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MSc TESOL Education

Start date
September
Duration
MSc.1 year full-time,2 years part-time
Course Type
Postgraduate, Continuing professional development, Taught
Fees

2024-2025
£10,530 f/t (UK)
£25,290 f/t (International)
More Fees and funding details.

Join us and take the first step in your language teaching career.

Our MSc in TESOL Education is for graduates with no or minimal experience of teaching English. Based in the School of Education, this Master's degree links English language teaching to wider issues of education.

The MSc TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) degree in the University of Birmingham provides a solid grounding in practical language teaching skills, and in language learning and teaching research. You will create bespoke teaching and learning materials, and will also develop strong grounding in the latest cutting-edge developments in language learning and teaching.

You will be supported in your studies to become a TESOL professional, a competent educational researcher, and an active member of the international academic and professional TESOL community. 

  • Approach – The programme has been designed for those who want to become language teachers but have little or no teaching experience. It takes a practical approach, and it links language teaching and education.
  • Environment – The School of Education hosts the MOSAIC Group for Research on Multilingualism.
  • Teaching and support – Modules typically provide three contact hours a week for a semester. You will have a dedicated personal tutor and a dissertation supervisor.
  • Research – All tutors are actively researching language learning or teaching. Teaching is research-led. You will be supported in running a research project on your chosen topic.
  • The School of Education -  is ranked 3rd in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) in the UK, and we aspire to be among the QS top 45 best Schools of Education in the world by 2030.

You can apply to the Turing Scheme grant for a minimum of 4 weeks overseas placement or summer/winter school opportunity to further enrich your learning experience.

Students will also have priority for enrolment on our QTS or iQTS teacher training programmes.

The MSc TESOL Education consists of three core modules and three optional modules. 

My teachers encouraged me step out of my comfort zone and to always aim higher. As a result I produced higher quality work and learnt how to work on my own and use my initiative. My lecturers were always there to guide me along the way by providing useful feedback and immense emotional support while treating me as a partner rather than a student.

Veronika Csaszar, alumna from Hungary

Modules

You will study three core modules and three optional modules, and complete a dissertation. Unless indicated otherwise the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2024.

Core modules 

Second Language Teaching Methodology

This module will give you a strong grounding in classroom methodology and course design. You will create your own teaching and learning materials.

Second Language Learning 

The Second Language Learning module will introduce you to research in language learning and teaching. You will learn about theory and evidence in second language learning.

Researching Methods in Education

This module will introduce you to practitioner research, with seminars focussing on TESOL research. 

Optional Modules (Subject to availability)

Choose 60 credits from the list of options (one from semester one and two from semester two)

Semester one

  • Education as an International Issue
  • Education for Social Justice
  • Understanding School Improvement
  • Cross-cultural Issues in SEND

Semester two

  • Special Educational Needs of Pupils with Autism
  • Citizenship, Human Rights and the Environment
  • Language, Discourse and Society
  • Disability and Inclusive Development
  • Education, Policy and Improving Schools
  • Education Futures

Dissertation (MSc only)

You will investigate a TESOL topic of your choice. With the help of your supervisor, you will design your own research project, and write a dissertation. 


Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Fees

Fees 2024 - 2025

UK

  • Code 593D MSc full-time £10,530
  • Code 612D MSc part-time £5,265

International

  • Code 593D MSc full-time £25,290

Fees are based on students studying 60 credits per year on part-time programmes. 

The fees shown above are for the first year for students starting their course in September in 2024. Please note that fees may change in subsequent years due to inflation.

Learn more about fees 

For further information contact the School directly or visit the Funding, Graduation & Awards Office via online enquiries. 

Scholarships and Loans

UK and EU students (with settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for a postgraduate loan which provides up to £12,167 (for 2023/2024 entry) for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas.

For details of scholarships and other types of funding, search our postgraduate funding and scholarship database.

How To Apply

7 May 2024 is the application deadline for international students applying through the student route who wish to study in the United Kingdom. We are not able to consider applications for 2024 made after this date. The deadline for Home students is 30 August 2024.

Personal Statement

Entry to this programme is highly competitive and as a result your application and personal statement will be closely scrutinised by our Admissions Tutors. Please ensure that you spend some time familiarising yourself with the programme modules and outcomes. Personal Statements should be relevant to the programme and how you believe it will enable you to achieve your career goals.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

A 2:1 or equivalent undergraduate degree is normally required. A degree in a related discipline is a strong advantage (e.g., English language, linguistics, language teaching, education). However, applicants with other degrees or with a 2:2 will also be considered on an individual basis.

International students

We require an IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band or other equivalent English language qualification.

Students with conditional offers who do not meet our IELTS requirements may take one of our Presessional English courses. They will then be able to access our programme without retaking IELTS.

English language support for current students

The Birmingham International Academy provides free English language services to current international students who are currently studying on undergraduate or postgraduate courses at the University of Birmingham.  Services include open-access English classes, online self-assessment, online materials, email answers and individual one-to-one tutorials. For a small fee, the Academy also offers classes for partners of international postgraduate students and staff, social events including day trips and host visits.  

VISA Requirements

Obtaining a visa can be a lengthly process. Please allow sufficient time to obtain your visa. Find out more about the visa requirements and process

International Requirements


The School of Education in the University of Birmingham hosts a number of researchers working on language and education, is home to the world-renowned MOSAIC Group for Research on Multilingualism, and is part of the Language and Cognition at Birmingham network.

University of Birmingham drone campus tour.

You will experience a range of teaching and learning styles, including lectures, group discussions, practical demonstrations, microteaching, individual and group presentations, school observations, journals and group projects.

Modules are typically assessed with a 4,000-word written assignments. You will explore a topic of your choice, reviewing relevant literature or running a small-scale research project. For some modules, you will design and evaluate curriculum or teaching materials.

Our graduates typically find work as English language teachers in schools and universities in countries around the world. Some go on to pursue a PhD or other research qualifications.