MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Course options
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
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.
Study and Modules
Structure
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 your 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 your knowledge about language learning theories, 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, or add to your breadth of knowledge by choosing an optional module.
Upon completion of your MA TESOL, you may also decide to pursue an additional qualification – a CELTA – with a local partner of ours. You’ll have the opportunity of starting it right after the MA TESOL, and you’ll benefit from a promotional rate.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
You'll study through a combination of research-informed and practice-oriented workshops, seminars, lectures, group work, and small-group/individual supervisions.
You’ll be provided with reading lists per module and per class to help you navigate through the course content. You'll have the benefit of our excellent library and online resources, as well as learning from an internationally diverse community of students and staff members, all of whom are committed to attaining advancement in the field.
The School of Education and Lifelong Learning is committed to rewarding academic excellence. Every year, the best Master’s dissertation is conferred the Lawrence Stenhouse Dissertation Award, which will be an excellent addition to your CV if your dissertation is selected.
Independent study
You’ll be expected to complement your taught sessions with independent study, including reading and developing your academic writing. This means that you'll leave the course with the skills and confidence to keep learning and enhancing your knowledge throughout your career. The dissertation will allow you to investigate a topic of your own choice in consultation with your supervisor, who will oversee your work.
Assessment
You’ll be normally assessed by summative essays submitted at the end of each module. There may also be alternative forms of assessment during the course such as poster presentations, reports, or annotated bibliographies. You’ll receive specific feedback within 20 working days, indicating what you did well and what you could do to improve your performance.
To help you prepare for summative coursework (i.e., the coursework which is marked), there’ll be a formative assessment in each module.
The dissertation is a written submission of 15,000-words.
Entry Requirements
- 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 UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
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.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- 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):
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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.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are:
-
UK Students: £10,675
-
International Students: £22,700
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,136 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of additional course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.
Employability
After the Course
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.
Careers
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.