Pre-master

Students who want to do our MA programme in Multilingualism (part of the Linguistics programme) but who have not got the right credentials to do so can enrol in our pre-master. The entire programme is available online so you can do all your studying on a computer at any location across the globe. Even though there are no physical contact hours you will receive individual guidance so that any questions you have along the way can be answered.

Why do a pre-master?

The pre-master is aimed at students who are interested in the master Multilingualism and have a Bachelor’s degree at a HBO level, or a Bachelor diploma in a non-related discipline.

What is the programme like?

The programme consists of three modules: Introduction to Linguistics, Academic Skills I and Academic Skills II: BA thesis. Every course consists of 10 ECTS. This is equivalent to 280 study hours per course. Please do not take this lightly. Through the semester you will be asked to read, (peer)-review, process and produce extensive amounts of content in order to prepare you for the MA Multilingualism. There are no physical contact hours which means you may need more time to figure things out. In order to limit problems in this area a teaching assistant is available by email to assist with any questions there may be regarding the online assignments, uploads or course material.

Course organisation and schedule

The three courses in the pre-master use multiple forms of instruction and assessment; the student will watch videos concerning a variety of topics, write different types of academic texts, and hand in other assignments as described in the detailed instructions. All of these assignments will be gathered in a Blackboard environment. This is also where most of the course materials can be found. Further details about the courses can be provided. To enroll, or for enquiries, please contact us.

Courses

Introduction to Linguistics

This course deals with the most basic and important aspects of linguistics. The fields discussed in this course are phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics. The course also includes a descriptive overview of the different disciplines of linguistics such as sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics and cognitive science. The course was developed and is taught by Dr. Eva J. Dausà, a specialist on general linguistics and multilingualism. At the end of the course you will sit for the final exam which will take place at the University of Groningen. Depending on your place of residence you may in exceptional cases take the exam at another specified (University) location. The grade you receive for this exam will count for the full 100% of your final grade. This is a 10 ECTS course.

Academic Writing I

To improve your academic writing skills in English we offer this course in academic writing, the largest part of this course consists of writing assignments. A central element is the peer feedback that you will receive from, and give to, your fellow students on these writing assignments. Specific rubrics have been designed to help guide you in the peer-review process. After you revise your first drafts on basis of the feedback of your peer, you will hand in your final draft. The final draft will be assessed by a lecturer at the University of Groningen. Only the final drafts of your writing assignments will count towards your grade. The pieces we will ask you to paraphrase, summarize and review will be closely linked to the material that will be presented in the actual MA next year. This is a 10 ECTS course.

Academic Writing II

This course builds on the course described above. With the skills you have acquired in Academic Writing I, you will work towards the final assessment of the pre-MA program: the thesis. The thesis is your opportunity to put what you have learned into practice. It is carried out in the form of a small-scaled research project. It consists mostly of individual work, but during the course you will be assigned a personal supervisor, with whom you will discuss your progress, difficulties, deadlines etc. This contact will take place mostly through e-mail, but several supervisors might also agree to Skype contact, for example. This is a 10 ECTS course.

Lecturers