Program Overview

---

Doctor of Professional Practice in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (DProf TESOL) – Online

Overview

The Doctor of Professional Practice (DProf) in TESOL programme is designed for educational practitioners who wish to conduct practice-focused research within their professional context. This is a part-time, online programme at PhD level for experienced professionals who aspire to, or are already working in, leadership roles within educational organisations, or who wish to advance their classroom practice through research.

Course Type

Postgraduate professional doctorate, leading to a Doctor of Professional Practice (DProf) award.

Entry Requirements

• Good performance on a postgraduate degree in TESOL, for example, MSc, MA or MEd) or a related subject such as education, educational research. The Institute also considers applicants who do not have a Master’s degree but can evidence significant professional experience combined with alternative qualifications at postgraduate level.
• Evidence of relevant professional experience, as presented in application documents.
• English language proficiency. See English language requirements for postgraduate students. Applicants who need to provide an English test score should refer to profile 7-D for details of acceptable tests and scores.

Application Deadline

• Monday 4 August 2025 for September 2025 entry
• Thursday 8 December 2025 for January 2026 entry

Application Requirements

• A CV containing your personal details with a history of your education and employment, paid or voluntary, to date, as well as any publications or conference presentations delivered
• A personal statement of 500 to 1000 words that describes your professional context, your reasons for applying to the programme, and possible areas of focus for your research, with an explanation of why these are relevant to your professional context
• Two references, at least one of which must be academic
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates
• A sample of your academic writing, for example, an assignment from a previous degree programme or a published academic article or report

Course Details

The Doctor of Professional Practice (DProf) in TESOL programme is designed for educational practitioners who wish to conduct practice-focused research within their professional context. This is a part-time, online programme at PhD level for experienced professionals who aspire to, or are already working in, leadership roles within educational organisations, or who wish to advance their classroom practice through research.

Programme Structure

The DProf TESOL has two main components, making up a total of 540 credits for the programme:

• Supplementary studies: 120 credits. 60 of these may be awarded as Advanced Standing Credits for students who enter directly into second year.
• A portfolio that consists of:
  • Professional projects: 360 credits
  • An integrative critical analysis: 60 credits

Modules

The supplementary studies modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue.

• Compulsory modules
• Optional modules

Teaching

• Teaching format
• Assessment
• Support

The modules are delivered in a variety of ways, such as:

• Recorded lectures
• Recorded mini-lectures
• Podcasts
• Online written forums with students resident in other parts of the world
• Intensive feedback sessions on your work

In these modules, you will integrate theory and practice by discussing and critiquing theoretical concepts and frameworks and applying them through a range of practical assessments.

Assessments include:

• A variety of different types of written assignments
• Presentations
• Development of teaching plans
• Material development
• Assessed online written forums

Portfolio (Professional Projects)

This part of the portfolio will total 35,000 to 40,000 words and will normally include three or four outputs, which might include journal articles, book chapters, lesson plans, CPD workshops, editorial board service, policy papers, or anything of a suitable academic standard as negotiated with your supervisor. At least one of the journal articles submitted for assessment should be in a peer-reviewed international or national journal and published before completion of the programme, whether in print or online. A submission might therefore, for example, include one conference paper, one book chapter, one journal paper, and CPD workshop materials.

Portfolio (Integrative Critical Analysis)

Alongside the portfolio, you will write a reflective synthesis of all elements of the programme and explain the contribution you have made to professional practice in your chosen area.

This part of the portfolio will total 12,500 to 15,000 words, and will normally include the following:

• Description of the academic and intellectual context for your professional projects
• A synthesis of your publications to demonstrate a coherent theme
• Critical reflection on your professional development during the programme
• Explanation of professional impact and contributions to knowledge resulting from your research

Assessment for the Award of Doctor of Professional Practice (DProf)

The combination of professional projects portfolio and integrative critical analysis is considered equal to a thesis, so there is no separate thesis in this programme. As with a traditional PhD, your work will be evaluated for a doctoral award through a viva voce examination. If, following any revisions or resubmission after your viva, your work does not meet the requirements for the award of Doctor of Professional Practice, it will be considered for the award of either Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip).

Fees

• Home and overseas: Students will pay an annual fee for the duration of their studies, either five or six years. This fee will be £5845 for the first year of study, and any increase in fees will be capped at a maximum of 5% per year. The fee is the same for all students, regardless of residence, and can be paid by instalments.

Funding and Scholarships

The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to students each year. You can apply for a range of scholarships through a single application, however, competition for scholarships is intense. The vast majority of DProf students either self-fund or receive support from their employer.

15% Recent Graduate Discount

If you have graduated from the University within the last three academic years, you may be eligible for a 15% discount on postgraduate taught tuition fees. Terms and conditions apply.

Your Future

Areas of Research and Scholarship

The programme is led by Dr Mark Carver, with supervisors chosen from across the Institute. More details about the work of the International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute can be found on the IELLI website and the University's Research Portal. You will typically work under the supervision of academic staff from the Institute, but in some cases additional supervisors will be employed externally.

Particular areas of research and scholarship focus for the International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute include:

• Academic integrity
• Assessment and feedback, peer assessment
• English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
• Initial teacher education
• Intercultural competence
• International student experience
• Mobile and Computer Assisted Language Learning
• Professional development in TESOL
• Qualitative research synthesis
• Vocabulary acquisition and testing
• World Englishes, English as an International Language, and English as a Lingua Franca

Careers Centre

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.