Master's Degree and Diploma
Sociolinguistics
For
further information and an application form contact:
Dr. Mark Garner
Co-ordinator
MLitt in Sociolinguistics
School of Language & Literature
King's College
Aberdeen AB24 3UB
Scotland
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1224 272625
Fax: +44 (0) 1224 272624
Email: m.garner@abdn.ac.uk / enlpgapp@abdn.ac.uk
The application form is also available at: www.abdn.ac.uk/sras/postgraduate/apply.shtml
Introduction
The
University of Aberdeen is one of Scotland 's ancient universities and the
fifth oldest in the UK , with more than five hundred years' experience of
delivering excellence in teaching and research. The MLitt in English Sociolinguistics
is designed around the expertise of members of staff who are active researchers
in the field. It provides training in research methods and analysis, and features
discussion of current debate on varieties of English in their local, regional,
national and international contexts. As elective courses on receptive and
productive skills in English language are available, and non-native varieties
of English are the focus of several elective courses, the programme is designed
to accommodate both native and non-native speakers of English. The School
of Language & Literature offers excellent facilities for fieldwork training
and a state-of the-art Phonetics Laboratory for data analysis.
Course Structure
Students are required to undertake 2 compulsory courses in the first semester and 2 in the second. They also take 3 elective special topics courses over 2 semesters. Students who do not have English as their native language may take an option in Oral/Aural Skills in English in Semester I and in Written Skills in Semester II. All students take courses worth 60 credits in each semester. MLitt students are required to write a dissertation of 12-15,000 words in English over the summer.
First
Semester Core:
- Research Methods I
- Sociolinguistics I
Second Semester Core:
- Research Methods II
- Sociolinguistics II
Elective courses include:
Summer Core:
- Dissertation (12-15,000 words in English)
Special Topics Courses:
The special topic courses include:
- Phonetics and Phonology
- Language in Society
- The Sociolinguistics of Identity
- English Beyond Britain
- Discourse Analysis
Who will take this degree?
The degree has been designed for students who are interested in language variation and change; language and its social context; identity; the English language in its historical and contemporary context; local, regional, national and international varieties of English.
It is designed to train students who wish to proceed to PhD research, but is also useful as a stand-alone Master's for students with a general interest in language or those wanting to teach. Students can take this programme as a diploma, or a stand-alone one-year Master's degree, or as a first step towards an MPhil or PhD (subject to admission to a further degree programme either at Aberdeen or elsewhere).
Entrance Requirements
The standard entrance requirement is a good first degree in English, normally at 2.i level or at a level deemed equivalent. Students who are non-native speakers of English need to have a minimum of IELTS at 6.5 (writing at 6.0) or TOEFL at 580. Previous study of language and linguistics is also desirable. Applicants with non-standard qualifications will also be considered, though it is anticipated that the vast majority of students will be recent graduates from Britain or overseas with above-average competence in English language.
Cost
Full-time UK nationals and students from European Union countries pay £3,240 (07/08) per annum in postgraduate fees (£1,620 part-time). Students from non-EU countries pay £8,750 (07/08) per annum. Accommodation and food would be expected to cost between £5K and £8K per year.
What if I do not want to write a dissertation?
Students who attend and satisfactorily complete all compulsory and optional courses, but who do not write a dissertation, will be awarded a Diploma in English Sociolinguistics.
For international students, all postgraduate taught programmes, beginning in September 2008, have a deadline of the 1 st of July 2008. Any application received after this date, will not be considered for September 2008, but instead will be considered for the next available intake, either January 2009 or September 2009. For more information on the intakes for each programme please visit www.abdn.ac.uk/prospectus/pgrad/ Please note this deadline is to ensure students have sufficient time to complete the application process and apply for their visa, and arrive in Aberdeen in time of the start of their programme.
There is no programme deadline for those students classed as UK/EU for tuition fee purposes.