MSc Computational and Corpus Linguistics / Course details
Year of entry: 2025
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Course description
Our MSc Computational and Corpus Linguistics provides a thorough training in natural language processing technologies and the data-driven study of language.
You will learn about areas such as:
- Machine learning models for the classification, understanding and generation of texts.
- Natural language applications such as dialogue systems and machine translation.
- Corpus-driven approaches to linguistic questions in areas such as syntax, semantics and pragmatics, phonology and phonetics, historical, socio and psycholinguistics.
You will acquire programming skills in Python and statistical analysis skills in R. You will learn how to use high performance computing facilities, and how to document and present your work.
Aims
Students will learn the theoretical foundations of computer natural language processing, a field of artificial intelligence, and of the data-intensive study of language. They will also acquire constitutive techniques in computer programming, statistics, and research design, and reflect on the ethical implications of these applications.
The course will particularly suit those with undergraduate degrees in Linguistics (or related disciplines) who want to develop quantitative and computational skills, and those with some quantitative skills who are seeking training in linguistics and computation.
Teaching and learning
You will learn on the programme through a variety of methods including lectures, computer-lab based workshops and independent research. The teaching team have interdisciplinary expertise across linguistics (including cross-linguistic research), psychology and computer science.
Coursework and assessment
Course content for year 1
All students will take six core units:
- Computational Linguistics 1
- Computational Linguistics 2
- Foundational Statistics
- Corpus Linguistics
- Research Methods in Computational and Corpus Linguistics 1
- Research Methods in Computational and Corpus Linguistics 2
Students without a first degree in Linguistics will also take Describing Language, a foundational module that will provide the linguistic knowledge required for the other components of the course.
Subject to guidance and approval of the programme coordinator, students will also be able to take modules from our general MA in Linguistics such as:
- Forensic Linguistics
- Topics in Language Acquisition
- Topics in the Study of Meaning
- Experimental Phonetics
- Discourse as Social Practice
Finally students undertake an independent research project under the guidance of an area expert. The department is able to offer supervision for projects focusing on a diverse range of languages, including (in addition to English) Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Arabic, as well as lesser studied languages.
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Linguistics | LELA60112 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Computational Linguistics 1 | LELA60331 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Computational Linguistics 2 | LELA60332 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Research Methods in Computational and Corpus Linguistics 1 | LELA60341 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Research Methods in Computational and Corpus Linguistics 2 | LELA60342 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Dissertation - Computational and Corpus Linguistics | LELA71000 | 60 | Mandatory |
| Psycholinguistics | LELA60082 | 15 | Optional |
| Describing Language | LELA60121 | 15 | Optional |
| Foundational statistics with R | LELA60141 | 15 | Optional |
| Experimental Phonetics | LELA60222 | 15 | Optional |
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Scholarships and bursaries
For information on available funding, please visit the School's funding pages or search the University's postgraduate funding database .