Considering Linguistics Master’s in China after CS Master’s — bad idea?

Our take

Are you ready to burrow into the fascinating intersection of linguistics and computer science? Picture this: a fourth-year CS undergrad, fueled by a passion for language and a minor in Chinese, contemplating a second Master’s in Linguistics in China. This journey could transform not just your resume but your worldview. You’re eyeing programs like the Applied Linguistics Master’s at Zhejiang University, eager for immersion and formal study after enjoying your Human Language Processing class. But here’s the catch: will this pivot help or hinder your career in tech? What about the job market? And how competitive is the CSC scholarship for English-taught programs? It’s a whirlwind of questions, but fear not! You’re not alone in this exploration. Let’s dive into the possibilities and weigh the prospects of pursuing your passions alongside your tech ambitions.

Hi everyone, I’m currently a 4th-year CS undergrad in the U.S. and already on track to complete an accelerated Master’s in CS (likely focusing on analytics or HCI, with some NLP coursework/research as elective).

Recently, I’ve realized I’m really passionate about linguistics and learning Chinese (I’m minoring in Chinese and have studied abroad 2 years ago). Because of that, I’ve been seriously considering doing a second Master’s in Linguistics in China after I finish my CS degree.

My goals would be:

Improve my Chinese through immersion
Study linguistics more formally (I’ve really enjoyed my Human Language Processing class)

Right now, I’m looking at English-taught programs in mainland China (mainly for CSC scholarship eligibility), and the Applied Linguistics Master’s at Zhejiang University seems like a strong option.

My main concern is whether this is a good long-term decision or just me chasing an interest:

Would doing a second Master’s in linguistics (after CS) hurt or help my career prospects?
Has anyone here done something similar (pivoting fields or doing a second degree in China)?
How is the job market afterward, especially if I want to return to tech?
How competitive is the CSC scholarship for programs like this?

For context, I’m still figuring out my career direction (SWE, data, product, etc.), so part of me feels like I should just go straight into industry. But I also don’t want to miss the chance to seriously pursue something I’m genuinely interested in. Perhaps it'll open up doors I haven't thought of.

Would really appreciate any advice or experiences!

谢谢大家！

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Tagged with

#linguistics#cognitive linguistics#language evolution#philosophy of language#humor in language#human expression#creative language use#Linguistics#Chinese#Master’s#CS degree#Applied Linguistics#Zhejiang University#human language processing#NLP#scholarship#career prospects#immersion#English-taught programs#job market