MA Linguistics at University of the Witwatersrand

Programme overview

This programme prepares language professionals for work in translating, interpreting, journalism, publishing, language policy planning. The masters degree in Linguistics (by coursework or research report, 7000 level) is a significant opportunity for advanced training and application of theory in the broad field of Linguistics. Students of Linguistics have now reached the position where they can both gain profound theoretical training, and where they can enter more deeply into the messy empirical world of data-gathering than has been possible at earlier Linguistics stages at Wits.

Faculty: Humanities | Department: Literature, Language and Media | Duration: 1 - 2 years | Study mode: full-time | Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

What you will study

Masters by Coursework and Research Report: Approved Topic in Linguistics Advanced Historical Linguistics Advanced Morphology Advanced Phonetics Advanced Phonology Advanced Psycholinguistics Advanced Sociolinguistics Advanced Syntax 3 courses (1 required formal course; 2 electives) 1 research report. Supervision during preparation of research report. Masters by Dissertation: No coursework.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Masters by Coursework and Research Report: A bachelor’s degree with honours from Wits or another university with a 65% total mark aggregate. Masters by Dissertation: A bachelor’s degree with honours from Wits or another university with a 70% total mark aggregate. A supervisor from the Faculty of Humanities must be identified and approached prior to application. Additional entry requirements may apply.

ZAR 59,990 for the whole programme (2026). Average tuition fee per programme for 2026 as stated in the 2026 Fees Book, Chapter 2 (Average Tuition Fees); excludes additional charges (notes, computer, lab and other fees). Postgraduate international students pay local tuition plus the non-refundable Source

Postgraduate applications are made online at www.wits.ac.za/applications; the closing date for each programme is listed in its course finder entry. The application fee is R200 (not payable by current Wits students applying online), paid via the Self-Service Portal or by EFT to the Wits University Application Fees account at FNB.

Apply through the official page: https://www.wits.ac.za/applications

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