Program Overview

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Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics – PGDipAppLing

The Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics will equip you with knowledge and skills aligned with your professional and research needs. You will use theories, methods and problem-based approaches that address real-world language issues.

Type of qualification

Postgraduate diploma

Level of study

Postgraduate study NZQF level 8

Time to complete

1 year full-time (120 credits) Part-time available

Where you can study

Distance and online Manawatū campus (Palmerston North)

International students

Open to international students on campus in New Zealand, or studying online outside New Zealand

Key dates

Admission application due dates Course enrolment dates for accepted students Semester dates

Study a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics – PGDipAppLing

The Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics will provide you with a qualification that meets your professional and research needs. If you’re a professional in second language teaching, including Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), this qualification is for you.

Get real-world skills

You’ll use theories, methods and problem-based approaches that address real-world language issues. The qualification focuses on second language acquisition, teaching and language use in an increasingly globalised and digitally mediated world.

You’ll explore areas such as contextually relevant teaching of languages, and reflective practices to enhance teaching and learning. You’ll also learn about the sociocultural demands of language learning and teaching.

Learn from the experts

You’ll be taught by distinguished educators who have researched in areas such as:

• online second language communities
• distance/online language learning
• sociocultural adjustment of international students and their teachers to their presence in New Zealand universities
• language learning and emotion
• bi/multilingualism
• oral proficiency
• heritage language learning
• mother tongue maintenance.

Further study

If you want to take on the challenge of master’s study, you can apply for a Master of Applied Linguistics.

A PGDipAppLing is a good fit if you:

• are passionate about languages
• work with languages and language teaching, including TESOL
• are curious about how we learn languages and how we teach them.

Entry requirements

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

Specific requirements

To enter the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics you will have been awarded or qualified for a relevant bachelor’s degree.

You will need to provide copies of all official academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.

English language requirements

To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.

Structure of the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics

If you study full-time, you’ll take 120 credits per year or 60 credits per semester.

Courses and specialisations

Courses and specialisations

Key terms

Courses

• Each qualification has its own specific set of courses. Some universities call these papers. You enrol in courses after you get accepted into Massey. Course code
• Each course is numbered using 6 digits. The fourth number shows the level of the course. For example, in course , the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study). Credits
• Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification. Specialisations
• Some qualifications let you choose what subject you'd like to specialise in. Your major or endorsement is what you will take the majority of your courses in.

Credit summary

• 120 credits
  • Courses from the Schedule – 120 credits

Course planning key

Prerequisites

• Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses. Corequisites
• Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses. Restrictions
• Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.

Courses

• Course code: Second Language Learning Theories and Processes Credits: 30 credits A critical examination of theoretical perspectives accounting for second language learning processes.
• Course code: Contemporary Approaches to Language Teaching Methodology Credits: 30 credits A critical survey of different approaches and methods used to develop language skills.
• Course code: Contextualising Curriculum and Materials Design Credits: 30 credits A study of the principles, practice and contextualised nature of curriculum and materials design.
• Course code: Advanced TESOL for diverse learners and contexts Credits: 30 credits An advanced and critical survey of current trends, policy, theory, and practice for diverse learners and contexts. Prerequisites: Appraisal Required
• Course code: Discourse Analysis Credits: 30 credits An advanced exploration of key theoretical and analytical frameworks in discourse analysis and how to apply these to empirical data in a range of discourse genres.
• Course code: Language Documentation Credits: 30 credits A practical introduction to language documentation to support language community goals, foregrounding the ethical responsibilities of researchers, while critically reflecting on how language documentation outcomes are communicated to community, academic and general audiences.
• Course code: Current Issues in Applied Linguistics Credits: 30 credits A critical examination of current issues in applied linguistics research from both theoretical and practical perspectives.

Fees and scholarships

2026 tuition fees

• Domestic students: $10,652
• International students: $38,840

Tuition fees are estimates only. The exact fees charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment. The estimates are for full-time study (120 credits). Fees are in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Course fees

You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.

Student loans and Fees Free scheme

You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.

The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students.

Scholarship and award opportunities

• Massey University Postgraduate Scholarship

Careers and job opportunities

The Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics will prepare you for a career in areas such as language teaching, research or practice in national or international multilingual contexts.

You’ll be supporting those who operate in multilingual contexts, such as migrants and former refugees, and international students in New Zealand. Our graduates are employed as educators, consultants and practitioners.

Related study options

Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as an Additional Language – GradCertTEAL

Qualification

• Credits: 60
• Location: Distance and online

Are you actively involved in teaching English as an additional language to learners? Do you want to gain further knowledge in this area? Join Massey’s Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as an Additional Language.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages – Master of Applied Linguistics

Specialisation

• Location: Distance and online, Manawatū campus (Palmerston North)

Massey’s Master of Applied Linguistics (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) provides in-service development for practising teachers of English as a second language.