Graduate Diploma in TESOL and Applied Linguistics

Note

Commonwealth Supported Places

There are a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available in this course, which are competitive and awarded based on merit. To be considered for a CSP, applicants must:

• Indicate their interest in a CSP on their application.
• Apply on time in line with CSP deadlines (it is recommended applicants apply early as applications are assessed progressively).

Eligible applicants must accept their offer by the lapse date to retain their place. For application deadlines and information, please refer to Postgraduate courses with Commonwealth Supported Places.

This is a course designed to help you become a specialist teacher in one of the following three fields: 1) English language, literacy and/ or numeracy teaching in the adult education sector, 2) English as an additional language or dialect teaching in the primary or secondary education sector or 3) academic English teaching in the post-secondary education sector. As a student in the course, you will develop the knowledge and skills for professional practice in one of the three fields that you choose.

The course is distinctive in three ways. Firstly, the course is open to both career changers, new to teaching, and to qualified teachers seeking an additional specialist qualification. If you belong to the latter group, you may have the option of some credit recognition. Secondly, you will have the benefit of two periods of supervised teaching practicums in authentic teaching contexts relevant to the specialist area you have chosen. Thirdly, you will experience modelling and treatment of strength-based approaches to teaching that view the full range of linguistic repertoires and life experiences that learners bring as resources and assets for learning.

After developing foundational knowledge and skills about teaching language and literacy learners, you will develop and apply specialist knowledge and skills for your chosen field. You will learn how to analyse the needs and goals of learners and critically evaluate the suitability of available programs. You will work with current industry tools such as curricula and assessment frameworks used in your specialist field, to plan and apply sequences of lessons and assessments for groups of learners.

You will have the benefit of learning from academics who have strong connections with industry partners as well as research engagement in your chosen field. This means that you will not only be taught what you need to be ‘job-ready’, but also develop the scholarly resources to think critically about alternative approaches that might benefit your learners.

The course features flexible study options, with classes held at times suitable for students working standard full-time hours. Credit recognition may be available if you are already a qualified teacher.

The course enables students to gain a recognised specialist teaching qualification in one of three streams. The first stream focuses on teaching English for academic purposes (EAP) where graduates teach English to international students who are studying or seeking to study university courses in institutions where English is the medium of instruction. The second stream is designed for teaching adults who are developing their English language, literacy and/ or numeracy skills as part of a migrant education and settlement program; a ‘second chance’ education program; a job-seeker, vocational or workplace program; or a community education program. The third stream is for qualified school teachers who work in Australia or overseas, and who wish to add specialisation in teaching English as an additional language and literacy to primary or secondary school students. Graduates of the course can expect to have their qualifications recognised for teaching EAP in English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) colleges; teaching in government funded adult migrant English programs, job-seeker programs and community-based English language, literacy and numeracy courses in vocational education and training (VET) and community colleges; or for teaching EAL/D and literacy in primary or secondary schools, depending on their specialist stream.

Read what our graduates say about our TESOL and Applied Linguistics courses

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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission to this course, applicants must meet the following criteria.

Applicants must have one of the following:

• Completed Australian bachelor’s or master’s degree, or overseas equivalent, in any field of study

OR

• Relevant professional experience AND An interest in the course and demonstrated understanding of the opportunities present in TESOL and Applied Linguistics

Supporting documentation to be submitted with the application

For applicants who need to demonstrate work experience:

• Curriculum Vitae AND Statement of service in one of the following formats:
  • A 'Statement of Service' provided by the employer
  • A completed 'UTS statement of service’ signed by the employer
  • A statutory declaration confirming work experience (for Australian Residents only)
  • An official letter from the applicant’s accountant or solicitor on their company letterhead confirming the applicant’s work experience or engagement with the business, duration of operations, and the nature of the business
  • A business certificate of registration in original language and English (e.g. provision of ASIC documentation or ABN or similar documentation for Australian Businesses)

For applicants who need to demonstrate interest in the course:

• Personal statement outlining understanding of the course.

The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL iBT: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64 with a writing score of 50; or C1A/C2P: 176-184 with a writing score of 169.

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

International students

Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.

To be eligible for admission to this course, applicants must meet the following criteria.

Applicants must have one of the following:

• Completed Australian bachelor’s or master’s degree, or overseas equivalent, in any field of study

OR

• Relevant professional experience AND An interest in the course and demonstrated understanding of the opportunities present in TESOL and Applied Linguistics

Supporting documentation to be submitted with the application

For applicants who need to demonstrate work experience:

• Curriculum Vitae AND Statement of service in one of the following formats:
  • A 'Statement of Service' provided by the employer
  • A completed 'UTS statement of service’ signed by the employer
  • A statutory declaration confirming work experience (for Australian Residents only)
  • An official letter from the applicant’s accountant or solicitor on their company letterhead confirming the applicant’s work experience or engagement with the business, duration of operations, and the nature of the business
  • A business certificate of registration in original language and English (e.g. provision of ASIC documentation or ABN or similar documentation for Australian Businesses)

For applicants who need to demonstrate interest in the course:

• Personal statement outlining understanding of the course.

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

• English Language Teacher
• EAL/D Teacher
• Adult Literacy Teacher
• Adult Numeracy Teacher
• Adult LLN Teacher
• Adult LLND Teacher
• Foundation Skills teacher
• ELICOS Teacher
• English for Academic Purposes Teacher