phd scholarships in applied linguistics

Ph.D. Degree in Applied Linguistics

The Department of Applied Linguistics is an intellectually engaged community dedicated to the scholarly and professional development of its graduate students. The Ph.D. program in Applied Linguistics is shaped by the scholarship and teaching interests of the department’s outstanding faculty. Faculty members have national and international reputations in their areas of specialization and serve as journal editors, on editorial boards, and in responsible positions for national and international professional organizations. Students come from around the world to study with the faculty. Their varied backgrounds and interests contribute to a vibrant community of scholars.

Teaching and Research Apprenticeships

Faculty work with students to develop their teaching and research skills. Doctoral students have opportunities to team-teach graduate courses in their areas of specialization with faculty members. In these experiences, students work with their faculty mentors to design course materials, prepare classes and assess student learning.

In addition to teaching experiences, all graduate students have opportunities to work alongside faculty members on research projects. These opportunities provide them with practical experiences in designing research studies and collecting and analyzing data.

Research Support Grants

Financial support for conference travel and research is available on a competitive basis. Every Ph.D. student is eligible for a semester off from teaching when writing the dissertation. In addition, we actively encourage our students to apply for external grants and we provide assistance with these applications.

Community Life

Outside of the classroom, a variety of department-sponsored activities are provided to enhance the intellectual and professional lives of both faculty and students. We have regularly scheduled  departmental roundtable sessions  and guest lectures where faculty and graduate students are able to engage in discussions of research-in-progress by members of the applied linguistics community as well as by visiting speakers.  Reading and discussion groups  are also part of our activities. The graduate student body also organizes social events that bring faculty and students together in more informal settings to share ideas and develop affiliations.

The Department is building an outstanding record of placing its students in academic and professional positions. We advise and mentor our students as they consider career possibilities. We hold workshops for students to organize and refine their materials for the job market and to prepare them for interviews and campus visits.

We believe that you will find graduate study in the Department of Applied Linguistics at Penn State to be an exciting and rewarding experience.

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UMass Boston

• Applied Linguistics PhD

Join a cohort of scholars, researchers, and activists dedicated to linguistic diversity.

UMass Boston's PhD program in Applied Linguistics is a critically-oriented community of scholars, researchers, and activists dedicated to understanding linguistic diversity in everyday life. Our unique program emphasizes learning-by-doing through mentorship, coursework, and community-engagement. The Applied Linguistics PhD prepares candidates for teaching, research, and public advocacy careers in higher education, government, community, nonprofits, and private organizations.

Our apprenticeship model combines intensive faculty mentoring from the department’s internationally recognized faculty with structured support from a diverse and active doctoral student community . We also draw on the interdisciplinary expertise of our colleagues across Greater Boston and around the world to provide opportunities for community-engaged scholarship . Applied Linguistics doctoral students are involved in a range of local and global projects and initiatives related to our areas of inquiry : bilingual/multilingual education, multilingual language policy, critical applied linguistics, social resources and social contexts in language learning, and sociocultural theory.

Our curriculum is designed to engage future researchers in critical study of language in society. Through the exploration of cutting-edge research methods, students will develop a comprehensive and deep understanding of the theoretical, empirical, and practical dimensions of language use, language teaching and learning, and language policy in local and transnational contexts; and how they interrogate systems of power that produce marginalization, exploitation, and discrimination. Simultaneously, students cultivate their own scholarly identity, develop their inquiries, and generate knowledge to improve life in our schools, communities, and society. Students and faculty collaborate on research projects, manuscripts, advocacy work, and conference presentations throughout the doctoral program. 

Our PhD program requires three years of residency. During the first two years, a typical course load is three courses per semester (fall and spring) plus department events including the Colloquium, Roundtables, working groups, and talks; classes are offered between 4 and 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Funding, including tuition, living stipend, and health insurance, is available for up to three years on a competitive basis.

Please contact Graduate Program Director Professor Avary Carhill-Poza for information about the program, application process, or connection to current students: [email protected] .

Start Your Application

Plan Your Education

How to apply.

The Department of Applied Linguistics at UMass Boston is committed to cultivating diversity in scholarship and scholar identity and to providing intellectual, social, emotional, and financial support to students from groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education. As such, we strongly encourage students with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences, including first generation students, international students, students of color, and linguistically diverse students to apply.

The deadline to submit all materials is January 1 for fall admission. Applicants are responsible for confirming with Graduate Admissions that their application is complete (including all documents and transcripts) well before January 1. Applicants to the PhD Program in Applied Linguistics should submit the following admissions materials:

• UMass Boston Graduate Application
• Official transcript from each college and university attended (including evidence of a master’s degree in applied linguistics or related field, with a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0)
• A current Curriculum Vitae
• Three letters of recommendation, at least two of which should come from individuals who can assess the applicant’s academic preparation for advanced graduate work
• One well-written sample of academic work (e.g. MA thesis, course paper, research project, published article, etc.)
• Statement of purpose [1500 words maximum] that addresses the following questions:
• How do your research interests map onto the areas of inquiry supported by the PhD Program in Applied Linguistics (bilingual/multilingual education, multilingual language policy, critical applied linguistics, social resources and social contexts in language learning, and sociocultural theory)?
• What practical or real-world changes do you hope to see as a result of your research, scholarship, and/or activism?
• What professional, personal, and academic experiences have especially equipped you to bring a critical perspective to your research, scholarship, and/or activism? And, how do your experiences as a multilingual language learner, language teacher, or language user inform your goals? (For applicants who are not multilingual, please explain your plans for developing fluency in another language while completing the PhD program.)

For international students who have not completed at least two academic years of full-time study (excluding ESL or test-prep) at an approved English-speaking college, proof of English language proficiency is required.

Deadlines & Cost

Deadlines: January 1 for fall

Cost: For additional information regarding tuition and fees, please visit the Bursar’s Office or send an email to [email protected] . Please refer to Graduate Student Financial Aid for more information on financial aid.

Application Fee Waivers: Fee waivers are automatic for all UMass Boston alumni, veterans, and McNair Scholars. Additionally, fee waivers for financial hardship are granted to applicants on a first-come-first-serve basis. To request a fee waiver, applicants should first complete their application (but not submit it), then send an email to the Program Director with the subject line: PhD Fee Waiver Request. State your reasons for requesting the fee waiver in your email and attach a letter from your academic advisor attesting to the financial need to waive the application fee. Applications must be complete in order to receive a fee waiver.

Support: Funding for doctoral students—including tuition, living stipend, and health insurance—is available for up to three years on a competitive basis. Applicants to the PhD program in Applied Linguistics are considered for Graduate Assistantships during the application review process in January.

Coursework is the primary way for students to develop their scholarly identity, knowledge, and research skills as they refine a dissertation topic for study. During the first two years of the PhD program, students are encouraged to explore a range of topics and get to know faculty before they choose an advisor for their dissertation project. In their third year, students move on to candidacy by passing associated benchmarks supported by their inquiry courses. The following courses are offered in the Applied Linguistics PhD Program:

Core Courses (9 Credits)

• APLING 700 - Issues in Applied Linguistics 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 701 - Issues in Second Language Acquisition 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 702 - Issues in Sociolinguistics 3 Credit(s)

Seminars (9 Credits)

• APLING 707 - Current Research on Language and Pedagogy 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 708 - Corpus Linguistics 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 709 - Language Policy 3 Credit(s)

Colloquium (1 Credit)

• APLING 890 - Graduate Colloquium in Applied Linguistics 1 Credit(s)

Research Methods Courses (9 to 15 Credits)

Complete at least three courses from below.

• APLING 703 - Applied Linguistics Research Methods 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 704 - Advanced Discourse Analysis 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 705 - Advanced Ethnography 3 Credit(s)
• PPOL-G 604L - Statistical Methods in the analysis of Social Problems I 3 Credit(s)
• PPOL-G 605L - Statistical Methods in the Analysis of Social Problems II 3 Credit(s)

Electives (3 to 9 Credits)

Complete no more than three from below.

• APLING 601 - Linguistics 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 603 - Language, Culture and Identity 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 605 - Theories and Principles of Language Teaching 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 611 - Methods and Materials in Foreign Language Instruction 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 612 - Integrating Culture into the Language Curriculum 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 614 - Foundations of Bilingual/Multicultural Education 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 615 - Dual Language Pedagogy 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 618 - Teaching ESL: Methods and Approaches 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 621 - Psycholinguistics 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 623 - Sociolinguistics 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 627 - Phonetics and Phonemics 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 629 - The Structure of the English Language 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 633 - Discourse Analysis in ESL 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 635 - Literacy & Culture 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 637 - Ethnography of Education: Culture, Language, & Literacy 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 670 - Testing in the Bilingual/ESL Classroom 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 673 - Reading in the Bilingual/English as a Second Language (ESL) Classroom 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 696 - Independent Study 1-6 Credit(s)
• APLING 697 - Special Topics in Applied Linguistics 1-6 Credit(s)

Inquiry Courses (6 Credits)

• APLING 891 - Qualifying Paper Seminar 3 Credit(s)
• APLING 892 - Dissertation Proposal Writing Seminar 3 Credit(s)

Dissertation Research Course (12 Credits)

• APLING 899 - Dissertation Research 1-12 Credit(s)

Graduation Criteria

Complete 55 credits from 16 courses including three core courses, three seminars, one colloquium, three to five research methods courses, one to three electives, two inquiry courses, and one dissertation research course.

Students with a master’s degree in a relevant field earned no more than seven years before matriculation may be eligible for advanced standing awarding them up to twelve credits toward the degree.

Doctoral candidacy:   Acceptance of a qualifying paper and dissertation proposal. Dissertation:   Compose and defend a dissertation based on original research.

Statute of limitations:   Seven years.

Graduate Program Director Professor Avary Carhill-Poza [email protected]

Applied Linguistics Department

UMass Boston's Department of Applied Linguistics in the College of Liberal Arts offers a diverse range of programs and research opportunities aimed at exploring theoretical linguistics, applied linguistics, and interdisciplinary areas of psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics.

Explore the Applied Linguistics PhD Program

• Students & Alumni
• Inquiry Areas
• Applied Linguistics Department Blog

College of Liberal Arts

Learn more about the faculty, research, and programs that make up our College of Liberal Arts.

Doctoral Program

The Ph.D. program emphasizes rigorous theoretical work that has at its base a firm empirical foundation in language data. 

Students are provided with a broad-based background in linguistics, teaching experience in the classroom and other forums, and opportunities for original and high-quality research.  Our Ph.D. students write dissertations on a wide range of topics spanning and bridging many subareas of the field.  See our Ph.D. Alumni  page for dissertation titles and job placement information.

Overview of the Program

Through the completion of advanced coursework and strong methodological and analytical training, the  Ph.D. program prepares students to make original contributions to knowledge in linguistics, to articulate the results of their work, and to demonstrate its significance to linguistics and related fields.  At every stage in the program, students are encouraged to present and publish their research and to develop active professional profiles. 

Students generally complete the program in five years

• Coursework in core areas of linguistics, chosen by each student in consultation with faculty advisors to build the foundation that best suits their interests and goals.
• Fall Quarter: Includes seminar to introduce students to the research of faculty in the department
• Winter Quarter: Includes participation in small research groups or in one-on-one apprenticeships
• Spring Quarter: Includes beginning to work on the first of 2 qualifying research papers

Years 2 and 3

• Balance shifts from coursework to development of research skills
• Students complete two qualifying papers and then selects a principal advisor and committee for their dissertation by the end of year 3.

Years 4 and 5

• Devoted to dissertation and advanced research

Teaching Experience

As they move through the Ph.D. program, students also gain teaching experience by serving as teaching assistants in their second, third, and fourth year of graduate study. They also have access to the many programs provided by Stanford's Vice Provost for  Teaching and Learning , including the varied resources of the Teaching Commons .

Offers of admission to the Linguistics P.h.D program include funding for the full five years of doctoral study, including tuition and stipend, regardless of citizenship. 

We also encourage our applicants to apply for as many external fellowships and scholarships as they are eligible for; a compilation of funding opportunities for Linguistics graduate students can be found on our  Fellowship and Funding Information page .  Applicants should note that the deadlines for these fellowships are typically in the fall of the year prior to admission.

In addition, the  Knight-Hennessy Scholars  program is designed to build a multidisciplinary community of Stanford graduate students dedicated to finding creative solutions to the world's greatest challenges. The program awards up to 100 high-achieving students every year with full funding to pursue a graduate education at Stanford, including the Ph.D. degree in Linguistics. 

Additional information is available about the student budget , Stanford graduate fellowships , and other support programs .

Outside the classroom, there are many opportunities, both formal and informal, for the discussion of linguistic issues and ongoing research, including colloquia, workshops, and reading groups.

Partnership Opportunities

Although not part of the formal doctoral program, there are numerous opportunities for research and development work at the Center for the Study of Language and Information and  off-campus at local companies.  

Admissions Information

Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, PHD

On this page:.

At a Glance: program details

• Location: Tempe campus
• Second Language Requirement: No

Program Description

Degree Awarded: PHD Linguistics and Applied Linguistics

The PhD program in linguistics and applied linguistics focuses on the scientific study of human language and the application of that study to the human condition.

Students in this program select a research specialization in formal linguistics, applied linguistics or some combination within these fields of study.

The curriculum provides professional training in linguistics and applied linguistics with focused research in several linguistic subfields, including syntax, semantics, phonetics, phonology, pragmatics, discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, language contact and change, language planning, Indigenous American linguistics, language documentation and revitalization, second language acquisition, second language teaching and learning, teaching English to speakers of other languages, global Englishes and computer-assisted language learning.

The doctoral program in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics focuses on the study of human language and the application of that study to the human condition.  Students in this program will choose a research specialization which can be formal linguistics, applied linguistics, or some combination of these areas.  The curriculum will provide training in linguistics and applied linguistics with focused research in several areas such as phonetics, phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.  Second language acquisition and second language teaching and learning, TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages), language contact and change, including World Englishes, are also research possibilities in addition to sociolinguistics, language planning, discourse analysis, language and cognition.

Matthew Prior , Director

Sheila Luna , Program Manager

Faculty in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics

Doctoral Examinations

Doctoral Procedures and Timeline

Teaching Assistantships

Degree Requirements

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a foreign language exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core (18 credit hours) APL 555 Disciplinary Discourses (3) APL 601 Introduction to Applied Linguistics (3) LIN 511 Phonetics and Phonology (3) LIN 514 Syntax (3) LIN 515 American English (3) or LIN 516 Pragmatics and Discourse Analysis (3) LIN 655 Advanced Disciplinary Discourses in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics (3)

Electives and Research (33 credit hours) LIN 501 Approaches to Research (3)

Specialization (21 credit hours)

Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) LIN 799 or APL 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information When approved by the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate College, this program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this degree. If students do not have a previously awarded master's degree, then 30 credit hours is made up of additional electives and research coursework which must include LIN 510, if they have not previously taken it or its equivalent.

Students must demonstrate evidence of competent knowledge of a natural language other than modern English, to be selected by the student and subject to the approval of the chair of the dissertation committee. The language requirement must be completed before the student is eligible to take the doctoral examinations. This requirement may be met by any of the following:

• earning a "B" or higher (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) in a 400- or 500-level course in an appropriate (approved) language
• demonstrating comparable proficiency by taking a language examination, administered by the School of International Letters and Cultures, in a language approved by the student's supervisory committee
• demonstrating native-speaker proficiency, as determined by the School of International Letters and Cultures, in a language approved by the student's supervisory committee
• earning a "B" or higher (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) in both ENG 530 Old English and ENG 531 Old English Literature or the equivalent of each
• holding a bachelor's degree in an approved foreign language
• having fulfilled a foreign language requirement toward a previously awarded master's degree that was completed within five years of the semester for which the student was admitted to the doctoral program
• two years (four semesters) of successfully completed college-level coursework (no more than six years prior to admission to the degree program) at least at the 100 and 200 levels with a "C" or better for languages which the School of International Letters and Cultures does not offer or does not offer above the 200 level

The foreign language requirement must be in a language approved by the student's doctoral supervisory committee.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

• graduate admission application and application fee
• official transcripts
• statement of purpose
• resume or curriculum vitae
• three letters of recommendation
• academic writing sample relevant to the field
• proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English (regardless of current residency) and has not graduated from an institution of higher learning in the United States must provide proof of English proficiency. Applications will not be processed without valid proof of English proficiency. More information about English proficiency requirements can be found the school website . Please note that official scores must be sent to ASU in order for the application to be processed.

The well-considered one- to two-page statement of purpose should explain the applicant's scholarly background and training, career goals, proposed research specialization, any secondary field of interest and why the applicant wishes to pursue a PhD in linguistics and applied linguistics at Arizona State University. Applicants applying for funding must also submit a statement of teaching philosophy.

Courses and Electives

The Doctor of Philosophy is a total of 84 hours. In general, a student with an appropriate master's degree must complete a minimum of 54 credit hours of approved graduate work, which includes 12 hours of dissertation. A student without an appropriate master's degree usually must complete 84 hours of work at ASU. At the advisor’s discretion, students may include up to 12 hours of appropriate, graduate-level course work undertaken at another university, and not previously counted towards any other degree.

Required Core Courses for the Degree

• LIN 511 Phonetics and Phonology
• LIN 514 Syntax
• LIN 515 American English or LIN 516 Pragmatics and Discourse Analysis
• APL 555 Disciplinary Discourses
• APL 601  Introduction to Applied Linguistics
• LIN 655 Disciplinary Discourses

Elective/Research Courses

• LIN 501 Approaches to Research

Research Specialization (21 hours) :  Students choose a research specialization which can be formal linguistics, applied linguistics or a combination. Students can focus their elective and research coursework, including APL/LIN 790 on a specific area. Possible specializations in Linguistics are phonology, formal syntax and semantics, historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, discourse analysis and pragmatics.  Possible specializations in Applied Linguistics are SLA theory and pedagogy, ESOL, second language writing, bilingualism, language policy, and issues in educational research.  Students may choose to take other 500 or equivalent and advanced (600 and above or equivalent) courses in their area of specialization.  Advanced LIN 600 level courses may be repeated for credit when topics vary. All students are encouraged to develop interdisciplinary perspectives which may be done by taking courses from other related programs or units to enhance their area of specialization. For example, students with interests in second language writing would expect to take related ENG courses in addition to LIN or APL offerings, and students interested in languages taught in  SILC (School of International Letters and Cultures) could take courses in that unit. Students must consult with an advisor when selecting additional courses for their focus area as these courses provide the depth of training needed for dissertation research.

Other Requirements

PhD Examinations :  Essay, oral exam, colloquy on the dissertation prospectus.

Dissertation : Students must take 12 credit hours of ENG 799.

Language Requirement : PhD students must demonstrate evidence of a competent knowledge of a natural language other than modern English, to be selected by the student, subject to the approval of the chair of the dissertation committee. The language requirement must be completed before the student is eligible to take the doctoral exams. This requirement may be met by

• Earning a “B” (3.00) or higher in a 400- or 500-level course in an appropriate (approved) language.
• Demonstrating comparable proficiency by taking a language examination, administered by the School of International Letters and Cultures, in a language approved by the student’s supervisory committee.
• Demonstrating native-speaker proficiency, as determined by the School of International Letters and Cultures, in a language approved by the student’s supervisory committee.
• Earning a “B” (3.00) or higher in both ENG 530 Old English and ENG 531 Old English Literature or their equivalent.
• Holding a bachelor’s degree in an approved foreign language.
• Having fulfilled a foreign language requirement towards a previously awarded master’s degree that has been completed within five years of the semester for which the student has been admitted to the doctoral program. This foreign language must be in a language approved by the student’s doctoral supervisory committee.
• For languages which the School of International Letters and Cultures does not offer or does not offer above the 200 level, two years (4 semesters) of successfully completed college level coursework at least at the 100 and 200 level with a C or better would fulfill the requirement. The coursework must have been successfully completed no more than six years prior to admission to the degree program.

Miscellaneous : Students may take research (ENG 792) for the purpose of working independently in preparation for the doctoral examination. This is an alternative to be elected by the student at the discretion and with the approval of the advisor and supervisory committee and can count towards course work. Satisfactory completion of ENG 792 is indicated by the grade of "Y." Individual interim segments of ENG 792 will be graded "Z" (course in progress), and changed to "Y" (successful completion) after the dissertation defense. No conventional letter grades are awarded for ENG 792 or 799.

The Graduate College also requires that students be enrolled every semester, excluding summer sessions, until they have completed all requirements for the degree. Continuous enrollment may be satisfied by registration for one hour of ENG 799, or, in cases where dissertation or other credit hours are not needed, Continuous Registration (ENG 595 or 795). If students wish to interrupt their programs of study for one or more semesters, they may apply for a leave of absence, not to exceed one year. Failure to enroll or obtain leave status for the semesters in which they are not enrolled will result in dismissal from the program.

Doctoral Supervisory Committee

The doctoral supervisory committee consists of a minimum of three members from the  graduate faculty  selected at the time the student files a program of study. In consultation with the director of the Ph.D. program, the student will select the committee chair, who also serves as the student's advisor. Once a graduate faculty member has agreed to serve as the student's chair, the student and chair will then consult before recommending two other members to the director of the doctoral program. Ideally another member of the supervisory committee in addition to the chair should be in the area of specialization. It is the responsibility of each student to form a supervisory committee very early in the program so that the chair and members of the committee may be involved in shaping the course of study, for example, in determining such matters as the choice of foreign language(s) and in specifying courses that will be required for the student's particular area of concentration.

Important Notice to Current International Students

In order for international students to maintain good standing for their VISAs, they must take a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester (i.e., 3 classes), 6 credits (2 classes) should be face-to-face classes.

Next Steps to attend ASU

Learn about our programs, apply to a program, visit our campus, application deadlines, learning outcomes.

• Independent research expertise: Students will be able to design and carry out an original research study in their discipline and subdisciplines.
• Scholarly writing expertise: Students will demonstrate the ability to produce written scholarly work at a level expected by the profession and consistent with the degree program.
• Critical analysis expertise: Students will demonstrate the ability to explain, synthesize and critique existing scholarship in their research area.

Career Opportunities

Graduates with research expertise in linguistics and applied linguistics work in a variety of professional contexts, such as academia, government, business, health care, legal settings, publishing, the private sector and nongovernmental organizations.

Career examples include:

• computer-assisted language learning expert
• data analyst
• forensic linguist
• language policy or documentation expert
• language program director or coordinator
• language researcher
• linguistic consultant
• program and curriculum developer
• teacher trainer
• university professor

Global Opportunities

Global experience.

With over 250 programs in more than 65 countries (ranging from one week to one year), study abroad is possible for all ASU students wishing to gain global skills and knowledge in preparation for a 21st-century career. Students earn ASU credit for completed courses, while staying on track for graduation, and may apply financial aid and scholarships toward program costs. https://mystudyabroad.asu.edu

Program Contact Information

If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.

• [email protected]
• 480/965-3194

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Doctoral study in Applied Linguistics

Why study with us.

We were placed in the top 100 in the world for Linguistics in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020.

As a doctoral candidate, you'll benefit from: financial support for research expenses through PReSS funding; high-calibre supervision practices; and the networks and expertise of our world-class academic researchers.

Research opportunities

We welcome PhD research proposals in areas such as:

• Creativity in language learning and teaching
• Affect and language learning
• Materials development for language teaching
• Language teacher education
• Language pedagogy and assessment
• Teacher cognition
• Sociolinguistics
• Discourse analysis
• English for specific purposes
• English for academic purposes
• Teacher identity
• Academic writing
• Corpus-based linguistic studies
• Language policy and planning
• Narrative inquiry

A large number of high-calibre researchers work in Applied Language Studies and Linguistics at the University of Auckland.

Past research topics

• "A narrative ethnography of primary school teachers' language perceptions, preferences and practices in rural Pakistan" | Supervised by Professor Gary Barkhuizen
• "Exploring the relationship between creativity, second language learning, and the EFL curriculum: An ethnographic case study analysis" | Supervised by Associate Professor Tan Bee Tin
• "Genre knowledge for intercultural communication: A contrastive genre analysis of thesis introductions and literature reviews written in China, New Zealand and America" | Supervised by Associate Professor Michael Barlow
• "Establishing the foundation for a diagnostic assessment of reading in English for academic purposes" | Supervised by Professor John Read
• "Stance phraseology in cross-disciplinary academic discourse" | Supervised by Dr Louisa Buckingham
• "Metacognitive strategy instruction and pre-task planning: Impact on L2 argumentative writing ability" | Supervised by Dr Rosemary Wette
• "Ghosts in the system: The shaping of professional identities within the organizational culture(s) of a private training establishment in Auckland" | Supervised by Dr Robert Batstone

Scholarships and awards

There are several scholarships you may be eligible for when you decide to pursue your PhD in Applied Linguistics.

• University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships
• Faculty of Arts Doctoral Scholarship

Help and advice

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If you would like to discuss your plans for your doctoral research you can contact our  PhD Adviser .

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• Linguistics

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PhD Linguistics / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

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• Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and 
• Master's degree in a relevant subject – with an overall average of 65% or above, a minimum mark of 65% in your dissertation and no mark below 55% (or overseas equivalent)

Full entry requirements

Apply online

Please ensure you include all  required supporting documents  at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered. 

Application Deadlines 

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by  12 January 2024. 

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self–funding, you must submit your application before the below deadlines to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these dates have passed. 

• For September 2024 entry:  30 June 2024 
• For January 2025 entry:  30 September 2024

Programme options

Programme overview.

• Access expert supervision across an exceptional breadth of research areas in Linguistics.
• Join a vibrant and lively international centre for Linguistics with an active postgraduate research community.  
• Alongside an exceptionally large cluster of experts on English language, we have particular strengths in Romance, Germanic, and Austronesian languages, as well as the languages of Latin America and Africa.
• 92% of our research activity was recognised as 'world leading' or `internationally excellent' REF2021.

We will be conducting our Humanities PGR virtual open week in October 2024. Find out more about future events and postgraduate research sessions by signing up for our email alerts. 

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): £4,786 International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,500
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): £2,393

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Please note for the majority of projects where experimentation requires further resource: higher fee bands (where quoted) will be charged rather than the base rate for supervision, administration and computational costs. The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive and, therefore, you will not be required to pay any additional bench fees or administration costs.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of the course for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your project.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers, details of which can be found via the links below.

To apply University of Manchester funding, you must indicate in your application the competitions for which you wish to be considered. The deadline for most internal competitions, including AHRC NWCDTP and School of Arts, Languages and Cultures studentships is 12 January 2024. 

All external funding competitions have a specified deadline for submitting the funding application form and a separate (earlier) deadline for submitting the online programme application form, both of which will be stated in the funding competition details below.  

For more information about funding, visit our funding page to browse for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

• ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP) PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• School of Arts, Languages and Cultures PhD Studentships 2024 Entry - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• China Scholarship Council - The University of Manchester (CSC-UoM) Joint Scholarship Programme - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• School of Arts, Languages and Cultures New Generation PhD Studentships - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• President's Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Awards - Competition Closed for 2024 Entry
• Trudeau Doctoral Scholarships 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (High Income Countries)
• Humanities Doctoral Academy Humanitarian Scholarship 2024 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Least Developed Countries and Fragile States)

Contact details

See: About us

Programmes in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

• Linguistics and English Language

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The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership (TLPL)

Applied linguistics and language education, ph.d..

Faculty research interests in the Applied Linguistics area of focus include classroom discourse, conversational analysis, dual language learner education, language and literacy teacher development, language assessment policy, language contact and multilingualism, language diversity, language in school contexts, language planning and policy, multilingualism, peer interaction, second language teaching, sociocultural approaches to second language acquisition, teacher collaboration, codeswitching, and translanguaging. The doctoral program is primarily focused on language education in pre-kindergarten through high school settings in the US.

The program provides competitive financial support packages for all admitted students.

Applied Linguistics and Language Education (ALLE) faculty and doctoral students run an important center on campus, called the Multilingual Research Center (MRC). The MRC is committed to promoting research and outreach related to multilingualism, multilingual communities, and the education of multilingual populations.  It aims to increase the quality and number of TESOL, World Language, and dual language programs and teachers in Maryland, the nation, and the world through outreach; to sponsor and conduct research which illuminates our understanding of multilingualism and multilingual communities; and to disseminate research results to teachers, school systems, and national and international research communities.  The MRC uses its financial resources to support faculty and student research, sponsor prominent outside speakers and visitors, and provide faculty and doctoral students with generous support to attend national and international conferences. Learn more about the MRC .

The University of Maryland is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 37,000 students, 9,000 faculty and staff, and 250 academic programs. Its faculty includes three Nobel laureates, two Pulitzer Prize winners, and 49 members of the national academies.  It is a member of the Association of American Universities and competes athletically as a member of the Big Ten Conference. The College of Education at the University of Maryland is consistently ranked as one of the country’s leading education schools by US News . TLPL’s Division of Language, Literacy, and Social Inquiry is home to the Multilingual Research Center, which seeks to create an infrastructure for practice and research in the broader community.

UMD is the nation’s premier institution for language-related research.  It is home to over 200 language scientists in 17 different departments and centers. The campus-wide Maryland Language Science Center coordinates and creates opportunities for collaborations across disciplines and perspectives, and sponsors a wide range of talks, mini-conferences, and workshops.  Students in the LLSI program are encouraged to take full advantage of program flexibility to draw on the university’s wide range of intellectual resources in this area.

Primary Program Faculty

Shenika Hankerson (PhD, Michigan State University): African American Language; race, equity, language, and literacy; second language writing; language policies and language rights; critical discourse studies. Email [email protected] . 

Jeff MacSwan (PhD, UCLA): Bilingualism; codeswitching; applied linguistics; the role of language in schooling; language assessment policy. Email [email protected] . 

Laura Mahalingappa (PhD, The University of Texas at Austin): Teacher preparation and development for marginalized students; linguistically responsive pedagogy; first and additional language acquisition; critical language pedagogies; language awareness for teachers and learners. Email [email protected] .

Melinda Martin-Beltrán (PhD, Stanford University): Sociocultural approaches to second language acquisition focusing on dual language learners (ESOL students); peer interaction; language exchange; and teacher learning to build upon students’ linguistic and cultural diversity. Email [email protected] . 

Nihat Polat (PhD, University of Texas at Austin): Applied linguistics; individual differences (e.g., motivation, identity) in additional language acquisition (e.g., writing, syntax) and pedagogy (e.g., SIOP); teacher education (e.g., cognition, dispositions); the education of minoritized multilingual learners (e.g., emergent bilinguals, Muslim students in the U.S.). Email [email protected] .

Megan Madigan Peercy (PhD, University of Utah): Pedagogies of teacher education; preparation and development of teachers throughout their careers and as they work with language learners; theory-practice relationship in language teacher education; teacher collaborative relationships and learning. Email [email protected] . 

Kellie Rolstad (PhD, UCLA): Language of schooling; language diversity; second language teaching; unschooling; democratic education. Email [email protected] .   

Participating Faculty

Peter Afflerbach (PhD, State University of New York at Albany): Reading comprehension strategies and processes, especially related to new literacies; the verbal reporting methodology; reading in Internet and hypertext environments; reading assessment.

Ayanna Baccus (PhD, University of Maryland): Reading and literacy instruction.

Perla Blejer (EdD, George Washington University): Second language acquisition; foreign language education methodology; language program administration in higher education; issues of equal opportunity for at-risk students and disadvantaged populations.

Drew Fagan (EdD, Teachers College, Columbia University): Influence of teacher talk on language learning opportunities in classroom discourse; conversation analysis and second/foreign language classroom interactions; factors affecting teachers; preparing mainstream teachers for working with English Language Learners.

Loren Jones (PhD, University of Miami): Literacy and language instruction to support culturally and linguistically diverse students; writing development of English learners (ELs); translanguaging to promote literacy development; teacher preparation for working with ELs across content areas. 

Sarah C. K. Moore (PhD, Arizona State University): Language policy; equity and access for minoritized language communities; educator professional development and preparation around language teaching and learning; online and virtual educator preparation.

John O'Flahavan (PhD, University of Illinois; Urbana-Champaign): PK-12 literacy teaching and learning; the discourses involved in teaching and learning in schools; comprehensive school-wide literacy programs; sustainable school improvement.

Olivia Saracho (PhD, University of Illinois; Urbana-Champaign): Emergent literacy; family literacy; cognitive style and play.

Ebony Terrell Shockley (PhD, University of Maryland, College Park): Teacher preparation for culturally and linguistically diverse learners,  primarily in STEM and literacy contexts; written language assessment bias for bidialectal and multilingual learners; preparing teachers for speakers of African American Language; Black English Learners and the achievement gap; English Learners in Special Education.

Wayne Slater (PhD, University of Minnesota): Persuasion in reading comprehension and written communication, with a focus on biased assimilation and stasis theory.

Jennifer Turner (PhD, Michigan State University): Culturally responsive approaches to elementary reading instruction; vision as a conceptual and practical tool for preparing reading teachers for diversity; literacy as an indicator of college and career readiness; diverse students’ multimodal representations of future professional identities and workplace literacies.

Peggy Wilson (PhD, University of Maryland): Secondary literacy, writing, and grammar.

Affiliated Program Faculty

Donna Christian (PhD, Georgetown University): Dual language education; bilingual education; dialects and education; heritage language education; language and public policy; second/foreign language learning; sociolinguistics. Dr. Christian is a Senior Research Fellow and past President/CEO of the Center for Applied Linguistics.

Elisa Gironzetti (PhD, Texas A&M University-Commerce; PhD, Universidad de Alicante): Applied linguistics; second language and heritage language pedagogy; instructional pragmatics; humor; multimodal discourse analysis. An assistant professor in the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, Dr. Gironzetti is director of the Spanish Language Program at UMD.

Francis M. Hult  (PhD, University of Pennsylvania; Docent, University of Jyväskylä): Discourse studies; educational linguistics; ethnography; language policy and planning; linguistic landscapes; multilingual education; nexus analysis; sociolinguistics; sustainability; and transdisciplinarity.  Dr. Hult is Professor of Education at UMBC.

Manel Lacorte (PhD, University of Edinburgh): Applied linguistics; second language and heritage language pedagogy, teacher education, classroom interaction and contexts; sociopolitical issues in second language and heritage language teaching and learning. 

Minglang Zhou (PhD, Michigan State University): Chinese as a second/global language; bilingualism and bilingual education; language identity; language contact; the relationship between language, ethnicity, and nation-state in China. Dr. Zhou is director of the Chinese Language Program and an associate professor in the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at UMD.

The PhD focus in Applied Linguistics and Language Education (ALLE) provides competitive funding packages for all admitted full-time students.  As a general rule, the program anticipates that all its students will devote themselves full time to graduate study, and will not have significant employment outside of the university for the duration of the program.  This permits the ALLE community to function as a community of practice in which students not only attend classes but are also socialized into a scholarly community.  While doctoral programs traditionally focus on a domain (the subject matter or body of knowledge), little attention is generally given to the creating of a community permitting routine interaction around the construction of professional practice. ALLE faculty believe that a successful program must substantially focus on building a strong sense of community among students, extending into the larger intellectual community of faculty within the home department and throughout the university, providing ample opportunity for participants to engage in their principal craft in spaces outside of traditional classrooms.  

These are some of the specific resources ALLE provides to its doctoral students to help build a community of practice:

A shared space .  All ALLE doctoral students are assigned a desk space with other area doctoral students.  This shared space gives students an opportunity to interact intellectually around course content, program expectations, and research collaborations.

The Multilingual Research Center .  ALLE is home to the Multilingual Research Center (MRC), which engages in research and outreach activities in support of linguistic diversity. The MRC provides research funding support, generous conference travel support for students and faculty, and hosts exciting speaker and brown bag events on campus.   Learn more about the  MRC .

The broader intellectual community. ALLE participates in the Maryland Language Science Center (MLSC), a campus-wide consortium of over 200 language scientists and scholars from numerous departments across campus.  The MLSC hosts events, conferences, talks, and research collaboration events throughout the year.  Learn more about the MLSC .

Student-faculty research collaboration . Students and faculty actively collaborate on a wide range of research projects.  Our goal is to involve every student hands-on in research activity, leading to research conference presentations and co-authored publications.  While these publications typically involve faculty participation, students sometimes collaborate with other students as well on collaborative research activity. Review a list of recent coauthored student-faculty publications .

Typical applicants to the Applied Linguistics and Language Education (ALLE) focus in Language Literacy have completed a prior master’s degree and will need to complete an additional 60 credits of coursework at the University of Maryland for the PhD. (In unusual cases, we may admit students who have not yet completed a master’s degree; in that case, an additional 30 credits are required.)Students complete six major components of coursework, as follows:

• TLPL794 Foundations of Educational Research I (3 credits).  An introduction to the “contested terrain” of education research. It examines major conceptual, methodological and political issues embedded in efforts to carry out education research and focuses on the development of the analytic dispositions and communication skills required to carry out research that meets the variously defined quality, utility and significance standards of scholarship in the field.
•   TLPL795 Foundations of Educational Research II (3 credits). Students engage in the process of conceptualizing and completing a rigorous review of a section of literature in their area of specialization.
• Students in the specialization in Applied Linguistics and Language Education (ALLE) are required to take at least one course in Literacy or Reading Education (3 credits)  as a Breadth Requirement .
• TLPL740 Language and Education (3 Credits). Dialect, language varieties in school settings; historical and current perspectives on the role of language in learning; theories of school achievement and consequences for language assessment.
• TLPL743 Teaching English Language Learners: Current and Future Research Directions (3 credits). Research on the preparation of generalists and specialists teaching English Language Learners. Current research and future research directions.
• TLPL744 Research Foundations of Second Language Education: Examining Linguistically Diverse Student Learning (3 credits). Critically examines theories of second language acquisition and research in applied linguistics relevant to linguistically diverse students and learners of English as an additional language. Analysis of research from linguistic, psycholinguistic, sociolinguistic and sociocultural perspectives, with an emphasis on the social contexts of second language learning and teaching. 
• TLPL788 Foundations of Applied Linguistics Research (3 credits). Explores the interdisciplinary field of Applied Linguistics, drawing upon a wide range of theoretical and methodological approaches. 
• Students choose four Research Methods courses (12 credits).  Courses may be selected from a wide range of options in qualitative and quantitative research methods and may include TLPL793 Discourse Analysis .
• In consultation with the advisor, students choose six courses (18 credits) as Electives .  The elective provision gives students access to the full range of relevant graduate courses throughout the university.
• While working on the dissertation, students will enroll in 12 credits of Dissertation Research .

The Comprehensive Exam .  Students write a comprehensive exam after the fourth or fifth semester of their program, often in the intervening summer.  The comprehensive exam provides an opportunity for students to review a body of literature relevant to their developing dissertation project interest. The comprehensive exam is evaluated according to a rubric by at least two program faculty.  View Comprehensive Exam Rubric .

The Dissertation Proposal . Typically done the third year, students work closely with an advisor to develop a detailed research plan for the dissertation, called a Dissertation Proposal. The proposal presents a rationale for the study, prior relevant research, and details about the research plan, and generally builds on the work completed for the Comprehensive Exam.  A dissertation committee meets with the student for a Proposal Defense before moving on to the dissertation research.

The Dissertation .  Students produce a final dissertation based on the research plan developed in the Dissertation Proposal.  The results of the study are presented at a Dissertation Final Defense with the student’s dissertation committee.  Family members and other members of the public are welcome to attend

Typical Course Sequence

By design, students will complete the program in four years.  A typical course sequence is shown in the table below.

For more information about the program, contact any of the primary program faculty .  We welcome campus visits for students considering applying to the program and routinely hold information events where students can learn more in person about the program.

For information about applying, contact Kay Moon, TLPL Graduate Coordinator, at (301) 405-3118 or [email protected] .

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Offered jointly by the Department of Education and the Department of Language and Linguistic Science

Programme Leader:    Dr Ursula Lanvers

The PhD in Applied Linguistics is available to be studied in 3 modes: part-time, full-time, and  distance learning

In order to apply for a PhD place, we ask that you first submit an application form.  We cannot accept a CV or any other documentation in place of a formal application.  When you apply for a PhD place, you must submit a research proposal about 1,500 words in length. More information about the PhD application and admissions process can be found on the How to apply and FAQ  pages . Apply now for the PhD in Applied Linguistics

The PhD in Applied Linguistics is designed to enhance specialised linguistic knowledge through academic study and research.  

The programme is suitable for all those interested in exploring how linguistic knowledge can be applied to everyday real-life phenomena such as language learning, language policy or language processing.

The course emphasises state-of-the-art research methodology appropriate for conducting linguistic research projects, using a wide range of linguistic research methods.

Potential supervisors are listed below with links to their profiles:

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to have a good honours degree or a master's degree (MA, MSc or MEd) in a relevant discipline (eg MA degree in Applied Linguistics, Psychology, English, English for Academic Purposes, Education, Modern Languages, Linguistics) although candidates with other evidence of ability to succeed at PhD level will also be considered.

If English is not your first language, we do expect you to be able to demonstrate a high level of proficiency.  The minimum requirement for PhD in Applied Linguistics is IELTS 7.0 with 6.5 in Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.  For further information please see  English language requirements .

Apply now for the PhD in Applied Linguistics .

Apply now for the PhD in Applied Linguistics (Distance Learning) .

Applying for a PhD How do I apply for a PhD? Scholarships and funding Tuition fees and expenses York Graduate Loyalty Discount UK government postgraduate loan scheme

Further information Our Research Centres York Graduate Research School Meet our PhD students Educational Research Group  (ERG) Writing Centre

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563+ PhD Scholarships, Fellowships and grants in Linguistics for international students to study abroad

Full list of PhD Scholarships, Fellowships and grants in Linguistics for International students- eligibility criteria, deadlines, application form, selection process & more!

[Updated 3 days ago] PhD Scholarships in Linguistics for International students are below:

• AUT Vice Chancellor Doctoral Scholarships 2024 |
• DAAD, ALECOSTA Alemania-Costa Rica 2024 |
• University Of Reading Regional PhD Bursaries at University of Reading 2024 |
• China Scholarship Council (CSC) Scholarships, at University of Auckland 2024 |
• American Association Of University Women International Fellowships in US 2023 |
• Country-related cooperation programme with Mexico 2024 |
• The Rosztoczy Foundation Hungarian Scholarship 2024 |
• DAAD - Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) Scholarship 2024 |
• King Abdullah University of Science and Technology KAUST Fellowship 2023 |
• Fraunhofer-Bessel Research Award 2024 |
• more scholarships below
• Date posted

McNair Scholar Scholarship (Doctoral & MFA) at University of North Texas 2024

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• University of North Texas (UNT)

National Library Of Australia Scholarships 2024

• National Library of Australia

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China Scholarship Council (CSC) Scholarships, at University of Auckland 2024

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ANU PhD Scholarship 2024

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Fulbright Foreign Student Program in the USA 2024

Stephen & helen wurm phd scholarship in asia pacific linguistics 2024.

DAAD, ALECOSTA Alemania-Costa Rica 2024

Scholars at Risk Fellowship​, at University of Toronto 2024

• University of Toronto

Daphne Jackson fellowship at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) 2024

• UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UBD Graduate Research Scholarship (UGRS) 2024

• Universiti Brunei Darussalam

Monash International Tuition Scholarship (MITS) 2024

• Monash University

Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship 2024

• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Graduate Scholarship For Excellent Foreign Students (GSFS) at Seoul National University 2024

• Seoul National University

International Accommodation Award at Prifysgol Aberystwyth University 2024

• Aberystwyth University

Alumni Progression Scholarship at Newcastle University 2024

• Newcastle University

Commonwealth Scholarship at NUS 2024

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RGU International Student Discount for Research Students 2024

• Robert Gordon University (RGU)

Chancellor's Global Academic Merit Scholarship at University of Portsmouth 2024

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AUT Vice Chancellor Doctoral Scholarships 2024

AUT Vice Chancellor Doctoral Scholarships 2024 is a Partial Funding international scholarship offered by the University of Auckland for international students. Students eligible for this scholarship are: Open to citizens and permanent residents of New Zealand

This scholarship can be taken for pursuing in Any area within the scope of the University. 01 Dec is the deadline to send applications for AUT Vice Chancellor Doctoral Scholarships 2024. Auckland University of Technology (AUT) , . You may apply on AUT Vice Chancellor Doctoral Scholarships 2024 application form .

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DAAD, ALECOSTA Alemania-Costa Rica 2024 is a Partial Funding international scholarship offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for international students. Students eligible for this scholarship are: Open to Costa Rica nationals

This scholarship can be taken for pursuing in Language and Cultural Studies Law, Economics and Social Sciences Mathematics/Natural Sciences, Medicine, Agriculture, Forestry and Nutritional Science, Engineering. Deadline varies is the deadline to send applications for DAAD, ALECOSTA Alemania-Costa Rica 2024. Universities in Germany. You may apply on DAAD, ALECOSTA Alemania-Costa Rica 2024 application form .

Check out other international Fellowships and Grants and Scholarships offered by German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

University Of Reading Regional PhD Bursaries at University of Reading 2024

University Of Reading Regional PhD Bursaries at University of Reading 2024 is a Only tuition fees international scholarship offered by the University of Reading for international students. Students eligible for this scholarship are: Open to applicants of UK/Ireland

This scholarship can be taken for pursuing in Courses offered by the university . 03 May is the deadline to send applications for University Of Reading Regional PhD Bursaries at University of Reading 2024. University of Reading , . You may apply on University Of Reading Regional PhD Bursaries at University of Reading 2024 application form .

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China Scholarship Council (CSC) Scholarships, at University of Auckland 2024 is a Partial Funding international scholarship offered by the University of Auckland for international students. Students eligible for this scholarship are: Open to Chinese nationals

This scholarship can be taken for pursuing in Selected subjects offered by the university. Deadline varies is the deadline to send applications for China Scholarship Council (CSC) Scholarships, at University of Auckland 2024. University of Auckland , . You may apply on China Scholarship Council (CSC) Scholarships, at University of Auckland 2024 application form .

American Association Of University Women International Fellowships in US 2023

American Association Of University Women International Fellowships in US 2023 is a Partial Funding international scholarship offered by the American Association Of University Women (AAUW) for international students. Students eligible for this scholarship are: Open to female International applicants (other than the US)

This scholarship can be taken for pursuing in All Subjects. 15 Nov is the deadline to send applications for American Association Of University Women International Fellowships in US 2023. Any US University. You may apply on American Association Of University Women International Fellowships in US 2023 application form .

Check out other international Fellowships and Grants and Scholarships offered by American Association Of University Women (AAUW)

Country-related cooperation programme with Mexico 2024

Country-related cooperation programme with Mexico 2024 is a Partial Funding international scholarship offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for international students. Students eligible for this scholarship are: Open to Mexico nationals

This scholarship can be taken for pursuing in All subjects offered by the universities. Deadline varies is the deadline to send applications for Country-related cooperation programme with Mexico 2024. Universities in Germany. You may apply on Country-related cooperation programme with Mexico 2024 application form .

The Rosztoczy Foundation Hungarian Scholarship 2024

The Rosztoczy Foundation Hungarian Scholarship 2024 is a Full Funding international scholarship offered by the Rosztoczy Foundation for international students. Students eligible for this scholarship are: Open to Hungary nationals

This scholarship can be taken for pursuing in All subjects offered by the universities. Deadline varies is the deadline to send applications for The Rosztoczy Foundation Hungarian Scholarship 2024. University or Research Institute in the USA. You may apply on The Rosztoczy Foundation Hungarian Scholarship 2024 application form .

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DAAD - Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) Scholarship 2024

DAAD - Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) Scholarship 2024 is a Partial Funding international scholarship offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for international students. Students eligible for this scholarship are: Open to applicants from developing countries

This scholarship can be taken for pursuing in All subjects offered by the universities. Deadline varies is the deadline to send applications for DAAD - Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) Scholarship 2024. Universities/Institutions in Germany. You may apply on DAAD - Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) Scholarship 2024 application form .

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology KAUST Fellowship 2023

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology KAUST Fellowship 2023 is a Full Funding international scholarship offered by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) for international students. Students eligible for this scholarship are: Open to all nationals

This scholarship can be taken for pursuing in All subjects offered by the university . Deadline varies is the deadline to send applications for King Abdullah University of Science and Technology KAUST Fellowship 2023. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , . You may apply on King Abdullah University of Science and Technology KAUST Fellowship 2023 application form .

Check out other international Fellowships and Grants and Scholarships offered by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)

Fraunhofer-Bessel Research Award 2024

Fraunhofer-Bessel Research Award 2024 is a Partial Funding international scholarship offered by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for international students. Students eligible for this scholarship are: Open to all nationals except Germany

This scholarship can be taken for pursuing in All courses offered by the university. Always Open is the deadline to send applications for Fraunhofer-Bessel Research Award 2024. Research Institutions in Germany. You may apply on Fraunhofer-Bessel Research Award 2024 application form .

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PhD in Linguistics

• MA in Linguistics
• Graduate Certificate in Linguistics
• Graduate Research Forum
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• ASL Linguistic Research Project
• Linguistic Semantics Lab
• Phonology Lab
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Aims of the PhD

Human language is a multifaceted phenomenon. It is simultaneously a property of individual minds and of whole speech communities, and thus both internal and external to us. It both shapes and is shaped by our societies over time. It is a combination of sound (or sign), which has physical properties that can be measured, and meaning, which does not. Accordingly, becoming a linguistic researcher involves mastering a variety of methods, both quantitative and qualitative. The PhD in Linguistics at BU aims to produce scholars who are versatile enough to be experts in both of these aspects of linguistic inquiry, yet skilled enough to do cutting-edge research in a particular subfield of the discipline. We offer a solid grounding in a range of research methods, including field methods, quantitative methods, and computational methods.

Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a PhD in Linguistics will demonstrate:

• broad knowledge of the discipline
• deeper knowledge in a specialized area or subfield
• ability to carry out a significant piece of independent research (which implies knowledge of and ability to use research methodologies in order to complete the research)

Prerequisites

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is not required to apply.

Entering students are expected to have completed introductory classes in: 

• phonetics/phonology (e.g., GRS LX 601)
• syntax (e.g., GRS LX 621)
• semantics/pragmatics (e.g., GRS LX 631)

Students who do not have sufficient background in linguistics must complete additional coursework to fulfill the above prerequisites prior to entry or during the first year. Note: if completed at BU, GRS LX 601, 621, and 631 will not count toward the PhD course requirements.

Admissions & Funding

The deadline for application to enter the program in Fall 2023 is January 6, 2023.  Information about the graduate admissions process ( including the application process and requirements ) is available at the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS) website:

We anticipate being able to admit about five students per year. All admitted students will receive full coverage of tuition costs plus a fellowship for five years. For further information about funding, consult the GRS website above.

Requirements

Course requirements.

The PhD requires successful completion of 64 credits at the graduate level, including three core courses: 

• GRS LX 703 Phonological Analysis
• GRS LX 722 Intermediate Syntax
• GRS LX 732 Intermediate Semantics

Six additional courses from the four areas below, with two courses each in two of the areas, and one course each in the remaining two areas:

• advanced phonetics, phonology, or morphology (e.g., GRS LX 706)
• advanced syntax, semantics, or pragmatics (e.g., GRS LX 723, 736)
• linguistic research methodology
• language acquisition or socio-historical linguistics

A 4-credit graduate proseminar sequence (GRS LX 801 & 802) is typically taken in the second year.

Finally, six additional courses (including up to 8 credits of directed study) are taken in Linguistics or related fields that comprise a specialization , which will generally be in the area of the dissertation. These courses will be decided upon by the student in conjunction with their advisor, whose approval is required.

Language Requirement

The PhD requires demonstration of graduate-level reading proficiency in two foreign languages (one of which may be English, for non-native speakers) by the end of the third year of enrollment.

These proficiencies can be demonstrated through any of:

• a language examination
• successful completion of a non-credit graduate-level foreign language reading course offered at BU
• the equivalent of two years of undergraduate study of the language at BU (or successful completion of any higher-level language course taught in the language)

Graduate-level foreign language reading courses offered at BU include:

• GRS LF 621 Reading French for Graduate Students
• GRS LG 621 Reading German for Graduate Students
• GRS LI 621 Reading Italian for Graduate Students
• GRS LS 621 Reading Spanish for Graduate Students

Qualifying Examinations

To advance to candidacy, students must satisfactorily complete and defend two substantial research papers in different areas of the field (the first by the end of the fourth semester, the second by the end of the sixth semester of enrollment).

Each Qualifying Paper (QP) will be planned and carried out under the supervision of a Linguistics faculty member with expertise appropriate to the relevant project and, upon completion, will be defended orally and approved by an examining committee, composed of the first and second reader as well as a third faculty member determined by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) in consultation with the student.

A brief proposal for each QP must be submitted, with signed approval of a first and second reader (who have been approved by the DGS and who have agreed to advise the student on the proposed project), by October 15 of the academic year in which the project is to be completed. For the second QP, a topic approval form, in which the student explains how the second QP differs from their first QP, must also be submitted, in advance of the proposal approval form.

Dissertation and Final Oral Examination

PhD candidates will demonstrate their abilities for independent study in a dissertation representing original research or creative scholarship.

A prospectus for the dissertation must be completed and approved by the readers, the DGS, and the Department Chair.

Candidates must undergo a final oral examination in which they defend their dissertation as a valuable contribution to knowledge in their field and demonstrate a mastery of their field of specialization in relation to their dissertation.

All portions of the dissertation and final oral examination must be completed as outlined in the GRS general requirements for the PhD degree:

Director of Graduate Studies

Co-Directors of Graduate Admissions

Funding For Graduate Students

Go to: Internal Funding for PhD Students l External Funding l Additional Funding

Internal Funding Source for PhD Students

Admission is highly competitive. All students admitted to the PhD program will be offered funding. There is no separate application for fellowships, assistantships, or scholarships.

Doctoral Assistantships : Assistantships provide a taxable stipend ($33,814 for the 2022-2023 AY), cover thesis research fees or tuition, and health insurance. Recipients must be full-time doctoral students. Assistantships require 15 hours per week or work as Research Assistants (RAs) or Teaching Assistants (TAs) who are assigned to individual faculty member or a faculty coordinator (as in the case of our introductory linguistics course: Introduction to Language). Assistantships are renewable for five years pending satisfactory performance.

External Funding Sources

Students are encouraged to apply for outside grants and internships. A selection of resources is given below; students should also consult the Office of Student Financial Services, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the Office of the Provost.

Resources 1. American Anthropological Association 2. American Sociological Association 3. Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) 4. Department of Education: Student Guide to Financial Aid 5. Funding for Women and Minorities 6. The LINGUIST list

Additional Funding Sources for Linguistics Graduate Students

1. American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL) Various awards, including travel grants for the annual conference 2. American Association of University Women (AAUW) Dissertation fellowships and other grants for women 3. American Council of Learned Societies Assortment of fellowships 4. The Camargo Foundation Fellowships For research in the humanities and social sciences related to French and francophone cultures. 5. Consortium of Universities Consortium fellows program Research areas include linguistics. 6. Cosmos Club Foundation Small grants for equipment, conference travel, etc. 7. Council of American Overseas Research Centers Multi-Country Research Fellowship Program 8. DAAD Grants for dissertation and post-doctoral research in Germany 9. Department of Defense NDSEG Fellowships for doctoral study in science and engineering (3-year term) 10. District of Columbia DC State Student Incentive Grant Program (SSIG) Master’s grants for DC residents 11. Ford Foundation Predoctoral and dissertation fellowships for minorities 12. Fulbright grants (USIA) Graduate study abroad for US citizens; graduate study in the US for non-US citizens 13. Language Learning Dissertation Grant Program 14. Mellon Foundation Mellon Fellowships for Dissertation Research 15. Modern Language Journal Dissertation Support Grants Check annually for fall deadlines 16. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships (GRF) For college seniors and first-year graduate students; 3-year term 17. National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants Note: Proposals are submitted by a faculty member on behalf of the graduate student 18.  Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans Grants for up to two years of graduate study in the United States. 19. Social Science Research Council Pre-dissertation and dissertation fellowships and grants 20. Spencer Foundation Grants and Fellowships For research in education 21. TESOL Fellowships For graduate study; travel grants (membership required). 22. The Wenner-Gren Foundation Dissertation fellowships For research in anthropology. 23. The William Orr Dingwall Fellowship For research in neurolinguistics.

• Linguistics

Linguistics Scholarships for International Students

Great News! Linguistics Scholarships for Bachelors, Masters, and PhD programs are regularly offered by universities abroad. If you are a student of Linguistics and are looking for a scholarship that can help you complete a higher education degree in Linguistics, you may apply for any of the scholarships listed here. Remember, these scholarships in Linguistics disciplines may require you to fulfils the admission criteria of the university. Linguistics is an excellent discipline to pursue for a bright career as it has incredible scope and the job industry for Linguistics is demanding more and more professionals. If you are seeking Linguistics undergraduate or postgraduate degree programs without IELTS requirement, it is recommended to apply to Chinese universities or European universities.

Japanese Government MEXT Research Scholarships 2025 For Masters and PhD (Fully Funded)

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• Nanjing University of Science and Technology (NJUST)

This is a Masters, PhD scholarships for International Students at Nanjing University of Science and Technology (NJUST), China. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for NJSUT Silk Road Chinese Government Scholarships for Non-Chinese Students.

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• European Universities

This is a Masters scholarships for International Students at , Europe. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for Arqus European University Talent Scholarship Fund 2024 (Study Free in Europe).

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• University of Pavia

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• Monash University
• International Students, Domestic Students

This is a Masters, PhD scholarships for International Students, Domestic Students at Monash University, Australia. Students interested in All Subjects are advised to apply for Monash University Australian Government RTP Scholarships 2024/2025.

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Study Postgraduate

Mphil/phd in applied linguistics (2024 entry).

Course code

30 September 2024

3-4 years full-time; Up to 7 years part-time

Qualification

Applied Linguistics

University of Warwick

Find out more about our Applied Linguistics MPhil/PhD.

The MPhil/PhD in Applied Linguistics is expertly designed for those who want to make a real difference to society through research. The University of Warwick's Department of Applied Linguistics, ranked 3rd in The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022, will nurture your academic and professional development.

Course overview

Working under the expert guidance of a supervisor, PhD students design and pursue an individual research project shaped by their own personal, academic, or professional needs and interests. They participate in seminars and other activities in a diverse and vibrant research community, and disseminate their work through conference presentations and publications to both academic and non-academic audiences.

Teaching and learning

PhD researchers are individually mentored by academic supervisors from the beginning of their journey. They also participate in weekly research seminars in Year One to develop their skills and understanding in relation to research issues and approaches, methods of data collection and analysis, and research ethics.  

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements.

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in ELT/TESOL, English, Education, Linguistics, Languages or a relevant discipline and a Master’s degree in ELT/TESOL, Applied Linguistics or a relevant discipline.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirements Link opens in a new window . This course requires the following:

• IELTS overall score of 7.0 (with a 7.0 in Writing).

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page Link opens in a new window .

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Our research

We are committed to interdisciplinary research that can make a real difference to society and people’s lives by informing policy, changing practice, and challenging perceptions. Current research strengths in the department are:

• Language learning and teaching
• Working, relating, and adapting across cultures
• Language teacher education and development
• Professional and workplace communication
• Language structure, variation and change

Full details of our research interests  are listed on the Applied Linguistics web pages .

You can also read our general University research proposal guidance.

Research proposals

If you are applying for the degree of MPhil/PhD, you need to submit a research proposal with the form. The proposal should indicate your intended research area and outline a plan for the work to be undertaken.

You should justify the planned research by reference both to the literature and your interests or intentions. You should indicate possible research methods and also include a bibliography. The proposal should normally be at least 1500 words long.

If you have completed an MA degree, you may be asked to submit a copy of your dissertation or some course work completed during the programme.

Find a supervisor

There are two ways to find a supervisor. The second way is our preferred way of handling initial communications with prospective applicants, in order to ensure that you can be matched with a potential supervisor, and in order to avoid the confusion that can arise if prospective applicants write simultaneously to several members of staff in the department.

1. Find your supervisor using the link below and discuss with them the area you'd like to research.

Explore our Applied Linguistics Staff Directory Link opens in a new window to see if you can identify someone whose research interests and publications relate closely to your research topic. Of course, it is very possible that you already have someone in mind because you have read their work, met them at a conference, or indeed were a student of theirs in the past. In such cases, you may wish to write informally to this person to discuss your plans for doing a PhD, and they may invite you to send a research proposal.

2. If you cannot identify a potential supervisor or are not sure exactly who to approach, the alternative way is for you to write to the Postgraduate Research Studies Admission Tutor, Professor Neil Murray [email protected] and send him your draft research proposal and CV. He can then follow things up and, if appropriate, pass on your inquiry to a potential supervisor.

You can also see our general University guidance about finding a supervisor. Link opens in a new window

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your research course fees

Fee Status Guidance

The University carries out an initial fee status assessment based on information provided in the application and according to the guidance published by UKCISA. Students are classified as either Home or Overseas Fee status and this can determine the tuition fee and eligibility of certain scholarships and financial support.

If you receive an offer, your fee status will be stated with the tuition fee information. If you believe your fee status has been incorrectly classified you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire (follow the instructions in your offer) and provide the required documentation for this to be reassessed.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provides guidance to UK universities on fees status criteria, you can find the latest guidance on the impact of Brexit on fees and student support on the UKCISA website .

Additional course costs

Please contact your academic department for information about department specific costs, which should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below, such as:

• Core text books
• Printer credits
• Dissertation binding
• Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Applied Linguistics at Warwick

Apply your learning from day one.

With a history dating back to 1983, Applied Linguistics at Warwick has diversified over the years from a main focus on English language teaching and teacher education to include expertise in areas such as: intercultural communication, professional communication, the sociolinguistics of language use, the teaching and learning of languages other than English.

Find out more about us on our website.

Our Postgraduate Taught courses

• Intercultural Communication for Business and the Professions (MSc)
• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (MA)

Our Postgraduate Research courses

• Applied Linguistics (MPhil/PhD)
• Discourse Studies (MPhil/PhD)
• English Language Teaching (MPhil/PhD)
• English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics (MPhil/PhD)
• Intercultural Communication (MPhil/PhD)
• Linguistics (MPhil/PhD)

How to apply

The application process for courses that start in September and October 2024 will open on 2 October 2023.

For research courses that start in September and October 2024 the application deadline for students who require a visa to study in the UK is 2 August 2024. This should allow sufficient time to complete the admissions process and to obtain a visa to study in the UK.

How to apply for a postgraduate research course  

After you’ve applied

Find out how we process your application.

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Track your application and update your details.

Admissions statement

See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.

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Ask questions and engage with Warwick.

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Postgraduate fairs.

Throughout the year we attend exhibitions and fairs online and in-person around the UK. These events give you the chance to explore our range of postgraduate courses, and find out what it’s like studying at Warwick. You’ll also be able to speak directly with our student recruitment team, who will be able to help answer your questions.

Join a live chat with our staff and students, who are here to answer your questions and help you learn more about postgraduate life at Warwick. You can join our general drop-in sessions or talk to your prospective department and student services.

Departmental events

Some academic departments hold events for specific postgraduate programmes, these are fantastic opportunities to learn more about Warwick and your chosen department and course.

See our online departmental events

Warwick Talk and Tours

A Warwick talk and tour lasts around two hours and consists of an overview presentation from one of our Recruitment Officers covering the key features, facilities and activities that make Warwick a leading institution. The talk is followed by a campus tour which is the perfect way to view campus, with a current student guiding you around the key areas on campus.

Connect with us

Learn more about Postgraduate study at the University of Warwick.

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Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

9th in the UK (The Guardian University Guide 2024) Link opens in a new window

67th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2024) Link opens in a new window

6th most targeted university by the UK's top 100 graduate employers Link opens in a new window

(The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers Research Ltd. Link opens in a new window )

About the information on this page

This information is applicable for 2024 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.

Return to: 3110 Department of Applied Linguistics and English as a Second Language    

The Department offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in applied linguistics in response to societal needs for advancing language education and conducting language-related research. The PhD program prepares future researchers, industry specialists, and professors by providing a thorough grounding in theory and practice related to language teaching, learning, and use, as well as the analysis of language. PhD students may focus on a range of topics within various subdisciplines of Applied Linguistics, including second language (L2) acquisition, L2 writing, sociolinguistics, language assessment, computational linguistics, corpus linguistics, and educational technology.

Admission to the Ph.D. Program

Requirements for admission include (1) a master’s degree in applied linguistics or a related field, (2) teaching experience in a second or foreign language, and (3) GRE scores appropriate for doctoral level work. Non-native speakers of English must submit TOEFL scores of at least 600 on the paper-based test or 250 on the computer-based test and a score of at least 5 on the Test of Written English or the TOEFL Writing Test, or if the Internet-based TOEFL is taken, a composite score of 97 and writing score of 22 and speaking score of 24 are required. At the master’s level, successful Ph.D. applicants would have had at least a GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale with the strength of the M.A. program taken into consideration. Students who demonstrate prior experience with adult language learners and/or English for Academic Purposes will be preferred. In addition, students who demonstrate research potential based on an M.A. thesis or research papers submitted as part of the application process will be preferred. New students will be admitted only in the fall semester.

Applicants must submit the following materials:

• Completed graduate program application form;
• Two copies of official transcripts from all colleges attended;
• Official verbal, qualitative and analytic scores on the GRE and, if applicable, official scores on the TOEFL or IELTS;
• Three letters from academic references;
• Sample of academic writing (published or unpublished);
• Statement of professional and academic goals that includes a response to the following: Why are you seeking a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics (specifically in the Department of Applied Linguistics and ESL at Georgia State University)? What are your research interests? With what faculty member are you interested in studying?
• Current C.V.

Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. program in applied linguistics consists of five main components and requirements:

• Required and elective coursework, with a GPA of 3.5 or higher
• Language requirement
• Qualifying paper
• Comprehensive exams

Dissertation

In the first two years of doctoral study, students will take three required core courses (9 semester hours) in conjunction with an additional 21 semester hours of coursework and at least 21 semester hours of dissertation credit. For students whose M.A. is not in Applied Linguistics, check the website for prerequisite courses.

The courses in the program over three content areas include the following:

• Area I: Research Methods
• Area II: Language Analysis and Use
• Area III: Language Learning and Teaching

The required core courses fall in Areas I and II and are the following:

Additionally, all PhD students must have taken a course comparable to AL 8550 - Second Language Evaluation and Assessment    either at the MA level or while in the PhD program in AL/ESL. If it is taken during the PhD program, it counts as 3 of the 6 hours that can be taken in courses that are aimed at both MA and PhD students (see below).

• AL 8960 - Quantitative Research Methods 3 Credit Hours
• AL 8961 - Qualitative Research Methods 3 Credit Hours

*Students are required to fulfill breadth and depth requirements in linguistic theory. The preferred way to do this is by taking both versions of AL 8970   . However, students may be exempted from one of the AL 8970    courses if they have taken AL 8240 - General Linguistics    or an equivalent course from another institution. (General Linguistics itself does not count toward the 30-hour requirement.) Those who wish to teach Introduction to Linguistics need to have taken both Linguistic Theory courses.

• AL 8970 - Current Issues in Linguistic Analysis 3 Credit Hours (phonetics-phonology topic)*
• AL 8970 - Current Issues in Linguistic Analysis     3 Hours (morphology-syntax-semantics topic)*

Language Requirement

Teacher-scholars who work in the field of applied linguistics need to experience second language study and use. This experience may take different forms.

• Successful completion (a grade of “B” or higher) in a minimum of four semesters of university language study, or
• A minimum of one year living in a country where English is not the primary language and learning and using a language of the country, or
• The acquisition of additional language(s) as a child or adult.

Students whose language study does not fit one of these three categories are required to successfully complete four semesters of language study or an intensive program that covers at least four semesters of work.

Graduate Assistants

Graduate assistants are required to enroll for a minimum of 12 credit hours each for the fall/spring semesters and 9 credit hours for the summer semester. These credit hours will consist of courses required for the prescribed program of study, as well as additional hours of APL 8920, 8930, 8940, 8950, and 9900.

Qualifying Exam

The purpose of the Qualifying Exam is for the PhD student to demonstrate theory and content knowledge, research and methodology competence, and communication skills, as well as to develop a plan of study. It consists of a Qualifying Paper and a meeting with a faculty committee (the “exam” proper).

The Qualifying Paper is an empirical paper that is completed in a course during their first year in the program. The goals of the meeting with the faculty are to discuss the paper and to advise the student on a plan for the rest of their program.

Comprehensive Examination

PhD scholarships in Applied Linguistics

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has contracted Macquarie University to undertake a 3-year longitudinal study into the relationship between language training and settlement outcomes of newly arrived migrants from non-English-speaking backgrounds. The project is an extension of a similar longitudinal study undertaken at Macquarie University in 2008 and 2009. The research report of the first phase of the study is available here .

It is the broad aim of the project to follow participants from Phase 1 of the study as well as a new cohort of newly arrived migrants over a 2.5-year period during their initial settlement in Australia in order to find out how they use English and how closely their engagement with English in the AMEP matches their communicative needs.

The project is co-directed by Prof Ingrid Piller and A/Prof Lynda Yates. Prospective applicants should, in the first instance, contact Professor Ingrid Piller or A/Prof Lynda Yates .

The 2011 MQRES full-time stipend rate is $22,860 pa tax exempt for 3.5 years.

Applicants will need to complete a candidature/scholarship application form and arrange for two academic referee reports to be submitted to the Higher Degree Research Office. Refer to:  http://www.hdr.mq.edu.au/information_about/applications  for further application instructions. Macquarie University will advise the successful applicant of entitlements at the time of scholarship offer.

This information is also available on  Macquarie University’s scholarship website  (scroll down to “Faculty of Human Sciences” > “AMEP Longitudinal Study”). The scholarships are open to Australian domestic candidates only. Please quote the allocation numbers 2011160 or 2011161 on your application.

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Language on the Move – the podcast

• Language on the Move 2023

Author Ingrid Piller

Dr Ingrid Piller, FAHA, is Distinguished Professor of Applied Linguistics at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Her research expertise is in bilingual education, intercultural communication, language learning, and multilingualism in the context of migration and globalization.

Join the discussion 12 Comments

A PhD in Applied Linguistics??? Wow! My dream!

Dear professor,

I am doing master course now in applied linguistics in Iran and going to study Ph.D abroad, but without funding it is impossible, I was wondering whether there is funding program in this university for international students, moreover my interests are in Teacher education and cultural beliefs of teachers and learners, as well as teacher identity.

Hi Maryam, thank you for your interest! Most Australian universities offer PhD scholarships for international students. These are highly competitive. To find out more, visit the websites of the universities you want to apply to but bear in mind that information about the PhD programs of Australian universities is usually to be found under “Higher Degree Research” or “HDR” on their websites … Good luck!

It is very impressive.I really need to learn applied linguistics(PHD) in your country. However, I need free scholarship. Otherwise, I cannot learn on my own since I live in Ethiopia where almost all people are extremely poor.

I have done MPhil(Applied Linguistics). I would like to apply for a scholarship to read for a PhD degree in Applied Linguistics. Please, give me any further information. Thanks.

See my previous comment. Good luck!

I am lecturer in the Department of Applied Linguistics, University of Education , Winneba, Ghana. I would like to apply for a scholarship to read for a PhD degree in Applied Linguistics. Please, give me any further information. Thanks. SEFA OWUSU

Thank you for your interest! These scholarships have by now been filled and are closed. For generic scholarship opportunities for international students at Macquarie University refer to http://www.hdr.mq.edu.au/ . The site also provides general admission information. Follow the links to “Scholarships” and “International Students.” For applicants from some countries, Australia Awards might also be of interest. Good luck!

i really wish to study in australia in applied linguistics(phd). but i can’t afford it. i need a scholarship. would u plz help me how to do it? i’ll appreciate it. thanks.

Thank you for your interest. You might find relevant scholarship opportunities with Australia Awards ; most Australian universities also have scholarships programs specifically for international students; details about the international scholarship program at Macquarie University, for instance, can be found here Good luck!.

Wait for me! I have to get my Bachelor and Master first! I am really excited =D! Thanks for the post Professor

Very exciting area , thanks Ingrid for sharing it. Wish had not started my doctoral until now!

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Class of 2024: Sara Rose Hotaling Channels Her Passion for Enacting Change through Applied Linguistics

By Jonah Grinkewitz 

Sara Rose Hotaling admits her educational journey has been “circuitous.”

As a student in the Legal Studies Academy at First Colonial High School, she initially wanted to pursue law and interned with former U.S. Rep. Elain Luria’s congressional campaign. 

Hotaling said she is passionate about many things and thought the opportunity would be a good way to channel her passion into creating change. After seeing the inner mechanisms of politics though, she decided there were better ways to do this. 

When she experienced some health issues, she switched to medicine and enrolled in pre-med classes at Tidewater Community College, because she thought, “‘Well, I’ll just figure it out myself.’” 

She transferred into Old Dominion University in 2022 as a junior and started out on an interdisciplinary track to craft a degree in naturopathic medicine. Her focus was on preventative care and creating a pathway for clinical trials of non-pharmaceutical remedies.

Hotaling did not want to work in a hospital, but the further she got into the field, she realized doing so would be essential to her goals.

“You have to be willing to operate within a system that you don’t believe in to then effect change in that system, and health care and politics were two systems that I was not willing to do that in because I didn’t see a route that was feasible,” she said. 

So, Hotaling switched things up again. She always loved reading and writing, so she changed her major to English and hoped to find her calling along the way. 

That direction came from a linguistics class taught by ODU master lecturer Beth Backes.  

“I thought, ‘This is everything I want,’ and it’s been full speed ahead since then,’” Hotaling said. 

Her next stop is receiving her B.A. in English with a concentration in applied linguistics and a certification in Teaching English as a Second Language on May 4.

“ODU has allowed me to find very influential and impactful people in my life," said Sara Rose Hotaling, an English major with a concentration in applied linguistics.

Hotaling liked that linguistics combined her interests in data and research with sociology and anthropology. She was particularly inspired by a study Backes did with data on how the media captions photos of Black people versus others.

“Language touches everything,” Hotaling said. “Any topic that I or anyone is passionate about, there is a way to do research and produce valuable information that can be utilized to effect change by policy makers, educators and people in positions of power, because everyone has to use language.”

During her studies, Hotaling learned about the rapid disappearance of Indigenous languages. She wanted to draw attention to the crisis, so she organized the first-ever Indigenous Language Preservation Symposium at ODU this past March. 

“I want to know more about this. I think everyone should know more about this. Obviously, the very simple solution was to plan an entire symposium on the subject,” she said with a laugh. 

More than 70 people – including many from local tribes – attended the event which was sponsored by the Linguistics Department and ODU’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society of which Hotaling served as president. 

“Sara Rose is intellectually curious, creative and hard working,” Backes said. “Perhaps most impressive is her ability to see a problem, propose a solution and then not only take action but inspire others to act as well – the mark of a real leader.”

Amy Lindstrom, assistant professor of linguistics, said it was an impressive accomplishment for an undergraduate student to organize such an event.

“Sara Rose is DYNAMO,” Lindstrom stated in an email. “I’ve told her repeatedly that she’s CRUSHING it both as a student and as a researcher.”

During her final semester, Hotaling won the ODU English Undergraduate Applied Language Studies Competition award for a paper she wrote on syntax analyzing how the passive voice has been used strategically to remove blame from one side and place blame on the other in news stories covering the Israel-Palestine conflict. 

“She (Lindstrom) was very willing to stay after class with me and personally answer all of my very linguistic-y questions, and now I’m equipped and well-prepared to do very difficult, high-level work that I probably wouldn’t have gotten in an undergrad experience if not for her,” Hotaling said.

Another formative experience at ODU for Hotaling was interning at the English Language Center as a teaching assistant with English lecturer Ann Kumm. The ELC provides a high-quality, reasonably priced, intensive English language program for speakers of other languages. 

“As much as English teachers are teachers, they’re also students, because you can travel and learn a lot of things, but in the ELC, everyday I’m learning culturally specific things all the time,” she said. 

"Sara Rose took every possible opportunity that she could to work with students in our program — something that she would tell you she equally benefited from," Kumm said. "Just "doing the act of tutoring" was never enough — she wanted to learn and ensure what she was doing mattered. The world is certainly a better place because Sara Rose is in it."

After graduation, Hotaling plans to move to England and apply to graduate schools there. She said her end goal is to be a professor of linguistics but “would not be surprised” if she ends up detouring for a bit. 

Reflecting on her time at ODU, she said she is most grateful for the people – friends, students and faculty members – who served as mentors. 

“ODU has allowed me to find very influential and impactful people in my life and I cannot stress enough how much the students at the ELC have especially impacted me,” she said. 

“We have a lot to learn from the people we work with and not just the people that we’re told to look up to. We should look across. You don’t remember anything positive when people talk down to you, but you remember when you speak with people.”

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Sujin Oh defends doctoral dissertation

Sujin Oh successfully defended her doctoral dissertation, “Individual Differences of L2 Category Precision in L2 Speech Learning.” Congratulations, Dr. Oh!

Applied Linguistics Department

Happening in apling.

Ghadah Noorelahi Defended her Dissertation on Using Dynamic Assessment in IELTS

May 1, 2024 by Iuliia R Fakhrutdinova | 0 comments

The Department of Applied Linguistics is proud to announce that Ghadah Noorelahi successfully defended her dissertation “Promoting Saudi Learners’ Coherence and Cohesion Writing Development Using Dynamic Assessment – An Approach for IELTS Preparation” on March 20th.

Dissertation Committee:  Kimberly Urbanski (Chair), Panayota Gounari, and Rebekha Abbuhl

Abstract:  A well-documented gap exists in pedagogical approaches for teaching L2 coherence and cohesion writing skills, particularly in high-stakes testing contexts. Prior research on coherence and cohesion has been non-developmental as it has not tracked learners’ progress over time. In order to fill this gap, this study employed a robust instructional approach to promote the development of learners’ coherence and cohesion writing skills. Underpinned by Sociocultural Theory (SCT), this study bridges the gap between test preparation and actual language development through implementing a Dynamic Assessment (DA) approach into the context of IELTS. This dissertation investigated how four Saudi L2 English learners developed their coherence and cohesion writing skills, specifically for the IELTS Academic Writing Task 2, through seven online DA sessions over Google Docs. The DA procedure incorporated a genre process approach to writing which helped learners identify the genres of the IELTS Academic Writing Task 2, recognize their rhetorical purposes and incorporate textual organizational stages to develop their coherence writing skills. Additionally, it emphasized accurately integrating cohesion concepts into learners’ texts to develop their cohesion writing skills. Development was promoted through the use of specific mediational moves that were attuned to each participant’s needs. The written interactions between the researcher-mediator and participants were saved on Google Docs and analyzed using microgenetic analysis to track learners’ developmental trajectories. The findings suggest that the DA sessions not only promoted the participants’ coherence and cohesion development but also their independent application of the developed writing skills in delayed and more challenging transfer tasks.

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• Post published: April 30, 2024

Theatre and Linguistics Major Gains Broader Global Experience with Internship Abroad

Fluent in both Russian and English, Zhanna Yakubova, who was born and raised in Moscow, Russia, decided to learn Spanish too and began taking classes in high school when she moved to the United States six years ago. “I am always learning a second language,” she said, “I learned to speak and write in English, and when I moved here, I decided to learn another foreign language, so I am learning to speak Spanish.”

Now a senior at Michigan State University, Yakubova is double majoring in Linguistics and Acting. She has always had a love for learning languages and, during her first year at MSU, she added a Spanish minor to her undergraduate education. Last summer, she completed an internship in Argentina to fully immerse herself in the language.

“The minor helped me a lot with speaking the language,” she said. “And I thought that doing an internship abroad would help me even more.”

Yakubova applied to the Internships in Buenos Aires program , which is run by Connect-123 , and was hired as a Social Media and Graphic Design Intern for the Observatorio Social in Buenos Aires where she worked on their social media and their website.

“I learned so much Spanish, especially Argentinian Spanish, which is not taught in America,” Yakubova said. “I also learned how to make animations, design website prototypes, and other graphic design skills that are useful in the real world.”

However, when Yakubova boarded the plan to go to Argentina, she was having doubts even though she was excited to travel to South America and to begin her internship.

“I learned so much Spanish, especially Argentinian Spanish, which is not taught in America. I also learned how to make animations, design website prototypes, and other graphic design skills that are useful in the real world.”

“When I was on the plane and everyone was speaking Spanish, I got so scared,” she said. “I thought, ‘what am I doing here.’ I literally cannot understand anything.”

Those fears subsided once she got to Argentina where it was easier for her to adapt to the new culture because of her previous experience moving from Russia to the United States.

“You can get lots of anxiety being in a new space and there’s no way to really prepare yourself for that,” she said. “But I wanted to enjoy every day because I knew I only had two months.”

MSU’s Internships in Buenos Aires program comes with two weeks of classes at the Spanish school, Vos Buenos Aires, which gave Yakubova the opportunity to learn Argentinian Spanish. The school was run by the host family that Yakubova lived with during her time in Argentina. “MSU requires you to stay with a family, and I had a wonderful time there, even though I was lost in translation in the first weeks,” Yakubova said. “You also get an advisor with the Connect-123 program who speaks English and helps you navigate through the program or any issues with the family, so it is not that intimidating to be in a new country.”

Yakubova worked at her internship four to five hours each day and also had plenty of time to explore the city.

“It was so fun to explore a new place and immerse myself in the culture,” she said.

Now back in Michigan, Yakubova has continued to prioritize that she is making sure to enjoy every day, no matter where she was at.

“My goal for the next 10 years is to travel and study new languages,” she said. “Languages, traveling, and acting are my three favorite things, so I want to incorporate them into my future.” This summer Yakubova will be participating in the British Theatre in London study abroad program.

“I was awarded a few College of Arts & Letters scholarships for the study abroad, so I am really grateful,” said Yakubova, who plans to graduate from MSU in Spring 2025. “I am hoping to get inspiration from a different continent again about the future of my life.”

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