Linguistics and English Language

MSc/Dip Evolution of Language and Cognition

What is it that makes us human? How did our brains evolve? What are the origins of human language? Why do we think the way we do? What are the mechanisms of biological, cultural and linguistic evolution?

These questions, which are at the heart of the recent renaissance in the scientific study of the origins and evolution of human language, will be tackled by students on this new interdisciplinary postgraduate programme.

The programme consists of two components: an interdisciplinary 1 year Masters degree, and a supervised PhD. Students will apply for one or the other degree, depending on background and experience.

The Masters programme can be freestanding, but also provides an excellent starting point for PhD study either here in Edinburgh or elsewhere, in a range of disciplines. The modular nature of the programme allows students to tailor it to their own interests. Students who already have the relevant background, and a strong research proposal can, of course, apply directly for the PhD.

Postgraduate students studying the evolution of language and cognition will become part of the world-leading Language Evolution and Computation Research Unit here in Edinburgh. The LEC is at the cutting edge of current research into the origins and evolution of human language, and is the biggest research group in the world in this area. Students at every level will have the opportunity to be become involved at first hand with the LEC's ongoing research effort.

Human evolution is a topic for cognitive scientists, psychologists, linguists, archaeologists, anthropologists, biologists, and computer scientists. Because of this, the postgraduate programme will suit students from a very wide range of backgrounds. If you are interested in learning more about the evolution of human cognition and language, and about the many disciplines that contribute to its study, we'd like to hear from you.