phd in linguistics calgary

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Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics (PhD)

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Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguists are interested in questions such as the following:

• What are the structural properties of languages, at the level of sounds, words, sentences, and meaning?
• To what extent are the languages of the world similar or different?
• How is language acquired, by children and in adulthood?
• How is it processed in the mind/brain?
• How do people produce and perceive speech?
• How do languages change over time?

Linguistics is a highly interdisciplinary field which combines research methods from the humanities and the social, natural, and mathematical sciences.

Research in the Department covers a broad range of topics, with substantial coverage of syntax, semantics, morphology, phonetics, phonology, and pragmatics. We approach these topics from several different research traditions and backgrounds, with particular strengths in formal-theoretical linguistics, experimental and field linguistics, acquisition, and computational approaches to the study of communicative behaviour. These research areas intersect and overlap considerably, and faculty and students are often simultaneously involved in more than one area. This is part of the attention paid to interfaces between traditional subfields of linguistics and methodological traditions (e.g., laboratory phonology, gesture and speech and learning), one of the great strengths of the Department.

The Department also has a strong commitment to the study of Languages of the Americas, with particular focus on First Nations Languages of Canada, in the areas of documentation and theoretical research, something for which it is well known. Research is not restricted to Languages of the Americas, however; the department also has a long history of work on African languages and there is ongoing research on languages within the Indo-European, Japonic, Sino-Tibetan, and Uralic families as well as Korean.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

Our linguists focus on data in all its forms – not just fieldwork, but also high-quality research in labs with cutting-edge resources and tools, such as those found and developed in the Communication Dynamics Lab, the Interdisciplinary Speech Research Lab , the Language and Learning Lab , the Speech In Context Lab , and the Phonological CorpusTools working group.

Students in the Department of Linguistics are given the opportunity to head out into the field and get their hands dirty. Many of the members of our department, from undergrads and grad students to post-docs and faculty members, work directly with language consultants to describe, analyze and revitalize the languages of the world.

Linguists in the department have active working relationships with scholars from many different disciplines and from across the UBC campus, across the country, and across the world.

Our students are actively engaged in research from the moment they enter the department, and they have an excellent track record of publishing and presenting their work at national and international conferences.

UBC Linguistics has an intellectually nourishing, well-respected, and diverse curriculum and research program.

Starr Sandoval

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, 1) check eligibility, minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 90

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 6.5

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is optional.

2) Meet Deadlines

3) prepare application, transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

• Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics (PhD)

Citizenship verification.

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial Support

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

The Department of Linguistics guarantees funding of $25,500 plus the cost of tuition per annum for the first two years of the MA program and the first five years of the Ph.D. program to all students accepted to our graduate programs. 

Please note that as a condition for receiving this funding you will be expected to apply for any scholarships you are eligible for, either UBC-internally or from your home country.

Funding packages are made up of scholarships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships depending on individual students, year of study, and the financial resources of the department. 

Average Funding

• 15 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 15 students was $11,724.
• 10 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 10 students was $14,683.
• 4 students received Academic Assistantships. Average AA funding based on 4 students was $6,612.
• 18 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 18 students was $14,833.
• 3 students received external awards. Average external award funding based on 3 students was $20,333.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

31 students graduated between 2005 and 2013: 3 graduates are seeking employment; for 1 we have no data (based on research conducted between Feb-May 2016). For the remaining 27 graduates:

Sample Employers in Higher Education

Sample employers outside higher education, sample job titles outside higher education, phd career outcome survey, career options.

UBC’s Department of Linguistics alumni have a longstanding history of individual achievements and collective success. Since the first Department of Linguistics courses were offered at the University in 1967, our alumni have made a mark for themselves internationally and in a vast diversity of careers.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion Rates & Times

• Research Supervisors

Advice and insights from UBC Faculty on reaching out to supervisors

These videos contain some general advice from faculty across UBC on finding and reaching out to a supervisor. They are not program specific.

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Abdul-Mageed, Muhammad (Artificial intelligence (AI); Deep Learning; Natural Language Processing; Machine Learning; Computational Linguistics; Social Media Mining; Arabic)
• Babel, Molly (Linguistics; Phonetics; Recognition of Speech; Perception and Representation; Acoustics; Dialects; acoustics of speech production; phonetic variation; speech perception; spoken word recognition)
• Bochnak, Ryan
• Davis, Henry Thomas (First Nations languages)
• Dechaine, Rose-Marie (Native American languages; Algonquian language family, Cree, Blackfoot, Ojibwe; French / English bilingualism policy; formal linguistics; generative grammar (Chomsky); West African languages (Niger-Congo, Yoruba, Igbo, Edo); Nigerian languages; literacy vs. oralcy; language planning re: French, Indigenous languages, Speech/gesture coordination, syntactic interface relations)
• Gick, Bryan (phonetics, speech science, speech motor control, speech perception, multimodal perception, tactile perception, ultrasound imaging of speech, sounds of the world’s languages, Physical mechanisms of speech production, speech research)
• Hall, Kathleen (Linguistics; Phonology; Phonetics; Laboratory Phonology)
• Hammerly, Christopher (Syntax & Morphology; Psycholinguistics; Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe))
• Hansson, Gunnar (Linguistic structures (including grammar, phonology, lexicon and semantics); Cognitive sciences; theoretical phonology; morphology-phonology interface; phonological typology; historical linguistics (language change); locality relations; Icelandic)
• Hudson Kam, Carla (Language development, second language acquisition, critical periods for learning, input and language learning, language learning and language change, Psychology, First and second language acquisition, gesture and language learning, language contact and language change)
• Matthewson, Lisa (Linguistics; Semantics; Austronesian languages; Cross-linguistic variation and universals; Salish languages; Semantic fieldwork; Tsimshianic languages)
• Morzycki, Marcin (Linguistics; adverbial modification; degree modifiers; expressive meaning; grammar of modification; knowledge of meaning; measure phrases; modification of quantifiers; nonrestrictive modification; semantic restrictions on modifier order; Semantics, syntax, and their interface)
• Pulleyblank, Douglas (Linguistics; Phonology; Morphology; African languages; Yoruba)
• Rullmann, Hotze (Linguistics; Semantics)
• Soskuthy, Marton (language change; Computational modeling; Statistics; Phonetics; Cognitive systems)
• Tessier, Anne-Michelle (Linguistic structures (including grammar, phonology, lexicon and semantics); Constraint-based grammars; L2 production and perception in childhood; Language Acquisition; Lexical avoidance; Phonology; Prosodic processing with cochlear implants; Shitgibbons; U-shaped development)
• Zhu, Jian (Computational Linguistics, Natural Language Processing, Speech Sciences)

Doctoral Citations

Sample Thesis Submissions

• Speech postures are postures : towards a unified approach to postural control in gross and fine motor skills
• Towards Afrocentric natural language processing
• Functional categorization parameters : argumenthood with functional heads other than D in Carioca Brazilian Portuguese and Pirahã
• Perception, recognition, and encoding of Cantonese sound change variants
• Aspects of the morphophonology of Dagaare
• Second-position clitics, from morphosyntax to semantics : the ʔayʔaǰuθəm (Comox-Sliammon) perspective
• Embodiment and emergent phonology in the visual-manual modality : factors enabling sublexical componentiality

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Arts in Linguistics (MA)

Same Academic Unit

• Master of Data Science in Computational Linguistics (MDSCL)

Further Information

Specialization.

Linguistics covers the core areas of phonetics, phonology, semantics, and syntax with the possibility of specializing in First Nations languages, African languages, first language acquisition, and experimental linguistics as well as specialized interaction with other disciplines such as art, computer science, music, philosophy, and psychology in the cognitive systems stream.

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Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

Michelle Kamigaki-Baron

I read a paper a few years prior that was co-authored by my current supervisor Dr. Molly Babel which helped me imagine the research question of my current PhD project. Upon doing more research on UBC, it became clear that UBC was an ideal choice for me. The graduate students were doing a broad...

Ife Adebara

UBC was the only school I found that readily provided the type of interdisciplinary support that I needed. Most computational linguistic programs usually focus on either computer science or linguistics and I wanted both. I have been able to develop both linguistic and computing skills on this...

Roger Yu-Hsiang Lo

The linguistics department at UBC is well respected and highly regarded, with faculty members working in various subfields. Also, the diverse programs hosted at UBC allow me to take courses from different departments and to easily do interdisciplinary research. Metro Vancouver also features a...

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Meet Our Postdocs and Students

Mathieu Paillé

Postdoctoral Fellow

I am a formal semanticist who focuses on semantic strengthening, formal aspects of the meaning of predicates, logical vocabulary, and quantification. I completed my PhD as a Vanier scholar at McGill University in August 2022 and will be working on the acquisition of semantics during my time at the University of Calgary.

Beyond my work in semantics, I’m also interested in syntax, especially with capturing word order variation across languages. I’ve done syntactic or semantic/pragmatic work on the Algonquian language Ojibwe and a couple Austronesian languages (Bahasa Malaysia and Cebuano).

In my spare time I enjoy studying languages, social movement organising, and things like canoeing and skiing. I’m a native French speaker from a minority community in Winnipeg.

For more information on my work, visit my website .

Mahyar Nakhaei

PhD Student

I am Mahyar Nakhaei and I am very eager to study how pronouns are interpreted across languages and what factors affect their resolution by native speakers of each language. I have also done some research studies on how pronoun resolution might be different between pro-drop languages such as Persian and non-prodrop languages like English. Currently, as my PhD thesis I am running a study to investigate how individual differences might affect the interpretation of pronouns within a language. I am also planning to study a very particular controversial cliticlike marker (-esh) in Persian from a new perspective in near future.

Ni hao! I am Kang Xu, a Ph.D. student in Linguistics. I completed my B.A. at Memorial University of Newfoundland and my M.A. at the University of Western Ontario. My supervisor is Dr. Elizabeth Ritter who is an expert on theoretical syntax. She is also very funny. 

My interest is a little divided. I am interested in theoretical syntax, dialects, and sociolinguistics. Currently, I am studying the Mandarin sentence-final Complementizer system and the two-words tone sandhi in Wuhan dialect. 

Linguistics aside, I like brisk walking (Marathon style, e.g. 30000 steps). I have a French Bichon whose name is Dot Dot (English translation: little little) and he is getting old.

I’m Jesse. I did a BA Honours in linguistics at the University of Calgary and an MA in linguistics at Simon Fraser University. I’m most interested in syntax, phonetics and psycholinguistics, especially from an experimental perspective. I’m currently pursuing my PhD here at the University of Calgary. I chose to return here because this is one of the few schools in Canada that does experimental syntactic research, and I really wanted to continue to work with Dr. Storoshenko. In my free time, I like to play bass guitar, go to concerts, hike, and spend time with my dogs.

Francisco Ongay

My name is Francisco Ongay González and I am from Mexico. I am a student of the PhD program in Linguistics at the University of Calgary. I completed a BA in Languages at the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico and a MA in Hispanic Linguistics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. My native language is Spanish and I also speak English and French. I have also studied Japanese, Esperanto, Italian and Mexican Sign Language. While I have some experience in language teaching and translation, my main interest is language structure and specifically syntax. In my past studies, I have explored some time expressions in Spanish both in their semantic and syntactic dimensions. Other than languages and linguistics, I like drama and I have even acted in semi-professional theatre back in Mexico.

For more information about me, visit my website .

Syed Sazzad

I am a Linguistics PhD student at the University of Calgary. I was first intrigued by linguistics during the final years of my undergraduate in English at Government Hazi Mohammad Mohsin College. Then, I pursued an MA in Linguistics in the US at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) which now brought me here at U of C for the final degree. As for my research areas and interests, I’m more of a phonetics person in general- with interests in second language (Bengali) segmental transfer and perception based on L2 perception theories like that of Flege. I’m also interested to see how the outcomes in segmental perception relate to the tongue movement as captured in ultrasound during production. More recently, L2 intonation perception, psycho-linguistically, is also an area that I find quite interesting to pursue. Dr. Stephen Winters is my supervisor for the PhD. He is also the director of the Phonetics Lab at the University. I’m also a Teaching Assistant to Dr. Winters.   During leisure, I enjoy movies, cooking, outing, and Badminton. I have entered in a couple of Badminton clubs in Calgary since moving here. I’m also an avid reader of poetry.

Brooklyn sheppard

My name is Brooklyn and I’m pursuing my PhD under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Winters. I completed my BA Honours in Linguistics at the University of Calgary where my research focused on the prosodic correlates of sarcasm perception as well as a variety of topics in theoretical syntax (e.g., the syntax of nominals, coordination, etc.). In August 2022, I completed my MSc in Speech & Language Processing at the University of Edinburgh where my coursework focused on speech synthesis, automatic speech recognition, natural language processing, and machine learning. For my MSc dissertation, I explored the acoustic-prosodic effects of incorporating discourse-level information into a text-to-speech (TTS) system.  

From my experience with speech perception studies from my undergraduate degree and my experience in quantitative and computational modelling from both my graduate degree, my main research interests involve using computational methods to inform theories of speech perception and production. In my spare time, I love reading, getting out in the mountains, and doing math for fun (yes, really).

ushmum alam

This is Mir Ushmum Alam from Bangladesh. I completed my graduation and post-graduation in Linguistics from the University of Dhaka -the most prestigious institution in Bangladesh. I have also earned an MS degree in Clinical Linguistics. My M.Phil. research is about ‘Correlating Social Stratification and Bengali Phonology.’ My boundless love for linguistics grabs me here at the University of Calgary. My research interest includes phonology, clinical linguistics, psycholinguistics, and sociolinguistics. I speak one of the sweetest languages of the world: Bengali. To build up a ‘language lab’ in Bangladesh is one of my dreams.

I am a fun-loving extrovert girl. I love singing and dancing. I love to travel and explore new things. But nowadays ‘sleeping’ is one of my favorite leisure activities

VINCENT NWOSU

My name is Vincent, a PhD student. I received a BA in English and Literary Studies from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. I moved to the US and received an MA in Linguistics from the University of Delaware. I was in the PhD program there before moving to Calgary to continue my studies with Dr. Darin Flynn.

I am broadly interested in phonological theory and laboratory phonetics. My current focus is on the phonetics phonology interface with tone and the typologies of prosodic systems. I specifically look at tonal and incomplete neutralization, prosody, and speech acoustics. I am also committed to the typology and documentation of endangered and understudied African languages.

Beyond my academic pursuits, I find leisure in watching movies and football (soccer). My favorite team is Chelsea, and I take great pleasure in supporting the team.

Cheryl Iwanchuk

I’m Cheryl. I graduated from the University of Calgary with an Honours degree in Linguistics and a minor in speech language sciences, I also previously completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts from U of C. My research interests are syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and first language acquisition. I’m taking a Masters of Arts in Linguistics.  I choose the University of Calgary because the linguistics community at the U of C is supportive and fosters future research and researchers.  I wanted to work with the faculty.   My hobbies are vast and ever expanding, but right now I paint, knit, craft.  I like to go camping, paddle boarding, canoeing.  I have been trying to learn to play the drums for a while, but haven’t had the time.  I also really enjoy video games and board games with my friends.

Charys Russell

I’m Charys (pronounced [ˈkʰɛ.ɹɪs]), and I am pursuing an MA in Linguistics at the UofC under Dr. Winters. I graduated with a BA Honours in Linguistics (where I wrote a thesis about the change in stress placement in suffixed words in English over the past two centuries), and I work in the L2+ Sound Learning Lab (which is studying the effects of aural perceptual training on adult learners of German and how it is linked to orthography). My research interests are acoustic phonetics, L2 phonology, and historical English. My native language is Canadian English, and I also speak French, German, and Italian.

In my spare time, you can find me playing disc golf, embroidering, or playing video games.

“Give us a good IPA and we can read any language in this world”

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Linguistics

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Why choose Linguistics?

Linguists ask questions such as: How do languages change? Why are certain words controversial? How do accents form?

Linguistics is the scientific study of language as a universal human phenomenon. This program will give you the opportunity to analyze the structure of various languages and apply this knowledge in a variety of sub-fields and languages. During the course of your studies, you'll gain creative thinking skills, research and analytical capabilities, written and verbal communication skills, and cross-disciplinary understandings.

Career opportunities

​As a Linguistics graduate, you'll be prepared for career opportunities in areas such as civil service, the non-profit sector, and the business world. A degree in Linguistics can also be used as a stepping-stone to graduate studies or another professional degree such as law, medicine, veterinary medicine, or education.

Program highlights

• Co-operative work placement - Gain valuable full-time paid work experience that alternates with your academic studies.
• Honours Degree - In-depth study of a specific topic completed under the supervision of a faculty member.
• Study abroad opportunities - Cultural and academic experiences at destinations around the world.

Courses in this program

English Syntax, Introduction to Semantics, Phonology I, Second Language Acquisition, ​Introduction to Linguistics

Detailed course information

• First year Degree Guide - Arts
• Program description and courses (Course Calendar)

Language is at the core of every human interaction, and increasingly machine interaction (Hello, Siri). Linguistics is like the geology of human language. We study how Language is processed in the brain, developing models that predict the limits of what is or is not possible in language, and can be built into software. In my research, I work with languages such as Persian, Korean, and Shona — along with digital data from Twitter, and lab experiments using eye-tracking.

Dennis Storoshenko

PhD - Associate Professor

• After degree student

Use the Undergraduate Student Cost Estimator to calculate your expenses as a first-year student. Undergraduate Student Cost Estimator

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• BA Linguistics
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PhD Program

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The PhD program is for those interested in advanced research training and developing expertise in an area of their choice.

Program Overview

Our department covers a broad range of research topics, with substantial coverage of phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. We approach these topics from several different research traditions and backgrounds, with particular strengths in formal-theoretical linguistics, experimental and field linguistics, acquisition, and computational approaches to the study of communicative behaviour.

Program Requirements

Students in the PhD Linguistics program must complete coursework under the following requirements:

• LING 508: Phonetic Theory and Analysis (3 credits)
• LING 510: Phonological Theory and Analysis (3 credits)
• LING 520: Syntactic Theory and Analysis (3 credits)
• LING 525: Semantic Theory and Analysis (3 credits)
• First-year breadth courses may be waived if equivalent courses have been taken elsewhere.
• LING 505A: Issues in Morphological Theory and Analysis (3 credits)
• LING 511 : Topics in Phonology (3 credits)
• LING 513: Topics in Phonetics (3 credits)
• LING 521: Topics in Syntax (3 credits)
• LING 527: Topics in Semantics (3 credits)
• More than one section of LING 530 can be counted towards this requirement, with each three-credit section counting as one course.
• LING 531: Field Methods in Linguistics I (3 credits)
• The remaining six credits can be completed with either LING 532, LING 518, and/or an appropriate methods-related course within in Linguistics or in a different department

The first-year breadth courses and methods courses (except Field Methods) are waived if equivalent courses have been taken elsewhere, subject to an evaluation of the relevant syllabus.

First-year graduate students who do not have sufficient background for the first-year graduate courses (this is most typically an issue for LING 525 and LING 508) are expected to take the appropriate undergraduate courses (e.g., LING 325, LING 313) prior to registration in the graduate course.

Here are three sample course sequences that students usually take:

Sequence 1: 

Term 1: Breadth: LING 510, LING 520; Depth: LING 503

Term 2: Breadth: LING 508, LING 525; Depth: LING 511

Term 3: Depth: LING 513; Methods: LING 518, LING 531

Term 4: Depth: LING 530; Depth/Methods: LING 532

Sequence 2: 

Term 1: Breadth: LING 510, LING 520; Depth: LING 530

Term 2: Breadth: LING 525; Depth: LING 505A, LING 521

Term 3: Depth LING 527; Methods: LING 518, LING 531

Term 4: Depth/Methods LING 532

Sequence 3: 

Term 1: Breadth: LING 510; Depth: LING 503; Methods: 3 credits in statistics

Term 3: Depth LING 513; Methods: LING 518, LING 531

Term 4: Depth LING 530; LING 530

Qualifying papers

The QP process is an opportunity to develop, strengthen, and broaden research skills. Whether a student chooses the one-QP or two-QP option and the specific topic(s) are decisions students discuss and make in discussion with their committee. Discussions of what constitutes appropriate scope should take place within the committee.

Two-QP option (default): Students who select to write two QPs are acknowledging that they would benefit from the experience of engaging in two separate research topics under the guidance of a committee. Each committee must have three members, but each QP will have two readers. (The third member may be the Graduate Advisor.) The length of these QPs is to be the scope of a discipline-specific conference proceedings paper.

One-QP option: Students who select to write one QP are eager to engage more deeply with a single topic and set of research methods. Under this option, QPs will have three readers. The scope of this QP is to be appropriate for a journal manuscript, which is discipline specific. 

While QPs may feed into dissertation projects, there is no established expectation that they will or will not.

No defences, but QP presentations. Under neither of these options will students be required to defend their QPs. But, developing presentation skills is important to a scholar’s development. Students are required to present each QP. Such a presentation is a presentation and not a defence. The evaluation of a presentation is thus formative, and not summative. A QP does not need to be presented upon completion, but rather it is up to the committee to decide the presentation timing that is appropriate for a student. To facilitate this, there will be a Graduate Student Research Day at the end of every term, and all students will be invited to present.

As part of the Qualifying Paper process, and before beginning work on the paper, a student must have a short proposal for each paper approved by the supervisory committee. The proposal must establish the specific area and problem(s) to be addressed and cite a few key references from the literature which will be surveyed. The committee will normally respond to the proposal within 2 weeks of its submission. The Qualifying Paper proposal should follow the formatting guidelines of an abstract for the Annual Conference of the Canadian Linguistic Association, with the following addition: without exceeding the one-page length limit, the proposal should include a short budget (if there will be costs associated with completing the Qualifying Paper), budget justification and funding source (faculty member’s grant, outside grant, private funds, etc.). Also note that the content for a proposal will normally be more speculative than a conference abstract. Once approved, the Qualifying Paper proposal should be electronically filed with the Grad Admin and circulated electronically to the Department.

The final paper will be submitted to UBC Working Papers in Linguistics and must follow the UBCWPL style guidelines for length and formatting.

Dissertation

The dissertation marks the culmination of the PhD program. A dissertation should be an original and independent research project which makes some contribution to knowledge in the special area elected by the student.The dissertation marks the culmination of the PhD program. A dissertation should be an original and independent research project which makes some contribution to knowledge in the special area elected by the student.

By the end of a student’s third year, the student must submit to the Graduate Advisor a dissertation prospectus, along with the appropriate approval form signed by the members of the dissertation committee, and circulate the prospectus electronically to the Department. The content of a dissertation prospectus should be along the lines of an NSERC Discovery Grant or a SSHRC Insight Grant; it should have the following components:

• Summary (1 page maximum)
• Detailed description (6 pages maximum)
• Bibliography
• Budget (if there will be costs associated with completing the dissertation research)
• Budget justification (as appropriate)

Dissertations should be prepared in accordance with the thesis formatting regulations required by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Dissertations which do not meet the standards specified may be rejected. Documentation should follow the style guide of the Canadian Journal of Linguistics, Language, or the American Psychological Association.

The completed dissertation will be read by a specialist from outside the University, arranged by the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at least three months before the candidate expects to take the final oral examination. The student’s research supervisor and the Graduate Advisor will forward a list of names of specialists who might serve as External Examiner using the Doctoral Dissertation Form. When the dissertation has been approved for submission to the External Examiner, the candidate will take the final oral defence. This is a formal, public examination, chaired by an appointee of the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and attended by the members of the examining committee and other interested persons.

Students nearing the final stages of thesis writing should familiarize themselves with the timeline to the oral dissertation defense . During the weeks prior to the oral examination, students are strongly encouraged to give a practice oral presentation, ideally during a departmental research seminar slot. Practice orals should follow the Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies format, allowing 30 minutes for a presentation, and a longer period for questions. While examining committee members are not prohibited from attending, practice orals should not be viewed as an opportunity to prepare students for specific questions that students will be asked by committee members at the official defence.

The candidate submits an electronic copy of the final dissertation to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. The electronic copy will be deposited in the cIRcle on-line repository, and linked from the department website. The final oral exam may be held at any time of the year (except from mid-December to mid-January) provided that the examining committee can be assembled.

Language requirement

In order to graduate, students must have a sound knowledge of one language other than English. They must fulfill this language requirement by the time of their thesis prospectus submission.

The language to fulfill this requirement is expected to be chosen on the basis of its relevance for the student’s research program, in consultation and by approval of the student’s supervisory committee. Relevance can be determined by a variety of factors such as the following:

• The language is the object of the student’s research, or is closely related to the language of research; for example, where a student’s research focuses on Yoruba, knowledge of Yoruba could fulfill the requirement, or where the student’s research is on St’at’imcets, knowledge of Halkomelem could fulfill the requirement.
• There is a significant and relevant linguistic literature in the language; for example, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Russian could fulfill the requirement.
• The language serves as a medium for conducting linguistic research relevant to the student’s program of research; for example, Hausa could fulfill the language requirement for a student conducting research on a language of northern Nigeria.

Students may fulfill the language requirements in various ways:

• Certain departments at UBC periodically schedule reading knowledge examinations. This exam evaluates a student’s language competence based on the translation of a text (approximately 1000 words) relating to the student’s field of study. A minimum second class standing (B- or better) must be obtained on this exam in order to satisfy the Foreign Language Requirement. For further information on such examinations, contact the appropriate departments.
• If you speak a language natively, your native proficiency can be accepted by the supervisory committee.
• If you have completed a program of post-secondary language study (a minimum of 12 credits or equivalent). A minimum second class standing (B- or better) must be obtained for these credits in order to satisfy the Foreign Language Requirement.
• For other languages, it may be necessary to establish an ad hoc mechanism for conducting an evaluation of the student’s knowledge. In such cases, the student should make a written request to their supervisory committee, including a proposal for how such an examination can take place, and including a proposal for a qualified examiner. Students considering this option should be aware that the requirements (including the required level of competence in the language and how to demonstrate it) may vary extensively from case to case, depending on the norms of the language community involved.

Continuous enrolment

Until their MA thesis prospectus has been approved, all MA students are expected to maintain a regular, active, physical presence in the Department. This can include participation in lab/project/reading groups, attending colloquia, research seminars or other ad hoc departmental events, meetings with their supervisor, committee members or other researchers in relevant areas. Certain circumstances may necessitate a student’s absence during some of this period (e.g. for field work); such absences should be discussed with the supervisory committee.

At all stages of the program, a student and their supervisor should be in regular contact and communication. At the thesis/dissertation stage, such contact should happen at least once a month (again, barring extenuating circumstances), either through in-person meetings, videoconferencing, or communication/reporting over email.

Supervision

A Research Supervisor is appointed for a student before the beginning of their first year in the program. The Graduate Advisor and the Research Supervisor, in consultation with the incoming student, will establish a three-member Temporary Supervisory Committee no later than the end of the first week of the first term.

Prior to registration for the second year, the Temporary Supervisory Committee shall be dissolved and a new Supervisory Committee shall be established. A MA Supervisory Committee consists minimally of the Research Supervisor and two additional members. Normally the members of the supervisory committee are from the Department of Linguistics; if the students committee includes members from outside the Department of Linguistics, a majority must be departmental members. Establishing a Research Supervisor is the joint responsibility of the student and the Graduate Advisor.

Both new and continuing MA students will have a meeting with their Supervisory Committee during the last week of August or in early September. At this meeting students can discuss their course work and other aspects of their program. Incoming students are requested to bring with them copies of the calendars of course offerings from the institutions they previously attended (other than UBC). At the end of April or the beginning of May, all students will meet with their Supervisory Committee to discuss the year’s progress and to plan further work. Any changes in a graduate student’s program must be approved by the Supervisory Committee.

The Graduate Advisor, in advising students, makes every effort to ensure that they have satisfied all the requirements for the degree — language requirements, course work, etc. However, it is ultimately every student’s responsibility to ensure that at the time he/she applies for the degree he/she has met all the requirements. Separate records of a student’s program and progress are kept by the Faculty of Graduate Studies; these records are obtained from information provided by the Graduate Advisor and are used to determine a student’s ultimate eligibility for graduation.

Annual evaluation

The Faculty will meet in April or May each year to discuss the progress of each student in the PhD program. The student’s supervisor will inform them of the results of the evaluation. If a student is not making satisfactory progress, they will either be required to withdraw from the program immediately or will be placed on probation and told what conditions must be fulfilled to obtain a satisfactory standing. If a student on probation has not fulfilled these conditions by the end of the following semester, they will then normally be required to withdraw from the program.

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Western Education's PhD | Field of Applied Linguistics

The PhD program in the field of Applied Linguistics challenges you to engage with foundational theories and educational research focusing on language-related issues. As you develop expertise in a specific field of Applied Linguistics, you will contribute to existing bodies of knowledge and extend the reach of research to influence theory, policy, and educational practice.

Create your own research

Influence theory, policy and practice

Possibilities to go to conferences

Become a valued expert

What I like about my PhD program is the amazing support and guidance provided to me by experienced faculty and staff, coupled with knowledge I have learned. 

My PhD program has helped me have a comprehensive understanding of the topics I am passionate about and helped me become a leader in higher education.

- Sarah Halabi, Current Student

Beyond the program details

• Research based Master's degree in Education or equivalent from an accredited university
• Normally an "A" standing (80%) or equivalent in previous graduate work
• Evidence of previous scholarly research, such as a Master's Thesis, Masters Research Project, or Qualifying Research Paper acceptable to the Doctoral Admissions Committee and the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs
• Clear statement of plans for future study and research

Recommended:

• Professional qualifications and work in an educational setting (teaching experience or other)

Notes & Exceptions:

• Students with Master's degrees and an excellent academic record in a related field, who have experience in education and teaching in universities, colleges, or organizations other than public schools, and who may not have professional teaching credentials or qualifications, will also be considered for admission.
• Students may be required to make up for any deficiencies in their specific backgrounds by taking appropriate additional course work.

Tuition amounts are set each year by Senate and then published on the Office of the Registrar's  Fees Schedules  web page. Fees are assessed once each term (Fall, Winter, Summer).

Current students can access fee information by logging into the  Student Centre  (use your Western email log in and password). Students are notified each term once fee amounts have been posted in the Student Centre; it is each student's responsibility to log into the Student Centre and pay fees by the due date indicated. Failure to do so may result in a late payment fee or deregistration.

For questions about fees, including how to pay fees and the methods of payment that are accepted, students should go to the  Student Financial Services  pages of the Office of the Registrar's web site or contact Student Financial Services (Office of the Registrar) at 519-661-2100.

The Graduate Student Affordability Calculator was designed for you to get a better estimate of what it will cost to attend one of Western's graduate programs for one year. The calculator is not a promise of funding or a place to access scholarship support or financial aid; rather, it is intended to provide you with an accurate estimate of how much money you will need to pay for your tuition, fees, housing, food, and many other necessities for a 12-month (three-term) academic year.

PhD students receive a funding package that includes the cost of annual tuition plus an additional $17,000. A portion of the funding package involves an Assistantship Role requiring 10 hours of work per week for 28 weeks (September to April) in the Faculty of Education. Details of the assignments are determined in consultation with students after they have formally accepted the offer of admission from the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Taking on an Assistantship Role provides students with crucial experience for their academic career after completion of the Ph.D.

The maximum time for funding is 4 (four) years or 12 (twelve) terms. Please note that those who win major financial awards (OGS, Tri-Council or other awards valued at $15,000 or more) will be responsible for their own tuition and ancillary fees.

Also, the following funding scholarships are available at the Faculty of Education (The process for each is described in the link below.):

• Students living with disabilities
• Indigenous students
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
• Canadian Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral (CGS-D)

See further details about funding opportunities available through the Faculty of Education.

Instructors of onsite courses use the Sakai OWL platform, although it is not required.  Access to a course in Sakai OWL is typically opened the first business day of each term. Please note that although your own access may be granted prior to the first business day, course content may not be posted until closer to the scheduled term start. Your Western University login and password is required to access the course (your Western email without the @uwo.ca and its accompanying password). Access to the learning management system is found here: Sakai OWL .

For online courses, students are required to have access to the following:

• High speed Internet access
• Access to a computer that enables connection to outside websites (flexible firewall restrictions)
• Multimedia playback capabilities (video/audio)
• Computer capable of running a recent version of Internet Explorer, Safari, or Firefox; and/or Cisco MOVI client for PC or Mac
• Audio headset and microphone for computer

Program information

Description.

The PhD program in the field of Applied Linguistics challenges you to engage with foundational theories and educational research focusing on language-related issues and offers you an opportunity to engage with top-tier researchers and academics.  As you develop expertise in a specific field of Applied Linguistics, you will contribute to existing bodies of knowledge and extend the reach of research to influence theory, policy, and educational practice.  

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to visit our  Faculty Research  page for more information on the exciting research being conducted at the Faculty of Education.  

Important note: When submitting an application to the PhD in Education Studies program, applicants must indicate their preferred Thesis Supervisor in their Statement of Intent. Applicants are advised to review the  Faculty Research  page and contact faculty in their area of interest to confirm that this potential exists.  

Comprehensive Examination

A comprehensive exam will be implemented in the PhD program to meet requirements for the depth and breadth outcomes from the Graduate Degree Level Expectations. The goal of the exam is for students to demonstrate a depth of information concerning their specific program of research and a breath of knowledge of their focus within the field (e.g., mathematics curriculum; ESL/EFL).

• Format: One written question that asks students to discuss their program of research and how it relates to their focus within the field.
• Length: 8,000-10,000 words.
• Draft question: While cognizant that Applied Linguistics is a highly interdisciplinary field, you will demonstrate knowledge of key aspects of the development of your area of specialization in Applied Linguistics, including its evolution, seminal works and contemporary knowledge and issues in the area (e.g., educational linguistics related to second/foreign language teaching; discourse or genre approaches to EAP, etc.), describe your proposed program of research and how it relates to said area. Students are encouraged to discuss their papers with anyone, including supervisors, but not show them drafts.
• Timeframe: As soon as you have completed your coursework, you will start your Comprehensive Exam process and must be completed in one term. Comprehensive Exams are a Milestone and will not show up as a course in your Student Centre. Once you have passed your Comprehensive Exam, it will appear at the end of your transcript under the Milestones area.
• Administration: Students must submit the following to the Graduate Programs Office at least four weeks prior to the end of the term of registration: 1 electronic copy of comprehensive examination and Request for Administration of Qualifying Examination form.
• Reviewers: The student’s supervisor and one committee member or alternative that has knowledge of the field shall be completed. Each reader will independently determine whether the paper is satisfactory or not and notify the Graduate Programs Office within two weeks after the submission date. The Graduate Programs Office will then notify the Supervisor who will share the results with the student.
• Grading: Grading will be satisfactory or unsatisfactory. The paper must be judged satisfactory by both reviewers in order to be marked “Pass”. If a student’s paper does not pass, the student will be permitted to resubmit a revised version of the paper within two weeks of its return. The revised paper will be re-read by the same reader(s) who had marked it unsatisfactory. If the revised paper is not assigned a “Pass”, the student will be asked to withdraw from the program. If the paper is assigned a “Pass”, the student may proceed in the program to complete degree requirements.

Thesis Proposal and Presentation

Within six months following successful completion of the comprehensive examinations, a student must make an oral presentation to their Thesis Advisory Committee, then submit a written research proposal in which the research problem, theoretical framework and methodology are explained and satisfactorily defended. The presentation will be open to all members of graduate faculty and to all graduate students. To schedule a Proposal Presentation a student should work with their Supervisor to set a date and time then please inform the Graduate Programs Office for public announcement.

Thesis Examination/Defence

When the thesis has been completed and approved by the Supervisor and the Thesis Advisory Committee, the candidate may submit the thesis for examination. The candidate submits the Application for Thesis Examination (PDF) and the Doctoral Thesis Supervisor Approval (PDF) forms to the Graduate Programs Office. The forms have to be submitted a minimum of seven weeks prior to the defence date. The thesis is uploaded to Scholarship@Western, Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository, a minimum of six weeks prior to the defence date.

The examination includes a Public Lecture which provides both a valuable means of disseminating research findings within the academic community, and an opportunity for all graduate students of education to participate in and contribute to the scholarly discourse of the university. In accordance with the appropriate regulations, the public lecture will be advertised in the University's Western News and on the University's web site, and be open to all members of the community. The examination normally follows within 24 hours of the lecture.

Details of the examination process are located in Section 8 of Graduate Regulations .

Timing/Delivery

Below is the typical program of study for a full-time PhD student:

Full-time  - 12 terms (4 years)

Full-Time students can take a maximum of 3 course per term.

PhD students in the area of Applied Linguistics will be required to complete:

• 9715 - PhD Seminar  
• 1 Additional Research Methodology course - as approved by supervisor
• 9711 - Qualitative Research in Education
• 9705 - Advanced Quantitative Research Methods
• 9302 - Teaching and Learning Vocabulary
• 9308 - Teaching and Learning Grammar
• 9309 - Second Language Assessment
• 9301 - Social approaches to language learning and teaching
• 9307 - Language Teacher Education
• 9305 - Discourse analysis and language teaching
• 9300 - Understanding second language learning and teaching
• 9303 - Computer-assisted language learning
• 9306 - Syllabus and materials design
• 9625 - Critical Issues in Language & Literacy Education
• 9580 - Introduction to Curriculum  ( prerequisite for Advanced Topics )
• 9599 - Early Literacy Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Learning
• 9683 - Critical Pedagogy
• 9203 - Globalization and education
• 9425 - Language, Identity, Pedagogy
• 9730 - Advanced Topics in Curriculum  ( must have completed 9580 )
• Comprehensive Exam
• Thesis Proposal (oral presentation and written submission)
• Thesis examination/defense

Note:   In lieu of the recommended courses, up to two electives inside or outside the ARC can be taken with the approval of the student's supervisor. Students may also have the option to enroll in an Independent Reading and Research Course as an elective.

Potential Supervisor

Frank Boers 

Julie Byrd Clark 

Farahnaz Faez 

Shelley Taylor 

Stuart Webb 

Ruslan Suvorov

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80 Best universities for Linguistics in Canada

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
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• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in Canada ranked based on their research performance in Linguistics. A graph of 8.4M citations received by 327K academic papers made by 80 universities in Canada was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Toronto

For Linguistics

2. University of British Columbia

3. McGill University

4. University of Alberta

5. University of Waterloo

6. University of Montreal

7. University of Ottawa

8. McMaster University

9. Western University

10. University of Calgary

11. Simon Fraser University

12. York University

13. Queen's University

14. Laval University

15. University of Manitoba

16. University of Victoria

17. Dalhousie University

18. Concordia University

19. Carleton University

20. University of Saskatchewan

21. University of Guelph

22. University of Quebec in Montreal

23. Memorial University of Newfoundland

24. University of Windsor

25. Polytechnic School of Montreal

26. Ryerson University

27. University of Sherbrooke

28. University of Regina

29. University of New Brunswick

30. Wilfrid Laurier University

31. Brock University

32. University of Lethbridge

33. HEC Montreal

34. University of Winnipeg

35. Lakehead University

36. Laurentian University

37. Trent University

38. School of Higher Technology - University of Quebec

39. St. Francis Xavier University

40. University of Quebec, Trois-Rivieres

41. University of Northern British Columbia

42. Saint Mary's University

43. University of Moncton

44. Royal Military College of Canada

45. Ontario Tech University

46. Cape Breton University

47. Acadia University

48. Mount Allison University

49. MacEwan University

50. Bishop's University

51. University of Quebec in Outaouais

52. University of Prince Edward Island

53. Mount Saint Vincent University

54. Mount Royal University

55. University of Quebec at Chicoutimi

56. Nipissing University

57. Thompson Rivers University

58. Brandon University

59. Royal Roads University

60. Trinity Western University

61. Kings University in Canada

62. University of Quebec

63. University of Quebec in Rimouski

64. Kwantlen Polytechnic University

65. St. Thomas University - Canada

66. University of the Fraser Valley

67. Vancouver Island University

68. National School of Public Administration

69. Quest University Canada

70. University of Saint-Boniface

71. University of Quebec, Abitibi-Temiscamingue

72. British Columbia Institute of Technology

73. Algoma University

74. OCAD University

75. Concordia University of Edmonton

76. Redeemer University College

77. First Nations University of Canada

78. Capilano University

79. Emily Carr University of Art and Design

80. Crandall University

The best cities to study Linguistics in Canada based on the number of universities and their ranks are Toronto , Vancouver , Montreal , and Edmonton .

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in Canada

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PhD Program in Cognitive Science of Language

Join our world-class Languages & Linguistics Department to continue your study of language structure, language processing and the neural basis of language in the Cognitive Science of Language PhD Program.

Our courses are so hands-on and application based that you end up developing a unique and valuable skillset, which ends up leading into a variety of career paths that would otherwise have been difficult to grow accustomed to.

Meliha Horzum '20

Honours Cognitive Science of Language

About the Program

Based in the Department of Linguistics and Languages, the PhD program in Cognitive Science of Language is interdisciplinary and includes faculty from Humanities, Science, and Health Sciences. The program has a strong research orientation with expertise in cognitive science, corpus linguistics, neurolinguistics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics and theoretical linguistics. The program introduces students to the issues in those fields that form the nexus of linguistics, cognitive science and cognitive neuroscience, and trains students in the research methods employed to study them.

Admission Requirements

A MSc in the Cognitive Science of Language or an equivalent Master’s degree is required for entrance into the PhD program. Some applicants may require additional courses in core areas (e.g. linguistics or cognitive science) in order to be eligible for admission. Each application will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Language Requirement

In order to ensure language diversity and breadth, the Department has a second-language requirement for the PhD degree, in addition to the general Graduate School requirement of English proficiency. Candidates should have, as a minimum, intermediate knowledge of a language other than English, defined as having passed the equivalent of two (2) full year courses. Candidates admitted without this requirement will be expected to pass the equivalent of two (2) full year courses or to pass a Qualifying Exam. The Department will evaluate each student’s language preparation at the Admission stage.

Application Process

The official electronic transcripts should be sent from the issuing institution directly to our department’s email: [email protected]

The online application portal for our graduate program in Cognitive Science of Language unlocks November 1st each year for September admission only. 

THOSE WHO SUBMIT  THEIR  COMPLETED APPLICATIONS (BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL) BY THE JANUARY 31ST DEADLINE WILL HAVE FIRST CONSIDERATION.

• Complete the online application -> McMaster University Application  
• Statement of Interest (identify the faculty member you wish to work with)
• Writing Sample (any type of academic writing i.e. term paper, thesis chapter)
• Two academic references (McMaster University uses an Electronic Referencing System. By entering the email address of your referee through the online application, the system will automatically send an e-Reference request on your behalf)
• English Language Proficiency (if English is not your native language)
• Official transcripts of all post-secondary academic work completed to date (transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institution to our Department, please include English translation if applicable)
• Official copy of your TOEFL or IELTS scores or any other evidence of English proficiency (TOEFL: minimum score of 92 (internet based), 237 (computer based) or 580 (paper based), minimum of 20 per band; for the Faculty of Engineering a minimum score of 88 (internet based) or 213 on the (computer based) or 550 (paper based)  IELTS (Academic): minimum overall score of 6.5, with at least 5.5 in each section)
• **NOTE** Applicants from outside of Canada should begin the application process as early as possible to allow time to obtain all necessary documents.

Program Timelines

Students entering with a MSc in the Cognitive Science of Language are required to complete three half courses plus one pass/fail module. If the following courses were not completed in the MSc program, they must be included in the PhD program of study:

• COGSCIL 730 / Language Analysis Methods: Phonology and Morphology
• COGSCIL 731 / Language Analysis Methods: Syntax and Semantics
• COGSCIL 726 / The Cognitive Science of Language Ph.D. Lecture Series must be completed in Year 1 of the PhD program
• Plus additional courses approved by the student’s supervisory committee to total three half courses

Students entering with a Master’s degree but not an MSc in the Cognitive Science of Language are required to complete seven half courses plus one pass/fail lecture series module as listed below. The Lecture series must be completed in year one of the program.  

Required courses:

• COGSCIL 721 / Fundamentals of the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
• COGSCIL 722 / Contemporary Issues in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
• COGSCIL 726 / The Cognitive Science of Language Ph.D. Lecture Series  
• Plus additional courses approved by the student’s supervisory committee to total seven half courses

The Comprehensive Examination is intended to ensure that the student develops competence in a subfield of Cognitive Science of Language beyond the focus of the thesis. In consultation with the supervisory committee, the student will identify a topic for the Comprehensive that is distinct from the thesis topic.

In most cases, the Director of the Comprehensive will not be the thesis supervisor. The student and the Comprehensive Director agree in writing on the nature of the deliverable for the Comprehensive and on interim and final deadlines. At a minimum, the Comprehensive consists of a written paper and oral examination of the topic of the paper. The paper may consist of a literature review, proposal for a research project, report of a research project or report of a teaching project. The scope of the project should be such that it can reasonably be completed within one semester. The paper will usually be 20-30 pages long.

The Comprehensive Director identifies at least one other faculty member; together, the Director and these other faculty members constitute the Comprehensive Exam Committee. (Comprehensive Directors are encouraged to recruit Comprehensive Examiners from beyond the Department of Linguistics & Languages.) The Comprehensive Director advises the student on the preparation of the paper. The Comprehensive Exam Committee determines whether the paper is ready for an oral defense, and conducts the oral examination. The oral examination consists of a brief presentation by the student regarding the content of the paper followed by questions from the Committee. The Comprehensive Exam must be successfully completed within 20 months of entering the PhD program.

All students are expected to attend the talks in the Cognitive Science of Language Lecture Series, where scholars from around the world in the fields of Linguistics, Psychology, and Cognitive Neuroscience discuss their research.

Tuition & Program Fees

Visit Graduate Studies to learn more about tuition, supplementary fees and everything you need to know about being paid as a Teaching or Research Assistant. Tuition fees are assessed on a term by term basis, depending on the number of courses a student takes or if they are paying by term.

Faculty Scholarship Adjustments Guidelines

The McMaster Graduate Scholarship (MGS) is the most common form of scholarship support available to graduate students in our program. The MGS ensures that students receive a guaranteed minimum level of scholarship support. Adjustments to the MGS will depend on other available scholarships.

The Faculty of Humanities Adjustments guidelines policy is available for review.

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Apply to an PhD Program in Linguistics & Languages

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Research your passion in Linguistics & Languages with supervision from our world-class faculty.

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Supplemental information.

Graduate Courses in Linguistics and Languages

Course outlines 2024-2025

• Cogscil 6D03 – Computers and Linguistic Analysis
• Cogscil 6XX3 – Topics in Linguistic Theory
• Cogscil 712 – Reading Course (Linguistics)
• Cogscil 713 – Reading Course (Cognitive Science)
• Cogscil 726A – The Cognitive Science of Language M.Sc. Lecture Series
• Cogscil 749 – Lab Visual Language

Winter 2025 (the outlines will be added by the beginning of the winter term)

• Cogscil 6EL3 – Experimental Lab in Cognitive Science of Language
• Cogscil 6G03- Language, Sex and Gender
• Cogscil 6LC3 – Advanced Morphology and Syntax
• Cogscil 713 –  Reading Course (Cognitive Science)
• Cogscil 721 – Fundamentals of the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
• Cogscil 726B– The Cognitive Science of Language M.Sc. Lecture Series
• Cogscil 730 – Language Analysis Methods: Phonology and Morphology

Course outlines 2023-2024

• Cogscil 6LB3 – Advanced Phonetics and Phonology
• Cogscil 722 – Contemporary Issues in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Language
• Cogscil 726A – The Cognitive Science of Language Ph.D. Lecture Series

Winter 2024

• Cogscil 6NN3 – Cognitive Neurolinguistics Lab
• Cogscil 726B– The Cognitive Science of Language Ph.D. Lecture Series
• Cogscil 731 – Language Analysis Methods: Syntax and Semantics
• Cogscil 734 – Issues in Syntax

Course outlines 2022-2023

Winter 2023

• Cogscil 6AS3 – Topics in Advanced Semantics
• Cogscil 726B – The Cognitive Science of Language Ph.D. Lecture Series

Domestic MSc students usually receive a funding package consisting of a teaching assistantship and scholarship. The total value of the funding package ranges from $16,000 to $19,000 per year.

Currently all domestic PhD students receive a funding package of $23,500 per year, usually including a teaching assistantship of 260 hours plus a scholarship.

McMaster Graduate Studies Scholarship Information

The School of Graduate Studies provides funding to our graduate students so they can devote their time and energy to the successful completion of their studies.

External Graduate Scholarships

All eligible students are also strongly encouraged to apply for external scholarships such as the Ontario Graduate Scholarship and Canada Graduate Scholarships.

Ontario Graduate Scholarship

Note that applications must be submitted directly to the institution(s) where you plan to pursue graduate studies. The deadline is normally in the fall, before the application deadline for graduate school. 

Canada Graduate Scholarships-Master’s Program

Graduate Scholarship – As with OGS, applications for the Canada Graduate Scholarship must be submitted through an eligible institution. The deadline is usually December 1, before the application deadline for graduate school.

All applicants and current students will be considered for funding support from McMaster, including TAships.

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Department life.

The Department of Linguistics & Languages welcomes scholars from around the world to participate in the Cognitive Science of Language Lecture Series. The lecture series is a forum where all are welcome to attend talks by established researchers on recent innovations and current trends in Language and Cognition.

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Best PhD Degrees in Linguistics at Universities in Canada

There are 26 study programs available at 16 schools and universities in the world , according to Erudera.

Erudera aims to have the largest and most updated database of study programs available in the world , and new study programs are being added weekly. You can use the filters to narrow down your search or sort your results based on popularity and top rankings to find more specific study programs. Once you filter your results, you can save your chosen programs to a personal list so you can do more research or contact the universities later.

Here are the best Canada universities for Linguistics :

York University

University of Toronto

University of Moncton

University of Manitoba

Simon Fraser University

University of Ottawa

Laval University

University of Quebec in Montreal

McGill University

University of Alberta

Linguistics

Applied Linguistics And Discourse Studies

Carleton University

Language Documentation And Revitalization

University of British Columbia

Linguistics Applied Linguistics

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Linguistics Traductology

Linguistics didactics of languages.

University of Calgary

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Graduate program

Languages, Literatures and Cultures Program

Our program promotes intercultural communication within the global community. We seek to promote critical skills that will allow you to understand language and culture, in and beyond the academic context.

Applications for admission in Fall 2024 are currently open. Deadline for applications and supporting materials: January 15th, 2024

Key features.

• Core curriculum across language areas
• Broad opportunities for interdisciplinary research

Proficiency in target language plus additional language

Professionalization workshops

• Training in second language acquisition
• Training for academic and non-academic jobs

There are five specializations available:

Our French graduate program provides a broad set of advanced research and communication skills. Gain specialized knowledge in the following areas: French Literatures (XVII to XX), Postcolonial Literatures, Quebecois and Franco-Canadian Literatures, Comparative Literature, Travel Writing, Gender studies, Film, Theatre, Visual Arts, French Linguistics, Sociolinguistics and Second-Language Teaching. Develop cultural knowledge and global awareness of Africa, Asia, Canada, the Caribbean, and France via intercultural and interdisciplinary perspectives, and studies in theoretical approaches. You'll write your theses and dissertations in French.

Notre programme en études françaises et francophones vise à donner aux étudiants de meilleurs outils de communication et de spécialisation dans les domaines suivants : littératures françaises (du XVII au XXe siècles), littérature postcoloniale, littérature québécoise et franco-canadienne hors Québec, littérature comparée, littératures de voyage, études du genre, cinéma, théâtre, arts visuels, linguistique française, sociolinguistique et didactique des langues. Ces différentes perspectives interdisciplinaires et interculturelles, ainsi que des approches théoriques et critiques ouvrent les étudiants aux connaissances approfondies sur l’Afrique, l’Asie, le Canada, les Caraïbes et la France. Nos étudiants rédigent leurs mémoires et thèses en français.

German is studied most productively with interdisciplinary, international or intercultural goals in mind. To study German here in North America means looking in from the outside. To study German in the 21st century means linking it to issues and concerns relevant to other cultures, languages, histories and modes of thinking. Gain specialized knowledge in the following areas: German intellectual history, German literature, German and Central European film, antisemitism, the Holocaust, the GDR, 18th- and 19th-century European literature, the acquisition of German as a second language, and German phonetics and phonology. We encourage research in German in conjunction with Education, English, Film, Fine Arts, French, History, Linguistics, Music, Philosophy and Spanish.

We embrace a vast range of subjects and theoretical approaches, and share a strong interdisciplinary focus. Research cinemas of the Hispanic world, musical expressions in Hispanic cultures, language heritage and identity, exile literature, Sephardic and gender studies, performance studies, and textual criticism. Enjoy exceptional opportunities to deepen your knowledge, increase your intercultural competencies and prepare for careers in academia and many other fields.

TRANSCULTURAL STUDIES

The specialization in Transcultural Studies investigates the complexity and interaction of modern cultures that are represented in the linguistic and geographical areas studied by faculty in the Linguistics, Languages and Cultures, as well as French, Italian and Spanish programs. Projects and courses in this specialization may address cultural works from the geographic areas where Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish are spoken.

Cultures cannot be considered separate satellites; the known and the foreign are blurred, such that transcultural becomes a more accurate term for the analysis of complex cultures than inter- or cross-cultural.

APPLIED LINGUISTICS

The Applied Linguistics specialization incorporates projects that may or may not be connected to one language only, and focuses on language acquisition, language learning and teaching, and sociolinguistics. You can choose to undertake experimental studies in any of these areas and in any of the languages taught in the School.

MA and PhD programs

We offer a course of studies that invites cross-cultural and linguistic initiatives. Develop skills and deepen investigation into an interest area of your choice.

Study texts and visual media from French, Spanish and German-language communities in an international context. Perform comparative research across these or other cultural traditions represented in our school. Or pursue applied linguistics research in any of these languages.

You'll benefit from the small size of our program. Enjoy personal attention from professors in an open, collegial atmosphere. We provide funding to all students admitted to the thesis-based MA and the Ph.D.

MA students may expect financial support during the first 20 months of their program. Ph.D. students may expect financial support for the first 44 months of their program. Funding levels depend on students making reasonable progress toward completion of their degree.

Want to know who's in the program? Meet our current grad students

Admission requirements

All applicants must meet the minimum entrance requirements set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies . Specific program admission requirements may be found at the individual program pages below.

M.A. – Course-based

M.a. – thesis-based.

Curious about fees and funding? Explore types of financial support

Do you have a question?

Graduate Program Advisor

Federica Gowen 403.220.4001 [email protected]  

Graduate Program Director

Wei Cai 403.220.8590 [email protected]

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Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Master of Arts (MA)

Course-based program

Program overview.

This program has three streams - applied linguistics, literature and/or film studies, and transcultural studies.  Students in each stream enjoy personal attention and interaction with professors with far-reaching subject-area expertise who embrace a range of theoretical approaches. The applied linguistics stream focuses on language acquisition, language learning and teaching, and sociolinguistics. Students may choose to undertake experimental studies in any of these areas.  The focal languages for applied linguistics are French, Chinese, German and Spanish. The stream in literature and film studies offers students an opportunity to delve into the study of literary and cinematic productions in French, German and Spanish.  Students will acquire theoretical and critical expertise in their chosen field of study. The stream in transcultural studies, the only one offered in Canada, examines the inner differentiation and complexity of cultures from the geographic areas where French, Arabic, Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish are spoken. This program has an interdisciplinary emphasis, and students acquire a high degree of cultural literacy. All of these streams will provide students with a broad set of advanced research and communication skills, specialized knowledge, and enhanced language proficiency. 

Please note: this program is not intended for students interested in performing research primarily on texts written in English or on English as a Second Language. Applicants in these fields are encouraged to consider programs in Educational Research.

Completing this program

• Core courses: Students will take a required course on Additional Language Pedagogy, and a research methods course on Applied Linguistics or Literary and Cultural Studies.
• Capstone essay and exam: Students complete a written essay of approximately 20 pages to form the basis of the Capstone Examination.

Specializations

Please visit the Languages, Literatures and Cultures departmental webpage  for more information on specializations.

Graduates will be prepared for a profession in the post-secondary sector, cultural organizations, education, finance, government services, immigration, public relations, publishing, translation and interpretation, tourism and travel, advertising, or communications and media.

A course-based master’s degree in languages, literature and culture is usually considered a final degree.

Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar

Classroom delivery

Time commitment.

Three years full-time; four years maximum

No supervisor is required

See the Graduate Calendar for information on  fees and fee regulations,  and for information on  awards and financial assistance .

Virtual Tour

Explore the University of Calgary (UCalgary) from anywhere. Experience all that UCalgary has to offer for your graduate student journey without physically being on campus. Discover the buildings, student services and available programs all from your preferred device.

Admission requirements

A minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.

Minimum education

A four year baccalaureate degree or equivalent from a recognized institution, with adequate academic background in one of the fields of modern languages, linguistics, literary, film or cultural studies or another closely related field.

Work samples

An academic writing sample 3-5 pages: a term paper, research paper or other writing, which the applicant considers representative of his or her best work.

A statement of intent: 250 ­word (minimum) statement of research interest including research topic and the reasons for wishing to pursue graduate work in this program.

Reference letters

Test scores.

A sufficiently high level of oral and written competence in the target language (a recommended minimum of CEFR level B2, ACTFL Intermediate ­High, or equivalent.

English language proficiency (ELP)

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iB T including TOEFL iBT Home Edition)  minimum score of 86 (Internet-based, with no section less than 20).
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)  score of 6.5 (with no section less than 6.0).
• Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency  minimum score of 180.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE)   score of 59 or higher
• Canadian Academic English Language test (CAEL)  overall score of 70 (no section less than 60).
• Academic Communication Certificate (ACC)  minimum of B+ in each course.
• Duolingo English Test  obtaining a minimum score of 125 (with no sub-score below 105).

*Please contact your program of interest if you have any questions about ELP requirements.

For admission on September 1

January 15 application deadline for applications and supporting materials

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Are you ready to apply?

Learn more about this program, languages, linguistics, literatures and cultures.

Craigie Hall, Room C 310 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

Contact the Graduate Program Administrator

Visit the departmental website

University of Calgary 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

Visit the Faculty of Arts website

Related programs

If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.

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Linguistics (PhD)

Program description.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Linguistics offered by the Department of Linguistics in the Faculty of Arts is a research-intensive program that emphasizes specialized and well-researched learning opportunities. The program's objective is to equip students with skills in self-direction, visionary thinking, and scientific communication to pursue professional opportunities in academia or industry.

The program may also be taken with a Language Acquisition option where students focus their thesis on the research area of language acquisition.

Keywords: Theoretical linguistics, experimental linguistics, computational linguistics, quantitative methods, linguistic field work, language acquisition, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, linguistics

Unique Program Features

• The program which provides training in the fundamentals of theoretical and experimental linguistics also offers a competitive funding package (covering living expenses, tuition and fees) for the length of the program (i.e., five years);
• Students benefit from access to a rich research landscape in cognitive science where many Faculty members are associated with leading research centers including the Centre for Research on Brain, Language and Music (CRBLM) and Mila - Quebec AI Institute;
• The Department has several labs for conducting research including rooms for elicitation, running experiments including in sound booths and with an eye-tracker, and access to high performance computing infrastructure.

University-Level Admission Requirements

• An eligible Bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA out of a possible 4.0 GPA
• English-language proficiency

Each program has specific admission requirements including required application documents. Please visit the program website for more details.

Visit our Educational credentials and grade equivalencies and English language proficiency webpages for additional information.

Program Website

PhD in Linguistics website

Department Contact

Graduate Program gradprogram.linguistics [at] mcgill.ca (subject: PhD%20in%20Linguistics) (email)

Available Intakes

Application deadlines.

Note : Application deadlines are subject to change without notice. Please check the application portal for the most up-to-date information.

Application Resources

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• Submit Your Application webpage
• Connecting with a supervisor webpage
• Graduate Funding webpage

Application Workshops

Consult our full list of our virtual application-focused workshops on the Events webpage.

Department and University Information

Graduate and postdoctoral studies.