Research Master in Linguistics and Communication Sciences
Become fully skilled to initiate and conduct your own high-quality research in the domains of linguistics and communication sciences: an excellent preparation for a PhD or a career at a research agency. Specialize within one of the following domains: cognition and communication, linguistic anthropology, business communication and persuasion, digital media and communication, and online culture.
Elsevier Beste Studies 2022
In the Netherlands or abroad
Tilburg University and Radboud University Nijmegen
Program and courses
A central research theme in this two year program is communication at work in face-to-face and multi-modal interactions. Focus on language as it is actually used, and explore cognition, language and communication as an integrated whole.
Integrate into one of the research groups in Tilburg or Nijmegen and specialize in one or more areas of interest:
- Cognition and Communication
- Linguistic Anthropology
- Business Communication and Persuasion
- Digital Media and Communication
- Online CultureExcellent supervision by academic tutors. They advise you on how to get your individual desired training program and the research facilities you need.
Choose from a wide range of substantive electives and method subjects and develop your own unique research profile under individual supervision.
Profit from over fifteen years of collaboration in the Centre for Language Studies (CLS), a current partnership between the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences and the Radboud Faculty of Arts. CLS is closely connected to the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics (MPI) and the Baby Research Centre.
Typical courses are:
- Foundations of Language and Communication
- Statistics and Experimental Methods
- Lab rotation (internship)
- Grant Proposal Writing
- Valorisation
Career prospects
The main focus of this Research Master’s program is on academic training, which makes it ideal for those wishing to embark on a career in academic research. Besides research positions at universities, there are research and management positions that require extensive research skills but not a PhD degree, for example in businesses, at (non-) profit organizations, in the educational sector and at government institutions (e.g., the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science).
Some examples of our graduates' jobs:
- PhD onderzoeker bij onder andere Tilburg University, de Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, VU Amsterdam, University of Antwerp. University of Freiburg, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, University of Warwick en Universität Wien.
- Researcher & PhD Candidate at the Jeroen Bosch Hospital
- UX Researcher bij Google
- Senior Researcher Financial Services bij Ipsos
- Researcher bij TeamAlert
- Research Specialist bij Markteffect
- API architect bij Shell

Application and admission
This program starts:
End of August and End of January
Best preparatory programs:
Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline such as Communication Studies, Linguistics, Culture Studies, Cognitive Science or Language Psychology with an average score of 7.5 (out of 10) on your preliminary examinations in the second and third years of your completed Bachelor's program, and a minimum score of 8 on your final Bachelor's thesis, or equivalent scores for these study units in a non-Dutch higher education system.
Master's degree in a relevant discipline such as Communication Studies, Linguistics, Culture Studies, Cognitive Science or Language Psychology with an average score of 7.5 (out of 10) on your preliminary examinations of your completed Master's program and a minimum score of 8 on your final Master's thesis, or equivalent scores for these study units in a former or non-Dutch higher education system.
Pre-Master's program
Not available. The regular Master's programs in Communication and Media do offer Pre-Master's programs.
Tuition fees and scholarships
Please check the information about the tuition fees and the scholarships available for international students. Excellent non-EU/EEA students will be granted a tuition fee waiver up to the EU/EEA fee.
Interested in this Master's program?
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Loura Collignon
Alumna"I chose the program for the freedom to study what I wanted to. Your field of interest forms the basis for the papers that you need to write and the Lab Rotations that you join in on. This way you gain research experience in your field of interest."

More information on this Master's program
Download the brochure with information on program content, admission requirements, career prospects, housing and immigration matters, and student life in Tilburg. Throughout the year you can take part in various types of events: on-campus, abroad or online.
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13:30 - 16:00
Campus Experience
Are you curious about life as a student at Tilburg University, or not sure which university you want to attend? Join our Campus Experience on September 27 or October 18! Discover our compact and green campus with one of our students and find out if Tilburg University is your future home.
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09:15 - 17:00
Master's Open day
Are you interested in doing a Master's program? Do you want to specialize or are you looking for a Master that broadens your possibilities? Join us at the Master's Open Day on November 18th to find out which (pre-)Master's program suits you best. Learn all about our (pre-)Master’s programs and tracks, and ask teachers, students, and education coordinators your questions.
Interested in the MA Research Master in Linguistics and Communication Sciences?
Check your eligibility and the deadlines for application