Master of Applied Linguistics

The UNSW Master of Applied Linguistics is a two-year full-time postgraduate degree that will prepare you to develop linguistic knowledge for intercultural communication in diverse professional, educational and interdisciplinary settings.

You'll graduate equipped to work in a range of fields, exploring the language used in all fields of activity. You'll develop language technologies, highlight communication within and across different cultures, and may work in conjunction with grassroots community users or assist migrant communities. You'll be able to work with the acquisition of first and second languages and investigate different discourses, such as those used in political, medical, legal and educational settings.

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• Benefit from strong industry links and partnerships
• Access world-class alumni connections
• Join a global top 20 university (QS World University Rankings, 2024)
• Join a community that’s part of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities

There are three different streams of the Master of Applied Linguistics. The stream you apply for will depend on the depth of your prior academic and/or professional experience, and how closely it relates to linguistics.

You may be eligible to have your study recognised via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If your work experience or prior study is recognised, credit points can be counted towards the degree, and you would then be able to complete the coursework undertaking fewer subjects.

For all three streams, you will need to meet the following admission requirements to be considered for entry into the program:

For the 1 year stream (A)

• Honours degree or Graduate Diploma* (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%^.
• Bachelor degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%^, plus one year relevant professional experience.

For the 1.5 year stream (B)

• Bachelor degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%^.
• Bachelor degree (or equivalent qualification) in any discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%^, plus one year relevant professional experience.
• Honours degree or Graduate Diploma* (or equivalent qualification) in any discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%^.

For the 2 year stream (C)

• A Bachelor Degree or equivalent with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%*.

*It is expected that a Graduate Diploma will have been completed after an undergraduate degree.

^Students from a non-211 university in China are now required to have a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW distinction average (75%).

Relevant disciplines include Linguistics; Languages; TESOL; Cognitive Science; Speech Pathology; Interpreting and Translation; Health Sciences.

Applicants with a degree in a discipline not listed here but who wish to make a case for its academic relevance may apply and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.