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

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

Overview

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.

Key Information

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.

Start dates

21 September 2026

4 January 2027

Duration

18 Months full-time

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.

TESOL Placement

This placement module enables you to develop specific knowledge and skills through learning opportunities within a TESOL setting. The placement will provide you with an opportunity to extend your knowledge of theories and principles of teaching, learning assessment and materials design, as well as allowing you to apply them in a real work setting under the guidance of a university-based supervisor. You will be assessed through a reflective portfolio. Placement organisations must be able to offer experience to meet the learning outcomes and provide a named workplace mentor. You will be expected to undertake a minimum of 475 hours of work-based learning

This course has modules making up 240 credits over the 18* months, with each credit being 10 hours of study (2400 hours in total).

An average of approximately** 34% (822 hours) of the study time on this course is spent with your tutors face to face in lectures, seminars and workshops.

The remainder of the time will be spent on independent study. Assessments take place through a variety of classroom activities, written assignments, reports, personal subject audits and the development of portfolios of evidence. There are no formal examinations and the assignments are carefully designed to help you to develop your teaching practice further.

*Subject to mode of study.

**Based on current core modules.

Calculated using data from the academic year 2024/25, as of November 2024.

Further information

The teaching year for most courses normally starts in September with breaks at Christmas and Easter, finishing with a main examination/assessment period around May/June. Teaching on other courses including professional courses, postgraduate taught, research, distance learning and apprenticeship may have other start dates including January and May. All start dates can be found on each course page and term dates are also available. Students on a full-time course may have to attend every day of the week. Timetables are normally available one month before registration.

Our courses are taught at our University campus and you can expect that your lectures and seminars will be held face to face, except in cases of emergency or if specifically stated otherwise in the module description.

Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results. Feedback on exam performance/final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.

You may progress to the next stage of your course or research degree, subject to meeting University assessment criteria and professional, statutory or regulatory body guidelines.

  1. Triple proof of teaching excellence: our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2024). So, you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.

  2. We are first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 22 since 2008 (2023 data).

  3. We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

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.

Discover more about the course

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Research Excellence

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Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a course you have applied for

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.

Cancellation of a course you have applied for

Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, 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 to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and 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

We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

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 a range of options to choose from and 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 the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or 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), classes, 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; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. 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.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. 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.

Termination of course

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 and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

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

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