. This includes proof of English/Dutch language proficiency that meets our requirements.
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4. Wait for the admission decision
The Admissions Board will assess your prior education and determine whether you are directly admissible to the Master’s programme, admissible to the Master’s programme after first completing the pre-Master’s programme, or not admissible to the (pre)Master’s programme.
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5. After admission decision
If you are admissible to the pre-Master’s programme, you will receive a letter of conditional admission with the steps you need to take to become fully enrolled.
Please be aware that all pre-Master’s programmes offered by the Graduate School of Humanities must be completed within one academic year. Extensions are not possible.
Tuition fee for pre-Master's programmes
The tuition fee rate for a pre-Master’s programme in the academic year 2025-2026 is €43.35 per ECTS, with a maximum of €2,601. This means that for a 42 ECTS pre-Master’s programme, the fee is €1,820.70; for a 30 ECTS programme, the fee is €1,300.50.
More information
- Mode
- Full-time
- Credits
- 30/42 ECTS, 12 months
- Language of instruction
- English
- Conditions for admission
- University of applied sciences degree (HBO)
- Academic/research university degree (WO)
- Starts in
- September