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

Start date

22 September 2025

12 January 2026

Duration

18 Months full-time

Chat with our students

About the course

Reasons to study

You'll undertake a 6-month teaching placement giving you essential work-based experience.
Build the skills you'll need to prepare for a teaching career across the globe.
98.4% of our postgraduates find employment or go onto further study within six months of graduating.

This 18-month course is for students who want to study TESOL and gain some work-based experience in the UK. Designed specifically for those with little or no teaching experience, it offers the opportunity to complete the 12-month MA TESOL and then undertake an additional 6-month teaching placement, making the course 18 months in length. This will allow you to put into practice the skills and techniques developed throughout the Master’s degree. Your placement will involve teaching international students within the University with support from our experienced TESOL staff.

Why TESOL?

You’ll develop your understanding of English language classroom practice from an international perspective, including lesson planning, development of learning resources and teaching and assessment methods, all of which prepare you for teaching across the globe.
You’ll have the opportunity to develop research and evaluation skills and learn how to apply these to a range of professional contexts.
You’ll be taught by an outstanding team of teachers and have access to our extensive professional and academic network which feeds directly into course design and delivery and to excellent facilities and specialist equipment.

Course detail

Modules

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.

Dissertation

This module will deepen your knowledge and understanding of educational research. You'll learn about traditions of educational research; positivism, interpretism and action research and the strengths and challenges of carrying out research in these traditions. This module will provide you with the opportunity to carry out a piece of research based on a contemporary or work-related issue or problem.

Placement

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

Teaching and assessment

The course provides a grounding in the theory and practice of teaching English as a second or foreign language. You’ll develop a core knowledge of the structure and meaning of English as a medium of communication and analyse the role of English from a social and cultural perspective. You’ll also develop your knowledge of research design and language analysis.

You’ll receive training from the Academic Librarian on information and research skills and about electronic methods of accessing library facilities for Masters’ students.

Throughout the course you’ll experience a variety of teaching and learning techniques including lectures, seminars, group and individual tutorials.

A number of assessment methods may be used on the course, including essays, poster presentations, lesson plans, microteaching, case studies and materials development.

Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.

Feedback 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.

On average 12%* of the study time on this course is spent with your tutors (either face to face or online) in lectures, seminars, workshops etc. Study and assessments will be based on your choice of modules. Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.

*based on 22/23 programme specifications

Teaching excellence

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.
We are joint first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 23 since 2008 (2024 data).
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).

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.

Facilities

Tutor support during a tutorial

Lockside building.

Open Access computer room.

Teaching session.

Your career

A postgraduate qualification is a great way to stand out from your colleagues and position yourself for a promotion or pursue a career change. In fact, here at Huddersfield, 94.8% of our postgraduates find employment or go onto further study within six months of graduating. 9 in 10 of them go onto work in professional or managerial roles.

* DHLE survey 2014/15

* Source: DHLE Survey 2014/15

94.8% postgraduates employed*

Further study

Upon successful completion of your postgraduate studies, progression onto the following programme may be of interest:

00006366 - Education EdD, Doctor of - 2025-26

Education EdD, Doctor of

Are you ready to take your teaching to the next level? Put your skills to the test with our challenging and engaging Doctor of Education course.

Find out more How to apply

Full-time

Research

00006195 - Education (PhD) - 2025-26

Education (PhD)

We provide a supportive and stimulating environment for researchers who come from a wide range of professional and cultural backgrounds. Explore your area of interest in an inspiring, passionate and committed research community.

Find out more How to apply

Full-time

Research

Further study

Upon successful completion of your postgraduate studies, progression onto the following programme may be of interest:

Education EdD, Doctor of

Are you ready to take your teaching to the next level? Put your skills to the test with our challenging and engaging Doctor of Education course.

Find out more How to apply

Full-time

Research

Education (PhD)

Find out more How to apply

Full-time

Research

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.

Fees and Finance

Tuition Fees - full-time

In 2025/26 the full-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate students on this course will be £7,900 (Band 1).

Tuition fees for UK students will cover the cost of your study at the University. For more information about funding, fees and finance for UK students, including what your tuition fee covers, please see our Fees and Finance. Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years of study may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X).

If you are an EU or international student coming to study at the University of Huddersfield, please visit the International Fees and Finance pages for full details of tuition fees and support available.

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Fees and Finance

Tuition Fees - full-time

In 2025/26 the full-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate students on this course will be £7,900 (Band 1).

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

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.