Multilingualism

This interdisciplinary program offers a unique opportunity to develop advanced research skills at the intersection between language, mind and society.

Multilingualism is the reality of the world we live in. Today’s global mobility and technological advancements lead to increased cultural and linguistic flows and exchanges. New opportunities and new challenges arise as most humans use or are exposed to two or more languages or language varieties. Studying the relationship between language, mind, and society opens up fascinating questions: how does linguistic diversity shape the way we think, perceive the world, and interact with others? How does our brain acquire and process multiple languages? How can we effectively engage in multilingual, cross-cultural communication? How can multilingual communities ensure quality education, healthcare, and well-being for all members?

There is an urgent need to answer these research questions. At the individual level, we want to better understand the challenges children and adults face in learning and juggling linguistic diversity in one mind. This has implications for improving educational settings, informing tailored teaching strategies that accommodate various language backgrounds, enhance language acquisition, and support cognitive development.

At the broader societal level, we need to offer valuable solutions to stakeholders – ranging from migrants and students to policymakers, education authorities, tech companies and NGOs – who seek to navigate language diversity and make evidence-based constructive decisions.

This master’s programme in Multilingualism aims to prepare future researchers and professionals to help address these issues.

In this multidisciplinary programme you will work with professors engaged in research and practice in several areas of multilingualism, including psycholinguistics and cognitive science, sociolinguistics and applied linguistics. You may choose to specialise in either social or cognitive dimensions in the study of multilingualism and linguistic diversity, and you will gain familiarity with research in both approaches. We use state-of-the-art methods and theories, including a well-equipped Socio-Cognitive laboratory (e.g., advanced audio-visual recording studio, eye-tracking, EEG).

This flexible program structure is designed to support students from different scholarly and professional backgrounds, and with different future goals. You can choose elective courses in your area(s) of interest and opt to follow a research-intensive course of study or a practice-oriented course of study. You also have the option to conduct a professional internship or research apprenticeship in Norway or abroad.

The programme will provide you with knowledge about theoretical and methodological developments in the study of multilingual minds and societies, the ability to design and conduct your own research project, and the skills to apply your knowledge in addressing real-world challenges in your future career.

Whether you want to focus on language and cognitive skills in a laboratory or clinical setting, or explore communication practices unfolding in social life, you will learn the core theories and methods needed to examine pressing questions in these areas.

The skills that you will gain in project-design, critical analysis, writing and presenting for a variety of audiences, and collaborating in multidisciplinary teams will support your future work in research or other professional settings.

We have a vibrant student community with engaged students from different cultural, linguistic, and scholarly backgrounds. We have an active study and social environment, and in collaboration with our learning assistants we have writing sessions and social gatherings. As a student in the MA in Multilingualism, you will be hosted in the Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies among a broader community of MA students in several programs, with access to services including the Department’s MA student study lounge, and the University of Oslo’s excellent libraries, Writing Center and Career Services.