Program Overview

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) MA

Key information

Study mode: Full time Duration: One year full-time, September to September Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent): UK 180 / ECTS 90-97.5 Application status: Open Start date: September 2025

Key benefits

• Develop theoretical knowledge and practical skills for teaching English in different contexts.
• Four weeks of supervised teaching practice.
• Gain a professional certificate in TEFL (Cambridge CELTA) at the same time as your MA in TESOL.
• Observe lessons and learn from experienced teachers at International House London.
• Excellent tutorial support and extensive course-specific training in research methods and academic writing.
• Staff have extensive experience of teaching and training teachers in a wide variety of contexts.

Course essentials

Base campus

Waterloo Campus

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Entry requirements

UK applicants

• Standard requirements: A minimum 2:1 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree
• Programme-Specific Requirements: A 2:1 undergraduate degree is usually required in a relevant subject (for example: a foreign language; English; Linguistics/Applied Linguistics/Language and Communication; Psychology; a social science subject). Alternative qualifications may be considered.
• Work experience: No previous experience of language teaching is required although any experience including informal tutoring or volunteer teaching and/or observation of teaching will be taken into account in assessing your application.
• All applicants are required to complete an English language awareness task.

International applicants

• Equivalent International qualifications: Select a country to view equivalent qualifications
• English language requirements: English language band B

Selection process

• Applications must be made online using King’s Apply, the Admissions Portal. A non-refundable application fee of £130 applies.
• Due to the large volume of applications, this programme operates a partial “gathered-field” approach to decision making for applicants who meet our advertised academic entry requirements.
• Applicants who qualify may be invited to an online interview with the faculty before an offer is made.

Personal statement and supporting information

• Personal Statement: A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form. The personal statement should be a maximum of 500 words.
• English Language Awareness Task: All applicants are required to complete an English language awareness task.
• Previous Academic Study: A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained.
• References: One academic reference is required. A professional reference will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago.

Teaching & structure

• Teaching methods: Lectures, seminars, and self-study
• Location: This course is primarily taught at the King’s College London Waterloo Campus. Teaching practice will take place at International House in Covent Garden.
• Assessment: Essays, language analysis tasks, oral presentations, lesson planning tasks, and dissertation

Structure

• Required modules:
  • Language Teaching Methodology (30 credits)
  • Analysing English for Learning & Teaching (30 credits)
  • Second/Additional Language Learning: Research, Theory & Practice (30 credits)
  • Research Methods & Dissertation in Applied Linguistics/Language Learning & Teaching (60 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • Materials Development in English Language Teaching (15 credits)
  • English for Academic Purposes (15 credits)
  • Language Assessment (15 credits)
  • Digital ELT (15 credits)
  • Sociolinguistics (15 credits)
  • Cultural Diversity in Language Teaching (15 credits)
  • Teacher Education (15 credits)

Careers

• Employability: The skills and knowledge that you develop over the course of our MA will prepare you for a career in English language teaching, a research-oriented career, or a mixture of the two.

Fees & Funding

• Tuition Fees:
  • UK: £13,500 per year (2025/26)
  • International: £30,000 per year (2025/26)
• Deposit: If you receive an offer for this programme, you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place.
• Additional Costs: In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for books, library fees and fines, personal photocopies, printing course handouts, society membership fees, stationery, travel costs, and graduation costs.
• Funding: To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.