General Linguistics and Comparative Philology

The MPhil in General Linguistics and Comparative Philology is a taught course offering a range of options for graduates seeking a higher academic qualification in language studies and wishing to specialise in general linguistics (including phonetics but not applied linguistics), in historical and comparative linguistics, or in the linguistics of a specific language.

In addition to a compulsory paper in linguistic theory, you will specialise in general linguistics (B), Indo-European historical and comparative philology and linguistics (C) or in the linguistics of one or two selected languages (D).

A 25,000-word thesis is compulsory for all options.

Option B

Three exam papers are chosen from the following range of topics:

• Phonetics and Phonology
• Syntax
• Semantics
• Historical and Comparative Linguistics
• Psycholinguistics and Neurolinguistics 
• History and Structure of a Language
• Experimental Phonetics
• Sociolinguistics

You may also ask for one option in another subject in general linguistics; approval will be subject to the availability of proper instruction and provision for examination.

Option C

You will select two ancient Indo-European languages or language groups (eg Greek, Italic, Celtic, Anatolian, Indo-Iranian, Slavic etc). Three exam papers cover the comparative grammar, the historical grammar, and a number of set texts for linguistic commentary in the two languages or language groups.

Option D

You may select either ancient (eg Latin, Sanskrit, Akkadian) or modern languages (eg French, Italian, German, Japanese, Slavic languages). 

There will be three examination papers:

• (i) the history of one language, or of two historically related languages;
• (ii) the structure of the language or languages chosen; and
• (iiia) translation from, and/or linguistic comment on, texts in the language or languages chosen, or (iiib) a project on an aspect of the structure or history of the language, or family of related languages, studied.

Subject (iii) may be replaced with any of the modules listed under option B, except for the history and structure of a language.

Applicants are normally expected to be predicted or have achieved a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in a relevant subject, for example in modern languages, Classics, computer science, philosophy or mathematics.

While some applicants may have a background in linguistics or philology, few will have taken a full undergraduate course in these subjects. The backgrounds of entering students vary considerably, and the first-year curriculum is designed to bring every student to a general understanding of linguistic research, while not hindering progress in fields of special interest.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.5 out of 4.0.

However, entrance is very competitive and most successful applicants have a first-class degree or the equivalent.

If you hold non-UK qualifications and wish to check how your qualifications match these requirements, you can contact the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC).

Students wishing to pursue option C should have studied at least one of their chosen ancient Indo-European languages to degree level (though they need not have studied the linguistics of the language before). Students wishing to pursue option D or paper B vi (History and structure of a language) should have a good grammatical knowledge of the language(s) they wish to pursue.

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

• Official transcript(s)
• CV/résumé
• Statement of purpose/personal statement:One to three pages
• Written work:Two essays of 2,000 words each
• References/letters of recommendation:Three overall, generally academic

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Higher level

• Global Education
• Hill Foundation Scholarships
• Ertegun Scholarship Programme