Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Literature (Dutch - French)

Language proficiency has always been a cornerstone of our information society. In times of heightened mobility and increasing international (virtual) contact, having an excellent command of multiple languages is vital. However, effective communication requires more than just a strong command of languages; it also requires a broad and open-minded perspective on the social context of communication. Furthermore, understanding your chosen language area's literary and cultural heritage is beneficial. The Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Literature provides a comprehensive understanding of two languages of your choice. It familiarises you with those languages' cultural backgrounds and linguistic aspects, offers insight into their structures, functions, and histories, introduces you to their rich literature, and enables you to analyse (literary) texts. Our curriculum is built on three cornerstones: general course units, programme-specific course units, and language-specific course units, ensuring our ambitious goals are achievable within the standard three-year track.

Linguistics and Literature students at Ghent University are offered a choice of nine languages, of which they choose two. The timetables are designed to accommodate combining two languages from different columns without issues. Combining two languages from the same column is not possible.

Bachelor

• Initially, the programme provides general course units. These course units familiarise you with the basic principles of the Humanities, including Literature, Linguistics, Historical Criticism, Philosophy and Art.
• Additionally, you will take the programme-specific course units General Linguistics and Theory of Literature. These offer you the knowledge, methods, and skills necessary to understand the language-specific course units, where you will thoroughly learn to command your chosen languages actively and passively. These course units include:
  • language proficiency course units (with a focus on oral and written communication),
  • literature course units (with a focus on literary traditions and methods for literary text analysis),
  • linguistics course units (focusing on understanding the language system, the functions of language and language variations).
• Specific culture and history course units focus on the history and culture of the chosen language areas.
• Throughout the programme's first two years, the two languages are given equal importance. In the third year, you have several options to prepare you for advanced studies or a professional career: you can choose a third language, specialise in general linguistics or literary theory, or opt for the “Education Track” in preparation for the subsequent Master of Science in Teaching. You can also take on course units from a preparatory programme to be admitted into a complementary (Master’s) programme.

Master

Once you have obtained your Bachelor's diploma, you can be directly admitted into various Master's programmes. The Master of Arts in Linguistics and Literature allows you to continue studying your chosen languages or specialise in one of them. The Master of Arts in Comparative Modern Literature continues the Literary Theory track from the Bachelor's programme and introduces you to the cultural sector as a professional field. The Master of Arts in Historical Linguistics and Literature ultimately offers academic and professional tracks.

• Your Bachelor's diploma also grants access to additional Master's programmes beyond those mentioned here, including the Master of Science in Teaching. Please refer to the ‘Postgraduate Studies’ tab.

Your advanced academic language proficiency, keen linguistic awareness, clear understanding of literary and non-literary texts, creative problem-solving skills, and thirst for lifelong learning... These elements ensure that 90% of our graduates find a job within a year of graduation, as VDAB reports have shown. Many of them find jobs in the business world. Others become journalists, translators, editors or proofreaders in various media and business sectors. The cultural industry offers job opportunities at museums, libraries, cultural centres, literary festivals and organisations. Academic research may be a compelling career path for alumni with a special interest in the theoretical study of linguistics or literature.

• For more specific career options, please refer to this list of jobs held by alumni:www.taalenletterkunde.ugent.be/beroepen (in Dutch).