Language & Communication Technologies

Application for the intake 2025 is open at application.lct-master.org

Prerequisites and Admission

Selection criteria

Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree or equivalent in the area of (Computational) Linguistics, Language Technology, Cognitive Sciences, Computer Science, Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence, or other relevant disciplines, subject to the consent of and the approval by the consortium's admission committee.

Formally, you are eligible to apply to the program with such a degree. The selection committee will carefully review your qualifications to determine whether your background in formal linguistics is sufficient to allow you to successfully participate in the program. In terms of your academic qualifications, it depends on how much formal linguistics is covered in the courses you have taken. In the past, it has often been the case that courses in literature departments, for example, did not meet the minimum linguistic requirements. There have been exceptions, but in general literature students do not take the kind of formal linguistics courses that are needed for computational linguistics. Catching up in both computer science and linguistics would be too much for the three to four semesters of courses that our students do. However, students from "hardcore" linguistics departments typically satisfy the requirements, and thus do not need to catch up on linguistics, only on computer science.

If your BSc/BA degree is still in progress, you may nevertheless submit an application. Complete the section "Expected Degree" in the online application form. The restriction in this case will be that the BSc/BA certificate is available before the Master's study course begins.

Proficiency in English (for non-native speakers) must be certified by one of the following:

  • TOEFL score of at least 95 overall, with at least 24 points on the writing section (internet-based test).
    Note: Expired TOEFL scores or copies of the student score report cannot be accepted.

TOEFL Best Scores are acceptable for central application and selection. In case of acceptance, an updated certificate may be required for enrollment at the local university site.

  • Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English — at least B
  • Cambridge Proficiency Exam — pass.
  • IELTS score of at least 7.0.

No other documents can be accepted as confirmation of English proficiency.

Please note:

Applicants from countries where English is not the ONLY native language do need one of the certificates mentioned above.

The TOEFL code number is 8497. All LCT TOEFL scores should be sent to the Deptartment of Language Science and Technology at Saarland University. So it is important to enter the code 8497 on your answer sheets when you sit for the examination. Please do not upload or send us a copy of the student record of your TOEFL scores. We can only accept official scores sent to us directly from the TOEFL organization. If you have taken the TOEFL within the past 2 years and wish to order an official score report to be sent directly from the TOEFL organization, you will find instructions on the website of TOEFL.

Please apply using the application platform available via this link.

Deadline and procedure

A joint committee which consists of representatives from each partner institution selects the students. Based on their performance and excellence in prior coursework, students are chosen to study in the program.

All applications are first screened for fulfilling the following eligibility criteria:

  1. Meeting the application deadline
  2. Completeness of the application
  3. English language proficiency
  4. Bachelor's degree (at least projected completion before starting the LCT Program) or equivalent in the area of (Computational) Linguistics, Language Technology, Cognitive Sciences, Computer Science, Mathematics, Artificial Intelligence, or other relevant disciplines, subject to the consent of and the approval by the consortium's admission committee.

All applications that meet the eligibility criteria are then assessed according to the following selection criteria:

  1. Results in undergraduate education: grade and quality of first degree (which mark did the students receive and and from which university or program did they graduate?); time spent to receive first degree and way of conducting studies (short and focused, or if long additional activities, richness of studies depending on field, additional activities besides studies); having worked or studied in an interdisciplinary environment (type of first degree studies or additional experience outside the first degree studies);
  2. Results in areas relevant for LCT, namely Computer Science and a proven interest in Language Technology (including strong background in formal linguistics);
  3. Result of TOEFL, IELTS or other acceptable test; language abilities and practical application in studying or working;
  4. Benefit potential for the students, how the student may profit from participating in the LCT program;
  5. Motivation of the student for wanting to participate in the LCT program (expectations, own contribution).

All criteria are equally weighted, except for the English proficiency criterion, which is applied in case of otherwise equal ranking.

Application deadline: February 28, 2025.

Erasmus Mundus scholarships will not be available for the intake 2025. Selection will begin after the application deadline. Notification of acceptance to the program on a self-funded basis is planned for early April 2025.

European applicants are defined as nationals of an EU member state, an EEA-EFTA state (Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or other nationals who have carried out their main activity (studies, work, etc.) for more than a total of 12 months over the last five years in one of these countries.

Non-European applicants are all others. Nationals from EU candidate countries may be considered as Europeans applicants.

NB: Special note for applicants from the Western Balkans region (i.e. Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo under UNSC resolution 1244/99, Montenegro): unless otherwise determined, due to residency abroad, your application should be submitted under the category "non-European".

NB: If you are selected for a scholarship, placed on the reserve list or enrolled on a self-financing basis, your data may be used for purposes of evaluating the Erasmus Mundus Programme and will be made available to the EACEA, the Erasmus Mundus National Structures, the EU Delegations and the Erasmus Mundus Student and Alumni Association.

The procedure to submit a complete application is as follows:

  1. Fill out the application form.
    • Provide the names of 2 referees of your choice on the application form. Using the email address you provide, your referees will be contacted and asked to upload letters of recommendation. Be sure to complete this step to allow your referees adequate time to complete the letters and upload them before the application deadline.

      Alternatively, your referee may send their letter by post to our contact address, but it must come directly from the referee (not from you), be securely sealed, and sent by the deadline.

    • OPTIONAL: You may provide your preferences for the host and partner universities together with the reasons for your choice. While your preferences will be taken into account, the final assignment will be made to best fit your study needs. The University of Malta and the University of Trento are not available for the intake 2025.
  2. Upload the following documents via the file upload interface:
    • a current Curriculum Vitae (CV), written in English (upload into the field Curriculum Vitae (CV))
    • certified copies of:
      • your Bachelor's degree, if already completed (upload into the field Degree Certificate)
      • certificates attesting to the fulfillment of the language requirements (upload into the field English Certification)
    • a transcript of academic records (upload into the field Transcript of Records)
    • a copy of your identity document (upload into the field Passport)

If your original documents are in a language other than English, please also submit certified translations.

Please note that we cannot return any documents that you send us.

In case of multiple online applications, only the most recent will be considered. If you submit more than one online application, you must re-upload all required documents into the most recent application.

Special note for students from China, India and Vietnam who are allocated or applying to Saarland University:

You may be required to have your documents validated via the APS procedure. Some exemptions are possible. For more information, you can start on the Uni Assist page, below, and consult country-specific information.

Appeal Procedure

If a candidate has not been selected and has grounds to believe that their application file, although complete, has not been processed through the selection procedure, they may engage an appeal procedure.

Before submitting an appeal, please check carefully whether

  • you observed the application deadline
  • you followed the application procedure
  • you submitted the documents required for a complete application

If the above conditions are met and you have reasons to believe that a mistake has been made during the selection procedure, you may submit an appeal. An appeal request must be made as follows:

  • by a letter to the LCT Coordinator
  • clearly stating the reasons for the appeal
  • sent within 7 working days after receiving the notification of non-selection
  • sent by email to lct-info(at)lst(dot)uni-saarland(dot)de
  • the subject line of the appeal request email must contain the text "LCT non-selection appeal" and the last name of the candidate

 

Note:
A candidate may appeal ONLY on the grounds of defective or unfair procedure. The appeal procedure is concerned with how the application was handled in the evaluation and eligibility-checking process. It does not automatically lead to re-evaluation. Please note that new information or clarifications that should have been in the application will not be taken into consideration.