Linguistics

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About Linguistics
Linguistics Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

About Linguistics

The aim of McGill's Linguistics graduate program is to train independent researchers to work in the diverse areas of Linguistics using a range of methods. We have specific expertise and strength in:

phonetics
phonology
morphology
syntax
semantics
pragmatics
prosody
language acquisition
computational/quantitative linguistics
artificial intelligence and machine learning
variation and change
linguistic fieldwork and documentation
experimental methods

Students have access to a rich research landscape in cognitive science; for example, many members of the Department are associated with the Centre for Research on Brain, Language and Music (CRBLM) or Mila - Quebec AI Institute. The Department has several labs for conducting research including rooms for elicitation, running experiments including in sound booths and with an eye-tracker, and accessing high performance computing infrastructure. Members of the Department also have access to other facilities through the CRBLM.

We normally fund all full-time graduate students who maintain strong academic records; our funding package covers living expenses, tuition, and fees. M.A. students are funded for one year and eight months, and Ph.D. students for five years.

Linguistics Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the M.A. or Ph.D. should have completed a B.A. with a specialization in linguistics. Applications are also invited from students with a background in other disciplines. Applicants showing strong evidence for truly outstanding potential but lacking a background in linguistics may be considered for admission to a Qualifying Year (QY).

English Language Proficiency

Non-Canadian applicants whose mother tongue is not English and who have not completed a degree (undergraduate or graduate) at a recognized institution where English is the language of instruction must submit proof of competence in oral and written English. For a list of acceptable test scores and minimum requirements, visit mcgill.ca/linguistics/graduate/graduate-admissions.

Application Procedures

McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.

See University Regulations & Resources > Graduate > Graduate Admissions and Application Procedures > Application Procedures for detailed application procedures.

Applicants are urged to read detailed information on application procedures on the Department of Linguistics' website.

Additional Requirements

The items and clarifications below are additional requirements set by this department:

Statement of Research Interests
Curriculum Vitae
Writing Sample

Application Dates and Deadlines

Application opening dates are set by Enrolment Services in consultation with Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), while application deadlines are set by the Linguistics Department and may be revised at any time. Applicants must verify all deadlines and documentation requirements well in advance on the appropriate McGill departmental website; please consult the list at mcgill.ca/gps/contact/graduate-program.

Information on application deadlines is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/how-apply/application-steps/application-deadlines.

Admission to graduate studies is competitive; accordingly, late and/or incomplete applications are considered only as time and space permit.

Available Programs

Program Overview

The Language Acquisition Program (LAP) is a cross-disciplinary option available to Ph.D. students in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Linguistics, Psychology, and Second Language Education who intend to pursue graduate studies, including writing their thesis, in language acquisition. In addition to meeting the degree requirements for Linguistics, students must complete four interdisciplinary LAP seminars, two graduate-level courses in language acquisition (one from outside the student’s home department), a course in statistics, and they must have a faculty member from outside their home department on their thesis committee. Information about this option is available on the McGill Language Acquisition Program site.

2025-2026