To understand the world, start with language!

Applied Linguistics

Communication and Information Studies

Throughout the Applied Linguistics track of the Bachelor’s programme in Communication and Information Studies, you will explore language, both from a theoretical and an applied perspective.

Theory and practice

This track involves both theory and practice. This varies from studying theories about the cognitive processes in our brains when learning language to analysing a story told by a young child. Or you might take classes on how ChatGPT works and then analyse a text generated by AI. Or you might attend a lecture on multilingualism and then visit the websites of a number of cities to find out about their language policies. This often shows that what we expect from theory does not always correspond to practice. In the subsequent steps within the programme, we try to interpret and explain these differences.

The translation you can make from the knowledge gained in this bachelor's programme to practice is very broad and applicable to a multitude of social issues in which language plays a key role. Questions for an assignment or your thesis may relate to education, for example: how can you adapt a language test for preschoolers so that it no longer contains bias against multilingual children? Or in the field of language policy, for example: what are the possible consequences in the workplace of an international company if all work meetings are now held in English? Or in the field of language technology: to what extent can generative AI produce reliable information when it comes to questions about emotions?

A unique programme

This programme is unique: there is no other Bachelor's programme in the Netherlands at university level with the same focus on language, language acquisition and language use (at both individual and societal levels) and in which both theory and practice receive a great deal of attention.

Within the programme, we ensure that there is sufficient opportunity for good contact with the lecturers. The programme is taught in English. The start date is 1 September.

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1st year
2nd year
3rd year

First year

In the first year, you will develop a broad theoretical foundation that reflects the current state of knowledge regarding the structure of language. You will learn how language and mind continuously influence each other and how we use language in different social contexts.

You will also learn the basic principles of related fields of research, such as communication studies and discourse analysis.

In addition, you will work on a number of essential general academic skills, such as research methods and academic writing.

Subjects

The subjects for the academic year 2026-2027:

Introduction to Linguistics
Language, Media and Communication
Orientation Module CIS 1
Psycholinguistics
Academic English
Academic Skills CIS
Discourse Analysis
Methods
Orientation Module CIS 2
Applied Cognitive Linguistics
Sociolinguistics
Morphology and Syntax

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide

Second year

In the second year, you will investigate how people acquire their first and second languages, gaining insight into both natural language acquisition and the processes behind learning new languages. Attention is also paid to language problems, such as developmental language disorders or dyslexia.

This is followed by in-depth courses such as Semantics and Pragmatics, in which you will learn to better understand how meaning is constructed and interpreted in communication.

Applied Statistics and Introduction to Language Technology are courses in which you will be provided with analytical and computational tools for linguistic research. And through courses such as Language Framing and Language Diversity, you will learn more about the power of language and the relationship between language and identity in different contexts

Subjects

The subjects for the academic year 2026-2027:

First Language Acquisition
Semantics and Pragmatics
Language Disorders
Applied Statistics
Philosophy
Second Language Acquisition
Language Framing
Discourse and Social Interaction
Introduction to Language Technology and Python
Language Diversity

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide

Third year

In the first semester of the third year, you will choose a minor programme that you can tailor entirely to your personal interests and plans for the future. You can choose from minor programmes such as Foreign Language Learning, Brain and Mind, European History and Culture, Digital Humanities and many others. In the second semester of this year, you will concentrate on the professional field, with a focus on the use of Large Language Models such as ChatGPT and on the clinical side of language and communication. You will also conduct research for a real company! You will complete your programme by writing your thesis.

Subjects

The subjects for the academic year 2026-2027:

Bachelor Thesis Communication and Information Studies
Bachelor Thesis Colloquium Communication and Information Studies
Clinical Linguistics
Language Models in Society
Research in Practice

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide

1st year
First year

In the first year, you will develop a broad theoretical foundation that reflects the current state of knowledge regarding the structure of language. You will learn how language and mind continuously influence each other and how we use language in different social contexts.
You will also learn the basic principles of related fields of research, such as communication studies and discourse analysis.
In addition, you will work on a number of essential general academic skills, such as research methods and academic writing.

Subjects
The subjects for the academic year 2026-2027:

Introduction to Linguistics

Language, Media and Communication

Orientation Module CIS 1

Psycholinguistics

Academic English

Academic Skills CIS

Discourse Analysis

Methods

Orientation Module CIS 2

Applied Cognitive Linguistics

Sociolinguistics

Morphology and Syntax

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide
2nd year
Second year

In the second year, you will investigate how people acquire their first and second languages, gaining insight into both natural language acquisition and the processes behind learning new languages. Attention is also paid to language problems, such as developmental language disorders or dyslexia.
This is followed by in-depth courses such as Semantics and Pragmatics, in which you will learn to better understand how meaning is constructed and interpreted in communication.
Applied Statistics and Introduction to Language Technology are courses in which you will be provided with analytical and computational tools for linguistic research. And through courses such as Language Framing and Language Diversity, you will learn more about the power of language and the relationship between language and identity in different contexts

Subjects
The subjects for the academic year 2026-2027:

First Language Acquisition

Semantics and Pragmatics

Language Disorders

Applied Statistics

Philosophy

Second Language Acquisition

Language Framing

Discourse and Social Interaction

Introduction to Language Technology and Python

Language Diversity

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide
3rd year
Third year

In the first semester of the third year, you will choose a minor programme that you can tailor entirely to your personal interests and plans for the future. You can choose from minor programmes such as Foreign Language Learning, Brain and Mind, European History and Culture, Digital Humanities and many others. In the second semester of this year, you will concentrate on the professional field, with a focus on the use of Large Language Models such as ChatGPT and on the clinical side of language and communication. You will also conduct research for a real company! You will complete your programme by writing your thesis.

Subjects
The subjects for the academic year 2026-2027:

Bachelor Thesis Communication and Information Studies

Bachelor Thesis Colloquium Communication and Information Studies

Clinical Linguistics

Language Models in Society

Research in Practice

You can find the complete course overview for this year in the Study guide

After the Bachelor’s programme, you can specialize further by following a Master’s programme in the field of Linguistics or Communication Studies. It is also possible to enroll in a teacher training programme (Master's level) to become a teacher of English (highest teaching qualification, so-called 1e graads).

But of course, there is also the possibility to start working straight away. As a graduate of Applied Linguistics, you could work as a teacher, developer of language teaching methods or language tests, language researcher or policy officer at all sorts of companies, non-profit organizations and government institutions.

Please have a look at the section called ‘Future’, for more inspiring ideas.

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Applied Linguistics

Communication and Information Studies

1st year

Subjects

2nd year

Subjects

3rd year

Subjects

Change your future with Applied Linguistics

Change your future with Applied Linguistics

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