TESOL MA

Overview

The MA TESOL gives you the knowledge, skills, and experience to succeed in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). 

This one-year taught Master’s degree is ideal if you are:

• a teacher looking to advance your knowledge and career prospects, or
• a student with little or no teaching experience looking to enter the TESOL profession 

You’ll develop knowledge and critical understanding of cutting-edge teaching and learning theories, teaching methodologies, and research skills. Key areas include: 

• second language acquisition
• classroom interaction
• teaching young learners
• technology-enhanced learning
• English as an international language
• practical teaching methods 

You’ll also build academic and professional skills to engage with TESOL-related fields. You'll use written, spoken, and visual communication.

TESOL Research Portfolio

A highlight of the programme is the opportunity to undertake an innovative TESOL Research Portfolio. Through classes and workshops, you'll develop a robust grounding in the different approaches applicable to research in TESOL.

The portfolio assessment is a supportive, structured format that culminates in either:

• a dissertation, where you produce original academic research, or
• a practical project aimed at investigating professional practice

This allows you to align your final project with your career ambitions and academic interests, fostering research excellence and professional development. 

The Language Resource Centre

Students in a seminar

Newcastle University campus

Students in the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences

Important information

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Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2025-26.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

 

What you'll learn

On successful completion of this course, you'll gain: 

• expertise in TESOL, language teaching approaches, and second language acquisition 
• an understanding of foundational principles, concepts, and research approaches in TESOL   
• awareness of key debates and challenges in teaching English as a second, foreign, or international language 
• specialised knowledge of current research and scholarship related to TESOL
• expertise in TESOL research and teaching, preparing you to engage in scholarly inquiry and effective pedagogical practice  

Modules

You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.

Course content changes

Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Optional modules availability

Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

 

TESOL MA modules

Please note: Some modules are currently listed as inactive. These modules will be active for students starting the programme in September 2026.

You'll take the following compulsory module:

Compulsory Module	Credits
TESOL Research Portfolio	60

You'll take a minimum of two of the following modules:

Modules	Credits
Language Awareness	20
English Language Teaching Methods	20
Language Learning	20

You'll take your remaining credits from the following optional modules lists:

Optional Modules	Credits
Spoken Interaction in Language Learning and Testing Contexts	20
TESOL for Young Learners	20
Discourse Analysis for Second Language Teachers: Understanding L2 interaction	20
Teaching English for Academic Purposes	20
Materials Design and Technology in TESOL	20
Teaching Languages Online	20
Teaching English as a Global Language	20

 

You may take one of the modules below as part of your optional module choices:

Optional Modules	Credits
The Social Psychology of Communication	20
Sociolinguistics	20
Professional Communication in Intercultural Settings	20
English in the World	20
Culture, Interculturality and Identity	20
Language and Social Interaction	20
Multimodal Communication	20
Multilingualism	20

How you'll learn

Delivery and teaching methods

We deliver modules through a mix of: 

• in-person lectures 
• in-person small group teaching 
• in-person small group workshops   
• online interactive lessons 
• online lecture videos and activities 
• guided independent work 
  • independent research study tasks 
  • fieldwork tasks 
  • lesson planning  
  • teaching materials development 
• collaborations with international partners   
• data analysis  

We use a variety of teaching methods to: 

• support your learning experience 
• develop your learning potential 
• prepare you for real-world challenges  

Interactive sessions encourage you to apply new knowledge, concepts, and skills to your practice. Weekly independent study tasks allow you to engage with and contribute to sessions and seminars. 

This programme can be taken full time or part time over two years.

Assessment methods

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

• Case study
• Computer assessment
• Design or creative project
• Dissertation
• Essay
• Observation of professional practice
• Professional skills assessments
• Oral examination
• Oral presentation
• Portfolio
• Reflective log
• Research proposal
• Research paper
• Thesis

Additional assessment information

Instead of producing a large dissertation project in the final semester, you'll carry out an innovative TESOL Research Portfolio. This spans across all three semesters.

The portfolio includes two semesters of taught classes, where you'll be introduced to a variety of research methods and key issues to consider when carrying out an independent project.

You'll take three assessments, one in each semester, using written, spoken, and visual methods.

For your final assessment, you can choose one of the following:

• a dissertation, where you produce an original piece of empirical work
• a scholarship project, where you investigate and inform teaching and/or learning practices in a real-world setting

Student Support

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:

• academic staff
• personal tutors and research supervisors
• our University Student Services Team
• student representatives
• peers

You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff, who will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.

Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:

• module handbooks
• course materials
• groups
• course announcements and notifications
• written feedback

 

Your development

If you're an aspiring educator, researcher, or language professional, this MA will help you thrive in a variety of teaching and learning contexts.

As part of this course you'll:

• develop theoretical knowledge and practical skills
• gain hands-on research training to prepare for either
  • a dissertation, or
  • a teaching-focused practical project

After completing the programme, you'll be ready to:

• engage in intellectual enquiry in TESOL
• engage in key debates concerning teaching and learning English as a second/foreign language
• synthesise information from diverse sources to develop well-founded arguments, make informed judgements, or propose original hypotheses
• apply relevant theories and cultural frameworks and interpret, analyse, and assess:
  • teaching materials
  • language usage
  • language production

Practical application and research 

You'll:

• apply TESOL theories effectively in real-world teaching to meet the needs of diverse learners
• design language teaching and learning materials tailored to specific groups in a variety of contexts
• plan, design, and conduct an independent research or practical project   

Communication and professional skills 

You'll also learn to:

• present complex ideas clearly through written, spoken, and visual formats
• collaborate and communicate effectively in diverse teams and learning environments
• manage your time and meet deadlines with confidence
• set personal learning goals and pursue professional development
• adapt to change in dynamic academic and professional contexts
• use electronic databases, virtual learning environments, and online communication platforms with confidence

Your future

This Master's course will provide you with the knowledge and practical skills needed to enrich your understanding of language teaching and learning. This will support you if you wish to begin, or return to, a career in TESOL. It will also serve as a highly effective platform for doctoral studies in TESOL and Applied Linguistics.   

You will gain various transferable skills, such as data analysis, critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and more. 

Graduates of similar programmes progress to a variety of fields in the UK and beyond, such as: 

• teaching English in private and public schools  
• teaching English for Academic Purposes in colleges and universities  
• teaching English in language schools, language centres and international businesses 
• teacher training 
• education consultancy 
• private tutoring 
• international student support 
• doctoral research in TESOL and related areas 

Hear more from MA graduates. 

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Quality and ranking

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Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information.

Facilities

As a student in the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences (ECLS), you will have access to the ECLS Resource Centre, based in King George VI Building. It has a computer cluster and a range of educational and teaching materials and texts. 

Additionally, you can access ilab: learn. This is a laboratory for developing and using state-of-the-art digital technology for education. 

English as a second language

If you are using English as a second or another language, you can attend a tailored academic writing course for TESOL students. This course is part of the Newcastle International Study Centre's In-Sessional English support programme. This programme includes modules on:

•    writing for TESOL
•    intensive dissertation writing
•    1-to-1 writing tutorials

We work with the Newcastle International Study Centre to give our international students the support that they need to thrive on our course. 

Wellbeing

We also work very closely with the University's Student Wellbeing Services to ensure you get the support you need. Our School has its very own Student Wellbeing Advisor. They are an invaluable initial point of contact if you experience wellbeing-related issues. 

Interested in learning languages?

You can take free language classes with the  University-Wide Language Programme . You can study a variety of languages, including French, German, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Arabic. 

The University's Language Resource Centre  provides many free services to help your language learning and cross-cultural communication. 

Library

Newcastle University Library is an award-winning service with:

• four buildings on campus
• one off-campus facility
• 0.8 million print books
• over 0.7 million e-books
• over 54,000 e-journal titles

 The library also has study spaces, postgraduate study rooms, computer clusters, media room and café. 

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2026 entry (per year)

Tuition fee increases

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals - tuition fee status

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support. You may be eligible for a scholarship worth 25% off the international fee. Search our funding database. 

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information. 

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination
• graduation

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

Deposit

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section.

Funding deadlines

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

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Pre-Master’s and English Language courses

Need an alternative route to study this course? Our International Study Centre offers Pre-Master’s degrees and English language courses to prepare you for study. 

Explore these courses

How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

 

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.

Apply Online  

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