Applied Linguistics MSc

This Masters focuses on how linguistic research can help solve language-related problems in professional practice and public life. It is designed for you to become a research-led specialist in areas such as language and education, intercultural communication, language and politics and professional discourse. You will have an opportunity to design and undertake your own applied research project as part of this degree.
- Academic contact: Dr Piotr Wegorowski: Piotr.Wegorowski@glasgow.ac.uk
- Teaching start: September
- Glasgow: Gilmorehill campus
- MSc: 12 months full-time; 24 months part‑time
Why this programme

- This programme allows you to supplement specialist courses in Applied Linguistics with a wide range of topics of your choosing, including discourse analysis, name studies, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, phonetics and more.
- Our facilities include an outstanding provision of linguistic laboratories, including digital humanities, corpus resources and phonetics.
Programme structure
Teaching is delivered full-time across two semesters, followed by your own in-depth research-led dissertation in Applied Linguistics. You will undertake two core courses, and four optional courses in areas such as Systemic Functional Linguistics, Language Learning and Teaching, and Forensic Linguistics.
Alongside optional courses in Applied Linguistics, the programme also offers a range of optional courses from linguistics, English, and other disciplines, enabling you to create your own Masters programme. The programme allows you to work in an interdisciplinary capacity, selecting courses from across the College of Arts & Humanites, according to personal interests. The programme convenor will work with you to construct a suitable portfolio of courses according to your personal aims and objectives.
Semester one
In semester one, you will take one core course and two optional courses.
Core course
Semester two
In semester two, you will take two core courses and two optional courses.
Core course
- Research Training Course 2: Dissertation Preparation
- Applying Linguistics in Social and Professional Life
Dissertation
Optional courses
Students will take four optional courses over the two semesters.
We would advise students with an interest in educational applications to choose at least two courses from the following selection:
- Language and the Global Campus: Linguistic Issues in the Internationalisation of Higher Education
- Social and Individual Variables in Language Learning and Teaching
- Systemic Functional Linguistics and its Applications
We would advise students with an interest in social applications to choose the following two courses:
Remaining options can be taken from the courses listed above or from among the 20-credit courses listed under the ELL and TESOL pathways, subject to availability and capacity.
Optional courses that would be particularly relevant to the Applied Linguistics programme include:
- Corpus Linguistics (PGT)
- Experimental Design and Data Analysis
- Qualitative Sociolinguistics
- Approaches to Scots in Speech and Text
With the convenor’s permission, you may also take optional courses from elsewhere in the College of Arts & Humanities and beyond.
In addition, you will have the opportunity to take a bespoke 10-credit course (Advancing English for Applied Linguistics) which will help you develop your academic writing skills relevant for the discipline. This is an optional course which you can take in addition to the courses we offer as part of the programme.
Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours
to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw
or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.
Career prospects
Our graduates in Applied Linguistics have a wide range of career options available to them in careers where language and communication skills are valued and developed. The degree is especially suitable for those wishing to develop their careers in teaching, communications or administration, and to enhance their prospects at home and internationally.
Some of our graduates have also found the programme useful as a foundation for further study at doctoral level, such as a PhD in Applied Linguistics or Linguistics more generally.
Regardless of your next steps, the range of skills developed during this degree programme will be of use in many professional contexts.
Fees & funding
Tuition fees for 2025-26
MSc
UK
- Full-time fee: £11250
- Part-time fee: £1250 per 20 credits
International & EU
- Full-time fee: £26580
Deposits
International and EU applicants are required to pay a deposit of £2000 when an offer is made.
Deposits: terms & conditions
Additional fees
- Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
- Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
- Registration/exam only fee: £170
Funding opportunities
College of Arts and Humanities Widening Participation Postgraduate Taught Scholarships
Beatrix Whistler and James McNeill Whistler Scholarship
GREAT Scholarships 2025
The Snowdon Trust Master’s Scholarship
Banco de Mexico
Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans
DAAD-University of Glasgow 1-year Master’s grant
Colfuturo Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia
Commonwealth Scholarship Schemes
Chevening Scholarship
CONICyT (La Comsion Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica de Chile)
University of Glasgow African Excellence Award
CONACyT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia) / FUNED Agreement
World Changers Glasgow Scholarship
University of Glasgow Caribbean Excellence Award
Postgraduate Student Loan (Scotland and EU)
Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans England only (PTFL)
Postgraduate Loans for Welsh Students
Alumni Discount
Postgraduate Access Scholarship
Global Leadership Scholarship
Glasgow Excellence Award (UK)
HESPAL Scholarship
Postgraduate Student Loan (NI)
World Changers Glasgow Scholarship PGT (EU)
The Clan Gregor Society Prize
The Dima Alhaj Scholarship
Sanctuary Scholarships
Travel Bursary for Forced Migrants
Glasgow Highland Society Scholarship
The scholarships above are relevant to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database
Entry requirements
2.1 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in English/English Literature, Applied Linguistics, Education, Media Studies, Communication, any modern language, Translation, Language and Literature, Philology or any other relevant subject.
We may also accept degrees in any other subject.
A 2.2 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) with work experience in the following may be considered: Teaching (especially Languages), Translation in Journalism/Media/Business or community-based political work or any other relevant work experience.
English language requirements
International students
We are proud of our diverse University community that includes students and staff from more than 140 different countries.
How to apply
To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.
Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.
Documents
As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:
- A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
- A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
- Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
- One reference letter on headed paper
- Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
- Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
- A copy of the photo page of your passport
You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.
You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.
For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree
Guidance notes for using the online application
These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form.
If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help.
- Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
- Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
- Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
- Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
- Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
- English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
- Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.
Reference: Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.
Application deadlines
September 2025
International & EU applicants
Due to demand for degree places on this programme, the University has an application process with application rounds which recognises that different geographical areas complete and submit their applications at different times of the year. This process aims to ensure fairness and equity to applicants from all geographic regions.
Round 1 application dates: 1 October 2024 to 4 November 2024
All international applications submitted within these dates will be reviewed with no priority given to any geographic region. You will receive our decision on your application by 15 January 2025.
Round 2 application dates:5 November 2024 to 16 December 2024
All international applications submitted within these dates will be reviewed with no priority given to any geographic region. You will receive our decision on your application by 10 March 2025.
Round 3 application dates: 17 December 2024 to 3 February 2025
Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 14 April 2025.
Round 4 application dates: 4 February 2025 to 24 March 2025
Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 5 May 2025.
Round 5 application dates: 25 March 2025 to 12 May 2025
Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 16 June 2025.
Round 6 application dates: 13 May 2025 to 7 July 2025
Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 28 July 2025.
All international applications submitted by 16 December 2024 will be reviewed and processed normally with no priority given to any geographic region. From 17 December 2024, priority will be given to applications from geographic areas which have been unable to submit applications before that point.
As we receive a great number of applications, prospective students are only allowed to apply once per year.
UK applicants
- 22 August 2025