Linguistics [Graduate]

Entrance Requirements

The Department’s minimum admission requirements are an undergraduate degree with an average of 3.3 in the last two years of undergraduate work (or graduate work) at the University of Alberta, or equivalent qualifications from a recognized institution.

Candidates for the MSc must have completed, to the satisfaction of the Department, certain core courses in linguistics, or their equivalents. Candidates who lack this preparation may be required to undertake a year of qualifying studies before being admitted to the degree program.

Candidates for the PhD must normally hold the equivalent of the MSc in Linguistics at the University of Alberta.

English Language Proficiency: The minimum acceptable score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is 600 (paper-based) or 100 (Internet-based); on the Michigan Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) it is 85. The minimum acceptable score on the IELTS is an overall band score of 6.5, with a score of at least 5 on each test band. The minimum acceptable score on the CAEL is no less than 60 with at least 60 on each subtest. Applicants should arrange for their English language test results to be sent directly to the department.

The GRE General Test is recommended for all applicants from North America and other areas where the test is available.

General Academic Standing Requirements

The Department of Linguistics requires a higher minimum cumulative grade point average and higher grades than those acceptable to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (see Minimum Faculty Requirements  and Failure in or Failure to Complete a Course or Research Work ). The minimum acceptable passing grade in any course taken by students registered in the master’s and doctoral programs in Linguistics is a grade of B-. Grades below a B- count as failing grades for graduate students in Linguistics. All students pursuing graduate degrees in Linguistics must also maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 throughout the course of the program. A student whose academic standing falls below a grade point average of 3.0 may be required to withdraw at any time.

Financial Assistance

Graduate assistantships are normally available for a limited time for students in full-time study who make satisfactory progress toward a degree and are deemed by the Department to be in good academic standing (see Failure in or Failure to Complete a Course or Research Work  and the preceding paragraph). Students will be expected to apply for competitive awards. Exceptionally qualified applicants may be nominated for recruitment or other awards administered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. Information is available at www.gradstudies.ualberta.ca. Support for dissertation research is available on a competitive basis through internally administered research grants.