Master Linguistics and Literary Studies

Academic admission requirements

To be considered for the Master in Linguistics and Literary Studies at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), you must meet the academic admission requirements for your chosen language specialisation and study profile.

Your eligibility depends on your previous university degree(s), relevant academic credits (ECTS) and chosen profile and language specialisation in the master’s. Depending on your academic background, you may qualify for direct admission or need additional screening and a preparatory programme. 

Which admission route applies to you?

What does direct admission mean? Applicants who meet the direct admission criteria do not need additional coursework (i.e., a preparatory programme) to satisfy the programme's academic entry requirements. All applicants must still complete the applicable university admission and enrolment procedures.

Changing your language specialisation or study profile? Applicants with a Flemish bachelor's degree who do not meet the direct admission conditions will likely need a preparatory programme. This includes BA Toegepaste taalkunde graduates choosing the Literary Studies or Intermediality profiles and BA Taal- en letterkunde students changing languages. See below for how your preparatory programme will be calculated if you don't meet direct admission conditions.

Baseline academic admission requirements

If you hold an academic bachelor's degree from a university outside Flanders, or in a different field or language, you must have earned at least 60 ECTS credits in linguistics, literary studies and/or language proficiency prior to enrolment in our master's. The 60 ECTS requirement applies separately to each language you wish to specialise in during your master's programme.
At least 6 of these 60 ECTS credits must be in the academic discipline corresponding to your chosen study profile:

Taking courses in additional languages: The academic admission requirements above apply to your official language specialisation(s). You may also take individual courses in other languages within your chosen Master's profile, provided you have sufficient language proficiency to follow them. You do not need to complete a preparatory programme for these additional languages, even if you do not hold a degree in them.

How are academic credits assessed? Our admissions team reviews your academic transcripts to identify relevant courses and determine whether you meet the admission requirements. Consult our Bachelor in Linguistics and Literary Studies course list for examples of relevant coursework. Credits earned outside the ECTS system will be converted where necessary. One ECTS credit typically represents 25-30 study hours.

What if you have less than the required ECTS in your background? Having a different degree doesn't mean you can't follow our master's! If your previous degree or language specialisation does not meet the admission requirements, you will be assigned a tailor-made preparatory programme as a condition of your simultaneous or subsequent enrolment in the master's programme. 

Additional admission requirements for the Dual Degree with the University of Guelph

Applicants to the Dual Degree with the University of Guelph must meet the academic admission requirements above and satisfy the following additional conditions:

Preparatory programme

Don't have a degree in Linguistics and Literary Studies? Not sure if you have enough relevant study credits in your chosen language(s)?

If you have an undergraduate degree in another field of study or do not meet our academic requirements for the master (see above), you can still enrol in the Master of Arts in Linguistics and Literary Studies — after completing our preparatory programme. If your previous degree is completely unrelated to linguistics and literary studies in the language you are applying for, you can apply directly to the preparatory programme. 

Content

This preparatory programme takes into account 1) your choice of profile and language(s) for the master 2) the ECTS credits that you have previously obtained in linguistics and literary studies per chosen language. Courses are assigned to you, which means that unlike in the master's programme, you cannot select courses yourself. That said, the preparatory programme, consisting of bachelor's courses in linguistics and/or literary studies, is tailor-made to your academic needs and goals for the MA. 

Since the preparatory programme consists of BA courses, you can check out the possible course options on the page of the Bachelor in Linguistics and Literary Studies (pick a language combination with your language(s) of choice to view the complete list of courses offered for any given language).

Practicalities

Preparatory courses will be assigned to you based on the screening of your transcript of records. If you are accepted, the list of assigned preparatory courses will be sent to you a couple weeks before the start of the academic year and after you officially enrol.

Since the preparatory programme consists of BA courses, it is taught during the academic year: you start in September and finish classes in May (January, June and August are exam months at VUB). Starting in the second semester is not possible for students of our preparatory and Master programmes. The prep, like the master's programme, is daytime-only; we do not offer night classes. Classes take place on the main VUB campus in Etterbeek, otherwise known as the 'Brussels Humanities and Science Campus'; it's not possible to follow the programme remotely. 

Students who would like to take up one language in their preparatory programme can obtain their master's degree in 1-2 academic years, depending on the number of credits they have been assigned. Opting for two languages is also possible. In this case, students usually graduate from the Master in 2-3 academic years (maximum). Though not recommended, you may take up to 72 ECTS of courses in one year under certain conditions. Get in touch with our faculty's Study Path Counselors to learn more.

Note that it is possible to take courses within your chosen profile in languages other than your chosen language(s), even without an official degree in that language, if you are proficient enough to follow the classes. With this policy, we encourage multilingual learning in different fields of interest.

Language requirements

English is the primary language of instruction in the Master in Linguistics and Literary Studies and its preparatory programme. All applicants, including native English speakers, must provide accepted proof of English proficiency.

Proving English proficiency (mandatory, incl. for native speakers)

VUB accepts the following forms of proof of English proficiency:

English language tests

Certificates and other proof of (online) language tests may not pre-date the first enrolment by more than five years.

Alternative forms of proof of English proficiency

• Diploma of secondary education from an educational establishment accredited by the Flemish, French-speaking or German-speaking Community of Belgium.
• Diploma of secondary education where English was the unique language of instruction, excluding eventual language courses. (The mode of instruction must be indicated in your transcript of records or in a certified document from your former educational institution).
• Diploma of higher education where English was the unique language of instruction, excluding eventual language courses. (The mode of instruction must be indicated in your transcript of records or in a certified document from your former educational institution).

Proving proficiency in languages other than English (testing not obligatory)

Since our programme does not offer language acquisition courses, you must already have at least B2-level proficiency on the CEFR scale in the language(s) you wish to specialise in. You do not need to submit language test results for these languages: your proficiency will be assessed during the intake interview. 

Required application documents

Before applying to the Master in Linguistics and Literary Studies (MUMA) at VUB, check the programme page to choose a suitable profile (academic plan) and language(s). Be aware of the application deadlines. You can start your application via VUB's online  application form. 

Questions about the programme or application procedure? Join one of our online info sessions for prospective students!

Application document checklist

Please make sure all scans respect the documents' original coloring, are of good quality (min. 200 dpi), sent in either PDF of JPEG format, and their size does not exceed 4 MB per file. All official documents like degree certificates and grade transcripts must bear the institutional stamp and signature or be digitally verifiable.

Haven't graduated yet? Upload a signed and sealed enrolment certificate from your university confirming 1) your current enrolment in the final year of studies, 2) expected date of graduation and 3) the title of diploma you will obtain (e.g., Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Literary Studies).

Don't have all necessary documents at the time of application? Submit what you have through the application platform and send in the rest later via the document upload form. Non-EEA applicants may exceptionally submit proof of English proficiency until 30 June, if it was missing or did not meet VUB's requirements at the time of application; this exception does not apply to EEA applicants.

Not enough upload spaces for all your documents? You can combine several documents into a single PDF file (e.g., motivation letter and CV).

Check the most important steps to consider

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are subject to change. The official amount is determined by VUB Student Administration.

Tuition fees at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) depend on your student fee category and the number of ECTS credits you register for. The same fee structure applies to the Master in Linguistics and Literary Studies and the preparatory programme. 

Annual tuition: fixed fee + (number of registered ECTS credits x variable fee per ECTS).

The amounts below cover tuition only. Living expenses and other study-related costs are not included.

How much does the Master's programme cost?

The table below shows the estimated tuition fees for the 2027-2028 academic year, based on a standard study load of 60 ECTS. 

Your applicable fee category is determined by VUB according to your nationality, residence status and any relevant exemptions.

How much does the preparatory programme cost?

If you need a preparatory programme, your tuition fee depends on the number of ECTS credits assigned to you following the assessment of your previous studies. Preparatory programmes are individually tailored, so the total number of credits — and therefore the tuition fee — varies between students. Use the tuition fee formula and rates indicated above to calculate the fee for your personal credit load.

Important enrolment and payment notices

• All students: The fixed fee is charged each academic year. The variable fee total depends on the number of ECTS credits registered that year.
• EEA students and eligible non-EEA residents: No minimum annual credit load applies to you, so you may register for a lighter study load, subject to programme requirements. Depending on your enrolment arrangements, you may also be able to spread tuition payments across the academic year.
• Other non-EEA students: Students requiring a Belgian permit for study purposes generally need to register for a full-time study load of minimum 54 ECTS per academic year, unless fewer credits remain upon re-enrolment. Most of the tuition is payable upfront, as instalment payment plans are not available.

Scholarships

Several scholarships are available for those who would like to study linguistics and literary studies in Brussels with us: both international students and Belgian nationals can apply. Below you will find a list of funding opportunities for your master's studies, including external grant programmes as well as our very own MUMA Scholarship.

Scholarship availability and amounts subject to change.

MUMA Scholarship (€1,000-€3,000)

At programme level, the Master in Linguistics and Literary Studies offers five scholarships (2x €1000 for Belgian and EA students + 3x €3000 for non-EA students) to outstanding first-time applicants. The grants are awarded as one-time payments. You can use your winnings to cover educational expenses; the award is not intended for recurring costs like monthly accommodation, insurance, and other living expenses.

Check back in later for updates on 2027-2028 scholarship availability, eligibility criteria, and procedure. 

Eligibility

• Citizenship: all nationalities.  
• Required degree: Bachelor/undergraduate degree 
• Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5 out of 4.0: https://www.scholaro.com/gpa-calculator 
• Language requirement: Having a language test certificate with the following minimum scores: 79 for TOEFL iBT, 6.5 for IELTS (academic module), B2 level on the Cambridge English Qualifications Scale, and equivalent. Native speakers qualify for an exemption. 
• You must be accepted to the VUB Master in Linguistics and Literary Studies as a full-time master's student and/or a preparatory programme student. Scholarships will only be granted upon the nominees’ enrolment in the selected study programme.   

Regulations 

• Application deadline for non-EEA students: to be determined. Announcement date for non-EEA winners: to be determined.
• Application deadline for EEA students: to be determined. Announcement date for EEA winners: to be determined.  
• The results of the scholarship selection will be announced individually via email. The nominees selected for the available grants will have ten working days to accept or refuse the scholarship. Should a nominee turn down their scholarship, it will be offered on a rolling basis to students on the waiting list according to their candidate ranking.   
• Applicants can apply for different scholarships, but once they win and confirm acceptance of the MUMA scholarship, they cannot combine the MUMA scholarship with other scholarships from the Flemish government. 
• This scholarship entitles grantees to a waiver of the contribution fee due to the Belgian Immigration Office and processing fee owed to the visa centre responsible for the visa application. However, the MUMA scholarship award certificate does not qualify as proof of sufficient financial means required to obtain a Belgian type D visa. Therefore, successful applicants must still prove their financial status by other means, e.g., opening a VUB blocked account or having a financial guarantor for a Belgian student visa.  
• The scholarship will be awarded once for the first academic year only. The recipient must register for at least 54 credits in the academic year during which they receive the scholarship. Scholarship recipients cannot apply for the scholarship a second time. The receipt of the scholarship cannot be deferred from one academic year to another.  
• The €1000 or €3000 instalment can only be transferred to a Belgian or European bank account in the grantee’s name. Before the scholarship deposit can be made, the student must prove their enrolment in VUB’s Master in Linguistics and Literary Studies and/or its preparatory programme, confirm their presence on campus, and sign the scholarship agreement. 

How to apply

Submit your complete scholarship application via THIS FORM before the appropriate deadline. Documents to be uploaded via the form:   

• Scholaro GPA certificate. You can generate it here: https://www.scholaro.com/gpa-calculator/. If your school already calculates the GPA on a 4.0 scale, simply upload your transcript of records again. 
• Copy of acquired diploma(s); if written in a language other than Dutch, French, German or English, a certified translation must be enclosed. 
• Transcript of records; if written in a language other than Dutch, French, German or English, a certified translation must be enclosed. 
• English language test results. Native speakers can contact muma@vub.be for an exemption. 
• A Curriculum Vitae (including, if applicable, your publications, academic awards, previous scholarships, etc.). 
• A letter of motivation written in English. Please note that this is a letter in support of your application to our scholarship, and not simply one of our study programmes.
• Two signed letters of recommendation (academic or professional) written in English. These letters can be from the same people who recommended you for programme admission. Please make sure the letters specifically recommend you for the scholarship.    

Contact muma@vub.be should you have any questions.  

Other scholarship opportunities

Essay Writing Prize from PlagiarismSearch ($1,000)

Every year, the plagiarism checker platform PlagiarismSearch holds an essay competition with a prize fund of $1,000. This competition does not have any geographical restrictions, but you will need to prove your student status to be eligible for the grant. Learn more about the requirements and application procedure here. Application deadline: see website.

Study a Masters in Europe Scholarship (€5,000)

Keystone Education Group's educations.com platform awards one €5,000 scholarship a year, opening its call to globally-minded students from all over the world who wish to study abroad in Europe for their master's degree. Click here for this scholarship's eligibility criteria and application procedure. Application deadline: see website.

Scholarship from the Flemish Government (up to €6,800)

You may also apply for a scholarship from the Flemish Government, provided you meet their nationality, study and financial conditions; from 2026-2027, new age and credit load restrictions may apply. More information on FG scholarships can be found here. Application deadline: June 1 of the academic year in which you are enrolled (i.e., if you are pursuing your studies in 2027-2028, you can apply for financial support from the Flemish Government until 1 June 2028).

Master Mind Scholarship (€10,225 + tuition fee waiver)

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is a partner of several organisations, including the Flemish Higher Education Council (VLUHR). Every year, the Council accepts applications for its Master Mind scholarship. The Master Mind scholarship comes with a tuition fee waiver and is paid in increments. Note that the scholarship is currently under review by the Ministry of Education and as such, the awarded grant, selection process, and modalities may change for the academic year 2027-2028. Check the official website of the scholarship for more information and deadlines; see this page for instructions from VUB.

The Belgian American Educational Foundation Fellowship ($32,000)

The BAEF offers fourteen one-time study grants to eligible applicants on an annual basis. You must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States of America to apply. More eligibility criteria and a description of the application procedure are outlined on this page. Annual application deadline: October 31 of the year preceding your studies (i.e., to receive a grant for the academic year 2027-2028, you must submit your application by October 31, 2026).

Application process

For foreign diploma holders For Belgian diploma holders

First screening — Portfolio completeness

After you hit "Submit application" in apply.vub.be and pay the processing fee of €90 (for non-Belgian diplomas), the central Student Administration will begin screening your application. They will check your file for basic documents like your ID, diploma and transcript of records, proof of English proficiency. If everything is in order, they will move your file to the second screening stage, a.k.a. the faculty screening.

Second screening — Faculty (academic) screening

The faculty screening is where the MUMA team briefly comes in to evaluate your fit for our prep and MA programmes. Academic admission depends on the outcome of our review of your file, which includes your documents and intake interview. Additionally, this is when we check whether your degree meets our minimum ECTS threshold for direct entry into the MA (above); if it does not, you will be assigned a preparatory programme.

Intake interview

You will be invited to the interview via the email address you indicated when registering via apply.vub.be. 

In the interview, we will discuss your previous studies and how this degree fits into your future trajectory. It is important to carefully choose your profile and language(s) since changing profile and language(s) is not recommended after the interview. You will be asked to motivate your choice.

We will also ask you to present a short "research proposal" on your future master's thesis topic (we request this when we invite you for a meeting). If you need inspiration or guidance on the methodological aspects of this proposal, consult our Academic Starter Pack. 

The interview is conducted in English and the language(s) in which you would like to follow our programme (if applicable; should the other language happen to be your mother tongue, the interview will be conducted exclusively in English). The interview takes around 30 minutes and is done online over Microsoft Teams.

The faculty will inform you of the results within 1-2 weeks following the interview. Good luck!

Third screening — Final screening (to qualify for conditional acceptance)

If you successfully pass the academic (faculty) screening, we will recommend your file for approval to the central Student Administration. The final decision on whether a student can be admitted  is not made by the faculty but the central Student Administration. 

They will check the completeness of your portfolio and the validity of your documents for the last time. If they approve your application, you will be sent the official (conditional only!) letter of acceptance, or standaardformulier in Dutch, to your registered email address. With this standaardformulier you can apply for a student visa to Belgium (if applicable).

For information on what you need to do after receiving the letter of acceptance, check the links below.

For foreign diploma holders For Belgian diploma holders

Be prepared

Keen to join us? Making all the necessary preparations helps you embark on your studies with peace of mind. 

Academic skills and background field knowledge

Do you have little to no training in research methods and thus have little experience in conducting independent scientific investigations? Has it been a while since you last wrote a research paper? Would you like to brush up on linguistics and literary studies theory before you begin your studies at VUB? 

Consult the MUMA Academic Starter Pack

Language skills

In need of some help with your language skills? Our VUB Language Centre ACTO offers language classes. If you are an international student, it is also the place where you can sit the ITACE test to demonstrate your language abilities.

Check out the Academic Centre for Language Education (ACTO)

Bridging the gap between your degree and ours

If you don't have a degree in Linguistics and Literary Studies, chances are that you will need to follow our preparatory programme. Get in touch with the study path counsellor to discuss your study path.

Contact a study path counselor

If you've been accepted to the programme, you should start preparing for your stay in Brussels.

Ready, set, study!