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Education (TESOL)

MA

Key facts
Overview
How to apply
Tuition fees
Learning and assessment
Research
After you graduate
Our Staff

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Key facts

Start dates

September 2025 / September 2026

Location

Harcourt Hill

Distance learning

Course length

Full time: 12 months, Harcourt Hill Campus

Part time: Two / three years, dependent on your chosen trajectory - part-time on campus or distance learning.

Department

School of Education, Humanities and Languages

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Overview

Develop your English teaching - and build specialist knowledge to progress your career.

This course will take your English language teaching to the next level. You’ll master the pedagogical theory behind key teaching approaches. You’ll explore methodologies and master different techniques. You’ll examine:

  • what motivates learners
  • how we learn differently
  • language-learning as a discipline

You might scrutinise the differences between didactic and communicative teaching approaches. Or you might examine how language changes in different contexts. 

You’ll build an expansive teaching toolkit. And you’ll be able to identify the right teaching methods - for any learner, in every situation. You’ll also be able to articulate the theory behind your approaches - to school leaders and parents. And your classes will become more creative and motivating - making a real difference to your students.

You’ll graduate with a recognised qualification that will help you meaningfully progress your career.

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How to apply

Entry requirements

Specific entry requirements

Applicants must demonstrate that they have a first degree at 2.2 level or above.

TESOL pathway students are required to show evidence of teaching experience of two years in any context, including summer language schools, one-to-one teaching, or teaching assistant roles. Teaching practice acquired through CELTA or DELTA qualifications can count towards this. In some cases, a shorter period of teaching experience can be negotiated where there has been significant TESOL content study.

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

English language requirements

International students whose native language is not English are required to pass IELTS with an overall grade of 6.5, and each of the four skills should have a minimum grade of 6.0.

Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.

International qualifications and equivalences

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English requirements for visas

If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.

International applications

International students hold a conditional offer until payment of a deposit of £3,000 is received.

Pathways courses for international and EU students

We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.

Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.

If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.

Terms and Conditions of Enrolment

When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.

Application process

Apply now

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£8,800
Home (UK) part time
£980 per single module
Home (UK) distance learning
£980 per single module
International full time
£16,100
Home (UK) full time
£9,250
Home (UK) part time
£1,030 per single module
Home (UK) distance learning
£1,030 per single module
International full time
£16,750

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2024 / 25
Home (UK) full time
£8,800
Home (UK) part time
£980 per single module
Home (UK) distance learning
£980 per single module
International full time
£16,100
2025 / 26
Home (UK) full time
£9,250
Home (UK) part time
£1,030 per single module
Home (UK) distance learning
£1,030 per single module
International full time
£16,750

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

Dean's Postgraduate Scholarship Postgraduate Master's Loan - England

International students can apply for our International Students Scholarship.

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

Learning and assessment

On the course, you’ll explore and master the key approaches in English Language Teaching. You’ll build your versatility and resilience as a language teacher - and you’ll professionalise your practice.

You’ll also have the option to specialise in:

  • multilingual learners
  • English Language Teaching resources
  • English for specific purposes

You’ll join a close-knit community of professional English language teachers. You’ll share ideas and learn from each other as you study. And you’ll work closely with expert English language researchers, who can support you with your particular interests.

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Study modules

You’ll take nine modules altogether. In addition to your compulsory modules and your dissertation, you can choose two optional modules.

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

  • Research Methods (20 credits)

    You’ll develop your knowledge of research approaches, methods and techniques for the study of children and childhood, education and language. You’ll explore the interdisciplinary nature of work in and across these areas. After taking this module, you’ll be well prepared for the methodological aspects of your dissertation.

  • Language Acquisition and Development (20 credits)

    In this module, you’ll learn about selected theoretical and practical approaches to language acquisition. We don’t try to examine all language acquisition theories, but focus on those that are relevant to language learning and education. Key themes include:

    • linguistic variation
    • bi-lingualism
    • codeswitching
    • socio-politics and language policy
    • and language teacher training. 

  • Descriptions of English (20 credits)

    You’ll explore the linguistic description of English with a focus on ‘language in use’. You’ll examine the ways in which the language is organised – in both written and spoken modes – and discover which aspects of English usage are most important in different written and spoken genres. Following on from this, you’ll look at how our understanding of English connects with how we apply this knowledge in the classroom.

    The areas we’ll cover include: 

    • theoretical approaches to the description of the language (eg syntax, lexis, pragmatics, with a focus on language in use)
    • an introduction to systemic functional linguistics 
    • discourse analysis: spoken and written
    • genre theory
    • pronunciation
    • applying descriptions of English in the classroom.

  • ELT Changing Methodologies (20 credits)

    As an experienced ELT practitioner, you can use this module to extend your practice and bring yourself up to date with cutting-edge professional dialogue and research. You’ll engage with current issues in ELT by asking: what is changing in the English language profession and why?

    We’ll aim to answer this question through:

    • debates
    • talks with practitioners and specialists from the ELT field
    • exchange of experience and expertise from the student cohort
    • fieldwork
    • small-scale research enquiry
    • critical engagement with professional literature.

    You’ll be encouraged to review your current practice, and form your own critical responses to professional debates.

Optional modules

English for Specific Purposes (20 credits)

You’ll build on your knowledge of ELT, focusing on the needs of learners working in specific contexts (ESP) – such as learning for academic or occupational purposes. You’ll learn about techniques commonly used in ESP for analysing learner needs. We’ll discuss a variety of ESP approaches to syllabus design, materials development and teaching skills. You’ll reflect on how such approaches can meet the needs of learners in specific contexts.

 

Multilingual Learners (20 credits)

Drawing on current practice, research and case studies. You’ll focus on children who are studying in school in a language that is not their first language. 

Your learning will include:

  • analysing the development of children in second languages settings
  • theories of bilingualism, translanguaging and dynamic multilingualism
  • the links between first and second language, identity and self-esteem
  • evaluating responses to the multilingual child from teachers, teacher assistants, parents and the whole school
  • evaluating, adapting and creating resources and materials for their fit with the needs of the EAL child.
     

MA in Education open pathway

One Optional module can also be taken from the main MA in Education open pathway - these modules may include:

  • Developing MA Literacies

  • The Inclusive Curriculum

  • Mind and Brain

  • Diversity and Achievement

Final project

Compulsory modules

  • Dissertation (60 credits)

    In your dissertation or project, you’ll carry out a sustained piece of educational research. You’ll analyse and report your findings at a high critical level, justifying and supporting them with detailed reference to relevant theories and concepts. This work will comprise one third of the work for your degree.  

    If you’re writing a dissertation, you'll focus on a research problem of particular interest. If you’re enrolled on a named route of the MA Education, your topic will be relevant to your route (e.g. childhood and youth, L&M, SEND, TESOL, higher education). 

    If you’re working on a project, you’ll undertake a shorter piece of independent investigative or literature-based research. You’ll also produce a creative piece or artefact.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Learning and teaching

If you choose the on-campus mode of study, you’ll learn at Harcourt Hill, our Education campus. You’ll learn via a mix of collaborative and independent methods - like:

  • lectures
  • seminar discussions
  • directed reading
  • workshops
  • presentations
  • peer evaluations
  • project work

If you study full-time, Thursdays are key study days. And if you can’t make a class, you can access materials and discussions online.

If you choose to do the course via distance learning, you’ll learn via interactive and high quality online resources such as interactive moodle books, pre-recorded lectures, online readings and discussion forums -  as well as online workshops and assignment tutorials at key points in the module. You’ll be able to learn at your own pace with a weekly schedule. Most  part-time distance learners  study over 3 years whilst working full time.

Assessment

Assessment methods used on this course

You’ll experience a range of assessments - including:

  • presentations
  • reports
  • portfolios
  • investigative research
  • group work
  • essays

You’ll be supported to achieve your best. You’ll get regular feedback from your tutors on formative tasks. And you’ll have the chance to share your work in progress for peer evaluations and tutor feedback.

Research

The School of Education, Humanities and Languages is a thriving centre for educational research and teacher professional development. Students on master's level programmes therefore join a large research community comprising researchers at all levels of higher education study.

We hold two major research conferences each year - the School of Education Research Conference and the EdD Colloquium. All students are invited to attend our annual Research Seminar Series (which attracts both internal and external speakers). We also organise a number of conferences, lectures, seminars and debates, some of which have an international reach.

The School’s six research groups exist to encourage engagement in research, publication, conference presentations, seminars and workshops:

  • Inclusion and Wellbeing
  • Policy, Partnership and Leadership
  • STEAM pedagogy and learning
  • Humanistic Perspectives on Education
  • Early Years
  • Applied Linguistics

View all staff profiles for School of Education, Humanities and Languages

Female student working in library

After you graduate

Career prospects

You’ll graduate with a recognised qualification that will set you apart from other candidates - and attest to your talents as a professional educator. 

You’ll be confident in any classroom. You’ll be equipped with teaching strategies to support any language learner. And you’ll be ready to step into a more senior position, or progress your career. 

You might move into a management position at a private language school. You might progress to a Head of English role in an international school. You might start teaching English at university-level. Or, if you’re looking to return to the UK, you’ll be well-placed to secure a professional teaching role back home. 

Student profiles

Yukari So

"Here at Brookes, I discuss a lot and I’m actually enjoying that because it really helps me to deepen the understanding of the topic I’m studying and it’s really interesting to share ideas with the others. It’s a great way to get new insights that you’d never think of on your own"

Read more about Yukari
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Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.