Please note that this course is subject to approval.

Course description

Our MSc Computational and Corpus Linguistics provides a thorough training in natural language processing technologies and the data-driven study of language.

You will learn about areas such as:

- Machine learning models for the classification, understanding and generation of texts.

- Natural language applications such as dialogue systems and machine translation.

- Corpus-driven approaches to linguistic questions in areas such as syntax, semantics and pragmatics, phonology and phonetics, historical, socio and psycholinguistics.

You will acquire programming skills in Python and statistical analysis skills in R. You will learn how to use high performance computing facilities, and how to document and present your work.

Aims

The programme offers a comprehensive training in computational linguistics - the study of the processing of human languages by machines - and corpus linguistics - the scientific study of human languages via databases of texts.

Students will learn the theoretical foundations of computer natural language processing, a field of artificial intelligence, and of the data-intensive study of language. They will also acquire constitutive techniques in computer programming, statistics, and research design, and reflect on the ethical implications of these applications.

The course will particularly suit those with undergraduate degrees in Linguistics (or related disciplines) who want to develop quantitative and computational skills, and those with some quantitative skills who are seeking training in linguistics and computation.

Teaching and learning

You will learn on the programme through a variety of methods including lectures, computer-lab based workshops and independent research. The teaching team have interdisciplinary expertise across linguistics (including cross-linguistic research), psychology and computer science.

Coursework and assessment

Course units will be assessed via the development and documentation of computational linguistic systems, the conducting and documentation of corpus linguistic research projects, and via written examinations.

Career opportunities

Artificial intelligence is being used ever more widely and natural language processing skills are in high demand among employers. The skills gained during this course would help prepare you for data science and natural language engineering positions in the many sectors that make use of NLP and/or the analysis of language data.