Overview

Initially housed within the Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures, the Linguistics program of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) joined with the Philosophy Program in 1976 to form the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy. The two sections of the department operate independent graduate programs, under the leadership of a common Head. The headship alternates between the two wings of the department.

Under the leadership of Noam Chomsky and Morris Halle in the 1960’s and 1970’s, the Linguistics Program at MIT rapidly acquired an international reputation as a leading center for research on formal models of human-language phonology, morphology and syntax, guided by the bold (and, at the time, novel) hypothesis that language should be studied using the intellectual tools of the natural sciences.

Many of the most influential trends in the study of syntax and phonology had their origins in research conducted at MIT. In the 1980s, the program was broadened to include semantics. The study of syntax and semantics within a group sharing the same goals and methodology proved very fruitful. In the 1990’s links with the Department of Brain and Cognitive Science were established to expand the range of research tools and methodologies available for the study of human language. Significant research efforts in language acquisition, sentence processing and neuro-imaging were launched. In the current decade the program has integrated research in experimental phonetics and computational modeling of language learning.

Employment Prospects

Academic jobs are difficult to obtain, with increasingly many applicants competing for a relatively small number of positions. Consequently, students cannot expect to move into an optimal job immediately upon completion of the Ph.D. program. Many of our graduates have taken up post-doctoral fellowships or one-year visiting positions before finding more permanent positions. Nonetheless, in recent years almost all of our graduates have found teaching or research posts. Recent graduates are employed in tenure-track and tenured positions at such North American universities as the University of Chicago, UC Santa Cruz, University of Connecticut, McGill, NYU, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Maryland, and the University of Pennsylvania (and in many other excellent departments as well). Others are working at major universities and research institutions in Europe, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Topics in the Grammar of a Less Familiar Language

Language Acquisition

Topics in Computational Phonology

Syntax

Phonology

Semantics

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 36 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-03 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-12-15 00:00:00

Language

English

IELTS

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Credits

90 alternative credits

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Cambridge, United States

Disciplines

Linguistics View 258 other Masters in Linguistics in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

IELTS

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Other requirements

General requirements

The MIT application includes:

A statement of purpose

An academic transcript from each college/university attended

Three letters of recommendation

A writing sample

GRE scores are not required for admission to the doctoral program

MIT requires international applicants whose native language is not English to submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

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Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and/or in United States, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fee

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International

61990 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 30995 USD per semester during 36 months.
National

61990 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 30995 USD per semester during 36 months.
In-State

61990 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 30995 USD per semester during 36 months.

Living costs for Cambridge

1814 - 3756 USD /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

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Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Linguistics.

Available Scholarships

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