Program Overview

TESOL MA

Gain the skills and expertise needed to thrive in diverse educational settings as a teacher of English to speakers of other languages on this MA TESOL degree.

Key Information

• Study mode and duration:
  • 1 year full-time
  • 2 years sandwich with placement
  • 2 years part-time
  • 1 year full-time by distance learning
  • 2 years part-time by distance learning
  • 3 years part-time by distance learning
• Start date:
  • September 2025
  • January 2026

Course Information

Overview

Learn how to teach English as a global language on this Master's in TESOL degree. You'll develop practical English language teaching skills, methodologies, and techniques, and study the latest research-backed methods for effectively teaching English to speakers of other languages.

With this TESOL Master's degree, you'll become prepared to inspire students worldwide and find yourself ready for career opportunities both locally and internationally. As English continues to grow as the world's lingua franca, your specialised training will be highly valued by schools, universities, businesses, and organisations in need of qualified English instructors.

You can study in a way that fits around your existing professional and personal commitments by choosing between full-time, part-time, campus-based, or distance learning options. If you study full-time on campus, you can also choose to spend a year building professional teaching experience on placement.

Whether you want to teach in your local community or travel abroad to teach English, this course will give you the skills to positively impact students across diverse cultures through English language education.

Entry Requirements

September 2025 / January 2026 start

• UK qualifications:
  • A 2:2 honours degree or equivalent.
  • Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work, and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete.
• Non-UK qualifications:
  • If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.
  • To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification.
• Required experience:
  • Some teaching experience is desirable, but not an expectation.
• English language requirements:
  • English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.5.
  • You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
    • you have a UK degree
    • you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
    • you are a national of a majority English speaking country

Course Costs and Funding

Tuition fees (September 2025 / January 2026 start)

• UK, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man students:
  • Full-time: £10,900 (optional placement year: £2,875)
  • Part-time: £5,450 per year
  • Full-time (distance learning): £10,900
  • Part-time (distance learning - 2 years): £5,450 per year
  • Part-time (distance learning - 3 years): £3,630 per year
• EU students:
  • Full-time: £10,900 (optional placement year: £2,875)
  • Part-time: £5,450 per year
  • Full-time (distance learning): £10,900
  • Part-time (distance learning - 2 years): £5,450 per year
  • Part-time (distance learning - 3 years): £3,630 per year
• International students:
  • Full-time: £17,900 (optional placement year: £2,875)
  • Part-time: £8,950 per year
  • Full-time (distance learning): £10,900
  • Part-time (distance learning - 2 years): £5,450 per year
  • Part-time (distance learning - 3 years): £3,630 per year

Modules

Full-time

• Year 1:
  • Core modules:
    • Psychology of Language Learning and Teaching - 30 credits
    • Theory and Practice of TESOL - 30 credits
  • Optional modules:
    • Second Language Acquisition - 30 credits
    • World Englishes - 30 credits
    • Analysing, Evaluating and Writing Materials - 30 credits
    • Using Language Corpora for Teaching and Research - 30 credits
    • The English Language Teaching Project - 30 credits
    • Dissertation - 60 credits

How to Apply

• Ready to apply?
• September 2025 start:
  • On-campus:
    • Apply now (1 year full-time)
    • Apply now (2 years full-time with placement)
    • Apply now (2 years part-time)
  • Distance learning:
    • Apply now (full-time) - 1 year
    • Apply now (part-time) - 2 years
    • Apply now (part-time) - 3 years
• January 2026 start:
  • On-campus:
    • Apply now (1 year full-time)
    • Apply now (2 years full-time with placement)
    • Apply now (2 years part-time)
  • Distance learning:
    • Apply now (full-time) - 1 year
    • Apply now (part-time) - 2 years
    • Apply now (part-time) - 3 years
• After you apply:
  • Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information.
  • We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.
  • You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long.
  • Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.
  • Learn more about how we assess your application.
• Admissions terms and conditions:
  • When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules, and regulations).
  • You should read and consider these before you apply.
• Finalising this course:
  • All our courses go through a rigorous approval process to make sure they’re of the highest quality.
  • This includes a review by a panel of experts, made up of academic staff and an external academic or professional with specialist knowledge.
  • This course is in the final stages of this process and is open for applications.
  • If any details of the course or its approval status change after you apply, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and will be here to discuss your options with you.