University College London (UCL)
Language Sciences: Technology of Language and Speech MSc
London, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
The MSc in Language Sciences: Technology of Language and Speech explores how language and speech are produced, processed, and understood, with a focus on the technological aspects behind them. The program combines theory and practical skills, helping students understand speech production, recognition, and language processing through various methods, including computational modeling and experimental techniques. It’s designed for those interested in how technology and language interact, preparing students for careers in fields like speech technology, AI, and linguistics research.
Students will learn about the scientific basis of speech and language, along with current technologies used to analyze and synthesize language. They’ll also get hands-on experience with tools for speech processing, enabling them to develop or improve speech-based applications. The course emphasizes research skills and theoretical understanding, all within a flexible structure that allows students to tailor their studies to their interests. It’s suitable for anyone eager to deepen their knowledge of language and speech technology and its real-world applications.
UCL Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available to postgraduate students, including our UCL Masters Bursary for UK students and our UCL Global Masters Scholarship for international students. You can click the link below to search via the scholarships finder for awards that you might be eligible for. Your academic department will also be able to provide you with more information about funding.
External Scholarships
Online aggregators like Postgraduate Studentships, Scholarship Search, Postgraduate Funding and International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search contain information on a variety of external schemes.
If you have specific circumstances or ethnic or religious background it is worth searching for scholarships/bursaries/grants that relate to those things. Some schemes are very specific.
Funding for disabled students
Master's students who have a disability may be able to get extra funding for additional costs they incur to study.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, small-group teaching and a virtual learning environment. Some modules involve practical or lab-based workshops and larger modules will also have tutorial sessions. Some modules will give you the opportunity to complete an oral presentation or to present a critical review of a published paper, write computer programmes or analyse data in R or Python, supporting practical and transferable skills outcomes. All modules will require you to work independently to prepare and review module material, supporting intellectual, academic and research skills outcomes.
You will undertake a range of assessments including unseen-written exams; essay-based coursework; critical reviews of publications; oral and poster presentations and a research project.
Each assessment supports the programme learning outcomes by requiring you to apply and supplement knowledge gained in teaching and to apply it in a critical way. Through coursework and the research project you will gain experience in independent research and collaborative working with colleagues and academic staff.
For full-time students, typical contact hours are around 12 hours per week. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.
In terms one and two full-time students can typically expect between 10 and 12 contact hours per teaching week through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops, crits and tutorials. In term three and the summer period students will be completing their own dissertation research, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisors.
Modules
Full-time
On the MSc Language Sciences programme (Technology of Language and Speech route) you will complete 180 UCL credits from a range of compulsory, optional and elective modules. This selection of modules has been chosen to provide you with a flexible degree that you can tailor to your specific interests whilst meeting the learning outcomes of the specialised Technology of Language and Speech route.
Three compulsory modules are taken by all MSc LangSci students, whatever their strand of specialisation which come to a total of 90 credits. One of which is the Research Project which is mostly carried out in the Summer period, after other assessments have been completed.
In addition to the compulsory modules listed above, you will register for a number of optional modules and will register for these from a choice of six which totals 45 credits.
You will then register for a further three elective modules also worth 45 credits.
Part-time
The programme structure for part-time students will be dependent on the modules selected. Normally, part-time students are expected to complete at least the compulsory modules in the first year of study.
Compulsory modules
- Topics and Methods in Language Sciences
- Fundamental Statistics: Statistical and Causal Reasoning
- Dissertation/Project in Language Science
Optional modules
- Introduction to deep learning for speech and language processing
- Programming in R: Applications for Speech Data Processing
- Advanced speech data processing in R
- Signals & Systems for Speech & Hearing
- Introduction to Computational Linguistics
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MSc in Language Sciences: Technology of Language and Speech.
What this course will give you
The Technology of Language and Speech route explores computational methods and practices involved in uncovering underlying patterns in language and speech data, as well as providing a theoretical underpinning for why these patterns might exist and how they relate to human language use. Throughout your studies, you'll learn a range of computational methods, from the fundamentals of programming for speech analysis, to deep learning approaches for analysing language data, as well as the physiological and theoretical cornerstones of speech production and perception, which help inform and guide computational approaches.
The UCL Division of Psychology and Language Sciences undertakes world-leading research and teaching in mind, behaviour, and language. Staff and students benefit from cutting-edge resources including extensive laboratories for research in speech and language, perception, and cognition.
Opportunities for students to work with world-renowned researchers exist in all areas of investigation. The Division offers a supportive environment including numerous specialist seminars, workshops, and guest lectures.
The foundation of your career
The majority of students who graduate from Language Sciences MSc programmes go on to further study or research. Recent graduates have gone on to PhD study in UCL, other UK institutions and overseas institutions. Others primarily go onto work in related sectors such as health and social care and education (Graduate Outcomes survey 2021-22).
Employability
The skills that the Language Sciences MSc develops - independent research, written and oral presentation skills, and data analysis - are all transferable skills that are very highly sought outside academia.
Networking
Opportunities for students to work with world-renowned researchers exist in all areas of investigation. The Division offers a supportive environment including numerous specialist seminars, workshops, and guest lectures.