Applied Linguistics and TESOL (with Professional Experience) MA, with work placement at University of Portsmouth

About

If you're a teacher of English to speakers of other languages (TESOL, ELT, EFL, EAP), or looking to begin a TESOL career, this two-year MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL (with Professional Experience) degree will enable you to enhance your skills and employability with real workplace experience.

During your first year, you'll be taught by our linguistics experts at the University, learning to apply the latest TESOL theory to classroom situations and critically evaluate your own approaches to teaching in a global context. You'll also work on lesson and course planning and design, and learn how to conduct and analyse research into teaching techniques.

If you've completed initial ELT, TESOL or TEFL teacher training but you don't yet have a minimum of three months full-time teaching experience, you'll also do an extra module to build up your practical teaching skills.

In Year two, you'll apply your learning on an 8-10 month work placement tailored to your career goals.

You'll graduate with the communication and intercultural skills and expertise to work as a more effective and well-rounded TESOL practitioner, in the UK or overseas. You could also go on to roles in areas such as educational management or leadership, curriculum development, editing, publishing or advertising.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements

Eligibility

This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.

January 2026 start

A second-class honours degree or equivalent.

Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.

Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, view the equivalent entry requirements we accept for your country.

Initial teacher training and a minimum of three months full-time, relevant, teaching experience.
If you do not have relevant teaching experience, you can still apply for our campus programme, and you will study an additional non-credit bearing module The Classroom Practice of TESOL at no additional cost.

English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.5.

You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:

you have a UK degree
you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
you are a national of a majority English speaking country

Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.

If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

September 2026 / January 2027 start

A second-class honours degree or equivalent.

Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.

Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, view the equivalent entry requirements we accept for your country.

Initial teacher training and a minimum of three months full-time, relevant, teaching experience.
If you do not have relevant teaching experience, you can still apply for our campus programme, and you will study an additional non-credit bearing module The Classroom Practice of TESOL at no additional cost.

English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.5.

You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:

you have a UK degree
you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
you are a national of a majority English speaking country

Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.

If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Fee Information

Tuition Fee

GBP 0

Application Fee

GBP

Applied Linguistics and TESOL (with Professional Experience) MA, with work placement

University of Portsmouth

University of Portsmouth

Key Facts

Start & Deadlines