Master of Arts (Linguistics)

This programme focuses on knowledge and research skills related to language structure and use through the variety of courses offered and the dissertation.

Entry Requirement

• A bachelor’s degree with a CGPA of not lower than 3.0 or equivalent in the field of English language or linguistics studies, or
• A bachelor’s degree with a CGPA of not lower than 3.0 or equivalent in a non-language related field; and a minimum of one year’s work experience in a field related to studies in English language use or linguistics, or
• A bachelor’s degree with a CGPA lower than 3.0 or equivalent; and a minimum of two years’ work experience in a field related to studies in English language use or linguistics, or
• Other qualifications approved by the Senate from time to time

Language Requirement

A non-Malaysian applicant who wishes to follow a programme and/or write their dissertation in the English Language but whose degree is from a university or institution of higher learning where the medium of instruction for that degree is not the English Language must possess:

• A minimum score of 550 for a paper-based total, a score of 213 for a computer-based total, or a score of 80 for an internet-based total for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); or
• At least a band 6 for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)(ACADEMIC); or
• A score of 50 and above for the Pearson Test of Academic English (PTE)

A non-Malaysian applicant pursuing a programme of study and/or writing a dissertation in a language other than English Language, that is, Bahasa Malaysia and Arabic, which is related to his/her field of research prior to graduation is required to obtain:

• A minimum score of 550 for a paper-based total, a score of 213 for a computer-based total, or a score of 80 for an internet-based total for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); or
• At least a band 6 for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)(ACADEMIC); or
• A score of 50 and above for the Pearson Test of Academic English (PTE)
• A minimum score of 400 for a paper-based total for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); or
• At least a band of 4.0 for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)(ACADEMIC)

Graduates from this programme can work, for example,

• in the media, advertising and publishing industry (e.g. script-writers, journalists, writers, editors, copywriters, proof-readers);
• in corporate communication;
• in the education industry (e.g. corporate trainers, language teachers, teacher educators, programme/curriculum developers, education managers/administrators at government and private schools and institutions, researchers and lecturers in higher education);
• as translators and interpreters;
• as language or linguistic consultants (e.g. linguistic and language-related fieldwork, researchers, analysing linguistic aspects of spoken and written texts).

Full Time

Minimum          : 3 semesters
Maximum         : 8 Semesters

Programme Structure (50 CREDITS)

• Core Courses (46 credits)
  • Research Methodology
  • Fundamentals of Linguistics
  • Language and Society
  • Dissertation

• Faculty Elective Courses (6 credits)
  • Approaches to Discourse Analysis
  • Multilingualism
  • Phonetics and Phonology
  • Translation Studies
  • Pragmatics
  • Issues in Applied Arabic Linguistics
  • Language for Specific Purposes
  • Multimodal Studies
  • Critical Discourse Studies