Passionate about languages and literature, and looking for a master’s programme in Linguistics and Literary Studies that allows you to specialise in two or more languages? Become a multilingual professional and dive into other languages and cultures!

Have you already completed a bachelor’s programme in a related field, and are you eager to take that knowledge to the next level? Expand your expertise during our one-year master’s programme (60 ECTS) in which you can choose one of our six specialised master’s profiles.

The Multilingual Master in Linguistics and Literary Studies gives you the opportunity to follow courses in up to nine different languages in the multilingual context of Brussels whilst specialising in one of the following six possible profiles:

• Intermediality: We take an academic approach to the intermedial and/or intertextual relationship between literature and other art forms such as theatre, dance, opera, visual arts or film. Thanks to interactive courses you will go deeper into the dynamic interconnectedness of different genres.
• Linguistics: We conduct an in-depth exploration of language with courses in up to six languages. You will cover a broad range of linguistic topics, such as theoretical linguistics, (historical) sociolinguistics and corpus linguistics.
• Literary Studies: You will explore current literary topics, such as literary theory, urban literature, postcolonial literature, the intermedial relationship between literature and other art forms and aspects of literary translation.
• Multilingualism and Foreign Language Acquisition: You will learn about the role of instructed versus uninstructed foreign language learning in this profound exploration of multilingualism, from both social and cognitive perspectives, and put the theory into practice during an internship.
• Psycholinguistics and Neurolinguistics: If you are fascinated by the neurological and psychological aspects of language, this profile is perfect for you. Language impairments caused by brain damage and the cognitive aspects of linguistics are only a few examples of topics you will examine when choosing this option.
• Multilingual Mediation and Communication: Thanks to this well-balanced set of advanced academic and professionally oriented courses, you will acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to study and critically reflect on challenges pertaining to translation, interpreting and communication in our multilingual society. Practical training and a compulsory internship provide the opportunity for hands-on experience.

Your study programme:

The Multilingual Master offers you the unique possibility to take courses in linguistics and literary studies in up to nine different languages, and to specialise in one specific language-related scientific discipline and in one or two languages. The programme of the Multilingual Master contains courses in the following languages: Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian. The programme is built up of three components: the general courses, the choice for one language or two languages, and a specialised profile. For students interested in the master's programme: If your bachelor's degree is not in the field of linguistics and literary studies, there is a possibility of enrolling for a tailor-made preparatory programme consisting of BA modules in Linguistics and Literary Studies.

What do you learn in the master's programme? 

Studying languages, literature and linguistics in the stimulating multicultural and multilingual environment of Brussels gives you the opportunity to discover the vast array of possibilities the city has to offer. Our international degrees in Linguistics and Literary Studies, are designed to prepare you for the globalised labour market where multilingualism, world citizenship and international expertise are becoming increasingly important.

The strengths of the master's programme:

• By studying the Multilingual Master, you’ll be part of the largest international student community in Belgium, home to students coming from around the globe.
• You’ll study languages on our urban yet green campus in the multilingual heart of Europe.
• We offer an effective high-quality education with a well-coordinated balance between general and language-specific courses.
• The innovative approach will boost your learning through team, block and blended teaching.

After graduation:

After you obtain your degree in Linguistics and Literary Studies, many doors will open to different master's programmes and career paths. Perhaps you'll start your career working in cultural institutions, the civil service, a multinational company, or in fields as diverse as communication, education, research, IT, translation, journalism, tourism, politics, publishing, and various other sectors that seek polyglots such as you!