Linguistics

Master of Arts (MA)



Meet Lucy Li, MA candidate in Linguistics

“The faculty is also very interdisciplinary, so there is a diverse range of professors with different specializations to learn from.”

Describe your research.
I’m interested in language acquisition, syntax, and semantics. My research focuses on modal words like can/could/should and how they are acquired by children in Mandarin Chinese.

Have you worked as a teaching assistant?
Working as a teaching assistant has helped me gain a deeper understanding of topics that I thought I already knew, it’s helped me be a better speaker/presenter, and it’s also helped me realize that I do enjoy teaching.

Where’s your favourite place on campus to work?
I like working in my office in University College – it’s close to the University Community Centre, so I can easily go to grab snacks, and it’s also close to the Beryl Ivey garden where I can walk around when I need to take a break.

What is it about your grad program that enables you to thrive and be successful?
The professors are encouraging and supportive. There are also lots of research opportunities, including the chance to work on an online journal, to organize conferences, and to attend different linguistic talks.

Program Websites


Program Contact

linguist-ma@uwo.ca

Department of French Studies

Western University
University College Room 2205
London, Ontario N6A 3K7

t. 519-661-2163

Welcome to the Graduate Program in Linguistics at Western!

The most salient characteristic of the program is its exceptionally strong interdisciplinarity. We conceive of language as by equal measures a system of symbols which people know and use. Though students and faculty may incline one way or the other, Linguistics at Western is not “formal linguistics”, nor “applied linguistics”, nor even a pairing of each. It is, instead, a rich melding of frameworks and methods, built around close ties with sister disciplines: anthropology, information science, communication disorders, language teaching, philosophy, and psychology.

We will not consider applicants whose primary research interests are in the following areas: Language Teaching (ESL), Translation, Teaching Methodology, and Applied Linguistics that is not connected to linguistic theory.

For the Applied Linguistics field of research, please visit the Faculty of Education MA or PhD program page.

Program Length

  • 6 Terms

Program Design

  • Full-time study
  • Project-based

Funding Information

Applicants are encouraged to apply for the following scholarships (if eligible):

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fee schedules (per term) are posted on the Office of the Registrar's website at http://www.registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/fees_refunds/fee_schedules.html

Graduate Student Affordability Calculator

Use this helpful tool to estimate how much money you will need to pay for your tuition, fees, housing, food, and other necessities for a 12-month (three term) academic year.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent with a major or specialization in Linguistics.
  • 78% (B+) average in the last 2 years of study.

English Language Proficiency

Applicants whose first language is not English must furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language. For detailed information, please consult the SGPS Admissions page (section “Admission Requirements”).

Application Deadline

  • February 15 - Acceptance notification typically 4-6 weeks after the deadline.
    • Any application received after February 15 is contingent on space availability and funding.