Linguistics - Applied Linguistics

Course Outline
This course will provide you with the tools to describe language from various analytical perspectives and with insight and training in various branches of applied linguistics. A further component of the course relates to the development of research skills in terms of methodological training for conducting research in this field. There will be a number of invited guest speakers who are international specialists in their field, and who reflect student interests in a particular year. A thesis component allows specialisation on a research topic of specific interest to you.

While previous study of linguistics is not required, the course will specifically interest you if you are a language graduate or have an interest in a language-related career, such as language teaching, journalism, communications, media, speech and language therapy.

This one-year MA course will appeal to a wide range of people, including present and future language teachers, and those interested in the various areas of linguistics.

Why Choose This Course
This course will provide you with a solid grounding in various branches of applied linguistics, while at the same time allowing you considerable scope for specialisation in a research area of interest to you through the thesis component. You will also receive training in research methods, allowing you to develop generic skills which you will continue to draw on in your future career as well as in subsequent study at doctoral level.

This one-year MA course will appeal to a wide range of people, including present and future language teachers, and those interested in the various areas of linguistics.

In the first semester, students are introduced to the basics of linguistics, including:

phonetics and phonology
morphology and syntax
pragmatics and semantics
sociolinguistics
second language acquisition

The second semester offers modules in areas of specialisation, i.e.
language and identity
critical discourse analysis
language teaching and post-colonialism
introduction to second/foreign language teaching methodologies
language policy and practice
The course begins in the second week of September, with course teaching ending in early April. You submit your thesis in early October. The course involves attendance at lectures and seminars, the writing of course papers and completion of other assessed tasks.

The range of module topics on offer is subject to staff availability.

The modules are complemented by a number of seminars on research methods in applied linguistics, as well as guest lectures by international specialists in the field.

Requirements
Candidate must have a Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8)which includes a language.

Students with a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) will be considered under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), subject to adequate proof of relevant additional work experience or background knowledge as assessed by the programme coordinators in an interview.

English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university approved English language requirements.

For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland:
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements.

International/non-EU applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure please visit our how to apply pages for international students. In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

For more information please contact the International Office.

How to apply
1. Choose Course
Firstly choose your course. Applicants can apply for up to two courses under one application. Details of taught courses are available on our online prospectus.

2. Apply Online
Once you have chosen your course you can apply online at the online application portal. Applicants will need to apply before the course closing date. There is a non-refundable €50 application fee for all courses apart from the Education - Professional Master of Education - (Secondary School/Post-Primary Teacher Training) which has a €100 application fee.

Applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Nursing must apply on the PAC website when the programme opens for applications.

3. Gather Supporting Documents
Scanned copies of the following documents will need to be uploaded to the online application portal in support of your application. Applicants may need to produce the original documents if you are accepted onto a course and register at UCC.

Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC
Any supplementary items requested for your course.
Please log into the online application portal for more details.

4. Application processing timeline
Our online application portal opens for applications for most courses in early November of each year. Check specific course details.

5. Rounds
For courses that are in the rounds system (Irish and EU applicants), please check the rounds closing dates below.

The UCC application portal will open on November 1st for admission in September 2022.

Irish, EU, UK, EEA and Swiss Applicants: UCC operates a rounds closing date system for the majority of postgraduate taught courses, which means offers are made at a minimum of four times a year on a rolling basis.

The UCC rounds closing dates for postgraduate taught courses are below. Applicants are advised to apply as soon as possible.

Deadline for receipt of full applications/ Offers will be made:
For all completed applications received by January 17th, 2022 -
Offers will be made by January 31st, 2022
For all completed applications received by March 7th, 2022 -
Offers will be made by March 21st, 2022
For all completed applications received by May 3rd, 2022 -
Offers will be made by May 17th, 2022
For all completed applications received by July 1st, 2022 -
Offer will be made by July 15th, 2022

After July late applications may be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for any courses that have remaining capacity.

Applicants from outside of EU, UK, EEA, Switzerland: Information may be found on the International Office Website.

NON-EU CLOSING DATE: 15 June

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:

You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.

Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.

The course is assessed by assignments in various forms such as practical exercises, oral presentations and essays. A minor thesis is also a requirement.

1 year full-time.

Start Date 7 September 2020

Skills and Careers Information
What can I do after I graduate with an MA in Applied Linguistics?
This MA programme will specifically interest language graduates and those with an interest in language issues in society and a language-related career. Given the diverse branches of Applied Linguistics, students have considerable scope for specialisation in a research area of specific interest to them. A further strength of the programme is the training students receive in Research Methods, thereby developing generic skills which graduates will continue to draw upon in their future careers as well as in subsequent study at doctoral level for example.

Occupations associated with Applied Linguistics:
Language teaching and education
Journalism
Communications
Media
Public relations
Speech and language therapy

While these are examples of career areas, the generic and transferrable skills developed on the MA programme will be helpful in all career paths.

What are our graduates doing?
Past graduates are pursuing careers in a wide range of areas, such as language teaching and education, communications, journalism, speech and language therapy, among others. Some graduates also choose to continue their studies at doctoral level through the Ph.D. programme in Applied Linguistics that is offered at University College Cork. The generic skills that underlie the Research Methods training and the skills of analysis and interpretation that underlie the programme as a whole have been shown to be particularly fruitful in graduates' subsequent professional and academic lives.