TESOL at the University of Birmingham - University of Birmingham

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages – which degree should I choose?

The University of Birmingham offers a range of programmes aimed at those wishing to begin or develop careers as teachers of English as a second language.

Our programmes are taught across our Department of Linguistics and Communication and our School of Education. By choosing the University of Birmingham, you will be joining a University which has been ranked in the top 50 for Education as well as the top 50 for English Language and Literature in the 2020 QS World University Rankings.

But which TESOL programme is right for you?

If you have little or no experience in teaching English…

We offer two types of exciting Masters Programmes to introduce you to TESOL: a Master of Arts (MA) in the Department of English Language and Linguistics, and a Master of Science (MSc) in the School of Education. Both qualifications are internationally recognised, with the main difference being the disciplinary context. The MA focusses on language teaching and linguistics, the MSc on language teaching and education.

Our distinctive, well-established and popular MA TESOL is designed for early-career teachers of English and want to advance their professional standing. It explores different approaches to the teaching and learning of English and study the close relationship between language teaching theory and practice.

Our MSc TESOL Education is designed for recent graduates who have no or minimal experience teaching English, the MSc TESOL Education provides a solid grounding in practical language teaching skills, and in language learning and teaching research. Based in the School of Education, this Master's degree links English language teaching to wider issues of education.

If you are a more experienced English language teacher…

Our MA Applied Linguistics with TESOL is for you. This programme is designed for experienced teachers – with more than a year’s professional language teaching experience – wishing to develop their knowledge of linguistics and understand its potential applications in language teaching.

If you are already a practising English language teacher, living overseas…

Our MA TESOL (Distance Learning) is for you. This programme is designed for practising teachers of English to speakers of other languages and encourages you to use the concepts and theories that you encounter during your course of study in your own classroom. As a Distance Learner, you will study part-time at your own pace alongside your existing commitments over a period of 30 months. This choice is popular with expats living overseas who are already English Language teachers.

Alternatively, if you may wish to consider the shorter, 18 month version of the programme – the PgCert TESOL - which will develop your knowledge of classroom methodology and materials design. Upon completion, you have the option to transfer on to the full MA.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the MA and the MSc?

We offer two types of TESOL Masters programmes: a Master of Arts (MA) in the Department of English Language and Linguistics, and a Master of Science (MSc) in the School of Education. Both qualifications are internationally recognised, with the main difference being the disciplinary context. The MA focusses on language teaching and linguistics, the MSc on language teaching and education.

What is the difference between the Certificate, Diploma and Masters programmes?

The Masters (MA/MSc) and Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) programmes both feature six modules, but the Masters programme also requires you to complete a 15,000-word dissertation. The Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) features just three core modules.

PgCert and PGDip courses are ideal for anyone interested in postgraduate study, but unable to commit to the time required for a full Masters degree, or for those who would prefer not to undertake academic research. Equally, however, they can be a useful taster of postgraduate study with the option to progress to a Masters upon completion.

Which programme is for me?

There are a number of factors which will help you to identify the best programme for you:

Your disciplinary background and/or preference. Depending on your choice of programme, you will be taught and supervised by staff from English Language and Linguistics (arts and humanities) or from Education (social sciences)
Your level of experience. Our programmes specifically cater for more or less experienced teachers, ensuring that the material is right for you. Less experienced teachers will get the most out of our of TESOL programmes, while more experienced language teachers will benefit from our MA Applied Linguistics with TESOL.
Your personal circumstances. We offer programmes full-time, part-time, on campus, by distance learning, and from Certificate to Masters level. If you are planning to study on-site at the University of Birmingham, you can choose from our MA, MSc/MEd, PgDip and PgCert programmes, all of which are available both full-time and part-time. If you would prefer to study by distance learning, you can choose from our MA and PgCert programmes, which are delivered part-time to allow you to fit your studies around your existing commitments.

What are the tuition fees?

For the current fees, funding opportunities and more information, please see the relevant course page:

What are the application deadlines?

For campus-based programmes, the deadline for international students applying is shown on the relevant course page. Applications for UK students remain open over the summer, although early applications are encouraged to allow adequate time to prepare for starting your studies once receiving a decision on your application.

For the distance learning programmes, the deadline for applications is one calendar month ahead of your desired entry date (note that we offer start dates in February, April, July, October and December).