MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Learn how to teach a truly global language
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
Develop your knowledge of approaches to English language teaching to facilitate better teaching practice.
This course will provide you with the tools and resources you need to evaluate current issues and key trends in language learning and teaching in a range of contexts, and consider their application in classroom instruction, assessment, materials development and the English language curriculum. You'll also learn how to conduct your own research.
The course strengthened the skills I needed to pursue my career as an English teacher by offering me a variety of approaches and methodologies which enhanced my qualifications. I would highly recommend University of York to anyone who is interested in doing a Masters degree in TESOL; it was one of the best experiences in my life!
Course content
This course is designed for home or overseas students who wish to pursue a career teaching English as a second or foreign language, but who have little or no formal teaching experience.
You'll study applied linguistics, approaches to English teaching and research methods on which later training in practical teaching can build. You'll explore theories of language acquisition and language teaching, with an emphasis on how you can apply such theories in practice.
You will take a total of 180 credits, consisting of five core modules, one option module, and a dissertation.
This course does not include a teaching placement.
Modules
Core modules
- TESOL Methods
- English Linguistics
- Research Methods for Language Education I: Researching Questions
- Evaluating TESOL Practice
- Research Methods for Language Education II: Answering Questions or Professional Practice in Education*
*You must choose this module in Semester 2 in order to take the Professional Practice Dissertation.
Option modules
You will also study one option module:
- Bilingualism
- Teaching English for Academic Purposes
- Teaching World Englishes
- Intercultural Communication in Education
- Motivation in Education
- Language and Power
- Teaching and Learning with Technology
- Assessment in Education
- Evaluating TESOL Classroom Practice
The options available to you will be confirmed later in the year. For further information, please get in touch.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Dissertation
- Independent Study Module (Dissertation)
- Professional Practice Dissertation (you need to choose the Professional Practice in Education module in Semester 2 to take this option)
You will develop, design, implement and manage your own original research project, supervised by a member of staff with the relevant experience for your topic. To complete this masters, you will produce a 12,000-word dissertation based on your research project.
Examples of dissertations recently completed by students include:
- Teaching English Language for Cultural Understanding
- Identity and Language Learning
- Reforming Mathematics Education
- Practical Work in School Science Teaching
- Education Reform in Rural China
Learning outcomes
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
Learning outcomes for this course
- Use a research-informed understanding of English linguistics and a wide range of educational theory and learning theory to assess learning contexts and the effectiveness of teaching practices
- Locate and critically evaluate cutting-edge research and professional literature to keep abreast of emerging educational trends and inform their teaching practice
- Effectively plan for different teaching contexts by selecting appropriate methodologies, resources and materials for specific cohorts of learners and learning needs
- Collate, manage and critically analyse complex educational data using appropriate software in order to support and evaluate proposed arguments and teaching approaches
- Clearly and confidently communicate complex information professionally, making use of oral, written and visual formats
- Successfully initiate and conduct independent, focused research projects by engaging in thorough planning, rigorous ethics procedures and the selection and application of appropriate principles, methodologies and approaches.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees for 2025/26
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £11,200 | £25,900 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
Fees information
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Additional costs
There are no mandatory additional fees, but we do recommend that you set aside some money for photocopying. Course books will be available from the Library and online reading packs are available for most modules, but you may wish to buy your own copies. Each book typically costs £20 to 40.
Funding information
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
Funding opportunities
Chevening Scholarships
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
Teaching and assessment
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
Teaching format
You will be taught through a combination of formal lectures, seminars, practical exercises and workshops.
You will spend time working on your own, reading assigned texts and researching supporting materials, as well as working with others in seminars to discuss and present your work.
You will be able to take advantage of additional English language lessons and study skills workshops should you need them.
A member of teaching staff will act as your supervisor throughout the degree to help guide your studies and monitor your progress.
Teaching location
You will be based in the Department of Education on Campus West. Teaching for this course takes place at various locations on Campus West, including Vanbrugh, James and Alcuin Colleges; and the Spring Lane teaching building.
About our campus
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Assessment and feedback
Types of assessments used throughout this course include:
- 3,500-word assessed essays
- exams
- a 12,000-word (or equivalent) dissertation.
Careers and skills
This masters is an ideal foundation for careers in the language education sector, and for postgraduate students looking to go on to further study such as PhD.
Many of our graduates become English language teachers around the world: in private language schools, state schools, universities and other organisations requiring English language instruction. Others find employment opportunities in areas such as course and syllabus design, and materials writing in large and small scale publishing houses.
This course can be used to complement teacher training/development and voluntary or paid roles which focus on the more practical elements of teaching. However this course is not a teacher training programme.
Career opportunities
- English teacher
- Education consultant
- Admissions advisor at a university
- English editor
- Immigration advisor
- Management trainee
Transferable skills
- Research methods
- Data analysis
- Design and completion of original research
- Critical reasoning
- Communication skills (including intercultural communication)
- Academic and professional language skills in English
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Time-management
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 or equivalent in a relevant discipline such as English Language, Linguistics or Education with a substantial English component |
| International pre-masters programme | Pre-masters from our International Pathway College |
| Other qualifications and experience | If you will have at least one year's teaching experience by the time this course starts you should consider applying for our MA in Applied Linguistics for Language Teaching |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
English language
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, minimum 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
If you haven't met our English language requirements
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Next steps
Contact us
Get in touch if you have any questions
Postgraduate admissions team
education-masters-administrator
Department
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