phd linguistics funding

Doctoral Program

The Ph.D. program emphasizes rigorous theoretical work that has at its base a firm empirical foundation in language data. 

Students are provided with a broad-based background in linguistics, teaching experience in the classroom and other forums, and opportunities for original and high-quality research.  Our Ph.D. students write dissertations on a wide range of topics spanning and bridging many subareas of the field.  See our Ph.D. Alumni  page for dissertation titles and job placement information.

Overview of the Program

Through the completion of advanced coursework and strong methodological and analytical training, the Ph.D. program prepares students to make original contributions to knowledge in linguistics, to articulate the results of their work, and to demonstrate its significance to linguistics and related fields.  At every stage in the program, students are encouraged to present and publish their research and to develop active professional profiles. 

Students generally complete the program in five years

• Coursework in core areas of linguistics, chosen by each student in consultation with faculty advisors to build the foundation that best suits their interests and goals.
• Fall Quarter: Includes seminar to introduce students to the research of faculty in the department
• Winter Quarter: Includes participation in small research groups or in one-on-one apprenticeships
• Spring Quarter: Includes beginning to work on the first of 2 qualifying research papers

Years 2 and 3

• Balance shifts from coursework to development of research skills
• Students complete two qualifying papers and then selects a principal advisor and committee for their dissertation by the end of year 3.

Years 4 and 5

• Devoted to dissertation and advanced research

Teaching Experience

As they move through the Ph.D. program, students also gain teaching experience by serving as teaching assistants in their second, third, and fourth year of graduate study. They also have access to the many programs provided by Stanford's Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning , including the varied resources of the Teaching Commons .

Offers of admission to the Linguistics Ph.D. program include funding for the full five years of doctoral study, including tuition and stipend, regardless of citizenship. 

We also encourage our applicants to apply for as many external fellowships and scholarships as they are eligible for; a compilation of funding opportunities for Linguistics graduate students can be found on our  Fellowship and Funding Information page .  Applicants should note that the deadlines for these fellowships are typically in the fall of the year prior to admission.

In addition, the  Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) program is designed to build a multidisciplinary community of Stanford graduate students dedicated to finding creative solutions to the world's greatest challenges. Join dozens of  Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences students  who gain valuable leadership skills in a multidisciplinary, multicultural community as  Knight-Hennessy Scholars . KHS admits up to 100 applicants each year from across Stanford’s seven graduate schools, and delivers engaging experiences that prepare them to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders ready to address complex global challenges. As a scholar, you join a distinguished cohort, participate in up to three years of KHS's leadership program, and receive full funding for up to three years of your PhD studies at Stanford. Candidates of any country may apply. KHS applicants must have earned their first undergraduate degree within the last seven years, and must apply to both a Stanford graduate program and to KHS. Stanford PhD students may also apply to KHS during their first year of PhD enrollment. If you aspire to be a leader in your field, we invite you to apply. The KHS application deadline is October 9, 2024. Learn more about  KHS admission .

Additional information is available about the student budget , Stanford graduate fellowships , and other support programs .

Outside the classroom, there are many opportunities, both formal and informal, for the discussion of linguistic issues and ongoing research, including colloquia, workshops, and reading groups.

Partnership Opportunities

Although not part of the formal doctoral program, there are numerous opportunities for research and development work at the Center for the Study of Language and Information and  off-campus at local companies.  

Admissions Information

Funding and Aid

PhD students who matriculate in Summer 2020 and after will be guaranteed to have funding support from the University of Chicago, external sources, or a combination of the two for the duration of their program to include the following:

● Full tuition coverage ● Annual stipend ● Fully paid individual annual health insurance premiums

The goal of the University’s commitment to ensuring that students are supported is to allow students to prioritize their studies and prepare for rewarding careers. Funding is contingent on remaining in good academic standing and making progress toward completing degree requirements.

Students in the Division of the Humanities who entered their PhD program in Summer 2016 or later, and who are still enrolled in 2022-2023 will be fully incorporated into this new funding model, and will receive at least the guaranteed stipend level (subject to applicable taxes), full tuition coverage, and fully paid health insurance premiums for the duration of their program, as long as they remain in good academic standing.

Students who matriculated before Summer 2016 will receive at least the funding they were offered at the time of admission and may be eligible for additional funding, such as dissertation completion fellowships. Over the past several years, the Division of the Humanities has increased investments in funding to support students in degree completion.

Additional fellowships and awards are available to support language study, conference travel, and research travel. 

Research and Dissertation Funds

University of chicago internal fellowships and grants.

The following are internal fellowships that students may apply for. Additional information is available at the  Division of the Humanities’ website .

Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships

Foreign Language and Area Studies  fellowships are for Ph.D. students in their first five years or two-year M.A. students in their second year who must study certain languages for their programs. In 2024-2025, the University will be accepting applications for languages in two world areas: Middle East and East Asia. The FLAS program provides funding for study on campus during the academic year and on campus or elsewhere (domestic or abroad) during the summer.

Humanities CMES, MAPH TLO, and doctoral students who will register for qualifying language courses in the year of the fellowship are strongly encouraged to apply for an Academic Year FLAS. Master's students receive a $20,000 stipend, tuition aid (amount dependent on their program), and student services fee coverage. PhD students receive a $5000 stipend supplement.

Summer award benefits for all students: $2,500 stipend and up to $5,000 in tuition for the applicant's language program of choice.

Applications  are available on the  UChicagoGRAD website Questions?  Contact  Maggie Kurkoski  (UChicago GRAD) at  [email protected] 

For more information, please review the  UChicagoGRAD FLAS website . 

The following internal fellowships require nomination by the department.

Hanna Holborn Gray Fellowship

The Division of the Humanities is able to award two Hanna Holborn Gray Dissertation Completion Fellowships during the 2024-25 academic year to a rising 6th year or 7th year doctoral student who is sufficiently advanced in the writing of their dissertation that they are expected to complete the dissertation during the time they hold the award. This fellowship recognizes the student’s academic achievement and will enable the student to devote full attention and effort towards completing the dissertation.

Students who have applied for other Divisional Dissertation Completion Fellowships will be considered for this award, which will provide a stipend (generally higher than the minimum stipend available), tuition, the required student services fee, and University student health insurance premium. The terms of the fellowship prohibit students from engaging in any remunerative activity during the period of the fellowship. The sole exception to this prohibition to this rule is that fellows may undertake a modest teaching assignment in spring quarter if it is in fulfillment of their pedagogical training plan per the student teaching policy, and when it is clear from the fellow’s progress on the dissertation that teaching will not delay completion of the degree. Requests to undertake a teaching assignment must be made in writing to the Dean of Students, and are subject to departmental approval as all teaching must be in fulfillment of the pedagogical training plan. 

As with our other Divisional Dissertation Completion Fellowships, the student who holds a Hanna Holborn Gray Fellowship in 2024-25 must graduate in Summer 2025 or before. If they do not defend, complete the dissertation, and graduate during the fellowship year, they will be withdrawn from their program at the end of the summer quarter.

Franke Residential Dissertation Completion Fellowships

Each year the Franke Institute for the Humanities awards approximately four Residential Dissertation Completion Fellowships. There is no separate application for a Franke Residential DCF, but to be considered for these fellowships students must commit to being in residence during the fellowship year, and attend meetings with other Franke fellows. These fellowships differ from other DCFs in a number of ways, and include enhanced support and participation in various activities at the Institute .  

Humanities Division Dissertation Completion Fellowships

The Division of the Humanities is able to award approximately 24 Dissertation Completion Fellowships to doctoral students who are sufficiently advanced in the writing of their dissertation that they are expected to complete the dissertation during the time they hold the award. These fellowships recognize the student’s academic achievements, and enable the student to devote full attention and effort towards completing the dissertation.

Fellowships will provide tuition, the required student services fee, University student health insurance, and a stipend. For students under the new funding model, fellowships will include a financial bonus. The terms of the fellowship prohibit students from engaging in any remunerative activity during the period of the fellowship. The sole exception to this prohibition to this rule is that fellows may undertake a modest teaching assignment in spring quarter if it is in fulfillment of their pedagogical training plan per the student teaching policy, and when it is clear from the fellow’s progress on the dissertation that teaching will not delay completion of the degree. Requests to undertake a teaching assignment must be made in writing to the Dean of Students, and are subject to departmental approval as all teaching must be in fulfillment of the pedagogical training plan.

Please Note: Students who hold a Dissertation Completion Fellowship in 2024-2025 must graduate by or before Summer 2025. Students who do not defend, complete the dissertation, and graduate during the fellowship year will be withdrawn from their program at the end of the Summer 2025 quarter.

Eligibility for all 2024-2025 Dissertation Completion Fellowships: Some fellowships may only be held by students up to and including the sixth year in their program; others may only be held by students up to and including the seventh year; the few other fellowships may be held by students up to and including the eighth year of their program. If there are questions about your registration year, please contact [email protected].

The following terms and conditions apply for all dissertation completion fellowships: 1. Without exception, students must be admitted to candidacy before they can apply for these fellowships.  2. Students who have held or currently hold any dissertation completion fellowship (whatever the title of the fellowship: dissertation write-up, completion, etc.) from any internal or external sources are not eligible for consideration. 3. Students pursuing a joint degree program should submit the DCF application through their home department only. 4. Students must defend, complete the dissertation, and graduate in Summer 2025 or before. If this does not occur, the student will be withdrawn at the end of the Summer 2025 quarter.

Departmental Application Deadlines A student’s home department must nominate them for this competition. Students must adhere to their departmental deadlines for application submission.

Application Materials

Each student must complete the online application, which includes submitting the following documents: 1. The timeline for completion of dissertation writing and defense, with the student and the dissertation committee attesting to the feasibility of granting of the degree by Summer 2025. 2. Statement of purpose (3-5 pages single-spaced), describing the dissertation project. The narrative statement should include a work plan. The statement should discuss the significance of this work within the student’s specific and general fields and the contribution this project will make to the field(s) with which it engages.  Please remember that the fellowship review committee will include faculty members from across the Division and thus the candidate must explain terms and contexts that might not be familiar to those outside the field or subfield. 3. A curriculum vitae (C.V.). 4. A copy of one approved chapter of the nominee's dissertation for reference by the fellowship review committee. 5. Letters from two members of the student’s dissertation committee, attesting to the quality of the work and also to the ability of the student to complete and defend the dissertation in the Summer 2024 quarter or before.  These letters should be uploaded by the faculty member.

Department chairs who are nominating students for DCFs, will provide a brief summary of the nominated students as well as a ranked order of the nominees. This should be emailed to [email protected].

Please note that at this time, students who hold a  Divisional  Dissertation Completion Fellowship in year 6 and complete their program in that year and who apply to the Teaching Fellows in Humanities (TFH) application process will be selected to receive a TFH position the following year.

Linguistics Department Funds

The following are funds internal to the Linguistics Department that graduate students can apply for.

Research fund in honor of Rella Cohn:

The Department of Linguistics offers an annual fund for graduate student research, made available thanks to a generous endowment from the family of  Rella I. Cohn.  This fund provides financial support for a small number of graduate student research projects annually.  Funds may be used to support any aspects of student research, including (but not limited to) fieldwork expenses, research-related travel, and payment of conference registration fees.  We will consider requests for reimbursement of past conference travel, or travel to a future conference to which the student has been accepted; we cannot consider requests for travel to conferences if the student has not yet been accepted to present at the conference.

Applications for Rella Cohn funds will be accepted  every quarter (including the summer) in order to fund future activities (typically carried out on the following quarter). Application materials include a one-paragraph description of the project, an itemized budget (including discussion of what you could do with partial funding), a current CV, and a list of current and pending support for this project.

Rella Cohn received her Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Chicago in 1995, with a dissertation on Yiddish names. This work, published in 2008 as Yiddish Given Names: A Lexicon by Scarecrow Press, provides both a linguistic history of Yiddish first names and insights into the structure and history of Yiddish more generally.

Graduate Research Aid Initiative in Linguistics (GRAIL): The Department of Linguistics offers GRAIL funds for graduate student research, including attendance at workshops, conferences, summer schools and training, funds needed for fieldwork, lab work, access to collections or archives, etc. In years when the LSA Linguistics Summer Institute is held, we give priority to funding students to attend the Institute. Applications for GRAIL funds will be accepted  every quarter (including the summer) , in order to fund future activities (typically carried out on the following quarter). Application materials include a one-paragraph description of the project, an itemized budget (including discussion of what you could do with partial funding), a current CV, and a list of current and pending support for this project.  

Conference Funding

Dissertation Research Travel Awards  are available for students who have been advanced to candidacy.  Application deadline: rolling  

The Division of the Humanities Conference Reimbursement Grant provides up to $400 in  reimbursement  to doctoral and masters students for eligible travel expenses to present their work at an academic conference.

Eligibility: Doctoral or masters students in the Division of the Humanities who present a conference paper (or, for MFA students, in an exhibition). Doctoral students may receive the grant a maximum of  three  times in their graduate careers, but only once in any given academic year (academic years begin in Summer quarter). Master’s students may receive the grant a maximum of  one  time in their graduate careers.

Eligible expenses:

Airfare (economy or coach only) Train fare (economy or coach only) Bus fare Gas fare (based on mileage) Car rental

All conference grant reimbursements must be supported by adequate documentation, which consists of four parts: receipts, proof of participation (such as a program or letter of invitation), a completed Humanities Conference Grant Application Form, and a completed Student Certification for Business Related Travel Reimbursement.  More detailed instructions, as well as the two forms required, can be found below.

Requests for reimbursement will not be processed until all supporting documentation is received.   All application materials should be submitted electronically to  [email protected] .

Students who receive their reimbursement prior to attending a conference must provide proof of attendance following the conference. This should be submitted to  [email protected] , and may include a final conference program or booklet (scanned copy or link) showing conference participation or schedule of events. Pictures or other documentation may also be accepted.

Should your plans change and you do not attend the conference, any funds received prior to the event will need to be paid back to the Division by check or money order. Please contact [email protected] or reply to this email for instructions should this occur. Failure to return money from this grant is considered theft and is a University policy violation, which would be addressed by Area Discipline per the Student Manual.

The Graduate Council Fund   provides financial support for academic, professional, and social events created by and intended for UChicago graduate students. The fund supports events that foster intellectual, professional, and social engagement across the graduate student community, targeted to both niche and broad audiences.

Funding is not guaranteed. Registered Student Organizations (RSO’s) and other organizations can only receive funding for one initiative per academic year. Applicants are encouraged to apply for funding in advance. Applications will be reviewed quarterly as long as funding remains. The Graduate Council Fund will open for applications  Thursday, September 5, 2024.

CLS also offers funds for conference travel. Each grad student is entitled to reimbursements of up to $500 per academic year for conference-related expenses (travel, hotel, registration, etc.). There is no limit on the number of conferences that can make up this $500, but left-over funds from previous years do not roll over into the new academic year. Requests for reimbursements for a given year must be made by the start of the fall quarter of the following year at the latest. Requests for reimbursements made after that will count towards the funds available for the new academic year. For more information, you can contact current CLS officers.

• Graduate Program

The curriculum is designed to assure that Ph.D. students receive an adequate grounding in all of the fundamental areas of linguistics, while leaving them the freedom they need to become independent researchers. The first year is devoted to coursework, which gives students a strong foundation and enables them to quickly begin contributing to the research life of the department. Beyond the core, students are relatively free to design their own program of study both within the discipline and across disciplines, within a framework of requirements set by the field and the Graduate School.

This program is organized in consultation with a Special Committee of the student’s own choosing. Committee members represent the student's major and minor subjects. Minors may be chosen from disciplines other than linguistics, so that it is possible, for example, for a Ph.D. student to major in General Linguistics and minor in such areas as Computer Science, Latin American Studies or Cognitive Science. The Special Committee system makes the Ph.D. program maximally flexible and allows students to avail themselves of the entire university's resources. 

Note on M.A. Program:

We do not offer a Master's program. The exception is through the Employee Degree Program (a benefit for Cornell employees). Contact Shai Wiesel, our Graduate Field Assistant, for more information ( [email protected]  or 607-255-1105)

ADMISSIONS REVIEW CONSIDERING COVID-19 DISRUPTIONS

APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 15 (of each year - fall admission only)

Application Requirements

Applicants must have a B.A., B.S. or M.A. degree.

Submitted online:

• Online application found at www.gradschool.cornell.edu/admissions
• Academic statement of purpose
• Personal statement
• One research paper as a writing sample
• Three letters of recommendation
• Application fee: $105
• TOEFL or ILETS scores also required.  For exact details of how to satisfy the English Language Proficiency, please see   https://gradschool.cornell.edu/admissions/prepare/english-language-proficiency-requirement/ .

*The GRE is not required for admission to the Field of Linguistics.

All materials must be uploaded to CollegeNet (see application link above). No hard copy application materials are accepted.

Requests for further information should be addressed to Shai Wiesel: E-mail : [email protected] Phone : (607) 255-1105 Notification of Application Status: If any material is missing from your application, you will be notified by email.  Check the status of your application and select "review your activity".

Application and Admission Timeline

December 15 – All application materials are due.

Early February - Applicants are informed of admissions decisions and financial awards by this time. 

April 15 – Admitted students are required to accept or decline their offers by this date.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions 

- What are the strengths of your program? At Cornell, linguistic theory is applied to a broad range of linguistic evidence and tools, augmenting traditional linguistic intuitions. These include experimental/instrumental approaches, corpora, computational methods, and language documentation.

- What are the research interests and theoretical orientation of your faculty? Take a look at our  faculty webpages ! Our faculty cover a wide range of interests within the field of linguistics.

- How long does it take to complete the Ph.D. in Linguistics? Most students take five years. Finishing in this amount of time is contingent on timely completion of the required coursework and the A-exam.

- Can I do a Master's in Linguistics at Cornell University? No. Our program is designed to train students for the Ph.D.

- Can I start the program in the Winter or Spring semester? No. Our program's coursework is designed to start in the fall semester.

- What kinds of jobs do students who receive the Ph.D. in Linguistics have? Our students are successful in obtaining various academic and non-academic positions . See our " MA/PhD Alumni " page for information on the placement of our Ph.D graduates.

- What if I cannot afford the application fee? Please refer to this information from the Cornell University Graduate School: Application fee waivers: Check fee waiver eligibility requirements online before applying . If you are eligible, you can find a link to our fee waiver request form on the payment page of the online application form. You must submit your application and the fee waiver request at the same time. We review fee waiver requests every business day.

- What are the tuition costs? The tuition cost set for the 2023-24 academic year is $24,800. More detailed information on tuition & stipend rates and other fees (student activity fee and health insurance).

- What financial aid is available? Are international students eligible for financial aid? Two types of financial support are available through Cornell: merit-based (fellowships, assistantships, and tuition awards) and need-based (loans). Please visit our " Financial Support " section below for more information. Unless you choose otherwise, students are considered for merit-based aid, regardless of citizenship, as part of the admissions process—no special application is required. Applicants are notified of merit-based awards at the same time admissions offers are made. You must notify the Graduate School by April 15 if you plan to accept the offer.

- What does the admissions committee look for when reviewing applications? Simply stated, we are looking for talented students who are a good match for our program.

- How many students are accepted to the program per admission cycle? Our target class size is six. 

- What do my GRE scores and GPA have to be? We do not set specific minimums for GRE scores and GPA. GREs and GPA are only one consideration in evaluating applications for admission.

- Who should my letters of recommendation come from? Generally, academic references are from professors you have worked with during your undergraduate or master’s program. If you are not coming straight out of an academic program, these may also include references from your employers. Simply put, we are looking for letters from people who know both the applicant and our program and can tell us that the applicant will do well in our program.

- What should I include in my statement of purpose? A statement of purpose should be a well-written statement (of about 2 pages in length) that tells us why you have chosen to pursue linguistics as a field of study and why you have chosen to apply to Cornell. It should include your reasons for undertaking graduate work and an explanation of your academic interests, including their relation to your undergraduate study and professional goals. If possible, include the names of the Cornell faculty members whose research seems to match your own interests, and briefly discuss the connections you see. Also describe your relevant research experience, and note any publications you have authored or co-authored

Ph.D. Requirements

Progress towards the degree is attained by

Completing the core course requirements

Passing the Qualifying Exam (Q Exam), results reported to Field

Passing the Admission to Candidacy Exam (A Exam), results reported to Grad School

Defending the prospectus (P Exam), results reported to Field

Completing and defending dissertation (B Exam), results reported to Grad School

Brief Ph.D Progress Checklist (For details on the requirements, see below.)

• Make significant inroads on completing the core courses.
• Have at least two meetings (one per semester) with your Advisory Committee.
• Apply for an NSF or other national fellowship in the Fall semester, if eligible (usually only US citizens and resident aliens are eligible).
• Summer funding is contingent on filing a summer academic plan with the Graduate School describing anticipated summer academic activities and outcomes. This is due May 1st and required every subsequent year for funding.
• Select a chair and a Special Committee for your Q Paper by September 1st.
• Submit a Q Paper proposal to your Special Committee by December 1st.
• Continue taking core courses and seminars.
• Complete any ancillary skills courses your committee requires (if any).
• Take Research Workshop (LING 6603) in Spring.
• Summer funding for the second summer will be contingent on having attempted the Q Exam by this deadline. To qualify for summer funding at the end of the fourth semester, it is essential that you schedule your Q Exam no later than May 1st, and that the date of the exam be no later than May 14th unless approved by the DGS.
• File academic plan with Graduate School describing anticipated summer academic activities and outcomes (due May 1st, required for summer funding).
• Select a Special Committee for your A Paper by September 1st.
• Register for Directed Research in the Fall semester.
• Submit an A Paper proposal to your Special Committee by December 1st.
• Take Research Workshop (LING 6604) in Spring semester.
• Take seminars to further research goals.
• Schedule A Exam.
• Eligibility for 3rd summer funding is contingent on passing A Exam or filing a scheduling form by May 1st indicating an intention to take the exam by the start of the 7th semester.
• Select Special Committee for your dissertation by September 1st.
• Write your dissertation proposal (prospectus) and schedule P Exam (defense of prospectus) to be completed by December 15th. Your committee reports results to GFA. All future funding is contingent of completion of the P exam.
• Apply for dissertation year fellowships (usually done in Fall) and other dissertation research funding (such as East/Southeast Asia Program fellowships, NSF, and/or Fulbright).

N.B. The dissertation-year fellowship will be available only to students who attempted their A Exam prior to the seventh semester of enrollment (a requirement of the Code of Legislation), and have passed the A Exam. In addition, students seeking the dissertation-year fellowship must have written and submitted an external fellowship or grant proposal within their first four years of enrollment, to encourage all students to pursue external funding. (In exceptional cases for which there may be no logical external funding organization to which it would be appropriate to write a proposal, the student may write a proposal for an internal Cornell award such as a Graduate School or Einaudi travel grant or may petition for permission to complete an alternative professionalization activity.)

• Apply for jobs, postdocs, etc.
• Finish dissertation.
• Schedule B Exam.
• Take B exam (defense of dissertation).
• Report results.
• File Thesis, using ProQuest and following Graduate School template.

Course Requirements

A. core courses.

To assure that Ph.D. students receive an adequate grounding in all of the fundamental areas of linguistics, the field has defined a set of core requirements in the areas of Syntax, Phonology, Semantics and Historical Linguistics. The general expectation is that all students will take all core courses. If a student requests an exemption on the basis of comparable graduate-level coursework at another institution, this exemption can only be granted after consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and the instructor of the relevant course. Beyond the core courses, Ph.D. students are expected to attend advanced linguistics courses (topics courses and seminars) not only in the areas in which they write their research papers and thesis but in areas that will provide sufficient breadth as advised by the Special Committee.  

Students are required to complete courses equivalent to the following: 

• Historical Linguistics (LING 6314)
• Phonology I and II (LING 6401/6402)
• Syntax I and II  (LING 6403/6404)
• Semantics I (LING 6421)
• Research Workshops (LING 6603/6604): This course provides students with an opportunity to develop an original research paper through a number of revisions, some of which are presented to an audience of fellow students. The final version is presented at a semester-end conference.  Offered both fall and spring.
• At least one course from the following subfields:  computational linguistics, historical linguistics (beyond Ling 6314), morphology, phonetics, semantics and pragmatics.
• Advanced courses: all students are required to take at least four (4) seminars or topics courses for credit. These are courses at the 6600-level or higher. 

B. Ancillary skill sets

In the course of research a student may need to master one or more ancillary skill sets. These might be familiarity with languages of scholarship or training in statistics, logic, field methods or programming. The student, in consultation with his/her committee, is expected to determine which skills need to be acquired and how and when this should be done.

Q- and A-Exams (admission to candidacy):

Admission to candidacy in the field of Linguistics consists of writing two research papers which are evaluated in two exams, the Q-exam and the A-exam.  The Q-exam is taken by the end of the second year, and the A-exam is taken by the end of the third year.  Graduate School regulations require that all doctoral students must take the Examination for Admission to Candidacy before beginning their seventh semester of registration unless special permission is obtained from the Dean.  The format of the Q- and A-exams varies from case to case, depending on the expectations of the Special Committee.  The Field requires that the candidate submit to the committee in advance of the exam a research paper of high quality (see the deadlines above).  The papers for the two exams must be in two distinct subfields, with a distinct Special Committee devoted to each paper.  The Special Committee for each exam will normally ask the candidate to prepare written answers for one to two questions.    

P-Exam (defense of prospectus):

Following successful completion of the A-exam, a Special Committee for the dissertation is selected and the P-exam is undertaken by the fall of the fourth year.    

B-Exam (thesis defense):

The B-Exam is taken after completion of the Ph.D. dissertation.  The B-Exam includes a presentation of the highlights of the dissertation followed by questions from the committee and others in attendance. 

Financial Support

We typically offer guaranteed five-year full financial support to students we admit into the graduate program, regardless of the student's citizenship. Two of those years (SAGE Fellowship: the first-year and the "dissertation year" in which students are not expected to work as a Teaching Assistant or Research Assistant) are through fellowships, and the other three years are through other sources of support, typically teaching assistantships or research assistantships. The five year funding package covers: tuition and fees, student health insurance and a nine-month stipend for living expenses. Funding is contingent on satisfactory academic performance, and beginning with the 2014-15 academic year, the Graduate School has instituted progress requirements for continued funding.

Teaching/Research Assistantships

The studies of all graduate students are funded in part by Teaching Assistantships (TA). In the Department of Linguistics, most Teaching Assistantships involve helping a professor in an undergraduate course; responsibilities may include leading discussion sections, meeting with students, helping grade papers and exams. Every effort is made to match teaching assignments with graduate student interests and to make sure that each Teaching Assistant receives a variety of teaching experiences while at Cornell. Teaching assistants work on average 15 hours per week and do not usually exceed 20 hours in any given week.

A student holding a TA-ship may work total of 20 hours per week as a combination of the TA responsibilities and employment elsewhere, either on- or off-campus.  Students holding a University fellowship, external fellowship, or GRA may also be employed on- or off-campus for no more than 8 hours per week, as long as this does not conflict with the terms of the external funding agreement.

A research assistantship (RA) entails work on a faculty research project not necessarily related to the student's dissertation. RAs work 15 to 20 hours per week. If the research project directly relates to the student's dissertation, then the appointment is a graduate research assistantship, in which case the time spent on research connected with the project is expected to be significant.

The  John S. Knight Institute for Writing in the Disciplines  allots the Linguistics department TA-ships for our graduate students to teach a First-Year Writing Seminar. This program emphasizes the humanities and social sciences and provides graduate students in all fields the opportunity to lead small undergraduate writing seminars and even to develop their own unique course syllabi. All graduate student instructors of First-Year Writing Seminars are required to take Writing 7100: Teaching Writing, a summer or fall semester one-credit course that provides a thorough pedagogical and experiential grounding in teaching. The department of Linguistics has approved courses that are offered as a writing seminar. If you would like to propose a new writing seminar, you will need to fill out the pre-EPC form.

Students may serve as language instructors for their TA-ship.  These also involve 15-20 hours a week.  Students with appropriate language background who are given such assignments are required to fulfill the respective department's training requirements.

Fellowships

The Graduate Field now requires all graduate students to apply for external funding at some point in their first four years. Students in the field of Linguistics are encouraged to apply for a variety of fellowships such as the National Science Foundation and the Social Science Research Council Fellowships. Also, the area programs at Cornell (East Asian, Southeast Asia, South Asia and European Studies) offer federally supported Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships to students whose research focuses on any of these areas.

Many of these non-Cornell sourced external fellowships are intended for students who are U.S. citizens or nationals or permanent residents of the United States. Applicants from foreign countries should seek aid from their own governments, universities, corporations or from a U.S. agency operating abroad, such as the Institute for International Education or the Fulbright-Hays Program.

Under certain conditions, external funds can be used to extend the package of guaranteed support from the Field or used in place of the teaching assistantship or research apprenticeship to allow the recipient to focus on research. The Graduate School and Field policies on modifying the initial package are available from the Director of Graduate Studies. Currently, students who are awarded these fellowships receive the two "free" years of SAGE funding (i.e., the first year and the dissertation year), but not the University-funded RA or TA stipends in the years that are covered by the external fellowship. 

The East Asian Program offers the following fellowships that have no citizenship restrictions. These three typically provide tuition and stipend for one semester. 

Einaudi Center Funding-East Asia Program Fellowships

• Robert J. Smith Fellowships in Japanese Studies
• Starr Fellowships
• Lee Teng-hui Fellowships in World Affairs

Einaudi Center grants: http://einaudi.cornell.edu/student-funding Cornell's Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS), Fulbright-Hayes Awards, Fulbright Program, International Research Travel Grants: The Mario Einaudi Center and its associated Programs offer a wide range of support and assistance to graduate students in search of funding for their international research, study and scholarship. See web site for deadlines, usually late January.

Graduate School Fellowship Database: http://gradschool.cornell.edu/fellowships/ A searchable database of fellowships of all kinds - well worth a look!

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSFGRFP):   http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=6201 The National Science Foundation funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, these are very competitive, but they provide a multi-year package of fellowship funding. College seniors, first- and second-year students with no more than 12 months of graduate study (i.e. no MA/MS degree) are eligible. It is most advisable to apply in your first year, if you are eligible. Even if you feel you do not have much linguistics research experience, the experience of writing the proposal is worthwhile. You will also get feedback from the NSF Fellowship Panel, which you can incorporate into an improved application the following year, if you do not succeed the first time. If you wait until your final year of eligibility to apply, you cannot take a second chance.

Social Science Research Council fellowships:  https://www.ssrc.org/fellowships-and-opportunities/ Most support from the Council goes to predissertation, dissertation and postdoctoral fellowships, offered through annual, peer-reviewed competitions.

NSF dissertation improvement grants (DDRIG):  http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505033&org=SBE&sel_org=SBE&from=fund These are for post-A-exam dissertation writers. There is no U.S. citizenship requirement. The grants supply up to $12,000 for research-related expenses. Deadlines are July 15th and January 15th of each year. The Principal Investigator should be the student's dissertation advisor, and the student should be the Co-Principal Investigator. It is expected that the student (Co-PI) will author the proposal, which will then be submitted through the university by the dissertation advisor (PI).

Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships: http://www.acls.org/programs/dcf

Recently Offered Seminars

The department of linguistics offers a wide variety of graduate-level seminars. Seminar topics vary each semester based on the research interests of the graduate students and faculty.

• Finite State Methods
• Optimality Theory
• Neuro-linguistics
• Old Iranian
• Sanskrit Historical Grammar
• Phonetics in the Lexicon
• Timing and Weight in Phonology and Phonetics
• Information Structure
• Modality, Negative Polarity
• Polarity, Alternatives, Modality, Pragmatics
• Aspect of Interface between Syntax and Morpho-Phonology
• Relation Based Syntax
• Peripheries

Research Facilities

The Computational Linguistics Lab focuses on the statistical parsing of large data samples, including grammar development, parameter estimation, and acquisition of lexical information from corpora.

The Language Documentation Lab provides resources and laboratory space for research involving language documentation, description, and analysis, with an emphasis on understudied languages.

The Phonetics Lab offers state-of-the-art facilities for research in articulatory movement tracking, ultrasound, electroglottography, and speech aerodynamics. The phonetics lab is part of the Cornell Speech Imaging Group (SIG), a cross-disciplinary team of researchers using real-time magnetic resonance imaging to study the dynamics of speech articulation. 

Faculty and students in the Computational Psycholinguistic Discussions research group (C.Psyd) are interested in the intersection of computational linguistics and psycholinguistics. By building computational models to predict human language processing behavior (e.g., reading times), we can study the linguistic features that impact human processing decisions. Relatedly, C.Psyd members use psycholinguistic techniques to study the strategies used by neural networks to produce high accuracy in different language contexts, which gives us insights as to when different strategies might be employed by humans.

At the Linguistic Meaning (LiMe) Lab we investigate the complex process by which humans assign meaning to utterances. To do so, we combine insights from linguistic theory and cognitive science more broadly with experimental and computational methods. Contact: [email protected]

Cornell Linguistics Circle

The Cornell Linguistics Circle (CLC) is the graduate student group of the Cornell Department of Linguistics.  Students from linguistics and related fields are welcome to attend CLC meetings and participate in planned activities. The CLC serves to promote exchange of ideas among graduate students in the field and to advocate for the graduate student body within the department. Throughout the course of the academic year the CLC invites a series of outside speakers from linguistics departments around the country and the world.  Speakers deliver talks attended by faculty and graduate students (followed by a CLC-sponsored reception, of course!) and are often available for one-on-one meetings with interested students. The CLC also publishes The Proceedings of SALT, which contains articles developed from work presented at the annual Semantics and Linguistic Theory conference. All volumes of the Proceedings of SALT are available online through the LSA.

CLC Officers 2023-24

• Ph.D. Student Handbook
• Undergraduate Program
• Sign Language Research Video Collective
• Department Faculty
• Affiliated Faculty
• Emeritus Faculty
• Current Graduate Students
• Current Undergraduate Students
• Research Labs
• Language Corpora
• Publications
• Reading Groups
• Department Contacts
• Department Calendar
• Internal Faculty Site

• Diversity & Inclusion
• Land Acknowledgment
• Administration
• Jonathan Barnes
• Charles B. Chang
• Elizabeth Coppock
• Daniel Erker
• Paul Hagstrom
• Najoung Kim
• Kate Lindsey
• Catherine O’Connor
• Affiliated Faculty
• Carol Neidle
• Teaching Fellows
• Graduate Students
• Affiliated Researchers
• Doctoral Alumni
• Master’s Alumni
• Certificate Alumni
• Undergraduate Alumni
• Spring 2025
• Spring 2024
• Spring 2023
• Major in Linguistics
• Minor in Linguistics
• Linguistics & Computer Science
• Linguistics & Philosophy
• Linguistics & Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
• Linguistics & African Languages
• French & Linguistics
• Italian & Linguistics
• Japanese & Linguistics
• Spanish & Linguistics
• BA/MA in Linguistics
• Honors Programs
• BU Hub Requirements
• BU Linguistics Association
• Undergraduate Resources

PhD in Linguistics

• MA in Linguistics
• Graduate Certificate in Linguistics
• Graduate Research Forum
• Colloquium Committee
• Graduate Resources
• ASL Linguistic Research Project
• Linguistic Semantics Lab
• Phonology Lab
• Sociolinguistics Lab

Aims of the PhD

Human language is a multifaceted phenomenon. It is simultaneously a property of individual minds and of whole speech communities, and thus both internal and external to us. It both shapes and is shaped by our societies over time. It is a combination of sound (or sign), which has physical properties that can be measured, and meaning, which does not. Accordingly, becoming a linguistic researcher involves mastering a variety of methods, both quantitative and qualitative. The PhD in Linguistics at BU aims to produce scholars who are versatile enough to be experts in both of these aspects of linguistic inquiry, yet skilled enough to do cutting-edge research in a particular subfield of the discipline. We offer a solid grounding in a range of research methods, including field methods, quantitative methods, and computational methods.

Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a PhD in Linguistics will demonstrate:

• broad knowledge of the discipline
• deeper knowledge in a specialized area or subfield
• ability to carry out a significant piece of independent research (which implies knowledge of and ability to use research methodologies in order to complete the research)

Prerequisites

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is not required to apply.

Entering students are expected to have completed introductory classes in: 

• phonetics/phonology (e.g., GRS LX 601)
• syntax (e.g., GRS LX 621)
• semantics/pragmatics (e.g., GRS LX 631)

Students who do not have sufficient background in linguistics must complete additional coursework to fulfill the above prerequisites prior to entry or during the first year. Note: if completed at BU, GRS LX 601, 621, and 631 will not count toward the PhD course requirements.

Admissions & Funding

The deadline for application to enter the program in Fall 2023 is January 6, 2023.  Information about the graduate admissions process ( including the application process and requirements ) is available at the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS) website:

We anticipate being able to admit about five students per year. All admitted students will receive full coverage of tuition costs plus a fellowship for five years. For further information about funding, consult the GRS website above.

Requirements

Course requirements.

The PhD requires successful completion of 64 credits at the graduate level, including three core courses: 

• GRS LX 703 Phonological Analysis
• GRS LX 722 Intermediate Syntax
• GRS LX 732 Intermediate Semantics

Six additional courses from the four areas below, with two courses each in two of the areas, and one course each in the remaining two areas:

• advanced phonetics, phonology, or morphology (e.g., GRS LX 706)
• advanced syntax, semantics, or pragmatics (e.g., GRS LX 723, 736)
• linguistic research methodology
• language acquisition or socio-historical linguistics

A 4-credit graduate proseminar sequence (GRS LX 801 & 802) is typically taken in the second year.

Finally, six additional courses (including up to 8 credits of directed study) are taken in Linguistics or related fields that comprise a specialization , which will generally be in the area of the dissertation. These courses will be decided upon by the student in conjunction with their advisor, whose approval is required.

Language Requirement

The PhD requires demonstration of graduate-level reading proficiency in two foreign languages (one of which may be English, for non-native speakers) by the end of the third year of enrollment.

These proficiencies can be demonstrated through any of:

• a language examination
• successful completion of a non-credit graduate-level foreign language reading course offered at BU
• the equivalent of two years of undergraduate study of the language at BU (or successful completion of any higher-level language course taught in the language)

Graduate-level foreign language reading courses offered at BU include:

• GRS LF 621 Reading French for Graduate Students
• GRS LG 621 Reading German for Graduate Students
• GRS LI 621 Reading Italian for Graduate Students
• GRS LS 621 Reading Spanish for Graduate Students

Qualifying Examinations

To advance to candidacy, students must satisfactorily complete and defend two substantial research papers in different areas of the field (the first by the end of the fourth semester, the second by the end of the sixth semester of enrollment).

Each Qualifying Paper (QP) will be planned and carried out under the supervision of a Linguistics faculty member with expertise appropriate to the relevant project and, upon completion, will be defended orally and approved by an examining committee, composed of the first and second reader as well as a third faculty member determined by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) in consultation with the student.

A brief proposal for each QP must be submitted, with signed approval of a first and second reader (who have been approved by the DGS and who have agreed to advise the student on the proposed project), by October 15 of the academic year in which the project is to be completed. For the second QP, a topic approval form, in which the student explains how the second QP differs from their first QP, must also be submitted, in advance of the proposal approval form.

Dissertation and Final Oral Examination

PhD candidates will demonstrate their abilities for independent study in a dissertation representing original research or creative scholarship.

A prospectus for the dissertation must be completed and approved by the readers, the DGS, and the Department Chair.

Candidates must undergo a final oral examination in which they defend their dissertation as a valuable contribution to knowledge in their field and demonstrate a mastery of their field of specialization in relation to their dissertation.

All portions of the dissertation and final oral examination must be completed as outlined in the GRS general requirements for the PhD degree:

Director of Graduate Studies

Co-Directors of Graduate Admissions

• Utility Menu

Department of Linguistics

Ph.d. program.

The main components of the Linguistics Ph.D. program are as follows:

• Course Requirements
• Language Requirement
• Generals Papers
• Dissertation
• Extra Funding Availability

All requirements, including two generals papers, should ideally be completed by the end of the third year, but in no case later than the end of the fourth. The dissertation prospectus is due on October 15 of the fall term of the fourth year. Failure to meet program requirements in a timely fashion may result in termination of candidacy. 

First-year students are advised by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) until they select a major field from the regular departmental faculty. Thereafter, progress toward completion of the Ph.D. requirements continues to be monitored by the DGS, but primary responsibility for overseeing study shifts to the major advisor. Students are free to change their major advisor at any time. By the end of the second year they should also select a co-advisor, who serves as a secondary advisor and faculty mentor.

Harvard Linguistics Graduate Student Handbook

Progress to the Degree (updated 7/1/2015)

A B+ average must be maintained in each year of graduate study. Grades below B- cannot be counted toward departmental requirements; two grades below B- in required courses will result in termination of candidacy. Ordinarily, a grade of Incomplete can only be converted into a letter grade if the work is made up before the end of the following term. No grade of Incomplete can be used to satisfy a departmental requirement.   No two programs of study are alike, but students should typically plan to complete the requirements for the degree according to the timetable below. Departures from this schedule must be approved by the main advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies.   Years G1 and G2: Course requirements are satisfied. By the end of the G2 year, the first generals paper should be well underway.   Year G3: Teaching duties begin. The first generals paper should be defended before the end of the fall term, and the second generals paper by the end of the spring term.   Year G4: Teaching duties continue. A thesis prospectus, naming a dissertation committee, is due on October 15 of the fall term; the committee must be chaired or co-chaired by a member of the Department of Linguistics and must include at least two members of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Dissertation Completion Fellowship applications are due at midyear.   Year G5: The thesis is completed and defended in the spring.

A.M. Degree  (updated 7/1/2015)

Graduate students who have completed two years of residence, who have fulfilled all the course requirements and language requirements for the Ph.D., and who have successfully defended one Generals paper, are eligible to petition for a Master’s (A.M.) degree.  

Note that there is no master’s program in Linguistics.                     

• Courses 2024-25
• Undergraduate
• Generals Papers (updated 7/1/2015)
• Extra Funding
• Secondary Fields
• Recent Dissertation Titles
• Financial Aid

Course Descriptions

Full course descriptions, fall 2024 courses are subject to change, fall 2024 courses, fall 2024 course schedule, fall 2024 asl course schedule, american sign language (asl) at harvard.

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

Attend an open day

Discover more about this subject area

Humanities PGR Virtual Open Week 2024

Find out more about the options and funding opportunities for PhD study in the Faculty of Humanities across a range of online sessions during our Virtual Open Week (14-18 October 2024).

Sign up for your session

PhD Linguistics / Overview

Year of entry: 2025

• View full page
• Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and 
• Master's degree in a relevant subject – with an overall average of 65% or above, a minimum mark of 65% in your dissertation and no mark below 55% (or overseas equivalent)

Full entry requirements

Apply online

Please ensure you include all  required supporting documents  at the time of submission, as incomplete applications may not be considered.

Application Deadlines

For consideration in internal funding competitions, you must submit your completed application by  13 January 2025.

If you are applying for or have secured external funding (for example, from an employer or government) or are self–funding, you must submit your application before the below deadlines to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these dates have passed.

• For September 2025 entry:  30 June 2025
• For January 2026 entry:  30 September 2025

Programme options

Programme overview

• Access expert supervision across an exceptional breadth of research areas in Linguistics.
• Join a vibrant and lively international centre for Linguistics with an active postgraduate research community.  
• Alongside an exceptionally large cluster of experts on English language, we have particular strengths in Romance, Germanic, and Austronesian languages, as well as the languages of Latin America and Africa.
• 92% of our research activity was recognised as 'world leading' or `internationally excellent' REF2021.

Want to find out more about what PhD study really involves, the application process and funding options for 2025? The Humanities Doctoral Academy will be conducting a range of sessions for potential PhD students across our Virtual Open Week (14 – 18 October 2024) across all four academic schools for anyone considering postgraduate research study for 2025/2026.

Register for your session here .

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2025, the tuition fees are as follows:

• PhD (full-time) UK students (per annum): TBC International, including EU, students (per annum): £22,000
• PhD (part-time) UK students (per annum): TBC

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Please note for the majority of projects where experimentation requires further resource: higher fee bands (where quoted) will be charged rather than the base rate for supervision, administration and computational costs. The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive and, therefore, you will not be required to pay any additional bench fees or administration costs.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of the course for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for International students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit: postgraduate fees . Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your project.

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are a range of scholarships, studentships and awards to support both UK and overseas postgraduate researchers, details of which can be found via the links below.

To apply for University of Manchester funding, you must indicate in your application the competitions for which you wish to be considered. The deadline for most internal competitions, including AHRC NWCDTP and School of Arts, Languages and Cultures studentships is 13 January 2025.

All external funding competitions have a specified deadline for submitting the funding application form and a separate (earlier) deadline for submitting the online programme application form, both of which will be stated in the funding competition details below. 

You will need to be nominated by your proposed supervisor for a number of our scholarships. Therefore, we highly recommend you discuss these funding opportunities with your supervisor first, so they can advise on your suitability and ensure you meet nomination deadlines.

For more funding information, visit our funding page or use our funding database to search for scholarships, studentships and awards you may be eligible for.

• ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) PhD Studentships 2025 Entry
• AHRC North West Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership (NWCDTP) PhD Studentships 2025 Entry
• School of Arts, Languages and Cultures PhD Studentships 2025 Entry
• China Scholarship Council - The University of Manchester (CSC-UoM) Joint Scholarship Programme 2025 Entry
• Trudeau Doctoral Scholarships 2025 Entry
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (High Income Countries)
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Least Developed Countries and Fragile States)
• School of Arts, Languages and Cultures New Generation PhD Studentships 2025 Entry
• President's Doctoral Scholar (PDS) Awards 2025 Entry

Contact details

See: About us

Programmes in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

• Linguistics and English Language

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

Graduate Program

The graduate program in Linguistics at Berkeley combines mentoring from faculty members in the department, coursework, research training, and professional development opportunities.

Faculty expertise in the department spans an unusually diverse range of endeavors. The graduate program accordingly includes a broad range of advanced seminars, along with coursework focusing on analyzing linguistic structure (e.g. syntax, semantics, phonology, phonetics), language ecologies (language variation and change, language and cognition), and methods (including field methods, archival research, experimental and corpus-based analyses, and computational modeling).

Graduate students have published their research in numerous journals, including Bilingualism: Language and Cognition , Glossa , Natural Language & Linguistic Theory, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America , Language Documentation & Conservation , Linguistic Inquiry , and Phonology ; and regularly present their work at conferences, including the Annual Meeting on Phonology , the Manchester Phonology Meeting , New Ways of Analyzing Variation , the Cognitive Science Society Conference , the CUNY Conference on Sentence Processing , LabPhon , the Acoustical Society of America Meeting , the Linguistics Society of America ,  NELS , Sinn und Bedeutung , the Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas , among others.

Graduate students actively participate in working groups, reading groups, and other activities, including Fieldwork Forum, Phorum, Syntax & Semantics Circle, and TABLE .  These groups contribute to the strength of the program as hubs of intellectual exchange, professional networking, and community building.

Graduate students in the Linguistics department are eligible to apply to two Graduate Designated Emphases : the Designated Emphasis in Indigenous Language Revitalization , and the  Designated Emphasis in Cognitive Science .

Our graduates build exciting careers in research labs, for-profit businesses, non-profits, government agencies, and higher education, among others.

Detailed description

The particulars of this program, describing the exact course requirements, details about the exams and required research papers are available in the  Linguistics Graduate Program description  (updated 2023). This document changes from time to time. Get previous versions of the program description for 2022 ,  2020 ,  2019 ,  2018 , and 2017 .

• People Directory
• Safety at UD

Linguistics Ph.D.

• Advisement & FAQs
• Linguistics and Cognitive Science (MA)
• Linguistics (PhD)
• Research Programs
• Make a Gift

Pursue a doctoral degree in linguistics 

The Ph.D. program in linguistics was established at the University of Delaware in 1985. Its mission is to provide students with the intellectual ability to understand, create, integrate and apply sophisticated, discipline-specific knowledge. It is designed to furnish students with a solid background in theoretical linguistics as well as to direct them to advanced study in the program's major specializations. Discipline sub-areas include theoretical, experimental and applied linguistics. 

see UD Catalog for Requirements

Graduate Education Goals

The department is committed to helping students develop their capacity to:

• Identify and investigate substantive research questions in various subfields of Linguistics;
• Critically evaluate previous research, including the use of linguistic data, analytic methods, and theories of language and mind in the work of other scientists;
• Employ appropriate research methods to present, analyze, and articulate research results in the area of concentration;
• Possess the ability to disseminate knowledge in the area of specialization, by writing articles for peer reviewed journals and presenting work at major conferences.

Research Expectations

Graduate students are expected to learn the intellectual system that underlies research in all fields of linguistics. The faculty encourage graduate students to conduct original, innovative research by:

• Taking required courses on the core areas of linguistics, such as syntax, morphology, phonology, phonetics and semantics.
• Engaging in original research through advanced seminars and participating in departmental groups that present student and faculty research.
• Combining core areas with specializations in experimental psycholinguistics, language acquisition, philosophy of mind, the description and documentation of endangered and underdescribed languages, and computational linguistics.

Graduate students are assigned a temporary advisor, typically the graduate director, when they enter the program. They are free to change advisors at any time, but must inform department staff of the change.​

Students are encouraged to choose an advisor and begin working in their specialization early in their academic career. They can select an advisor as early as the second semester of study and are  required  to do so by the beginning of the third semester. 

The departmental committee on graduate studies will c​ontinue to monitor students' progress throughout their program of study. Each year, by January 1, students should  submit a yearly prog ress report  to the committee on graduate studies via their advisor. The committee on graduate studies will meet to discuss and evaluate the progress of every student in the program. The results of this procedure will be communicated to the students.

Assistantships and Fellowships

Assistantships and fellowships at the University of Delaware consist of full tuition plus a stipend. Renewal of funding packages each year depends on satisfactory progress toward the degree. 

Stipends and Tuition Scholarships

The Graduate College at the University of Delaware is responsible for policies related to the implementation of stipends and tuition scholarships. 

For more information about assistantships, fellowships, stipends and tuition scholarships, visit the Graduate College's  page on funding opportunities .

Travel Support

Submit the department's  travel fund request form for travel support from the Department of Linguistics and Cognitive Science.

Graduate students may  apply for travel awards  from the Graduate College, which are funded by the Office of the Provost. You MUST list Alaina Norvell ( [email protected] ) as the department contact on the application form to avoid delays in reimbursement.

Visit the Graduate College's  Emergency Support page for resources available to students experiencing financial hardships or mental health issues.

Program Requirements

Advanced seminars.

Both before and after advancement to candidacy, all students are expected to participate in advanced courses and research forums. Specifically, all students who have not yet advanced to candidacy are required to enroll in at least one advanced seminar at the 3-credit level per semester; all students who have advanced to candidacy and are in sustaining status are required to register for one advanced seminar at the 0-credit level per semester. All students are expected to participate in other research forums related to the student's area of specialization (e.g., departmental colloquia, brown bag or lab meetings).

Qualifying Papers

Students are required to submit two qualifying papers that are judged to be substantial and meet professional standards of scholarship by the qualifying paper committee, which consists of the primary advisor for the paper and a second reader. The two papers must be in distinct areas of linguistics, and no faculty member can serve as the primary advisor for both papers. A substantial draft of the first paper must be submitted to the student's qualifying paper advisor by the end of the fall semester of the second year. The advisor must certify to the committee on graduate studies that an acceptable draft has been submitted. By the end of the student's second year, the final version of the first paper must be submitted and approved by the advisor and the committee on graduate studies. A substantial draft of the second paper must be submitted to the student's qualifying paper advisor by the end of the fall semester of the third year. The advisor must certify to the committee on graduate studies that an acceptable draft has been submitted. By the end of the student's third year, the final version of the second paper must be submitted and approved by the advisor and the committee on graduate studies.

Students who do not comply with these deadlines will no longer be considered to be in good academic standing, which may result in the discontinuation of the students' funding. If one semester passes without a student meeting these deadlines, the student will be dismissed from the program. Students may petition in writing the Graduate Committee for an extension to these deadlines. The petition must be submitted prior to the deadlines and should explain any exceptional circumstance which made the timely completion of the requirement impossible. Petitions should also include a supporting letter from the academic advisor.

The Committee on Graduate Studies will appoint an evaluation committee for the paper. Possible grades are Pass, Revise, and Fail. The grade of Revise indicates that in the judgment of the committee, the paper will be acceptable with revision. The grade of Fail indicates that the student should submit a different paper to meet the requirements. Students whose paper has received the grade of Revise or Fail will be allowed one semester to satisfactorily complete the requirement for the research paper. Course papers may be submitted as a qualifying paper, but a grade of A in a course does not imply that the paper is acceptable as a qualifying paper. Faculty will evaluate QPs based on  criteria in the assessment form .

Dissertation Prospectus

The final requirement for admission to candidacy is the acceptance of the dissertation prospectus. Before the fall semester of their fourth year, each student must choose a dissertation director, form a dissertation committee, and submit a dissertation prospectus for approval. The dissertation director must hold a primary appointment in the Department of Linguistics and Cognitive Science or be approved by the committee on graduate studies. There must be at least three other members, chosen by the student, that are acceptable to the dissertation director, one of whom must be outside the student's major area. At least 50 percent of the committee members must have primary appointments in the Department of Linguistics and Cognitive Science. In all cases the committee must be approved by the chair of the Department of Linguistics and Cognitive Science. Any changes to the committee after it has been formed must also be approved by the department chair.

The dissertation committee will meet with the student to examine the proposal and the qualifications of the student to carry out the proposed research. The results of this review will be acceptance into candidacy or a re-examination to be held at a later date to be determined by the dissertation director. The committee may also require further course work if deficiencies are found.

Students whose research proposals involve human volunteers must comply with all University and governmental requirements, including obtaining human subjects approval from the University's Office of the Vice Provost for Research.

Admission to Doctoral Candidacy

A student who has advanced to candidacy has completed all of the requirements for the Ph.D. apart from the dissertation. Once a student has advanced to candidacy and completed the minimum number of dissertation credits, it is possible to enroll with 'sustaining' status. In order to advance to candidacy, all of the requirements listed above must be completed.

As part of the Ph.D. requirements, students must also complete nine credits of dissertation research. Nine credits of pre-candidacy study may also count towards satisfying this requirement, provided that they are taken no earlier than the full semester immediately preceding advancement to candidacy.

Dissertation

Students who have completed all of the above requirements are allowed to write the dissertation. The dissertation director has the responsibility of distributing the dissertation to the readers in ample time for the dissertation to be read adequately; the director also must see to it that the dissertation committee meet when necessary as a group to discuss the progress of the dissertation. The committee is to administer a final oral defense of the dissertation. Certification of successful defense is then submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of the University.

Assessment of Academic Progress

In addition to the academic progress policy guidelines  of the Graduate College at UD, the graduate committee closely evaluates students' progress each semester, based on the students' performance in classes, timely satisfaction of program requirements, performance as teaching or research assistants (if applicable), conference presentations, publications, and other qualitative factors that demonstrate progress towards successful research and scholarship.

Students taking the basic courses specified above (phonology 1-2, syntax 1-2, experimental linguistics) are evaluated twice a semester, at midterm and at the end of the semester. The instructor reports midterm and final grades to the director of graduate studies. Students must receive a minimum grade of B in each of these courses. If a student receives a grade below a B in any of these courses, their case is evaluated by the graduate committee within two weeks of final grades being posted. The graduate committee will decide on one of two remedies: (1) The student will be immediately dismissed from the program. (2) The student will be allowed to move on in the program, but will be considered to be on probation during the next semester. All requirements and deadlines must be met by a student on probation or they will be subject to dismissal at the end of the semester. If all requirements and deadlines for that semester are met they will be removed from probation and will be in good academic standing again.

When the graduate committee finds a student's performance less than satisfactory, the student will receive a letter stating the reasons for the concern and what the student must do to improve performance. Lack of sufficient improvement / progress after two or more warning letters may result in discontinuation of the student's funding or dismissal from the program.

Termination from Program

As described under individual requirements above, students who do not successfully complete any of the requirements may be terminated from the program. Students can grieve termination for failure by a written application to the committee on graduate studies within 14 days of notification of failure.

Financial Aid

The Department of Linguistics and Cognitive Science offers a small number of teaching assistantships, graduate assistantships, and/or research assistantships to Ph.D. students. The awards are granted to full-time students, normally for five years (the amount of time a full-time student needs to complete the Ph.D.), and are renewed each year based on satisfactory progress in the program.

Students funded by the department normally work as TAs/graders for undergraduate courses or RAs in a lab setting. The Linguistics Department therefore requires that first-year students whose native language is not English successfully complete the University's ITA program and pass the UDIA and the University's Speak Test with a score of 45. The ITA program is administered in August and January; we strongly advise students to complete it in August. Students must score 50 or higher on the Speak Test by the start of their second semester and need to establish proof of their English proficiency by retaking the University UDIA and SPEAK tests, scoring 250 and 55, respectively by the start of their second year, or they will not continue to receive funding.

Students who are appointed as TAs on a nine-month contract are expected to work an average of 20 hours per week, except during official university holiday breaks (Dec 22 to Jan 2/3) and the week of spring break. All other absences from campus (for example, extended absences during the winter term) have to be approved by the departmental committee on graduate studies.

Students on TA contracts are evaluated at the end of each semester​ by the Director of Graduate Studies; students on RA contracts are evaluated by their research supervisor. Evaluations have to be forwarded to the Director of Graduate Studies and the Department Chair. TA and RA support can be discontinued if the evaluations are not satisfactory.

In addition, the department provides the majority of the PhD students with summer research fellowships. Those who wish to receive the fellowships must submit their research proposals and the letters of endorsement from their advisors in early April.​

College of Arts & Sciences

• Prospective Students
• Current Students
• News & Events
• Research & Innovation
• Alumni & Friends
• College Operations

Ph.D. Programs

The Department of Linguistics offers four concentrations leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Linguistics (see list below). No matter the concentration, our faculty work closely with students, guiding their research and supporting their passions.

• Applied Linguistics
• Computational Linguistics
• Sociolinguistics
• Theoretical Linguistics

Applicants to the Ph.D. program are encouraged to identify prospective research advisors, at least one of whom should be in the concentration to which they apply.

After entering the program, Ph.D. students may elect to add a minor in a second one of these concentrations [new policy effective Spring 2023].

An interdisciplinary (second) concentration in Cognitive Science is also available to Ph.D. students.

Master’s in Passing

If, in their course of the Ph.D. program, a doctoral student meets all of the requirements of a M.S. degree in Linguistics, he or she may apply to receive a “Master’s in Passing.” Please consult section IV.D.3 of the Graduate School Bulletin for full details about the “in passing” or “terminal” Master’s degree.

• Schools & departments

PhD Linguistics and English Language programme

Linguistics and English Language at Edinburgh has an outstanding international reputation in many areas of research

Our large and inter-disciplinary research team work on all aspects of language, from theoretical to applied linguistics. We collaborate with researchers at Edinburgh and around the world in projects covering biology, education, psychology, cognitive science, and speech and language technologies.

Research interests

When to apply, help with your application, funding opportunities for research students, visiting research students, our research community.

Our PhD students are actively encouraged to join in the regular meetings to discuss research, books and papers.

Talk series and reading groups

• BA Linguistics
• BA Speech Sciences
• Diploma in Linguistics
• Opportunities
• Beyond the BA
• Masters’ Programs
• PhD Program
• Theses & Dissertations
• Continuing Education
• Graduate Students
• In Memoriam
• Labs & Groups
• First Nations Languages
• Research Interest Registration
• Field Methods Class
• Publications
• Recurring Events
• Join the Colloquium mailing list
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Job Opportunities

Make the most of the financial resources available to you as a UBC student.

The Department of Linguistics has various funding opportunities for all graduate students including internal and external awards, scholarships, and research funding. New applicants to our MA and PhD programs will automatically be considered for any UBC-based funding, and don’t need to apply for this separately.

MA Program Funding

While there is no guarantee of MA funding, students in the Linguistics MA program typically receive a funding package of $25,500 for the first two years of their MA program. The funding package may consist of any combination of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, graduate academic assistantships, or other campus work.

MDS-CL Program Funding

Students in the Master of Data Science in Computational Linguistics will have access to a variety of funding options including bursaries and scholarships. For a comprehensive list of tuition and financial aid information, please visit the Master of Data Science website.

PhD Program Funding

All full-time PHD students will be provided with a minimum funding package of $25,500 for each of the first five years of their program. The funding package may consist of any combination of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, graduate academic assistantships, or other campus work. UBC Linguistics is committed to guaranteeing all current PhD students into this promised funding level.

Program Funding Requirements

Students in either the MA, MDS, or PHD programs must meet two major requirements to receive this level of financial support:

• Students must make satisfactory academic progress. Failure to maintain academic good standing will result in a loss of funding.
• Students must apply for Teaching Assistantships (TAs) and Research Assistantships when these job ads are posted. Additionally, you must demonstrate a concerted effort in your applications for internal and external awards. Failure to apply for these opportunities will result in a loss of funding.

*Please review each award carefully before applying, certain restrictions may apply.

There are various internal and external awards available to graduate students in the Department of Linguistics. Please note that international students can only apply for Affiliated Awards, whereas Canadian citizens and permanent residents are eligible for SSHRC and NSERC awards, in addition to certain Affiliated Awards.

Department Internal Awards

The department has a Graduate Student Job Interview Fund, which intends to support graduate (MA and PhD) students who are interviewing for academic or non-academic positions by providing funds associated with the purchase of professionally appropriate clothing or accessories for job-interview purposes.

• Students can apply to the fund once during their graduate program
• At the time of application, the student must already have a job interview scheduled (incl. interviews at major conferences, such as LSA, MLA)
• Interviews for academic as well as non-academic (e.g. industry, “alt-ac”) jobs, permanent or temporary, are eligible
• A maximum of $300 per student can be requested
• Support will be in the form of a grant; it does not need to be repaid
• However, recipients who are successful in obtaining a full-time position are encouraged to make a donation to the Edna Dharmaratne Award in Linguistics (an annual prize “to be awarded to a current graduate or undergraduate student in the department who demonstrates academic merit and financial need”)

Graduate Research Initiative Prize (GRIP)

As of February 2023, the Graduate Research Initiative Prize is being re-assessed. Updated details will be posted here once available. Please contact [email protected] in the interim if you have any concerns related to this award.

An award of $1,000 is offered annually by alumni, faculty, students, and staff of the UBC Department of Linguistics in honour of Edna Dharmaratne for students in the Department of Linguistics who have achieved good academic standing and demonstrated volunteerism. Financial need may also be considered.

External Awards

Affiliated awards, research proposals.

For certain awards, you will be requested to submit a research proposal with your application. Below, we’ve included a few samples of successful research proposals from UBC Linguistics students.

*This proposal did not adhere to the formatting and length requirements, and was therefore truncated by Graduate Studies before being passed on to the adjudication committee.

Here are some additional guidelines that we’ve created to help you write your research proposal:

Quick Links

• Departments and Units
• Majors and Minors
• LSA Course Guide
• LSA Gateway

Search: {{$root.lsaSearchQuery.q}}, Page {{$root.page}}

• News and Events
• Colloquium Series
• Get Involved
• Undergraduates
• Alumni and Friends

• Majoring and Minoring in Linguistics
• Cognate Courses
• Linguistics Club
• Transfer Students
• Commencement and Graduation
• Independent Study
• Pre-Speech & Hearing Club
• Transfer Credit
• Study Abroad
• Linguistics Courses
• Undergraduate Research
• Planning Your Career
• Graduate Admissions
• Resources for Current Students
• PhD Program Requirements
• Funding Opportunities
• MA Degree Information
• Linguistics Ph.D. Alumni
• Alumni Resources
• In Memoriam
• Gift and Donation Opportunities
• Newsletters
• Linguistics PhD Alumni
• Linguistics Block Grant

This section describes funding opportunities for current students. Information about the funding package for incoming students is described under  graduate admissions .  All graduate students in the department are required to apply for other sources of support for which they are eligible. Graduate students should work closely with their faculty advisor(s) to identify appropriate funding sources, and to prepare strong funding applications. 

Apply today for funding from other sources at the University of Michigan.

Office of national scholarships and fellowships.

The Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships is an office at the University of Michigan that recruits and prepares U-M undergraduates, graduate and professional students and recent alums for major national scholarship and fellowship competitions such as the Rhodes Scholarship for postgraduate study at Oxford. 

ONSF was created in 2017 to address the knowledge gap students faced when seeking opportunities and support to apply to nationally recognized scholarship and fellowship programs. We hope that students will use ONSF as a single, comprehensive source of information for nationally- and internationally-competitive scholarships and fellowships. 

Other Funding Sources at the University of Michigan

Foreign language area studies (flas) fellowship.

Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships provide tuition and a stipend to students studying designated foreign languages in combination with area studies or international aspects of professional studies. The priority is to encourage the study of less commonly taught modern languages. FLAS Fellowships are administered by the University of Michigan Area Studies Centers and are awarded competitively through annual fellowship competitions.

Humanities Institute Graduate Student Fellowships

The graduate student fellowship is ten months long (September– June). Graduate student fellows are provided with a shared office and desktop computer at the institute’s home in the Thayer Academic Building. Graduate student fellows receive a stipend and the institute pays each fellow’s candidacy tuition and all required fees for the fall and winter terms.

International Institute Fellowships & Grants

The International Institute offers a wide range of Student Fellowships & Grants, including funding opportunities that are specific to the individual centers for various world regions (Africa, Latin America, Middle East, Asia, etc.).

Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies (LRCCS) 

The Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies (LRCCS) awards many fellowships and grants to U-M students with interest in China and Chinese studies.

Weinberg Institute for Cognitive Science

Students who are pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Science or are a Weinberg Institute Graduate Fellow may apply once per year for funding from the Weinberg Institute for Cognitive Science. Students who receive funding from the Weinberg Institute for Cognitive Science may also apply for Linguistics Block Grant funds for additional support.

Rackham Conference Travel Grant

Rackham normally funds students to give one conference presentation each academic year, either in the U.S., or abroad (funding for additional conference presentations can be requested from the department.) Students who receive a Rackham Travel Grant may also apply for Linguistics Block Grant funds for additional support.

For more information, or if you wish to apply, please click here .

Rackham Graduate Student Research Grants

The Rackham Graduate Student Research Grant is designed to support Rackham graduate students who need assistance to carry out research that advances their progress toward their degree. 

For more information click here . 

Rackham Professional Development Grant

This funding, which each student can request once during their graduate training, supports short-term experiences that promote the development of professional skills which will further a student's career goals. It may cover partial costs to attend a training workshop in which students are not presenting a paper.

For more information, or if you wish to apply, click here .

U-M Sources for Emergency Funds

Rackham graduate student emergency funding.

Rackham Graduate Student Emergency Fund is intended to help meet the financial needs of Rackham graduate students who encounter an emergency situation or one-time, unusual, or unforeseen expenses during their degree program.

See the  program details  for more information about eligibility and procedures for application.

Center for the Education of Women+: Emergency Funding

CEW+ is able to offer small emergency grants to current U-M Ann Arbor graduate students and undergraduate students. These grants, called Emergency Funds (EF), are for unexpected, unanticipated financial emergencies that threaten to derail degree progression.

To be considered for CEW+ Emergency Funding, the student will need to call 734-764-6360, fill out this  form , or email  [email protected]  to schedule an emergency funding appointment with a CEW+ counselor. 

More information on fellowships managed by the Department

Cew+ mary malcomson raphael fellowship.

Center for the Education of Women+: Mary Malcomson Raphael Fellowship  is a highly competitive fellowship is for outstanding women graduate students with a strong potential to make exceptional contributions to society.

Applicants must be nominated by their department. The Linguistics Graduate Committee invites applications in the Fall term from appropriate doctoral candidates, although eligible interested students should contact the Graduate Chair at [email protected] .

For more information, see the  CEW Scholarships page  and scroll down to the "Mary Malcomson Raphael Fellowship"

LSA Tuition-only Fellowship (Waivers)

Tuition-only fellowships are made available to students who will be away from campus for a term. These cover the cost of tuition and allow the student to maintain continuous enrollment in the program. For example, a student might apply for a tuition-only fellowship if they plan to conduct field-work away from campus.

Students who have advanced to candidacy and have defended their prospectus are eligible to apply. In exceptional cases, the Graduate Committee, in consultation with the student's dissertation committee (if it has been established; if not, the A and B advisors), can waive the prospectus requirement. 

Application Procedures

Eligible candidates may apply by submitting a proposal to the Graduate Committee. The proposal should include: 

• A detailed description of the proposed off-campus research, its duration, and its relevance to the PhD thesis; 
• Written endorsement from both A and B advisors.

Students should submit the proposal to the Graduate Committee by April 1 for a Fall-term tuition fellowship and November 15 for a Winter-term fellowship. 

Rackham Pre-Doc and Barbour Fellowships

Rackham predoctoral fellowship.

The Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship is a highly competitive award that provides stipend, tuition, and GradCare for the 12-month term of the award. The fellowship is intended for outstanding doctoral candidates who will complete the dissertation in the year in which they hold the fellowship and who will complete the Ph.D. within 6 years of beginning their programs.

Applicants must be nominated by their department. The Linguistics Graduate Committee solicits applications, which include a detailed statement of the proposed dissertation project, in the Fall term of each year (via an email message sent out by the Graduate Chair). The Graduate Committee selects the student(s) to be nominated on the basis of several factors, including competitiveness of the academic record and the extent to which the research statement is intellectually engaging and succeeds in addressing a broad audience of scholars who may lack knowledge of that particular area of inquiry.

Barbour Scholarship

The Barbour Scholarship is awarded to exceptional women from Eastern countries. It is an 8-month award that includes stipend, tuition, and GradCare. 

Applicants must be nominated by their department. The Linguistics Graduate Committee solicits applications, which include a detailed statement of purpose, from eligible students in the Fall term of each year; the nominee is selected by the Graduate Committee.

Humanities Research & One-Term Fellowships

Humanities candidacy research fellowship.

A Candidacy Fellowship includes stipend, tuition, and GradCare for one academic (Fall or Winter) semester, plus stipend and GradCare (no tuition) for the flanking Spring-Summer (i.e., a total of 8 months stipend support). Candidacy Fellowships are restricted to students who advanced to candidacy by the end of their third year and are not past the sixth year of their doctoral program.

Three Candidacy Fellowships are available each year. Requests for applications are sent (via email) to all graduate students by the Graduate Chair[EMAIL LINK]. Before applying, students should consult with their advisors to determine if an award is appropriate at this stage of the dissertation research. Applications include a statement of the dissertation topic, along with a statement of the progress that has been made to date on the dissertation or the prospectus.

One-Term Dissertation Fellowship

The One-Term Dissertation Fellowship includes stipend for one semester, tuition, and GradCare. Rackham requires that recipients have established a dissertation committee and submitted the Nomination of Dissertation Committee form to the Records and Dissertation Office prior to the beginning of the term of the fellowship. One award is made each year, typically to a student who is in the final defense term. 

Requests for applications are sent (via email) to all doctoral candidates by the Graduate Chair. Applications include a statement of the dissertation topic, discussion of the current state of the dissertation work and how much remains to be done, and explanation of how the fellowship would help the student move more quickly towards degree completion.

Other sources of funding outside the Department 

External funding sources.

Many external funding sources are available and, beginning in students' first year in the program, students and their advisors should consider external sources of funding for students' graduate education and research. The two external sources most commonly sought by our students are NSF Graduate Research Fellowships and Fulbright Fellowships ; the latter is administered at UM through the International Institute . The Rackham Fellowships Office also has information on a wide range of external funding sources.

Other external funding sources:

ACLS dissertation completion fellowship (call opens in the Summer for following year)

NSF Linguistics - Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Awards (DDRI)

Permanent International Committee of Linguists - International conference grant

RISE Research for Indigenous Social Action and Equity Center Grants

• Information For
• Prospective Students
• Current Students
• Faculty and Staff
• More about LSA
• How Do I Apply?
• LSA Magazine
• Student Resources
• Academic Advising
• Global Studies
• LSA Opportunity Hub
• Social Media
• Update Contact Info
• Privacy Statement
• Report Feedback

Fully Funded PhD Programs in Linguistics

Last updated March 30, 2022

As part of my series on  How to Fully Fund Your PhD , I provide a list of universities that offer full funding for a PhD in Linguistics. A graduate degree in Linguistics can pave the way for a career in academia or the private sector as a translator, computational linguist, forensic linguist or technical writer.

“Full funding” is a financial aid package for full time students that includes full tuition remission and an annual stipend or salary for the three to six-year duration of the student’s doctoral studies. Funding is typically offered in exchange for graduate teaching and research work that is complementary to your studies. Not all universities provide full funding to their doctoral students, which is why I recommend researching the financial aid offerings of all the potential PhD programs in your academic field, including small and lesser-known schools both in the U.S. and abroad.

You can also find several external fellowships in the  ProFellow database  for graduate and doctoral study, as well as dissertation research, field work, language study and summer work experience.

Would you like to receive the full list of more than 1000+ fully funded programs in 60 disciplines? Download the FREE Directory of Fully Funded Graduate Programs and Full Funding Awards !

Brown University, Department of Linguistics (Providence, RI): The graduate school offers incoming doctoral students five years of guaranteed financial support, including a stipend, tuition remission, health-services fee, and health- and dental-insurance subsidies.

University of California Santa Cruz, Department of Linguistics (Santa Cruz, CA): An informal promise is made to each student admitted to the PhD program that they will receive funding for the 5 years that it takes to complete the PhD.

University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Linguistics (Honolulu, HI): The Department of Linguistics provides all PhD students with full support (a graduate assistantship that includes a stipend and a full tuition waiver) for eight semesters.

McGill University, Department of Linguistics (Montreal, Canada): Five years of funding for PhD students (covering living expenses, tuition and fees) is provided for successful applicants.

Northwestern University, Department of Linguistics (Evanston, IL): PhD students receive payment of tuition, either in the form of a departmental scholarship or an external fellowship that covers some portion of the cost of education, fully subsidized health insurance, and a stipend for a minimum of five years.

University of Pittsburgh, Department of Linguistics (Pittsburgh, PA): Funding can be renewed for up to a maximum total of 5 years for a PhD student and includes a fellowship covering all tuition and fees, full medical coverage and a stipend earned through assistantship.

University of Rochester, Department of Linguistics (Rochester, NY): The   Department of Linguistics invites applications from students interested in pursuing a fully-funded joint PhD program in Linguistics focusing on cross-disciplinary training and collaboration. Students will have a primary focus in Linguistics, with secondary focus in another department in Arts, Sciences and Engineering.

University of South Carolina, College of Arts and Sciences (Columbia, SC): The Linguistics Program at the University of South Carolina makes the financial support for its graduate students a priority. All PhD students in the program are fully supported for 4 years.

Need some tips for the application process? See my article  How To Get Into a Fully Funded PhD Program: Contacting Potential PhD Advisors .

Also, sign up to discover and bookmark more than 1,500 professional and academic fellowships in the ProFellow database .

© Victoria Johnson 2020, all rights reserved.

Related Posts:

• Fully Funded PhDs in Teaching English as a Second Language
• Fully Funded PhD Programs in Mathematics
• Fully Funded PhD Programs in School Psychology
• Fully Funded PhD Programs in Physics
• Fully Funded PhD Programs in French

Fully Funded PhD Programs , PhD in Linguistics

Studying in the United States with the Fulbright Foreign Student Progr...

How to write a personal statement: 6 exercises to conquer writer’s b..., find and win paid, competitive fellowships.

Be alerted about new fellowship calls for applications, get insider application tips, and learn about fully funded PhD and graduate programs

Fellowship Resources

• Calls for Applications
• Upcoming Fellowship Deadlines
• Fellowships Database
• Interviews with Fellows
• International Fellows Network
• Graduate Funding Directory

Fellowship Tips

• What is a Fellowship?
• Fully Funded Course
• Graduate School Funding
• Fellowship Application Tips
• Fulbright Application Tips
• Fellowship Application Guide
• Our Mission, History & Values
• ProFellow Winner Testimonials
• Fully Funded Course Testimonials
• Fellowship Industry Report
• Advertise With Us
• Terms & Privacy

ProFellow is the go-to source for information on professional and academic fellowships, created by fellows for aspiring fellows.

©2011-2024 ProFellow, LLC. All rights reserved.

On Wed, Oct. 9, campus is open to McGill students, employees and essential visitors. Most classes are in-person. See Campus Public Safety website for details .

Le mercredi 9 octobre, le campus est accessible aux étudiants et au personnel de l’Université, ainsi qu’aux visiteurs essentiels. La plupart des cours ont lieu en présentiel. Voir le site Web de la Direction de la protection et de la prévention pour plus de détails .

Main navigation

• Graduate programs
• How to apply
• Research & supervision
• Student experience
• Connect with us

Linguistics (PhD)

Program description.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Linguistics offered by the Department of Linguistics in the Faculty of Arts is a research-intensive program that emphasizes specialized and well-researched learning opportunities. The program's objective is to equip students with skills in self-direction, visionary thinking, and scientific communication to pursue professional opportunities in academia or industry.

The program may also be taken with a Language Acquisition option where students focus their thesis on the research area of language acquisition.

Keywords: Theoretical linguistics, experimental linguistics, computational linguistics, quantitative methods, linguistic field work, language acquisition, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, linguistics

Unique Program Features

• The program which provides training in the fundamentals of theoretical and experimental linguistics also offers a competitive funding package (covering living expenses, tuition and fees) for the length of the program (i.e., five years);
• Students benefit from access to a rich research landscape in cognitive science where many Faculty members are associated with leading research centers including the Centre for Research on Brain, Language and Music (CRBLM) and Mila - Quebec AI Institute;
• The Department has several labs for conducting research including rooms for elicitation, running experiments including in sound booths and with an eye-tracker, and access to high performance computing infrastructure.

University-Level Admission Requirements

• An eligible Bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA out of a possible 4.0 GPA
• English-language proficiency

Each program has specific admission requirements including required application documents. Please visit the program website for more details.

Visit our Educational credentials and grade equivalencies and English language proficiency webpages for additional information.

Program Website

PhD in Linguistics website

Department Contact

Graduate Program gradprogram.linguistics [at] mcgill.ca (subject: PhD%20in%20Linguistics) (email)

Available Intakes

Application deadlines.

Note : Application deadlines are subject to change without notice. Please check the application portal for the most up-to-date information.

Application Resources

• Application Steps webpage
• Submit Your Application webpage
• Connecting with a supervisor webpage
• Graduate Funding webpage

Application Workshops

Consult our full list of our virtual application-focused workshops on the Events webpage.

Department and University Information

Graduate and postdoctoral studies.

• Search This Site All UCSD Sites Faculty/Staff Search Term
• New Graduate Students
• All Graduate Students
• Postdoctoral Scholars
• Language Program
• New Undergrad FAQ
• Why Linguistics?
• Resources for Remote Learning
• Majors & Minors
• Study Abroad
• Opportunities
• Transfer Students
• Petitioning
• For Current Grads
• For Prospective Grads
• Requirements
• Anthropogeny Specialization
• Labs & Research Groups
• San Diego Linguistics Papers
• Affiliated Research
• Linguistics News
• Past Events
• Employment Opportunities
• Resources & Onboarding
• Language Courses
• Summer Program
• Language Lab
• Heritage Languages
• Placement Test
• Proficiency Exam
• Teaching Positions
• Linguistics Rooms
• UC San Diego - Linguistics - Graduate Grants

Graduate Research & Travel Grants

Linguistics department travel funding policy.

The Department has funds to subsidize graduate student travel to major conferences for giving talks and presenting posters. The Department strongly encourages you to submit abstracts to major conferences in your field, as soon as your research program has developed to the appropriate point. Graduate students may apply for funding at any time during the year. The DGS reviews applications and makes awards. Awards are made on a rolling basis. Awardees are reimbursed for covered expenses upon timely presentation of appropriate receipts. Any unspent funds after one round of funding will trigger a second general call for applications, so those who have not reached their annual cap can apply again.

TIMELINE OF DEPARTMENT TRAVEL APPLICATION

Funding Levels

The number of trips taken per year is at the student’s discretion. However, please be aware of the funding limits below. The maximum possible total funding amounts per student per year (maximum funding not guaranteed) is $1,800. Please note this funding limit is for both travel and research. You may not apply for funding while you are on a leave of absence.

In addition, please consider the following maximum amounts per trip based on the location of the relevant conference:

• Travel within California: $500
• Travel within North America (US, Mexico and Canada): $800
• Travel outside of North America: $1,200

Reimbursable Expenses 

The following items are considered allowable expenses for reimbursement:

• Airfare (Economy/Coach class only)
• Conference Registration fees

Application Process

Prior to submitting your abstract for the conference, you must secure approval from your advisor about the conference you are considering and provide them with a copy of the abstract you are planning to submit. Please give the faculty sufficient time to read and consider the abstract. You will be required to obtain a memo of approval from your advisor in the relevant research area. This memo should confirm that they have read and approved the abstract, and are willing to do the usual advisory task of providing input and polishing the paper. Once your abstract has been accepted for presentation and prior to travel, complete the application form https://forms.gle/21NjKGqwSPcKqybL6 , adding your advisor’s memo, conference acceptance confirmation and details of relevant expenses.

Applications without the advisor memo of approval will not be approved . 

The department's travel and research grants are limited, so we encourage you to apply to outside sources. Conference and research travel falls under the scope of the  GPSA Travel Grants , through which every UCSD PhD student is eligible to receive $300 per year for conference travel. Many conferences also offer student travel grants and awards. Be sure to research whether the conference you are attending also offers student funding.

We ask that you please apply for these funds in order to maximize the department’s funds for all students. 

Reimbursement Process

Awardees are reimbursed for covered expenses upon presentation of appropriate receipts. Before you apply, make sure you will be able to provide the documentation that will be needed in order to process your award. Remember that all receipts must be turned in within 21 days of travel completion.

For travel reimbursement, you will need to provide: (1) dates of travel, (2) location traveled to, (3) purpose of trip, (4) proof of conference acceptance (email message or letter from conference organizers), and (5) itemized airfare receipt (including itinerary and confirming form of payment). In addition, you will need to sign and complete the UC San Diego Student Certification for Business-Related Travel , which must also be signed by your faculty advisor.

Reimbursement for eligible business related expenses are processed through Concur .  Employees, including student employees, must first designate Jeffrey Lau as an expense delegate on their Concur profile.  Instructions can be found in this KBA .

The Intercampus Exchange program provides airfare or mileage reimbursement for faculty and registered graduate students to conduct research and research specific collaborations at other UC campuses. Attendance at conferences, scholarly society meetings, business meetings, invited talks, or presentations of seminars do not qualify . Airfare or mileage in lieu of airfare is reimbursable up to $250 and no other travel expenses such as lodging or meals can be reimbursed under this program. If interested, please complete a request . 

Linguistics Department Research Funding Policy

The Linguistics Department has funds to support graduate student research projects. Graduate students may apply for funding at any time during the year. Requests are considered on a first come, first serve basis. Strong preference is given to work related to theses and dissertations or contemplated publications. 

Funding levels

Assistant/subject funding per student is limited to $1,800 per academic year (maximum funding is not guaranteed).   Please note this funding limit is for both travel and research. You may not apply for funding while you are on a leave of absence. 

• Experimental subject payments
• Language work related expenses (consultant payment or travel expenses not covered by other funding)

Prior to submitting your request for research funds, you must secure approval from your advisor about your research plan. Please give the faculty sufficient time to read and consider the proposal. You will be required to obtain a memo of approval from your advisor in the relevant research area. This memo should confirm that they have read and approved your research plan and are willing to do the usual advisory task of providing input about your progress. Once you have obtained your advisor’s approval, complete the application form ; you will be asked to provide (1) your advisor’s memo, (2) your study name, (3) the amount of individual payments, (4) time period for the study, and (5) the current, valid protocol number (via a copy of your IRB approval letter and the UCSD IRB Approved Informed Consent form outlining Compensation for Participation). 

Human subjects are paid via Payment Works.  Cash advances can be requested but one must follow campus cash advance protocols,as described in the following link:  https://blink.ucsd.edu/buy-pay/payments/human-subjects/cash-advance/index.html#Securing-Your-Funds .

The Research Grant application can be found HERE .

Further Questions?

Further questions should be addressed to [email protected] .

The graduate program combines thorough training in theoretical linguistics and formal analysis with innovative experimental approaches to the study of language.

Inquiries about the Linguistics Graduate Program should be directed to Professor Gabriela Caballero , Director of Graduate Studies.

We have 10 applied linguistics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

All disciplines

All locations

Institution

All Institutions

All PhD Types

All Funding

applied linguistics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

English language and applied linguistics - postgraduate research opportunities, awaiting funding decision/possible external funding.

This programme is waiting to confirm funding from a university or external source. This may depend on attracting suitable students and applications are welcome. Please see the programme details for more information.

Arts Research Programme

Arts Research Programmes present a range of research opportunities, shaped by a university’s particular expertise, facilities and resources. You will usually identify a suitable topic for your PhD and propose your own project. Additional training and development opportunities may also be offered as part of your programme.

Transforming Chinese secondary school students into emergent bilinguals in an English language classroom—A longitudinal pedagogical intervention that deploys translanguaging to stimulate agentive learning

Phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Creative Writing - Postgraduate Research Opportunities

English phd programme, funded phd programme (students worldwide).

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. Applications for this programme are welcome from suitably qualified candidates worldwide. Funding may only be available to a limited set of nationalities and you should read the full programme details for further information.

Applied Dementia Studies (PhD, Faculty of Health Studies)

Self-funded phd students only.

The PhD opportunities on this programme do not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

PhD Research Programme

PhD Research Programmes present a range of research opportunities shaped by a university’s particular expertise, facilities and resources. You will usually identify a suitable topic for your PhD and propose your own project. Additional training and development opportunities may also be offered as part of your programme.

PhD programmes in Liberal Arts

School of east asian studies phd opportunities, social sciences research programme.

Social Sciences Research Programmes present a range of research opportunities, shaped by a university’s particular expertise, facilities and resources. You will usually identify a suitable topic for your PhD and propose your own project. Additional training and development opportunities may also be offered as part of your programme.

PhD in Languages and Cultures

Algebraic topology and graphs.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Studying for a PhD in Humanities and Social Science

FindAPhD. Copyright 2005-2024 All rights reserved.

Unknown    ( change )

Have you got time to answer some quick questions about PhD study?

Select your nearest city

You haven’t completed your profile yet. To get the most out of FindAPhD, finish your profile and receive these benefits:

• Monthly chance to win one of ten £10 Amazon vouchers ; winners will be notified every month.*
• The latest PhD projects delivered straight to your inbox
• Access to our £6,000 scholarship competition
• Weekly newsletter with funding opportunities, research proposal tips and much more
• Early access to our physical and virtual postgraduate study fairs

Or begin browsing FindAPhD.com

or begin browsing FindAPhD.com

*Offer only available for the duration of your active subscription, and subject to change. You MUST claim your prize within 72 hours, if not we will redraw.

Create your account

Looking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here .

Filtering Results

Ten ASU students, alumni nominated for Marshall and Rhodes Scholarships

The  Lorraine W. Frank Office of National Scholarships Advisement (ONSA) has announced 10 Arizona State University students and alumni have been nominated for the Marshall and Rhodes Scholarships, a record for the university.

Together, these two awards are among the most coveted graduate fellowships in the world, each with approximately 1,000 applicants per year and a selection rate below four percent.

The  Marshall Scholarship provides full support for two years of graduate study at any university in the United Kingdom, while the  Rhodes Scholarship provides full funding for two years of post-graduate study at Oxford University. Notable Marshall Scholars include Supreme Court Justices Stephen Breyer and Neil Gorsuch, MacArthur Fellowship winning-psychologist Angela Duckworth, and Reid Hoffman, founder of LinkedIn. Notable American Rhodes Scholars include President Bill Clinton, MSNBC political commentator Rachel Maddow, former National Security Advisor Susan Rice, current Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, and recently deceased Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Kris Kristofferson.

The ASU nominees include graduating seniors Ritisha Das, James “Chase” DiBona, Hailey Nelson, Blake Su, and Joshua Tint, and recent ASU graduates Isabel Huerta, Tatijana Jovanovic, Corinn Olson, Danielle Pais, and Lauren Paxton. All ten students have or will graduate from Barrett, the Honors College.

“This cohort of nominees is a remarkable group of future leaders,” said Kyle Mox, Associate Dean for National Scholarships. “They represent the best of what ASU has to offer.”

As the director of ONSA, Mox serves as the designated ASU liaison for the Marshall and Rhodes scholarship programs and oversees the campus nomination process for the awards.

Each program provides similar, significant benefits. In addition to full financial support for travel, tuition, and living expenses, the Marshall and Rhodes both provide leadership development and cross-cultural engagement opportunities, along with the advantage of a world-class peer network.

The programs differ in terms of mission, however. Named in honor of the Marshall Plan, the Marshall Scholarship seeks to maintain the “special relationship” between the United States and the UK, and therefore closely evaluates the potential of each candidate to be an effective ambassador. The Marshall Scholarship program also encourages its recipients to engage deeply with British culture and society during their history.

The Rhodes Scholarship, named for Cecil Rhodes, has a more global focus. In addition to the 32 American students, it also invites 78 other Scholars from around the world to the cohort, including students from several African countries, the Caribbean, Germany, China, and Australia, among others. The hope is that this international cohort will, over their careers, collaborate to address global issues.

To apply for either award, candidates must be nominated by their undergraduate institutions. At ASU, nominations are determined by a select faculty committee that considers the applicants’ academic records, leadership and service activities, previous awards and honors, and letters of recommendation.

“Nominees for these fellowships are among the most academically accomplished students at ASU,” Mox said. “But that alone isn’t enough – strong candidates must also demonstrate tremendous leadership potential and commitment to service of others, not to mention a clear sense of purpose and a strong desire to address major societal issues.”

The applications for the Marshall and Rhodes scholarships require research and study proposals, along with a well-developed personal statement that summarizes the applicant’s background, academic and professional achievements, core values, and future goals. The applications also require several letters of recommendation.

The application process begins each spring, when potential nominees must officially submit an “intent to apply.” Between April and September, applicants engage in pre-writing and brainstorming activities, craft outlines, and compose multiple drafts of the application essays, all under the guidance of ONSA advisors and their own faculty mentors.

“Many candidates say that the process is like taking on an extra class,” Mox said. “And while the work can be challenging, most applicants also come to appreciate the opportunity to clearly define who they hope to become and what they hope to achieve in the future.”

Once the students are officially nominated, their applications are forwarded to the national selection committees for each fellowship. If selected as finalists, the nominees will be invited to interviews by regional selection panels in mid-November. The Marshall Scholarship selects approximately 40 Scholars per year, while the Rhodes Scholarship selects 32 American recipients per year, two per district.

The tremendous labor involved has paid off in recent years for ASU. Over the past 10 years, five ASU graduates have been awarded Marshall Scholarships and three have been awarded Rhodes Scholarships. In total, 20 ASU graduates have won Marshall Scholarships since the program’s inception in 1954, while eight have received the Rhodes Scholarship.

About the nominees

Senior Ritisha Das , from Mesa, Ariz., is pursuing dual bachelor of science degrees in mechanical engineering and mathematics and will graduate from ASU in December 2024. A graduate of Gilbert Classical Academy and a Flinn Scholar, Ritisha is applying for both the Marshall and Rhodes Scholarships to further her studies in aerospace engineering and space policy. A  Brooke Owens Fellow , Ritisha’s passion for combining aerospace technology with humanitarian applications is evident through her projects focused on GPS solutions for conflict zones and medical implant innovations. Additionally, she has been an active leader in ASU’s Society of Women Engineers and served as a mentor in Model United Nations (MUN), where she helped students develop their diplomatic and problem-solving skills. She aspires to use her technical expertise to bridge the space technology gap between developed and developing nations, and to one day become an astronaut.

James "Chase" DiBona , a native of Seattle, Wash., will graduate in May 2025 with bachelor’s degrees in justice studies and civic and economic thought and leadership. A graduate of Ballard High School, Chase is applying for the Marshall Scholarship to further his studies in human rights and international politics. While at ASU, he has excelled in competitive debate, including winning first place in the 2022 Regents' Cup Oxford Debate . Chase's passion for social justice and human rights advocacy is evident through his work with grassroots organizations and his legal internship experience, where he successfully authored deviation requests resulting in case dismissals. His goal is to contribute to global human rights law, with a particular focus on climate justice.

Hailing from San Diego, California, Isabel Huerta graduated summa cum laude in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in global health. A graduate of Eastlake High School, Isabel is applying for both the Marshall and Rhodes Scholarships to further her studies in global health and public policy. While at ASU, she demonstrated a strong commitment to improving health outcomes for underserved populations, particularly Latinx communities. Isabel's honors thesis focused on health literacy among Latinx adults with Type 2 diabetes in Arizona, and her work as a medical interpreter and volunteer for dementia patients highlights her dedication to providing compassionate care. She aspires to combine her background in healthcare with leadership roles in global health organizations, ultimately working to break down barriers to healthcare access.

Upon her graduation in May, 2024, anthropology major Tatijana Jovanović was awarded both the  Outstanding Undergraduate Award in social sciences from The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Dean's Medal for the School of Human Evolution and Social Change. A graduate of Paradise Valley High School, Tatijana is applying for the Marshall Scholarship to pursue advanced studies in archaeology, with a focus on Egyptology and the decolonization of archaeological practices. While at ASU, she conducted independent research on ancient Egyptian funerary figurines, leading to presentations at international Egyptology conferences, and as an officer for the Undergraduate Anthropology Association at ASU, she led discussions on the “decolonization” of the field of archaeology. Outside of her studies, she has volunteered hundreds of hours with the Welcome to America Project, a non-profit that provides support for newly arrived refugees. At University College London, she plans to deepen her expertise in archaeological science and contribute to ongoing debates about the repatriation of cultural objects and later pursue a doctoral degree in archaeology.

Phoenix native Hailey Nelson will graduate in May 2025 with degrees in earth and space exploration (astrophysics), chemistry, and French. A graduate of Desert Vista High School, Hailey is applying for both the Marshall and Rhodes Scholarships to further her studies in astrophysics and particle physics. Her research interests focus on dark matter, particle physics, and the Standard Model, and she aspires to work with NASA and the European Space Agency. As a NASA Space Grant recipient, Hailey has conducted advanced research on molecular fragmentation in space-like conditions, and her honors thesis involves developing STEM outreach curricula for underserved communities. Beyond her academic work, she has served as a science communicator at the Arizona Science Center and is currently the Arts and Exhibits Director for  NASA's Psyche Mission , where she leads public outreach efforts. Hailey’s passion for science education and public engagement is complemented by her goal of becoming a NASA astronaut.

Corinn Olson , from Marana, Ariz., graduated summa cum laude from ASU in May 2024 as a double-major in psychology and anthropology. A graduate of Mountainview High School, Corinn is applying for both the Marshall and Rhodes Scholarships to study conflict transformation and the role of storytelling in peace building. As an undergraduate fellow with the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict , Corinn explored the intersection of conspiracy theories and spirituality, while her honors thesis examines the relationship between language and mental health stigma. Passionate about community service, Corinn has also held leadership roles with Camp Kesem, a nonprofit organization supporting children of cancer patients, and has interned with the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Corinn aspires to work in conflict mediation, using storytelling to foster empathy and reduce ideological violence in global communities.

A 2022 graduate of ASU, Scottsdale native Danielle Pais  received dual degrees in biological sciences (neurobiology, behavior, and physiology) and French, along with a minor in history. A graduate of BASIS Scottsdale, Danielle is applying for both the Marshall and Rhodes Scholarships to further her studies in neuroscience and public health. She is particularly focused on the intersection of mental health and disability advocacy; her  Barrett honors thesis explored accessibility in STEM for students with disabilities. After graduating from ASU, she pursued a master’s degree in Sociology at Ghent University in Belgium, where she contributed to the BENZOCARE project, studying mental health care and addiction. Danielle aspires to become a physician-scientist, specializing in population neuroscience, and is dedicated to addressing global health disparities through her research and advocacy.

Lauren Paxton , a native of Phoenix, graduated summa cum laude in May 2022 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in economics. A graduate of Pinnacle High School and a  Flinn Scholar , Lauren is applying for the Marshall Scholarship to pursue an MSc in Developmental Psychology and Psychopathology at King’s College London. Since graduation, she has worked as an investigator for the Orleans Public Defenders office, where she collaborates with attorneys and social workers on life-without-parole and capital felony cases. Her academic background includes conducting research on the intergenerational transmission of substance use as a research assistant in the Adult and Family Development Project, resulting in multiple co-authored publications and presentations. Lauren aims to further her research on externalizing disorders and the intersection of law and psychology, with a particular focus on mental illness and criminal defense. She is dedicated to advocating for systemic change in the treatment of individuals with mental health issues in the criminal justice system.

Chandler, Ariz. native Blake Su is pursuing dual bachelor's degrees in political science and biological sciences, as well as accelerated master's degree in biology, which he will complete in May 2025. A graduate of Arizona College Preparatory, Blake is applying for both the Marshall and Rhodes Scholarships to study public health and translational medicine. A 2024 Truman Scholarship finalist, Blake has demonstrated a deep commitment to healthcare equity, particularly for marginalized communities. His research at ASU’s Biodesign Institute focused on mitigating aflatoxin contamination in Guatemalan maize, which earned him co-authorship in a peer-reviewed journal. A member of the student advisory board for the  Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics , Blake aspires to pursue healthcare reform in his career, so as to better serve patients with chronic conditions. He plans to leverage his expertise in science, policy, and diplomacy to address global healthcare challenges, with the ultimate goal of creating a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system.  

Joshua Tint , from Tucson, Ariz., will complete joint bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science in May 2025. A graduate of Catalina Foothills High School and a Flinn Scholar, Joshua is applying for the Marshall Scholarship to further his research in computational linguistics and aims to study how large language models, such as ChatGPT, interpret and express bias, particularly in queer-associated language. His Barrett honors thesis explores how AI systems respond to heteronormative versus gender-inclusive language, reflecting his dedication to addressing the ethical implications of modern technologies. As an accomplished software engineer, Joshua has held research and internship roles at companies like Amazon and Marcus Engineering, and in 2022, he was one of three winners of the  Apple Swift Student Challenge , for his app “Discover Me,” that enables people who are questioning their gender identity to try different pronouns. He aspires to bridge the gap between technology and social justice by leveraging his expertise in computational linguistics to advance equity and inclusion in AI-driven systems.

In the 2023 competition cycle, nominees  Katie Pascavis and  Nathaniel Ross received the Marshall and the Rhodes, respectively, marking ASU as one of only three public universities in the United States to produce a winner of both fellowships in that cycle. Other recent Marshall Scholars include  Alexander Sojourney (2021),  Frank Smith III (2018), and  Erin Schulte (2017). Other recent ASU Rhodes Scholars include  Shantel Marekera (2019) and  Ngoni Mugwisi (2017).

The next application cycles for both the Marshall and Rhodes scholarships will open in March, 2025. For details on the ASU nomination process, go to  https://onsa.asu.edu/apply .