Education (TESOL)
MA
Key facts
Start dates
September 2026
Course length
Full time: 12 months, Harcourt Hill Campus
Part time: Two / three years, dependent on your chosen trajectory - part-time on campus or distance learning.
Overview
Develop your English teaching - and build specialist knowledge to progress your career.
This course will take your English language teaching to the next level. You’ll master the pedagogical theory behind key teaching approaches. You’ll explore methodologies and master different techniques. You’ll examine:
- what motivates learners
- how we learn differently
- language-learning as a discipline
You might scrutinise the differences between didactic and communicative teaching approaches. Or you might examine how language changes in different contexts.
You’ll build an expansive teaching toolkit. And you’ll be able to identify the right teaching methods - for any learner, in every situation. You’ll also be able to articulate the theory behind your approaches - to school leaders and parents. And your classes will become more creative and motivating - making a real difference to your students.
You’ll graduate with a recognised qualification that will help you meaningfully progress your career.
How to apply
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
Applicants must demonstrate that they have a first degree at 2.2 level or above.
TESOL pathway students are required to show evidence of teaching experience of two years in any context, including summer language schools, one-to-one teaching, or teaching assistant roles. Teaching practice acquired through CELTA or DELTA qualifications can count towards this. In some cases, a shorter period of teaching experience can be negotiated where there has been significant TESOL content study.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
International students whose native language is not English are required to pass IELTS with an overall grade of 6.5, and each of the four skills should have a minimum grade of 6.0.
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
International applications
International students hold a conditional offer until payment of a deposit of £3,000 is received.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Application process
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Optional costs
Additional costs | Amount (£) |
---|---|
It’s your responsibility to cover print / binding costs where coursework submission is required. Please note that a lot of the coursework is now submitted online. |
From £30 |
You may choose to purchase books to support your studies. Many books on our reading lists are available via the Library, or can be purchased secondhand. | £20-60 per book |
Accommodation fees in Brookes Letting (most do not include bills) |
£94-265 per week |
Accommodation fees in university halls (bills included, excluding laundry costs) |
£122-180 per week |
Graduation costs include tickets, gowning and photography. Gowns are not compulsory but typically students do hire robes, starting at £41. |
Typically £0-200 |
Students are responsible for their own travel to and from university for classes. BrookesBus travel is subsidised for full-time undergraduate students that are on a course with a fee of £9,250 or more, or living in an Oxford Brookes hall of residence. There is an administration fee for the production of a BrookesKey. |
From £10 |
Funding your studies
Financial support and scholarships
Featured funding opportunities available for this course.
International students can apply for our International Students Scholarship.
All financial support and scholarships
Learning and assessment
On the course, you’ll explore and master the key approaches in English Language Teaching. You’ll build your versatility and resilience as a language teacher - and you’ll professionalise your practice.
You’ll also have the option to specialise in:
- multilingual learners
- English Language Teaching resources
- English for specific purposes
You’ll join a close-knit community of professional English language teachers. You’ll share ideas and learn from each other as you study. And you’ll work closely with expert English language researchers, who can support you with your particular interests.
Study modules
You’ll take nine modules altogether. In addition to your compulsory modules and your dissertation, you can choose two optional modules.
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Learning and teaching
If you choose the on-campus mode of study, you’ll learn at Harcourt Hill, our Education campus. You’ll learn via a mix of collaborative and independent methods - like:
- lectures
- seminar discussions
- directed reading
- workshops
- presentations
- peer evaluations
- project work
If you study full-time, Thursdays are key study days. And if you can’t make a class, you can access materials and discussions online.
If you choose to do the course via distance learning, you’ll learn via interactive and high quality online resources such as interactive moodle books, pre-recorded lectures, online readings and discussion forums - as well as online workshops and assignment tutorials at key points in the module. You’ll be able to learn at your own pace with a weekly schedule. Most part-time distance learners study over 3 years whilst working full time.
Assessment
Assessment methods used on this course
You’ll experience a range of assessments - including:
- presentations
- reports
- portfolios
- investigative research
- group work
- essays
You’ll be supported to achieve your best. You’ll get regular feedback from your tutors on formative tasks. And you’ll have the chance to share your work in progress for peer evaluations and tutor feedback.
Research
The School of Education, Humanities and Languages is a thriving centre for educational research and teacher professional development. Students on master's level programmes therefore join a large research community comprising researchers at all levels of higher education study.
We hold two major research conferences each year - the School of Education Research Conference and the EdD Colloquium. All students are invited to attend our annual Research Seminar Series (which attracts both internal and external speakers). We also organise a number of conferences, lectures, seminars and debates, some of which have an international reach.
The School’s six research groups exist to encourage engagement in research, publication, conference presentations, seminars and workshops:
- Inclusion and Wellbeing
- Policy, Partnership and Leadership
- STEAM pedagogy and learning
- Humanistic Perspectives on Education
- Early Years
- Applied Linguistics
View all staff profiles for School of Education, Humanities and Languages
After you graduate
Career prospects
You’ll graduate with a recognised qualification that will set you apart from other candidates - and attest to your talents as a professional educator.
You’ll be confident in any classroom. You’ll be equipped with teaching strategies to support any language learner. And you’ll be ready to step into a more senior position, or progress your career.
You might move into a management position at a private language school. You might progress to a Head of English role in an international school. You might start teaching English at university-level. Or, if you’re looking to return to the UK, you’ll be well-placed to secure a professional teaching role back home.
Student profiles
Related courses
Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.