Phonology is the study of sound systems in language, focusing on how sounds are organised and used to convey meaning. Essentially, phonology explores the rules and principles that govern how sounds function in a language to create meaningful distinctions. You will gain knowledge and understanding of current research in phonology and are prepared for independent research. On completion of the course, you will be able to formulate appropriate research questions, find and evaluate relevant literature, develop and test new hypotheses, and produce cogent, structured and professionally presented reports.
The course is designed for students who already have a strong background in linguistics and wish to pursue a deeper focus on phonology. Applicants should typically have the equivalent of an undergraduate degree with a majority of course-units taken in linguistics, including prior study of phonetics as well as formal theoretical phonology.
Students who have less prior experience with formal linguistics, or limited experience in phonology, may be better suited for our general Linguistics MA course .
The MA Linguistics with a Specialisation in Phonology equips graduates with the necessary skills to carry out advanced research in linguistics with a particular focus on phonology. It additionally provides transferable skills that prepare students for a wide range of careers within and outside of academia, including analytical thinking, problem solving, project management, and writing and oral presentation skills.
Depending on module selection, the degree can also provide training in experimental methods, statistical analysis, and computational linguistics.
These skills open up opportunities in many different sectors, including language teaching, translating and interpreting, speech, technology, marketing, communication, journalism, management, and law.
Although the degree can be an end in itself, this advanced course is an excellent preparation for independent doctoral research in phonology. Graduates from our specialisation MA courses in linguistics have a very strong track record of securing funded doctoral studentships and have in recent years gone on to research at UCL and other global universities. Recent graduates have also gone on to work in the health and social care sectors with 75% of our graduates in work or further study within 15 months of completing their studies (HESA Graduate Outcomes Surveys 2018—2024).
The UCL Division of Psychology & Language Sciences undertakes world-leading research and teaching in mind, behaviour and language. We are ranked #3 in the UK for Linguistics ( The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 ).