About PhD Program,
Our Linguistics graduate program trains researchers in the core areas of theoretical linguistics—such as syntax, semantics, phonology, phonetics and morphology—as well as in language acquisition, historical linguistics, and psycholinguistics.
The Linguistics graduate program offered by the School of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures and Cultures trains researchers in the core areas of theoretical linguistics—such as syntax, semantics, phonology, phonetics and morphology—as well as in language acquisition, historical linguistics, and psycholinguistics. Students take six courses and are expected to complete an MA thesis based on their original research within two years. Students benefit from a low student-to-faculty ratio that ensures personalized attention to each student’s academic needs and research goals. Students are guaranteed funding for $20,000/year for two years, and our MA graduates regularly place in top PhD programs around the world.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Applicants must hold or obtain the following minimum qualifications before the Faculty will give consideration to admission:
A four-year baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from a recognized institution. Degrees and grades from international institutions are evaluated for their equivalency to those of the University of Calgary. A grade point average equivalent to 3.00 or better (on the University of Calgary four-point system) is required. This will be calculated on the second half of the degree, generally the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework. For North American institutions using a three-unit scale (where a standard undergraduate degree consists of 120 units), this is equivalent to a minimum of the last 60 units completed at the time of the application. For all other institutions, the courses and grades used to calculate the GPA depend on the institution’s credit structure and grading scale.
Admission requirements vary depending on the country where previous undergraduate and/or graduate degrees were earned. Visit International Admissions Requirements at ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/international for further information on specific degree and grade point average requirements for the country where you earned your degree.
In most cases, a master’s degree or equivalent is required for admission to a doctoral program. See program listings for exceptions and details.
PhD Funding Coverage,
The University of Calgary is very proud of its graduate student awards program. In addition to recognizing academic achievement, scholarships are important in helping to bridge the gap between the rising cost of attending university and limited student income. Attracting top national and international students to the University of Calgary continues to be a very high priority.
We are extremely pleased that our donors share our commitment to graduate student awards, and we appreciate the financial support offered by all of our valued donors.
Full-time students registered in a graduate degree program at the University of Calgary are eligible for awards and financial assistance.
Scholarship information and application instructions are found on the graduate award website and through the searchable awards database at grad.ucalgary.ca/awards.
Additional information is available from your program. Because the award list is published a considerable time before the opening of the session, the university reserves the right to make whatever changes circumstances may require, including cancellation or addition of particular awards.
Application Requirement,
Applications for admission to the Faculty should be submitted through the online application system at http://www.ucalgary.ca/future-students/graduate/apply. No assurance can be given that applications received after the deadline set by the program will be processed in time to permit the applicant to register for the next available term. Specific instructions for applicants are included with the application.
All applications to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of the University of Calgary must include the following:
- a) A non-refundable application fee for each application to a graduate degree program. $125 for Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents, $145 for international students with a study permit.
- b) Official transcripts from allpost-secondary institutions attended. Original documents or certified true copies of each of your official transcripts and degree certificates, in the original sealed envelope, sent directly from the issuing University. Current and previous University of Calgary students are not required to order official University of Calgary transcripts. In cases where a student is unable to obtain the original transcript, an exception can be made when a student has received transfer credit that is documented on a transcript from another post-secondary institution. Original transcripts may be required for external scholarships or licensure.
If original documents are not in English:
Original documents or certified true copies of each of your official transcripts and degree certificates in the original language, in the original sealed envelope, sent directly from the issuing University, and an English translation from the issuing University or a notarized word-for-word English translation of a duplicate copy of that original.
- c) Official TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, CAEL, GMAT, GRE scores and/or other requirements of the program for which application is being made.
Please see Program Descriptions in this Calendar for any additional program requirements, including details on reference letters.
Some programs require letters of recommendation. Where applicable, an appropriate letter of recommendation is one written by an independent individual who can provide an assessment of the applicant’s background and capabilities with respect to the prospective program. Letters from friends, family members, colleagues, people currently registered in a graduate degree program, or general reference letters that are not written in support of the person’s application to the particular graduate program are not acceptable. An applicant currently registered in a graduate degree program, or who has recently completed a graduate degree program, will normally submit one letter of reference from their program supervisor. Unless the applicant has been out of school for more than four years, at least one letter, and preferably both, should be by an academic. A reference from a non-academic source should come from a person who has had direct supervisory experience of the applicant.
All graduate programs have limited enrolment capacities. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
All students seeking admission to the University must ensure the information provided as part of their application for admission is true and accurate. Students who falsify, or provide misleading or inaccurate information as part of the admission process, up to the add/swap deadline, may have their admission and registration cancelled and future admission will be denied. After the course add/swap deadline, allegations of false, inaccurate, or misleading information in a student’s application are considered under the student academic misconduct policy. Students who are identified as falsifying or omitting information may be identified to other post-secondary institutions.
Falsified documents may be referred to the appropriate authorities for consideration under the Criminal Code of Canada.
Note: Advanced credit must be requested at the time of application for admission. See G.A.6 Advanced Credit and Course Exemption.
Concurrent Program Enrolment
Students who are currently registered in participating University of Calgary certificate, diploma, or degree program may apply for admission to a second program if they have met the requirements. Students are not normally permitted to be concurrently registered in a second program at another institution. Any exceptions to this require approval by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. See G.D.1.2 for additional information on concurrent program enrolment.
Application Deadline,
Jan 15, 2025
Application Fee,
A non-refundable application fee for each application to a graduate degree program. $125 for Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents, $145 for international students with a study permit.
