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Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (with Placement) MA

2026-27 (also available for 2025-26)

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This course is eligible for Master's loan funding. Find out more.

Start date

21 September 2026

4 January 2027

Duration

18 Months full-time

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About the course

Reasons to study

  1. You'll undertake a 6-month teaching placement giving you essential work-based experience.
  2. The taught part of the course offers a practical as well as theoretical focus which allows you to develop your teaching skills through lesson planning, materials design, microteaching and observations of experienced teachers. 
  3. For the 60 credit module, you will have the opportunity to write a Dissertation or take our innovative Materials Development module in which you design a set of teaching materials for a group of learners in a context of your choice.  

Want to teach English abroad? Kickstart your journey with our 18-month MA TESOL course, blending a 12-month Master’s degree in TESOL with a 6-month teaching placement in the UK.

Designed for those with little or no teaching experience, this course offers practical, hands-on opportunities to teach international students at the University, all under the guidance of our expert TESOL staff. Graduate equipped with the skills, experience, and confidence to launch a successful teaching career worldwide.

Why TESOL?

  • Global Classroom Expertise: Master lesson planning, resource development, and innovative teaching and assessment methods, all through an international lens - preparing you to teach anywhere in the world.
  • Real-World Research Skills: Build advanced research and evaluation skills and discover how to apply them across diverse professional contexts.
  • Learn from the Best: Be inspired by an exceptional team of teachers and gain access to a vast professional and academic network, cutting-edge facilities, and specialist resources designed to enrich your learning experience.

Course detail

Current Issues in TESOL

In this module you will gain an insight into current topics which attract research and discussion in the field of TESOL. You will be guided through key readings from recent journal articles, textbooks, and/or digital media related to key debates in TESOL, and be encouraged to critically evaluate key issues and consider how they can be applied to your own professional practice. The module will be evaluated through a presentation and contributions to an online discussion.

Grammar & Assessment for Language Teaching

One of the most important aspects of any English language teacher's knowledge is knowledge of English itself, especially information which is likely to be useful to learners. This module should equip you with knowledge and a set of skills for describing language for teaching at the levels of pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and whole texts. The language knowledge is complimented by an understanding of assessment and how assessment informs teaching practice. You will develop an understanding of the reasons why it is not appropriate to consider assessment as divorced from other types of knowledge which teachers need to be good teachers. Teachers need to have a good understanding about the nature of language in order to assess it effectively. By the end of the module, you should be able to use meta-language appropriately and apply your language knowledge to teaching and assessment scenarios.

Principles and Practice of TESOL

In this module you will explore the theory and practice of English language teaching. You will examine approaches and materials for the teaching of grammar, lexis and the receptive and the productive skills from both a practical and theoretical perspective.

Second Language Teaching and Learning

In this module you will consider factors which affect second language teaching and learning. You will explore key topics, concepts and theories related to second language teaching and learning and their relevance and implications for language teaching in a variety of contexts.

Materials Development for TESOL

The module introduces you to the key principles in the design, adaptation and evaluation of materials in the field of TESOL. You’ll explore a range of published language-learning materials while also developing your knowledge of the theory behind materials design and evaluation. You’ll apply your learning and knowledge through the design and adaptation of materials for learners in a context relevant to your own professional practice.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for this course are normally:

  • An honours degree in a relevant subject at 2:2 or above, or a professional equivalent.

In addition, you will be invited for an interview to assess your oral and written skills and your suitability for and interest in the placement part of the course.

For international students whose first language is not English:

  • The University will determine whether a degree can be recognised as UK equivalent.
  • You will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum of IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in Speaking and no element lower than 6.0, or equivalent will be considered acceptable. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

Placements

During your time on the course, you will complete 475 hours of work-based learning in a compulsory placement within a TESOL setting.

The placement will allow you to develop specialised knowledge and skills through practical learning opportunities. You’ll deepen your understanding of teaching, learning, assessment, and materials design, applying key theories and principles in a real-world environment.

You’ll be supported by a university-based supervisor who will guide and oversee your development throughout the placement. You’ll also work closely with a named workplace mentor provided by the placement organisation to ensure you achieve the required learning outcomes.

Your progress will be assessed through a reflective portfolio, enabling you to critically evaluate your experience and demonstrate your growth in the field of TESOL.

Your career

Previous graduates from courses in this subject area have gone on to work in a variety of roles such as a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Community Education Officer, Learning Mentor, Education Consultant, Family Support Worker and Education Mental Health Practitioner.*

*Source: Prospects
**Percentage of graduates from the School of Business, Education and Law who are in work and/or further study fifteen months after graduating (HESA Graduate Outcomes 21/22, UK domiciled graduates).

91.3%** Graduates employed

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

Research excellence

Research plays an important role in informing all our teaching and learning activities. Through research our staff remain up to date with the latest developments in their field, which means they can help you to develop knowledge and skills that are current and highly relevant.

Find out more about our research staff and centres.

Important information

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by our terms and conditions, Handbook of Regulations and associated policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons

Changes to a course you have applied for but are not yet enrolled on

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment. We may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will discuss with you other suitable courses we can transfer your application to. If you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

Changes to option modules:

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have an equivalent range of options to that advertised for the course. We will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes:

We will only make major changes to non-optional modules on a course if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that substantially changes the outcomes, or a significant part of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum. For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators or a commissioning or accrediting body. We may also make changes to improve the course in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback or to ensure you are being taught current best practice. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment, or pandemics.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but may happen sooner in an emergency. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed in accordance with the student protection plan.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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