About the Programme

Singapore presents a rich and diverse linguistic ecology with its multiethnic and multicultural people. This makes Singapore a unique petri dish where issues across various linguistic subdisciplines can be studied. Moreover, Singapore is showing an increasing preference for multidisciplinary approaches to issues across all sectors (including education, healthcare, and social work), even extending to research in the complex fields of medical and social sciences. As such, the Master of Arts in Linguistics programme at NTU is timely and urgent as it presents the opportunity for students to hone their ability to (1) make insightful observations, (2) plan research projects, (3) and communicate their findings effectively, to prepare them for future research careers.

Beyond these research skills, the multidisciplinary approach also develops students’ analytical reasoning, critical thinking, and argumentation – valuable transferable skills that graduates can utilize in further studies or future careers. Furthermore, insights into human knowledge and behaviour relating to language can have applications wherever language itself is a practical concern. From applying discourse analysis techniques to resolve communication problems, to delving into the pathology of language disorders, this programme provides students with a skillset adaptable to a wide range of possibilities.