MA

TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)

Gain a balance of theory and practical experience on this career-focused MA TESOL. With teaching assistant placements, intercultural competence training, and global relevance, this course prepares you to succeed in international English language education.

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Key Course Details

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £11,060*

  • International students

    £17,900*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.
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Enhance your teaching expertise with hands-on experience, expert-led sessions, and globally relevant TESOL training.

DESIGNED FOR

The MA TESOL course is designed for teachers worldwide who want to develop their skills and advance their careers. It supports job promotion and security through enhanced knowledge. The course also suits those interested in research, offering a strong foundation for academic and professional growth.

Career Paths

  • English Language Teacher
  • TESOL Lecturer
  • Curriculum Designer
  • Teacher Trainer
  • PhD Researcher

Skills taught

  • Intercultural Communicative Competence
  • Academic Research and writing
  • Peer Teaching and Reflective Practice
  • Classroom Observation and Teaching Support
  • Presentation and Communication Skills

Course Highlights

Practical Experience

Gain classroom experience through a unique Teaching Assistant Certificate with the Centre for International English.

Tailored to You

Specialise in an area relevant to your home country through your final research project.

Global Relevance

Designed for international students with a focus on intercultural communicative competence and reflective practice.

Expert-led Teaching

Learn from experienced staff with global TESOL experience and input from world-leading guest lecturers.

Earn a standout Certificate

Earn an optional Teaching Assistant Certificate by supporting real lessons, build key skills and boost your CV for a stronger teaching career.

Module Overview

The MA TESOL blends theory and practice, allowing students to develop academic research skills and gain real-world experience. With peer teaching, classroom observation, and access to global expertise, this programme is tailored to international needs and focused on employability and progression.

Intercultural Communicative Competence

You will learn about how language and culture connect. You will explore intercultural communication theories and learn how to apply them in real-life, professional settings around the world.

English Teacher Development

Develop an understanding of how teachers learn to improve professional practice. The module evaluates how teachers can learn and why the development is important.

Teaching in Diverse Contexts

Expand on your understanding of teaching methods, approaches and theories associated with different teaching contexts on a global scale.

Teaching TESOL Language Skills

You will explore how to teach grammar, reading, writing, speaking, and listening in real-world classrooms. You will also critically review AI-generated lesson plans to understand their strengths and limitations.

Assessment and Evaluation

Discover how language tests are designed and used. This module helps you understand how to fairly and effectively assess language learners in different teaching contexts.

Micro Teaching

Practise teaching with your peers and reflect on your performance. You will also observe real English lessons at USW’s Centre for International English to build confidence and skills.

Planning a research project

Learn how to plan and present a research proposal, choosing a topic relevant to your home country. The module guides you through each step, including ethics and design, leading into your final Research Project.

Research Project

You will complete a 10,000-word research project on a topic of your choice, with online supervision sessions to guide you through planning, writing, and final submission.

Course Highlights

How you’ll learn

You will study current and relevant TESOL topics using up-to-date reading materials and journal articles. Your learning includes webinars and guest lectures from leading experts, along with practical peer teaching and observation in real classrooms. You will engage in reflective practice, develop intercultural competence, and take modules focused on professional development. The timetable maximises your on-campus time while allowing space for study and work. The course balances theory and practice, helping you build research skills and create supportive teaching environments tailored to diverse cultures and your career goals.

Teaching staff

The course is led by experienced professionals with extensive international backgrounds in language education. They bring a broad understanding of global cultures and current teaching practices, including a focus on the impact of AI in language learning. Their expertise ensures students are supported by knowledgeable staff who stay up to date with developments in TESOL. The team also collaborates closely with the University’s Centre for International English, enriching the learning environment through diverse teaching approaches and real-world insights. This combination offers students a strong foundation for professional growth and global awareness.

Placements

As part of the MA TESOL course, students can gain practical classroom experience by supporting English lessons at the University’s Centre for International English during July and August. This voluntary placement allows students to observe UK teaching methods, assist learners, and build valuable skills in a real teaching environment. Those who complete the placement can earn the optional USW Teaching Assistant Certificate, demonstrating their professional conduct, reflective practice, and engagement in teaching support. This added experience and qualification not only enhances your CV but also provides a competitive edge for future teaching or academic roles.

Facilities

As an MA TESOL student, you will have access to dedicated TESOL resources at the Learning Resources Centre and modern IT facilities to support your studies. Positioned in the Welsh town of Pontypridd, just a 20-minute drive from Cardiff, our Treforest campus is host to a range of creative and inspiring courses. We've invested in the latest technology, software and equipment to make sure you're ready to start your career with confidence and experience. Our Treforest campus also has plenty of dedicated workspaces, allowing you to work collaboratively on creative projects with friends and colleagues.

With an onsite student union, sports centre, restaurants, shops, and more, it boasts a great student community with the added benefit of Cardiff on the doorstep.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Typical qualification requirements:

We require a minimum 2:2 Hons degree (or equivalent), preferably in a discipline related to English/Language/Literature/TESOL; however, strong candidates from broader subject areas (such as Business) will be considered on an individual basis. We will also consider applicants with a relevant teaching qualification or with relevant industry or teaching experience. 

International applications welcomed:

We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence please view our dedicated country pages.

English language requirements

International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component or equivalent.

Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.

If you have previously studied through the medium of English IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.

If you do not meet the English entry criteria please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.

Contextual offers

We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.

USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.

 

We're here to help

Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.

 

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Fee

£11,060

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£17,900

per year*

Further Information

Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.

Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy.  We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.

 

Fees and Funding Scholarships and Busaries Alumni Discount

ADDITIONAL COSTS

As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment. 

*Obligatory

University Quality Assurance

At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.

If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.

Careers and Employability

Graduate careers

English is the global language people use to connect across countries, so there’s a high demand for English teachers all around the world. Many non-native English speakers work as teachers because there are so many opportunities. After completing this course, you could work as an English language teacher, a TESOL lecturer, or a curriculum designer. You might also become a teacher trainer or continue your studies. This course opens doors to exciting careers where you help others communicate and succeed internationally.

Careers support

Throughout your studies and after graduation, you will have support from our careers and employability service, including one-to-one appointments with faculty-based advisers, either in person or online. You will also get access to online resources to help you explore career options and stand out to employers. Additionally, the Centre for International English offers free extra English lessons that you can attend to further improve your language skills and confidence.

Studying at USW

Our courses are designed with industry leaders and provide the practical skills and experiences industry demands. Our flexible courses reflect the need for life-long learning. If you value education in practice, not just in theory, then USW is for you.

Two people studying together at a table, surrounded by books and papers.
Postgraduate fees and funding
The University's Ty Crawshays building at Treforest, Pontypridd.
Pontypridd Campus, Treforest
A member of staff is smiling and chatting with an open evening visitor.
Postgraduate Open Events

THIS COURSE HAS MADE ME FEEL MORE PREPARED, NOT ONLY AS A TEACHER BUT ALSO AS A LEARNER. IT HAS SHAPED MY THINKING AND GIVEN ME NEW IDEAS FOR TEACHING IN CREATIVE AND MEANINGFUL WAYS.

Isuri Millehena

THROUGH BOTH THEORETICAL LEARNING AND PRACTICAL APPLICATION, I’VE GAINED A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF LANGUAGE TEACHING AND HOW PEOPLE ACQUIRE LANGUAGES.

Shilan Hssan

THE COURSE LEADER PROVIDED AN INTELLECTUALLY CHALLENGING YET INSPIRING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, IN WHICH I FELT SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT THE COURSE.

Jannah Ling

MA TESOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH WALES IS NOT JUST A COURSE, IT’S A FIELD THAT HELPS PEOPLE TO LEARN DIFFERENT SKILLS FOR TEACHING.

Humayra Hasin

How to apply

There is an online application process for this course. Please choose the application form for your preferred start date and mode of study (i.e. full-time or part-time).

International admissions

Please see our international admissions advice for further information about how to apply as a prospective international student.

Next Steps

How to Apply
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