General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

• Band A
• IELTS overall score of 6.5, (with 6.5 in writing).

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Core modules

Pathway 1 (students with less than the equivalent of two years’ full-time teaching experience)

Foundations of TESOL Methodology

This module provides a solid foundation in TESOL theory and practice. It explores both historical and contemporary developments in TESOL in order to give you a broad understanding of the field of English language teaching. Through such exploration, you are encouraged to reflectively engage with and develop your own beliefs about language learning and teaching, particularly in relation to educational contexts you are familiar with and/or will return to as a practising teacher.

And

Foundations of TESOL Professional Practice

This module is designed to complement the ‘Foundations of TESOL Methodology’ module which principally focusses on developing critical awareness of English language teaching approaches and methods. Approaches and methods will be further explored in this module, particularly through actual classroom teaching practice. For this, you will plan and design your own lessons in a collaborative environment with input from peers and tutors. More specifically, the module involves an action research style project which encourages you to reflect critically through observation and analysis of your own and your peers’ teaching, as well as through the research you do in relation to your own teaching.

Pathway 2 (students with more than two years’ full-time teaching experience)

Innovating in TESOL Methodology

TESOL is a forward-looking field, and new ideas and practices are constantly promoted. But what kinds of change have most value, and how can innovation be brought about most appropriately by teachers, in their own contexts? This module takes account of international differences in teaching context by showing how innovation can be placed in the hands of teachers themselves, on the basis of appreciation of needs in their own context. Thus, the module aims, in the first instance, to enhance teachers’ abilities to consider innovation in TESOL from a critical perspective in relation to their own teaching contexts.

The module also shows a way forward with reference to reflective practice, exploratory action research and innovation management, helping teachers explore their situation more deeply, evaluate new ideas and bring about change successfully. The module will consist of three phases: a first phase in which critical awareness regarding innovation is developed, a second phase in which students learn about and implement exploratory research as a basis for innovating in practice, and a third phase in which they learn about how to manage and evaluate innovation and incorporate this knowledge in a plan of action.

And

Curricula and Materials Design

Plus both Pathway 1 and Pathway 2 take the following core modules:

Sociolinguistics of English as a Global Language

This module introduces you to key concepts in sociolinguistics, as reflected particularly in contemporary debates surrounding the nature of ‘language’ and ‘standard language’, multilingualism/bilingualism, and what it means to communicate ‘effectively’ and ‘appropriately’. Aspects of lingua franca communication, intercultural pragmatics and related issues of learner and teacher identity will also be addressed. On this basis, key challenges in the teaching of English as a global language in a classroom environment will be explored.

SLA Insights for TESOL Practice

This module explores areas of second language acquisition (SLA) research that are relevant to TESOL practice. It considers how SLA is affected by individual learner characteristics as well as social-interactive processes in the classroom, and focuses specifically on features of SLA that can be positively shaped by teachers.

Spoken Interaction

This module aims to develop skills in the collection, transcription and analysis of spoken interaction. You will focus on capturing samples of speech for analysis and teaching purposes; exploring the relationship between context and the construction of talk; understanding different approaches to the analysis of spoken interaction; applying conversation analysis to spoken interaction; and identifying the main features of classroom interaction. As well as learning how to capture spoken data and transcribe it, you will choose an area of analysis for your assignment. Students report that spoken interaction analysis tools are often helpful with dissertation research.

Approaches to Written Discourse

The module aims to teach you to understand, critically evaluate, and use a wide range of contemporary approaches suitable for the analysis of written discourse (in the broad sense) as linked to social setting, and to understand the pedagogic implications of such analyses.

Research Methods in TESOL

Designing and undertaking a small-scale research project independently is a core part of the programme. This module will take you through the process of writing a well-structured MA dissertation. It will encourage you to engage with and critically evaluate research in the broad field of TESOL, and familiarise you with different approaches to ethical research.

The module will cover a range of data collection methods and analytical options relevant to TESOL contexts. You will be encouraged to undertake research relevant to your own interests after formulating focused/answerable research questions. The module will also address questions about how to present an appropriately structured, clearly articulated proposal.

Dissertation

The dissertation will give students the opportunity to put theory into practice and design a small-scale study that is meaningful and relevant in their professional contexts. More specifically, it will encourage students to reflect critically on issues and debates within TESOL and identify a topic for further research. It will provide students with an opportunity to explore this topic in depth, to develop a critical literature review, a suitable methodology and an appropriate approach to data analysis.

Optional modules

Optional modules can vary from year to year. Example optional modules may include:

• Specialism in Classroom Motivation
• Specialism in Intercultural Language Teaching and Learning
• Specialism in Drama and Literature for TESOL
• Management and Leadership in TESOL
• Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in TESOL
• Teaching and Researching Young Language Learners
• Using Corpora for TESOL
• Assessment in TESOL
• Practical Teaching Methodology
• English Medium Instruction
• Researching TESOL Histories
• Continuing Development for TESOL Teachers

Teaching

Modules are taught by a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. Importance is placed on research-led teaching and developing students’ understanding of research principles and methods, as well as the ability to reflect on the relationship between theory, research and practice.

In Term Three, you will work closely with a dissertation supervisor to complete your own research project. The dissertation draws on the academic and professional knowledge and interests you have developed in Terms One and Two, and is closely linked to work you have done in the research methods module.

Class sizes

Class size will vary depending on type of module (core or optional) and teaching session (lecture or seminar), ranging from around 10 students (for some optional modules) to around 100+ students (for core module lectures).

Typical contact hours

There are 10 weeks in each term. For both Terms One and Two, you will usually have 8 weeks of teaching contact with the remainder of each term dedicated to module-related reading, assignment work and optional tutorials.

Assessment

Assessment on the programme is by coursework and final dissertation - there are no formal examinations. The following are example types of coursework you might submit for assessment on the MA:

• Written assignment (e.g. a 2,000-word assignment which includes an appropriately referenced literature review)
• Teaching materials/lesson plans with rationale
• Blog writing (e.g. blogging about useful ICT tools for ELT)
• Language analysis

Reading lists

If you would like to view reading lists for current or previous cohorts of students, most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library on the Talis Aspire platformLink opens in a new window. 

You can search for reading lists by module title, code or convenor. Please see the modules tab of this page or the module catalogue. 

Please note that some reading lists may have restricted access or be unavailable at certain times of year due to not yet being published. If you cannot access the reading list for a particular module, please check again later or contact the module’s host department.

Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you, and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.

Your career

Previous Master's graduates from the department have gone on to work for employers including: British Council, Ernst & Young and National Geographic Learning.

Graduates have pursued roles such as: teaching professionals; teacher trainers, academic lecturers, educational consultants, and more.

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

• Linguistics Careers
• CV Workshop
• Interview preparation
• Making the most of your time at Warwick and securing work experience opportunities
• Securing placements and work experience
• Warwick careers fairs throughout the year

Applied Linguistics at Warwick

Apply your learning from day one.

With a history dating back to 1983, Applied Linguistics at Warwick has diversified over the years from a main focus on English language teaching and teacher education to include expertise in areas such as: intercultural communication, professional communication, the sociolinguistics of language use, the teaching and learning of languages other than English.

Find out more about us on our website.

Our Postgraduate Taught courses

• Intercultural Communication for Business and the Professions (MSc)
• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (MA)

Our Postgraduate Research courses

• Applied Linguistics (MPhil/PhD)
• Discourse Studies (MPhil/PhD)
• English Language Teaching (MPhil/PhD)
• English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics (MPhil/PhD)
• Intercultural Communication (MPhil/PhD)
• Linguistics (MPhil/PhD)

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your taught course fees  

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2022/23 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

• Core text books
• Printer credits
• Dissertation binding
• Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Please visit our departmental MA TESOL webpage to find out more about our departmental scholarships and bursaries and how to apply under the ‘Fees and funding’ tab.

How to apply

Applications are now open for courses that start in September and October 2025.

Applications will close on 2 August 2025 for students who require a visa to study in the UK, to allow time to receive a CAS and complete the visa application process.

How to apply for a postgraduate taught course