Linguistics MA: MA studies in Linguistics

Linguistics MA - Admission Requirements

All the MA in Linguistics programs are designed to be completed within two years. Part-time study programs are possible for the MA without thesis (Track B). The following table summarizes the options for an MA in Linguistics in the Department of English Literature and Linguistics:

MA in Linguistics - Applications

Important Notice: Before your application can go to the Bar-Ilan University MA committee, it must first be approved by the Department of English Literature and Linguistics. Linguistics MA applicants who register through the university first who are later rejected by the department will not be refunded the initial registration fee. As such, please be sure to contact us first before applying through the university's general online system.

Applications for all Linguistics MA Programs should include the following:

1. Up-to-date CV
2. Scanned formal transcripts of prior studies (all of them), including all the course names, instructors and grades
3. Scanned diploma(s)

Please follow the following steps to apply to the Linguistics MA program:

1. Step One: Applications for Linguistics Thesis and Non-thesis tracks should be sent via e-mail to the Linguistics Graduate Coordinator, Prof. Lior Laks, with a copy to the Graduate Registrar, Judie Liri. Be sure to include in your email which Linguistics MA track you are applying for, as well as the documents listed above.
   
   For those applying to the Linguistics MA in Clinical Research tracks,  please send your application to Prof. Natalia Meir, with a copy to the Graduate Registrar,  Judie Liri. Be sure to include in your email which Linguistics MA track you are applying for, as well as the documents listed above.
    
2. Step Two: Should you receive a notice from the Department of English Literature and Linguistics recommending your acceptance (via email from Prof. Laks or Prof. Meir), you must then apply though the university's general online system.

NOTE : Under the section called "Maslul Limudim" be sure to fill in the appropriate Linguistics MA track- this is the track that you were accepted to via email by Prof. Lior Laks or Prof. Natalia Meir.

Important Dates

Registration for the 2025-6 Academic year begins: February 2, 2025

MA in Linguistics - Prerequisite/ Hashlamot Courses

Linguistics MA candidates who do not hold a BA in Linguistics should expect to be assigned prerequisite (hashlamot) courses- up to 12 credits- prior to beginning their official studies in the Linguistics MA program. Each prerequisite course must be completed with a grade of 80 or higher in order to continue in the Linguistics MA non-thesis track.

To switch to the MA in Linguistics with thesis track, students must complete each prerequisite course with a grade of 88 or higher; achieve a grade of 90 or higher in a first year seminar; find an advisor for their thesis research from within the department's Linguistics faculty.

The cost of the prerequisite courses is not included in the standard tuition fees and the credits will not count toward the MA requirements.

MA in Linguistics - Prerequisite Courses in Clinical Research

In Linguistics in Clinical Research prerequisite courses, a student must achieve a grade of 85 or higher in order to continue in the LCR MA non-thesis track.

To switch to the MA in LCR thesis track, students must achieve a grade of 88 or higher; a grade of 90 or higher in a seminar; find an advisor for their thesis research from within the department's Linguistics faculty.

Linguistics MA - Degree Specializations

The Linguistics Division provides the Linguistics MA students with a solid foundation in both theoretical and applied linguistics. Each student's program is constructed by the individual student and his/her supervisors (in the thesis track). The MA in Linguistics program may include specialization in a combination of two or more areas of linguistics, as well as in other fields such as brain sciences, psychology, or philosophy. Specializations can also involve research in the structure or use of a specific language or languages.

Linguistics MA - Programs and Fields of Study

For research-oriented students who may want to continue to their PhD.

All Linguistics MA students are initially enrolled to the non-thesis track. Students can request to transfer to the thesis-track, based on their academic achievements during their first year; they must find a faculty member from the department who agrees to supervise their thesis. Please read through our faculty lists and reach out to any possible mentors before applying.

The full requirements for Linguistics MA with Thesis/ Track A students are listed below. You can see more details in here.

Linguistics MA students who began their studies before the 2020-1 academic year can request a requirement form for their track and year from the office.

MA in Linguistics - Research Proposal and Thesis

The research proposal must be submitted to the school of graduate studies by the end of third semester (first semester of the second year). The submission dates for the proposal and thesis can be viewed in INBAR, under Degree Terms and Conditions.

Submitting the proposal

• Sending the proposal to the thesis advisor and receiving approval.
• The advisor sends the proposal to a second reader to be reviewed. The second reader sends back a reviewer form.
• If requested by the reviewer, corrections are made to the proposal and sent to the advisor.
• Once the advisor gives final approval the following documents are sent to the dept. office - no later than the official submission date:
  • Proposal - final draft
  • Proposal of a research plan form - filled out by student and advisor
  • Table of corrections to the proposal form (if required) - signed by student and advisor
  • Reviewer form - filled out by the second reader
• The documents are sent by the office to the school of graduate studies and a copy of the proposal is also sent to the English Literature and Linguistics library.
• Once the proposal is approved by the school of graduate studies they will send confirmation by email to the student. The email will include the deadline for the thesis paper.

For a summary of the university guidelines for the thesis proposal, see this guide.

Submitting the thesis

Once the thesis is completed and approved by the thesis advisor, the advisor will then set a date for the final oral examination - also called a thesis defense or thesis panel. The defense must be no later than the official submission date. The panel exam committee will give the thesis a grade. The thesis defense forms are sent to the dept. office:

• Form 1 to be filled by the reviewer
• Form 2 to be filled by the advisor
• Form 3 to be filled by the chair of the defense panel
• Form 4 to be filled by the chair of the dept. committee
   

The forms are submitted by the office to the school of graduate studies for their approval of the grade. After the approval is received the grade is submitted and entered into the student's file.

The office will then send an email with instructions on how to submit the thesis to the library and finalize the degree.

For further information, see this guide.

MA Track B (without thesis)

For Linguistics MA students who want to deepen their understanding of language and language processing. 

The full requirements for MA in Linguistics - track B are listed below.

Students who began their Linguistics MA studies before the 2020-1 academic year can request a requirement form for their track and year from the office.

MA in Linguistics - Seminar Papers

Graduate students are expected to provide evidence of independent scholarship by writing seminar papers. Each program requires a number of longer seminar papers (2 in the thesis track; 3 in the non-thesis track). For a short paper seminar registration is to 'pro-seminar' (group 02) and to a long paper seminar registration is to 'seminar' (group 01).

In Linguistics MA Graduate-level seminars, the lecturer will determine the requirements and the grading criteria. According to University regulations, papers must be handed in before the beginning of the following academic year, unless an earlier time has been set by the lecturer/professor. Permission to submit late papers is granted in special circumstances by the University MA Committee. Linguistics MA students who wish to submit a late paper must fill out a request form to receive an extension.

Linguistics MA Graduate Students in Undergraduate Courses

Linguistics MA graduate students in the MA Track B (without thesis) may take up to three advanced undergraduate courses or seminars (375xx) in their program of studies. They have the same requirements as undergraduate students in these courses.

MA in Linguistics - Final Examination for Track B Students (Non-Thesis Track)

At the end of the last year of Linguistics MA studies, all non-thesis track students must undergo an oral examination based on a set of reading material agreed upon with a faculty member, or on original research performed by the student. Both the reading list and the date of the examination are to be approved in advance. Please contact the Linguistics Graduate Coordinator ahead of time in order to schedule the examination.

Instructions for preparing for the final examination in Linguistics MA:

1. The Linguistics MA student will choose a topic and get it approved in advance by a faculty member. This may be a new topic not discussed at length in any course taken by the student; on a topic they studied for a seminar paper but with some new research or new related papers not included in the seminar paper; a comparison between two papers that the student wrote; etc. In no case should the student simply present a seminar paper.
2. The Linguistics MA student will prepare a short (up to 15 minutes) presentation on the chosen topic, using handouts or slides; simply reading from the handout is not appropriate.
3. The objective is to raise questions that go beyond personal experience, showing that the articles chosen have given the student original insights or that the student can integrate the material in the articles, with an emphasis on originality and creativity.
4. The final grade on the exam will depend on:
   • the extent of learning from the readings and studies in Linguistics beyond simple repetition shown by the student.
   • the extent to which the student can engage the examiners in discussion of Linguistic-related issues.
      

MA in Linguistics - Linguistics Colloquium

Advanced Linguistics students are strongly encouraged to join the community of linguists by participating in scholarly meetings open to the public (colloquia and conferences).The departmental linguistics colloquium takes place about every two weeks on Tuesday afternoons and features speakers from the department and from other universities presenting research on a wide range of topics. You are encouraged to attend these meetings to broaden your understanding of Linguistics and find out about all sorts of interesting topics and methods of research. Linguistics graduate students are required to attend the departmental linguistics colloquium for one full year during their graduate education in the department. All graduate students are encouraged to attend national and international conferences organized at the University. Some funding is available for graduate students giving papers at international conferences abroad.

MA in Linguistics - Pace of work

The MA in Linguistics should be completed within 2 years. Graduate courses are scheduled on one or two days of the week - Tuesdays and Thursdays, while the prerequisite courses take place on Wednesdays.

MA in Linguistics - Succeeding as a graduate student

According to University regulations, the minimum grade which can be counted towards a degree is 60%. Graduate students in the English Literature and Linguistics Department are expected to maintain an 80% average.

The Department adheres to the University rules on plagiarism very strictly. The Linguistics MA course requirements and seminar papers should be completed when they are due. If you are unsure of course deadlines / research proposal or thesis deadlines, or need to request an extension, please contact the Graduate Registrar. Any extension requests will be forwarded to the lecturer or advisor's recommendation and then submitted to the School of Graduate Studies relevant committee. You can find all MA Forms here. Contact the office if you are unsure which form you need to fill out. 

MA in Linguistics - Foreign language requirements

Graduate students studying in the department are exempt from the foreign language requirement.

MA in Linguistics - Scholarship and Financial Aid

There are a limited number of scholarships and grants administered by the University's MA Scholarships Committee. Funding is allocated on the basis of merit as well as financial need. Sometimes, lecturers in the Department hire research assistants for their funded research.