MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Course Overview

This Master’s course is carefully designed to meet your needs as a current or future English language practitioner. You'll acquire in-depth expertise and graduate ready to contribute to the teaching of English worldwide.

You’ll develop advanced teaching and learning skills and cultivate a breadth of knowledge about teaching English to speakers of other languages. You’ll also benefit from the depth of study that comes with this unique Master’s-level programme.
You’ll study with top academics, who are active researchers and educators in TESOL, language education, applied linguistics and education. These highly experienced professionals have worked in a range of different countries and will share their research expertise with you.

You’ll develop knowledge about language learning theories and principles and how to embed good practice in teaching and learning. You’ll also consider innovation and change in language teaching, including the use of digital technologies, and analysis of the English language.

During your MA TESOL, you’ll develop critical awareness of both current practice and research in English language teaching in the UK and internationally. You’ll also become an expert in matters of professional responsibility, integrity and ethics – essential for your later career. At the same time, you’ll build your academic and linguistic skills, and effective spoken and written communication skills.

One key feature of your time as an MA TESOL student at UEA is the ability to customise the curriculum to your own needs. For example, you’ll complete a dissertation, focusing on a research topic of your choice and add to your breadth of knowledge by choosing an optional module to suit your needs and interests.

This course is open to

UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.

Typical International Entry Requirements

Degree classification

UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent

Degree Subject

English Language Teaching, English Language, Education, English Literature or a related English / Education / Linguistics subject area. We will also consider degrees including the study of other languages with English. If you have a number of years of teaching experience, this may also be considered as part of our entry criteria.

Additional Entry Requirements

English language teaching experience is welcome but not essential.

English Foreign Language

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading): 

• IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in all components).

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

 If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.

Admissions Policy

Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.

Employability

You’ll graduate ready to teach English to speakers of other languages in a variety of contexts. You could work as a language teacher in schools, colleges or universities, or language institutes worldwide. You could also work as a private teacher or tutor, or for multinational companies and organisations. You could decide to capitalise on your language-related skills and work as a proof-reader, editor or translator. Alternatively, you might use your language teaching expertise to work in policy in governments or other organisations.

You may wish to go on to further study and enrol on a professional language teaching course such as a CELTA, which a local partner of ours offers for our MA TESOL students at a reduced rate.

Having completed the dissertation, you’ll be ideally placed to continue your studies at PhD level and make an original contribution to the latest thinking and practices in the field.

Whichever route you choose, your MA TESOL degree from UEA could take you anywhere in the world.

Example of careers that you could enter include:

• Primary-/secondary-school teachers, coordinators or principals
• Teachers, academic supervisors and/or managers at language institutes
• University lecturers
• Freelance teaching or tutoring
• Positions in government or policy organisations
• Language educational posts in non-governmental organisations

Discover more on our Careers webpages.