MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.

Graduates of the MA Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages (TESOL), go on to teach, lead and innovate in English language education worldwide.

The programme develops advanced expertise in language, learning and inclusive pedagogy, alongside strong analytical and research skills.

Graduates progress into roles in schools, further and higher education, private language institutions and international education organisations. Many move into specialist positions in teacher development, curriculum design and academic leadership.

The programme also equips graduates for consultancy, materials development, assessment and language policy roles, or progression to doctoral study in TESOL, applied linguistics or education.

What can I do with this qualification?

Alternative career options

Beyond classroom teaching, the MA TESOL develops expertise that is transferable across education, policy and communication-focused roles. Graduates may progress into:

• Educational publishing and materials development
• Digital learning design and online education
• International student support and global engagement
• Academic literacy and learning development
• Research and policy roles in language and education
• Community and third-sector organisations working in multilingual contexts

Home/EU Fees

No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Greater Manchester’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@greatermanchester.ac.uk for more information.

International Fees

No fee information is currently available, please contact the University of Greater Manchester’s Academic Fees team by emailing AcademicFees@greatermanchester.ac.uk for more information.

Important note regarding tuition fees: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.

Home Undergraduate Tuition Fee Adjustment

The tuition fee applicable to the first year of your programme of study is confirmed in your offer letter. The tuition fee set is based on the regulations and guidance in force at the time of offer but remains subject to adjustment in accordance with any government-approved inflationary increase. The University reserves the right to amend tuition fees for all years of study, including the first year, by no more than the maximum increase permitted under legislation and regulatory guidance issued by the UK Government and the Office for Students.

Where such increases are approved, they will not exceed the rate of inflation, as measured by an appropriate index such as the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), or any successor measure specified by government. The University will apply any adjustment consistently across affected student cohorts and will give reasonable notice to students of any confirmed change to the published fee before the start of the relevant academic year.

This approach ensures that tuition fees remain compliant with applicable legislation, proportionate to inflationary changes, and consistent with government policy linking permitted fee uplifts to the maintenance of high-quality education and outcomes. For more information, please refer to the government guidance at: gov.uk – Universities to deliver better outcomes in return for full fees.

Postgraduate and International Tuition Fee Adjustment

The tuition fee applicable to the first year of your programme of study is confirmed in your offer letter. The University reserves the right to amend tuition fees for subsequent years of study in accordance with its Course Fees Policy. Where such increases are approved, they will not exceed the rate of inflation, as measured by an appropriate index such as the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), or any successor measure specified by government. The University will apply any adjustment consistently across affected student cohorts and will give reasonable notice to students of any confirmed change to the published fee before the start of the relevant academic year.

Teaching on the MA TESOL is research-informed, discussion-led and academically rigorous. You will participate in seminars and guided workshops that encourage critical dialogue, close analysis of language data and engagement with current debates in TESOL and applied linguistics.

Sessions connect theoretical perspectives with professional application. You will analyse classroom interaction, learner language and multimodal texts, evaluate teaching materials and digital tools, and design evidence-informed approaches to language education.

The programme also includes assessed microteaching within core modules. These structured teaching activities take place within the university setting and enable you to apply theoretical insights to lesson design and delivery, receive feedback, and critically reflect on your developing practice.

Assessment is varied and designed to reflect Master’s-level study. Rather than relying on traditional examinations, you will complete analytical essays, language analysis tasks, multimodal presentations, microteaching activities and research-informed projects. These assessments develop advanced academic writing, critical evaluation and professional reflection.

The programme culminates in a substantial dissertation or applied research project. This enables you to investigate a contemporary issue in TESOL in depth, demonstrating methodological rigour, intellectual independence and the ability to connect theory with professional practice.

Alongside timetabled sessions, you will engage in independent reading, research and guided study. Structured feedback from academic staff supports your development throughout the programme.

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.