MA TESOL

Year of entry: 2024

Overview

Degree awarded
Master of Arts (MA)
Duration
1 year
Entry requirements

We require a UK Honours degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent. 

A minimum of two years' full time (or part-time equivalent) English language teaching experience after graduating is also required.

When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

Full entry requirements

How to apply
Apply online

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
MA Y Y N N

Course overview

  • We're ranked in the top ten universities in the UK for Education (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021). 
  • Further your training in teaching English to speakers of other languages. 
  • Option to follow a specialist pathway in intercultural education, teacher education, educational technology, or materials and course design. 
  • Help develop the educational environment at both national and international levels.

Open days

The University holds regular open days , where you will have the opportunity to tour the campus and find out more about our facilities and courses.

You will find out more about the School of Environment, Education and Development, our resources, and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have.

Fees

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

  • MA (full-time)
    UK students (per annum): £12,500
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £27,000
  • MA (part-time)
    UK students (per annum): £6,250
    International, including EU, students (per annum): £13,500

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for international students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit postgraduate fees

Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

We offer a number of postgraduate taught scholarships and merit awards to outstanding applicants and international students, including:

  • MIE Postgraduate (master’s) bursaries : 10 awards of £7,500 each (issued as a reduction in your tuition fees). All self-sponsored EU and international student with an offer to study on any MIE master’s programme are eligible.
  • Manchester Humanities International Excellence Scholarship : 20% scholarship in the form of a discount on the tuition fees of selected master’s programmes, available to applicants from a number of international countries.
  • Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme : £3,000 reduction in tuition fees to University of Manchester alumni who achieved a first-class bachelor's degree and are progressing to a postgraduate taught master's course.

For further information on available scholarships and bursaries as well as their full eligibility criteria, please visit our funding page.

Contact details

School/Faculty
School of Environment, Education and Development
Contact name
School of Environment, Education and Development +44 (0) 161 275 2814
Telephone
+44 (0)161 275 2814
Email
Website
http://www.seed.manchester.ac.uk/education/
School/Faculty
See: The School .

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

We require a UK Honours degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent. 

A minimum of two years' full time (or part-time equivalent) English language teaching experience after graduating is also required.

When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.

English language

For the latest information on demonstrating your English proficiency for those whose first language is not English, please see our language requirements .

This programme also accepts successful completion of the 6 and 10 Week Pre-sessional English Language course. We accept the following qualifications which must be valid on the start date of the Pre-sessional course.

Pre-sessional 6 Week Course Requirement:

IELTS - 6.0 Overall with 6.0 in writing, no more than one subskill at 5.5 and no subskill below 5.5

TOEFL iBT - 80 overall with 20 in writing, and 20 in speaking, with a minimum of 18 in all other subskills

Pearson PTE Academic or Academic UKVI - 65 overall with 65 in writing, no more than one subskill of 59 and no other subskill below 59.

Pre-sessional 10 Week Course Requirement:

IELTS - 5.5 overall with no element below 5.5

TOEFL iBT - 72 overall with 20 in speaking and no other element below 18

Pearson PTE Academic UKVI - 59 overall and no element below 59 

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Other international entry requirements

We accept a range of qualifications from across the globe. To help international students the university provides specific information for many individual countries. Please see our  country-specific information page   for guidance on the academic qualifications which may be accepted from your country.

Relevant work experience

Evidence of a minimum of two years' full-time (or part-time equivalent) work experience from your employer(s) is required.

Further support for your application: Please submit any evidence of professional teaching qualifications and/or professional development activity to support your application.

Professional entry qualification

If you do not meet our academic entry qualification criterion of a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification in a UK Honours degree, or the overseas equivalent, your admission may still be approved if satisfactory evidence of additional postgraduate study, research or substantial relevant professional experience can be provided.

Application and selection

How to apply

Advice to applicants

Please submit the following documents with your completed application form:

  • copies of official degree certificates and transcripts of your previous study, showing the subjects taken and grades obtained. If these documents are in languages other than English, please provide official translations;
  • your CV;
  • evidence of a minimum of two years' full-time (or part-time equivalent) work experience from your employer(s); 
  • copies of English Language Certification, such as IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson test score report.

Ensure that you enclose all the necessary documents to avoid delays.

How your application is considered

Applications for MA TESOL are very competitive. Due to the high demand for the programme we may not be able to offer places to all applicants who have the entry qualifications that we require. If we are unable to consider you for an offer you may be placed on a waiting list. Candidates on a waiting list will only be considered for an offer if places become available.

Once your application has been received, our admissions team will contact you. We may ask you to submit additional information, if necessary.

Please note, the course may reach capacity before the official closing date of 31st of August, so all students are advised to apply as soon as possible. 

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. 

In your new application, you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

Course details

Course description

MA TESOL is designed to help experienced teachers of English to speakers of other languages further their professional knowledge and practice. Interested applicants may wish to follow a specialised pathway in one of the following (which can be applied to as separate courses, rather than as MA TESOL alone):

  • Educational Technology;
  • Intercultural Education;
  • Materials and Course Design;
  • Teacher Education.

The course enables experienced TESOL practitioners to further their careers through obtaining positions of seniority, undertaking new areas of professional activity or contributing to the professional development of other teachers.

Aims

  • Engage in language teacher professional development to further your teaching career.
  • Explore and critically understand your own teaching practice through engagement in theories of language teaching and learning and relate these to appropriate, context-sensitive methodology.
  • Collaborate with experienced teachers from around the world to reflect on your teaching and learning.
  • Develop your knowledge of TESOL-related research and develop your competence in becoming a researcher.
  • Develop advanced professional skills in evaluating and designing language materials and courses; teacher training and development; technology-facilitated learning.

Special features

  • Education has been a discipline of study at Manchester since 1890.
  • Our students come from all over the globe, and our qualifications are recognised across the world.
  • The experience our teachers bring to the MA creates a rich ground for collaborative, professional development.

Teaching and learning

The course is taught by lecturers who themselves have been language teachers (TESOL and other languages) with experience of working in Britain and overseas.

Formal lectures are rare, and instead classes tend to mix sections of input with group-work, computer and video activities, simulations and problem-based learning.

We encourage both individual and co-operative learning and research and hope to foster an ethos of lifelong learning.

We aim to build on the expertise of our students, all of whom are experienced teachers, and who bring with them a wealth of knowledge and practical experience from a wide range of different countries.

Explore more about  teaching and learning at master's level  at The University of Manchester.

Coursework and assessment

All assignments allow you to address an area of contextual relevance and professional interest related to the course you are studying. You are expected to demonstrate an understanding of relevant theory, to use that understanding to reflect on your professional practice, and to demonstrate technical, academic, and professional skills as you develop action. All assignments will be followed by both formative and summative feedback.    

Your dissertation work is conducted after the end of the taught course units in Semester 2. You can choose between an empirical, conceptual or a practical dissertation.

Empirical dissertations report on a research project, conceptual dissertations discuss or develop a conceptual understanding or framework of relevance to your professional development; practical dissertations display your ability to develop a course or materials for a particular professional setting based on needs analysis processes. 

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Beyond Approaches, Methods and Techniques EDUC70021 15 Mandatory
Developing Researcher Competence EDUC70102 30 Mandatory
Language Awareness for TESOL EDUC70151 15 Mandatory
Intro to Educational Video Production EDUC61632 15 Optional
Digital Media and Information Literacy EDUC61712 15 Optional
Blended Learning in a Digital Age EDUC70032 15 Optional
Language Education as Intercultural Practice EDUC70041 15 Optional
Teaching and Learning Online EDUC70050 15 Optional
Principled Materials and Course Design for TESOL EDUC70052 15 Optional
Language Learning and Technology EDUC70061 15 Optional
Psychology of Language Learning EDUC70091 15 Optional
The Education of Language Teachers EDUC70132 15 Optional
Contemporary Issues in Education Leadership EDUC70331 15 Optional
Multimedia Design and Development EDUC70511 15 Optional
Introduction to Sustainability Education EDUC70661 15 Optional
International Development and Education EDUC70891 15 Optional
Intercultural Engagement at Work and in Communities EDUC71232 15 Optional
Displaying 10 of 17 course units

Facilities

The course is taught by the Manchester Institute of Education (MIE) which has its own Student Hub. Here you'll find all your teaching staff and support staff as well as a place to relax with fellow students.

MIE is based in the University's Ellen Wilkinson building, which is centrally located on the University's Oxford Road campus, close to the Main Library, Alan Gilbert Learning Commons and the Students' Union.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service.

For more information, email  dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

MA TESOL graduates go on to positions of seniority, undertake new areas of professional activity such as publishing or materials development, contribute to the professional development of other teachers, and act in advisory capacities to teaching and associated agencies at both national and international level.

Manchester Institute of Education (MIE) graduates go on to shape education policy and practice through positions in NGOs and in the public and private sector.

Potential careers include:

  • teaching;
  • lecturing;
  • research;
  • teacher education;
  • educational administration;
  • leadership;
  • consultancy;
  • publishing;
  • testing;
  • assessment.

Careers support

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate.

At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability

Careers support for international students

The Careers Service provide specialist resources, advice and events for international students to help with career planning and making the most of your time while studying in Manchester.

Global networks

The University of Manchester is proud to have the largest global alumni community of any campus-based university in the UK.

International alumni groups are a great way to keep in touch with fellow Manchester graduates in your country, and provide an opportunity to build professional and social networks.