Multilingual Master Linguistics and Literary Studies

Academic requirements 

What is important here is the field in which you obtained your previous degree. To be considered for the Multilingual Master, you are required to meet one of the following academic criteria:

• Hold a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Literary Studies (Taal- en Letterkunde) from a Flemish university. Such a degree entitles you to direct access to the master's programme, provided your languages match those studied in the BA.
• Hold a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Linguistics (Toegepaste Taalkunde) from a Flemish university. Such a degree entitles you to direct access to the Multilingual Mediation and Communication profile of our master's programme, provided your chosen language combination matches languages studied in the BA. Applications to other profiles will be screened to determine the necessity of a preparatory programme (same requirements as for non-Flemish diplomas apply).
• Hold a degree from a non-Flemish university proving you have obtained at least 60 ECTS credits in linguistics, literary studies and/or language proficiency for every language you wish to major in. Among these 60 ECTS, at least 6 ECTS are in the discipline you choose to study, specifically: 
  • 6 ECTS in linguistics for profiles Linguistics, Psycholinguistics and Neurolinguistics, Multilingualism and Foreign Language Acquisition; 
  • 6 ECTS in literary studies in the profiles Literary Studies, Intermediality;
  • Exception: for the profile Multilingual Mediation and Communication, applicants need to have obtained at least 60 ECTS in English linguistics, literary studies and/or language proficiency and 30 ECTS (or mother tongue level) in the second language of their choice.
• Hold a degree in another field AND complete our preparatory programme. 

Preparatory programme

Don't have a degree in Linguistics and Literary Studies? Not sure if you have enough relevant study credits?

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 language you choose. Courses are assigned to you, which means that unlike with the master's programme, you cannot choose which courses to take. 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. 

The preparatory courses will be assigned to you based on the screening of your transcript of records. Since the preparatory programme consists of BA courses, you can check out the possible options on the page of the Multilingual 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

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.

The preparatory programme takes place 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 Multilingual 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'. 

Students who would like to take up one language in their preparatory programme can obtain their master's degree in 1-1,5 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 Multilingual 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 for the master's and preparatory programmes

Firstly, you need to be proficient in English, as this is the primary language of instruction. Prospective students can provide proof by meeting one of the following criteria:

• Submitting a language test certificate, predating the date of enrolment by no more than 5 years, for one of the exams below:
  • TOEFL iBT with minimum level: 79
  • IELTS with minimum level: academic module 6.5
  • ITACE with minimum level: B2
  • Cambridge English Qualification Scale with the following minimal level: 170
• Having successfully completed secondary school at a Belgian institution;
• Having a diploma of secondary or higher education where English was the language of instruction. Please make sure this is shown in your transcript of records or in a certified document from your former education institution.

Submitting proof of proficiency (min. level: B2) in other languages is not necessary, as applicants' mastery of target languages is assessed during the intake interview. 

Required documents

Ready to apply for the Multilingual Master? You can start your application via our online  application tool. Please read the programme page to choose a suitable profile (academic plan).   

You will need to upload the following documents:

• photo
• copy of the front and back of your ID (EEA citizens/residents) OR the personal details page of your international passport (if you're a non-EEA citizen)
• transcript of records: original + translation (EN/FR/NL; if applicable)
• copy of bachelor's degree(s): original + translation (EN/FR/NL; if applicable)
• proof of proficiency in English (we accept strictly the types of proof and scores presented above)
• a motivation letter stating your choice of profile and language(s) — you may use our template
• CV
• 2 recommendation letters

Admission depends on our review of each application, which includes your application files and intake interview. Once we have checked the validity of your documents, you will receive an invitation to book your interview. 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 only take place in English). The interview takes around 30 minutes and is conducted online over Microsoft Teams.

It is important to carefully choose your profile and language(s) since changing profile and language(s) is not recommended after the interview. The faculty will inform you of the results within 1-2 weeks following the interview. Good luck!

Check the most important steps to consider

MUMA Scholarships

The VUB Multilingual Master in Linguistics and Literary Studies offers 5 scholarships to outstanding first-time applicants from around the world. The scholarships are awarded as one-time payments: €3000 and €5000 (for non-EEA students) and €1000 (for EEA students). They do not cover any recurring costs like monthly accommodation costs, insurance, and other living expenses. They also do not come with a tuition fee waiver (it's likely you will receive the scholarship after receiving the tuition fee invoice). 

The Master Mind scholarship does come with a tuition fee waiver and is paid in increments; for Master Mind eligibility criteria and procedure, see this page. For MUMA scholarship eligibility criteria, regulations and procedure, see below.

Eligibility 

• Citizenship: all nationalities. Please note that there are different scholarships for EEA and non-EEA students.  
• Required degree: Bachelor/undergraduate degree 
• 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: 102 for TOEFL iBT, 7.5 for IELTS (academic module), C1 level with a minimum score of 191 on the Cambridge English Qualifications, and equivalent. Native speakers qualify for an exemption.
• You must be accepted to the Multilingual Master in Linguistics and Literary Studies as a full-time master's student or a preparatory programme student. This means you need to obtain the standard acceptance form (standaardformulier) issued by VUB Student Administration.  
  • Note: If you have not received the standard acceptance form at the time of application, you can submit it by 31 May 2025. If you fail to meet this deadline, your application will be deemed ineligible. We suggest that you start your application to the programme early to meet the scholarship deadline.  

Regulations 

• 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. 
• 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. 
• Successful applicants may not use the award certificate for their visa application, as the scholarship amount does not meet the stipulated threshold of sufficient financial means required to obtain a Belgian type D visa. Therefore, successful applicants must still need to prove their financial status by opening a VUB blocked account or having a financial guarantor for a Belgian student visa. 
• An installment of €1000 (for EEA applicants) or €3000/€5000 (for non-EEA applicants) is transferred to the applicant’s Belgian or European account after the student has arrived in Belgium and uploaded the VUB registration (enrolment) certificate.  

How to apply  

Submit your scholarship application via THIS FORM. See deadlines below. 

Documents to be uploaded via the form: 

• Passport photo 
• International passport or national ID 
• The standard acceptance form (Standaardformulier) from VUB Student Administration. If your standard acceptance letter arrives after the scholarship application deadline, you have until 31 May 2025 to send it to muma@vub.be.
• 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. Contact muma@vub.be to see if you qualify for an exemption.
• A Curriculum Vitae (including, if applicable, your publications, academic awards, previous scholarships, etc.). 
• A letter of motivation written in English.
• Two signed letters of recommendation from professors at your previous university or recent employer written in English. These letters can be from the same people who recommend you for the programme admission. Please make sure the letters specifically recommend you for the scholarship.  

If you are unsure about certain documents or have any questions, please send an email promptly to muma@vub.be.

Deadlines  

For non-EEA applicants

• Scholarship application submission: 31 March 2025 
• Standard acceptance form submission: 31 May 2025

For EEA applicants (updated deadlines!)

• Scholarship application submission: 31 May 2025 
• Standard acceptance form submission: 31 May 2025

Be prepared

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

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.

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

Ready, set, study!