Why LinguisticsNLP?

Future-oriented

In a world increasingly driven by data and automation, understanding how language works and how it can be processed computationally has never been more crucial. The Master in Advanced Studies in Linguistics: Natural Language Processing – Theory & Practice is a one-year master’s program designed to equip students with the theoretical insights and practical skills needed to analyze and process language automatically.

Research-driven

The curriculum integrates foundational courses in corpus linguistics, psycholinguistics, and language variation with specialized training in programming, machine learning, and neural networks for NLP. With a strong research focus, students design their own projects and complete a master’s dissertation, equipping them for careers in academia or the language technology industry. At the same time, the program balances theoretical and research-based concepts with practical, hands-on experience.

Personalized curriculum

In addition to the core curriculum, students can tailor their studies by selecting courses that align with their chosen scientific focus. These may come from the NLP specialization within this program or from master’s programs at Belgian or international universities.

Human-centered

Whether you are particularly drawn to corpus linguistics, cutting-edge natural language processing (NLP) applications or the ethical challenges of AI, this program equips you with the skills to innovate and make an impact in the rapidly evolving world of language technology and human-centered AI.

Target group

This master’s program is intended for students with a special interest in the (automated) analysis of language data and targets students with a Master’s degree in (Applied) Linguistics, History, Communication Sciences, Political Sciences, Sociology, Psychology, Pedagogy, Law, Economics, Archaeology, Literary Studies, Art History, Languages and Cultures, Gender and Diversity, Global Studies, Criminology, Social Work, Social Welfare Studies, and Conflict and Development Studies. Students are admitted upon file review and an interview.

Given its focus on research, this master’s program is also an excellent preparation for students who aim to start a research project (PhD) in the field of linguistics or other fields that make use of NLP techniques.

Online info session

To be communicated.

Course structure

This master’s program is a one-year, 60-credit academic program comprising four course types:

• General courses and free elective courses (15 credits)
• Research project (5 credits)
• Four courses from the NLP specialisation module (20 credits)
• Master’s dissertation (20 credits)

Modules

Read a short description of the modules offered here. A more detailed programme summary will soon be available in the study guide.

Brochure

Everything you want to know (and more) in the brochure.

Language requirements

CEFR level B2 for English (no Dutch language proficiency is required).

Application procedure 

→ For International students

Follow the UGent application procedure (www.ugent.be/admission) and submit all of the following documents:

• a motivation letter (in English) with CV;
• legalised copies of the Master’s and Bachelor’s diplomas and their transcripts; the diplomas and the transcripts must be translated by a sworn translator into either Dutch, English, French or German if they were originally drafted in another language.
• two recommendation letters. At least one letter should be from an academic referee (e.g. the university where the applicant has been studying); the second letter can also be provided by a company at which the applicant has been gaining work experience.

The International Admissions Desk will first verify all submitted documents and check whether the application is complete. Next, the steering committee of the program will examine all applications on an individual basis. Applicants who meet all requirements will be invited for an online interview.

Deadlines:

• For international students who need a visa: hand in application packages before April 1st 2025.
• For students who do not need a visa: hand in application packages before June 1st 2025.

The applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application via email. Once students have been accepted, they will have to go through the administrative enrolment procedure.

→ For students with a degree from a Belgian or Dutch University

All applicants have to submit a motivation letter with a CV, a copy of the obtained Master’s diploma and its transcript of records to Arda.Tezcan@UGent.be

There are three deadlines for the submission of applications: July 21st 2025, August 12th 2025 and September 12th 2025. After these deadlines, the steering committee will examine all applications on an individual basis.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application via e-mail. Once students have been accepted they will have to go through the administrative enrolment procedure, see also:

• ugent.be/inschrijven (for students with a Belgian degree);
• ugent.be/admission (for students with a Dutch degree).

Testimonial

“After completing my Master’s in Literature and Linguistics at Ghent University in 2022, I found myself interested in language processing questions that required AI knowledge I didn’t have. This led me to enroll in the Master in Advanced Linguistics with a focus on Natural Language Processing, a program that provided me with the skills to address linguistic questions using computational methods. While the two-semester program couldn’t cover everything about NLP, it provided me with a strong foundation to learn and adapt in an academic setting.

For anyone interested in applying computers to linguistics research but unsure where to start, the Master in Advanced Linguistics program at Ghent University is a practical entry point into the field of NLP.” - Thomas Moerman (2022 - 2023)

Contact

Arda.Tezcan@UGent.be

Education and examination code

The program follows the education and examination code of Ghent University, which can be consulted at: https://www.ugent.be/student/en/class-exam-exchange-intern/class-exam/education-examination-code.