Doctorate in Linguistics (Ph.D.)

The doctoral program in Linguistics is designed for students who wish to undertake research in applied and theoretical linguistics in the areas of morpho-syntax, semantics and pragmatics, phonetics and phonology, first and second language acquisition, bilingualism, bi(dia) localism, multilingualism, sociolinguistics, teaching, and education.

Students may explore a wide range of topics related to multiple theoretical perspectives and the very latest developments in linguistics and language acquisition research in recent years such as formalist, functionalist, and emergentist models of language; generative, psycholinguistic, cognitive, functional, sociocultural, sociolinguistic and educational perspectives of language acquisition and teaching.

They may focus on cross-linguistic interference, language development and use, knowledge, comprehension, and production associated with memory, cognition, and emotion; cognitive processes involved in first, second, and third language acquisition, psycholinguistic and neurocognitive underpinnings of language processing; language contact, maintenance and endangerment; different language acquisition contexts and conditions, child and adult language acquisition, heritage language acquisition and language attrition; metalinguistic awareness, speech perception and production, orthography, critical digital literacy; ideologies of language, language planning and policies, family language policy, home literacy environment, code-mixing, code-switching and intercultural communication.

Duration of studies

6 semesters of study minimum / 16 semesters of study maximum. Total ECTS: 240

Program Structure

• Initial Period (1st and 2nd semester). During the initial period the research committee of the student is set up and the topic of his or her research is
• Comprehensive Examination (from 3rd to 5th semester). During this stage the student prepares for and takes the comprehensive examination, which is evaluated by the members of his or her research
• Thesis Proposal (from 6th to 7th semester). Having received a pass mark for his or her comprehensive examination, the student proceeds with the writing of his or her thesis proposal which she or he defends in the presence of the members of his or her research
• Writing-up Stage (8th semester up to 16th semester maximum). During the writing-up stage the student drafts the chapters of his or her doctoral dissertation and finalizes the manuscript taking into consideration his or her supervisor’s feedback as well as the comments of other members of his or her research
• Ph.D. Dissertation Defence. An examination committee is set up and the student is invited to give a public lecture and defend his or her dissertation in the course of an interview with the members of the examination committee.