Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) - with optional specialism (MSc, PGDip, PGCert)

Program Overview

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) - with optional specialism (MSc, PGDip, PGCert) January 2026 entry

Overview

These courses provide the opportunity to integrate the theory and practice of teaching English to speakers of other languages. They are designed to be useful to experienced teachers and those considering a career in English language teaching.

Start date and duration

• Start date: January 2026
• End date:
  • MSc: June 2027
  • PGDip: January 2027
  • PGCert: June 2026
• Duration:
  • MSc: 18 months
  • PGDip: 12 months
  • PGCert: 6 months

School

• International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute (IELLI)

Choose your course

These flexible courses allow you to choose the path that best suits your ambitions. You can:

• achieve either an MSc, PGDip or PGCert qualification
• study on campus in St Andrews or online
• start in September or January
• choose an optional specialism

MSc, PGDip or PGCert

You can enrol for one of three different types of qualifications:

Master of Science (MSc)

• An 18-month full-time taught course
• The MSc requires you to take eight modules and complete a 15,000-word dissertation
• Course dates: January 2026 to June 2027

Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip)

• A year-long full-time taught course
• The PGDip requires you to take eight modules over two semesters
• Those on the PGDip do not undertake a dissertation
• Course dates: January 2026 to January 2027

Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert)

• A one-semester full-time taught course
• The PGCert requires you to take four modules of your choosing
• Those on the PGCert do not undertake a dissertation
• Course dates: January 2026 to June 2026

Optional specialism

You can choose to focus your studies in a particular area of interest by taking TESOL with a specialism. Specialisms available are:

• Assessment and Evaluation
• English for Academic Purposes
• English Medium Instruction
• Teaching Young Learners
• Technology for Teaching

Entry requirements

• Typically, you should have one of the following:
  • A 2.1 Honours degree or 3.3 out of 4.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) in any discipline
  • Significant professional or other relevant experience alongside evidence of prior alternative learning (such as professional qualifications or certifications)
• Recognition of prior learning (RPL) may be considered for students with previous studies, such as DELTA
• English language requirements:
  • You will need to be proficient in the English language
  • Information about English language entry requirements is available on the postgraduate English language requirements page

Application deadline

• Friday 12 December 2025

Application requirements

• CV that includes your personal details with a history of your education and employment (paid or voluntary) to date
• Personal statement (see personal statement guidance for TESOL courses)
• One original signed reference (professional or academic)
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates
• Evidence of English language proficiency (required if English is not your first language)

Course details

• TESOL programmes are run by the International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute (IELLI)
• Highlights:
  • Integrate theory and practice
  • Interact with a global cohort of students
  • Engage in and reflect on a new language learning experience
  • Access an optional and supplementary resource bank of material
  • Join experienced practitioners and scholars in the English language teaching community

Modules

• The number of taught modules you will take depends on whether you are studying for the MSc, PGDip or PGCert degree
• Compulsory modules (for MSc and PGDip):
  • Action Research and Reflection for Education Practitioners
  • Language Teaching Methodology
  • Linguistics for Language Teachers
  • Second Language Acquisition
  • Education and Researching
• Optional modules:
  • Assessment and Evaluation in Education
  • English Medium Instruction
  • English for Academic Purposes
  • Teaching Young Learners
  • Technology for Teaching
• Dissertation (MSc only)

Teaching

• Teaching format:
  • Live lectures
  • Face-to-face seminars
  • Office hours
  • Out-of-class activities
• Assessment:
  • A variety of different types of written assignments
  • Presentations
  • Development of teaching plans
  • Material development
• Support:
  • The University’s Student Services team can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities

Fees

• MSc:
  • Home: £12,030
  • Overseas: £25,900
• PGDip:
  • Home: £8,020
  • Overseas: £17,270
• PGCert:
  • Home: £4,010
  • Overseas: £8,650

Your future

• TESOL graduates are equipped with a range of skills and experiences which allow them to take on a variety of roles
• The majority of TESOL students work within education, either as teachers or lecturers, researchers, or policymakers
• Other graduates work in publishing, journalism and management

Awards

• Members of TESOL staff and previous students have been awarded various awards and prizes
• Examples include:
  • Masters Dissertation Awards
  • Elsevier-Stanford List 2023 and 2024
  • TOEFL New Scholar Award 2024
  • McCall MacBain Foundation Outstanding Contribution to Teaching Excellence Awards 2020
  • University of St Andrews Golden Dandelion Awards
  • University of St Andrews Teaching Excellence Awards
  • University of St Andrews Students’ Association 1413 Teaching Excellence Awards
  • University of St Andrews Start-Up Challenge