Language is a crucial part of what makes us human. Through language, we can communicate what has happened, what is happening now, and what will happen. Past, present and future. No other animal has the same ability. In the PhD programme in Language and Linguistics, we research all areas of linguistics: How language is structured, how children learn languages, how people can speak several languages and juggle between them, how language changes, and how language is used as a communication tool. We research what languages are like, why they are the way they are, and how they have developed over time.

This PhD-programme includes all areas of linguistics and is open to qualified applicants working with linguistic research questions. A wide range of theoretical and methodological approaches are used within the programme, and the programme aims to make the education as relevant as possible to the candidates’ fields of interest.

As a general rule the candidate’s main supervisor should be employed at NTNU. Within language and linguistics we have academic staff in the following areas: applied linguistics, English linguistics, phonetics, French linguistics, Greek, Latin, linguistics, Nordic linguistics and German linguistics. Research staff also work in related fields and with topics that go beyond the specific field. It is important for the programme that candidates are included in a research group consisting of more than just the main supervisor; this will be considered in the application process.

The PhD program is standardized for three years of full-time studies and must result in a scientific thesis. The work on the dissertation is standardized to 2 1/2 years full-time. In addition, there is a training part of 30 credits which contains training in professional and research ethics, scientific theory, and method. 

We can summarize the PhD programme in Language and Linguistics with the following three points:

• An independent research project that will result in a scientific thesis at a high professional level.
• Training in scientific theory, subject theory, and method that provides professional breadth and insight.
• Acquisition of the ability to put one's subject into a larger framework through professional reflection and practice.

• Go to Programme structure
• Go to ow to apply and admission