International MA programme Sociolinguistics and Multilingualism
Call for applications to an international MA programme on sociolinguistics and multilingualism
Are you interested in a life-changing experience? Would you like to study, attend lectures of foreign professors, travel, learn languages, and meet new people from all over the world? Then choose the joint-degree Master study programme Sociolinguistics and Multilingualism!
Sociolinguistics and Multilingualism (SoMu) is an international joint-degree study programme offered by Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), Kaunas, Johannes-Gutenberg University (JGU), Mainz, Germany, Stockholm University (SU), Sweden, and the University of Tartu (UT), Estonia. When studying in this programme, you will spend the first semester at Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), the second semester at Johannes Gutenberg University (Germany), the third semester you will be able to choose between Tartu University (Estonia) and Stockholm University (Sweden), and during the fourth semester you can write your Master Thesis at the university that you prefer.
The programme is meant for students, who are interested in the role of language in society. With its geographical focus on the entire Baltic-Sea region, the programme is unique amongst all sociolinguistic MA programmes in Europe in the width of languages and societies covered in it. The language of instruction is English.
Graduates of the programme obtain the following skills:
- Critical and self-critical thinking;
- Cooperation, interpersonal, as well as cross-cultural communication skills;
- General and specific sociolinguistic knowledge, especially regarding multilingualism;
- Knowledge of the general (socio-)historical context and the ability to locate sociolinguistic research and debate in general and European and Baltic-Sea region research;
- Awareness of present societal, cultural and linguistic settings;
- Professional working competence in English; knowledge of lesser-used and taught languages;
- Interdisciplinary methodological skills.
“SoMu has been for me a physical and intellectual journey made of inspiring encounters and stimulating academic growth, all in an enriching intercultural atmosphere. It is a life-changing experience that I would definitely recommend to those students interested in embarking this challenging, but wonderful journey.” Arianna Grasso, SoMu graduate (currently a PhD student at Napoli Univeristy, Italy)
“SoMu was a great experience I wouldn’t want to miss because I learnt a lot: not only about language policies, the history of the Baltic states, linguistic minorities, Lithuanian as a foreign language, and lots of other academic things, but also many things for life.” Frederik Bissinger, SoMu graduate (currently a PhD student at Stockholm University and JGU-Mainz)
The graduates of the programme can expect to find employment in the following fields:
- Academic sphere, e.g., research tasks and/or doctoral studies in sociolinguistics, cross-cultural communication, identity, multilingualism, regionalism, etc.;
- Counselling on multilingualism issues at political and cultural institutions, including the EU institutions;
- Counselling and teaching on multilingualism issues in educational institutions of all levels;
- Counselling business and finance organizations in issues involving multilingualism and regional and economic cooperation;
- Various international, national and regional public and private sector institutions and projects concerned with multilingualism, language planning and policy;
- Mass media (with additional qualifications), e.g. in fields such as political journalism.
Access requirements
- Bachelor degree diploma or equivalent degree in Humanities or Social Sciences. The Bachelor Degree shall contain at least 30 ECTS in the field of linguistics or philology.
- Proof of English Language: Students from non-partner universities are asked to provide document proving B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (TOEFL 87 iBT/534, IELTS 5.5 or any other document proving B2 level).
Application deadline: (both – EU and non-EU students) 21 June 2020
Application and admission procedure
Contact information
Programme coordinator at VMU Prof. Jūratė Ruzaitė, Jurate.Ruzaite@hmf.vdu.lt
General e-mail I somu@hmf.vdu.lt
Address: V. Putvinskio g. 23, Room 218, LT-44243 Kaunas, Lithuania
Website: http://somu.vdu.lt and www.hmf.vdu.lt/en
