Master's Programme in Languages – Turkic Languages

120 credits

The Master's Programme in Languages, specialising in Turkic languages, develops your competence in the whole language family and furthers your advanced knowledge of Turkic linguistics and philology. You will be a part of an international environment with peers from diverse academic, educational, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. You will study various classical branches of Turcology, work with modern digital tools, and receive an education that qualifies you for further academic studies.

Autumn 2023 Autumn 2023, Uppsala, 100%, On-campus, English

Autumn 2024 Autumn 2024, Uppsala, 100%, On-campus, English

The programme is designed for students interested in acquiring advanced knowledge of Turkic linguistics and philology. You will study in an international environment with teachers and students from diverse academic, educational, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Upon completing the programme, you will have broad knowledge and academic skills in Turcology that qualify you for further academic studies, or for academic jobs at universities and research institutions.

The programme's curriculum encompasses various classical branches of Turcology: philological analysis of historical sources, codicology and critical edition, historical-comparative linguistics with reconstruction and etymological studies, linguistic investigation of various phenomena including phonology, morphosyntax and multilingualism, dialectology and documentation of the modern Turkic languages. Additionally, the programme incorporates the use and application of modern digital tools in relation to corpora building and born-digital text editions.

Your studies will give you direct insight into our ongoing projects and research activities. Upon interest, project-related tasks can be integrated into the regular coursework to test and illustrate the immediate application of research results.

Degree

The programme and specialisation leads to the degree of Master of Arts (120 credits) with Turkic Languages as the main field of study. After one year of study, it is possible to obtain a degree of Master of Arts (60 credits).

The program includes four semesters of full-time study, and consists of compulsory and elective courses. The first term includes two program-based courses - a course in theory and method as well

as a course with work-oriented lectures and study visits. In addition, two other courses are taught in Turkic languages.

The second term is devoted to specialisation in Turkic languages (22.5 credits). The remaining 7.5 credits consist of a program-wide methodology course.

The third term is devoted to elective courses in Turkic languages. In the fourth term, students will work on their Master's thesis.

Opportunities for an internship comprising 7.5 credits are available.

Courses within the programme

Semester 1

  • General theory and method, 7.5 credits
  • General lecture, 7.5 credits
  • Old Turkic philology, 7.5 credits
  • History of the Turkic languages, 7.5 credits

Semester 2

  • General method and research, 7.5 credits
  • Middle Turkic philology, 7.5 credits
  • Comparative Turcology: Kipchak and Oguz languages, 7.5 credits
  • Typology of the Turkic languages, 7.5 credits

Semester 3

  • Elective course in Turkic languages, 7.5 credits
  • Current trends in Turkic linguistics, 7.5 credits
  • Independent study in Turkic linguistics and philology, 7.5 credits
  • Comparative Turcology: Siberian Turkic languages, 4 credits

Semester 4

  • Master’s thesis 30 credits

Some of the courses may require compulsory attendance. Studies conducted at a foreign university may be included in the degree. During the first semester of the programme, a seminar series is held with invited guest lecturers representing different professions with language in focus. In a seminar, you present your ideas and discuss a course book, or other study material that you are required to read before the seminar, with your classmates; while the teacher usually only moderates the discussion. The aim is to develop critical thinking and collaborative skills. All the students are expected to be active participants in all forms of discussions.

In addition to the seminars, there are also visits to workplaces related to a future career. The seminars and the workplace visits are common for all the students in the programme and provide valuable insight into professional life and opportunity to make personal contacts. There are opportunities for internships.

Between teaching sessions, there is time to read and analyse texts in different Turkic languages as well as scientific publications, usually on an individual basis but sometimes also in groups. Thus, you are expected to gradually acquire in-depth knowledge and more advanced skills in the subject area.

Coursework and examination take place on an ongoing basis through active participation in seminars, oral presentation of selected themes and submission of self-written texts with clear deadlines. Coursework can also consist of longer texts submitted at the end of courses.

Some of the courses are taught as distance courses with online seminars.

Completing the Master's Programme in Languages, specialising in Turkic Languages, you will acquire a good working knowledge of Turkic linguistics and philology as well as refined research and analytical skills that will prepare you either for doctoral studies or for employment beyond the university in a wide array of fields.

The skills acquired in the programme are also relevant to work in non-academic areas, such as print and other mass media, publishers, cultural institutions, political parties, non-governmental organisations, printing and media departments and human resources departments at companies, or authorities.

Turkic languages are spoken by about 200 million speakers across a wide geographical area stretching from the Balkans through Central Asia to north-east Siberia. Due to the strategic position of Turkey and Kazakhstan, knowledge in and of the Turkic languages will be crucial for a very long time to come.

Career support

During your time as a student, UU Careers offers support and guidance. You have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities and events that will prepare you for your future career. Learn more about UU Careers.

Contact

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