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Postgraduate Taught

MEd Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Please note: The below is for 2025 entries. Click here for 2024 entries.
UCAS code 1234
Duration 1 year full time
Entry year September 2024
Campus St Luke's Campus
Discipline Education and Teacher Training
Contact
Typical offer

View full entry requirements

Normally a 2:1 Honours degree in language or education – other qualifications and experience may be accepted

Contextual offers

Overview

  • Aimed at qualified teachers and others who work in TESOL at either primary, secondary or tertiary levels in different educational contexts around the world
  • We offer opportunities for existing teaching practitioners seeking to develop their professional skills and one for those wanting to enter a career in language teaching
  • Develop your understanding of key aspects of linguistics and learning theory and their influence on the teaching of English to speakers of other languages
  • You will benefit from small class sizes and working closely with our academic staff and your fellow students
  • You’ll join a multicultural and multilingual environment with students from across the world such as China, Mexico, USA, South Korea, Japan and Thailand

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View 2024 Entry

Fast track (current Exeter students including PGCE students)

Open days and visiting us

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Contact

Programme Director: Dr Nicholas Bremner

Web: Enquire online

Phone: +44 (0)1392 72 72 72

100% of our Education research has internationally excellent impact*

Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021*

Top 150 in the world for Education

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2023

Home to one of the largest Education libraries in the UK

Entry requirements

For admission to the programme we would normally expect that you hold a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in language- or education-related disciplines. While we normally only accept applicants who meet this criteria, if you have a 2:2 Honours degree with 53% or above, are coming from a different academic background which is equivalent to degree level, or have relevant teaching experience, we would welcome your application.

Entry requirements for international students

English language requirements

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

Course content

The MEd TESOL has international recognition and is seen as an important professional qualification worldwide to enable TESOL teachers to enhance their career prospects. At Exeter, depending on the modules taken, completion of the MEd TESOL can help you to move into new areas within TESOL such as teacher education and training, English for Special Purposes, curriculum development, and the teaching of English to young learners.

The programme will:

  • develop and extend your understanding of key aspects of linguistics and learning theory and their influence on the teaching of English to speakers of other languages
  • enable you to make informed, professional decisions regarding language teaching in the workplace and justify these to others
  • enable you to select, adapt, and design materials and activities for language teaching
  • enable you to investigate and research aspects of TESOL in ways that will support continuing development and practice as a foreign language teaching professional

What is the difference between a Master of Education, a Postgraduate Diploma and a Postgraduate Certificate?

To gain an MEd you must complete 180 credits of specified modules.

However, you may exit the programme early before completing 180 credits and still receive an award. These alternative awards are:

  • If exiting the programme after completing 60 credits you will be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert).
  • If exiting the programme after completing 120 credits you will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip).

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

Stage 1: 120 credits of compulsory modules, and 60 credits of optional modules

 

Compulsory modules

Included withinin the 120 credits of core, students must choose one of the following two modules:

a - EFPM280 Developing Practical Knowledge for TESOL Teaching OR EFPM266 Principles of Language Learning for TESOL. Students with LESS than two years teaching experience must take EFPM280. Students with MORE than two years teaching experience take EFPM266.


For students attending the programme as part-time there is a set order to take the modules across two stages:

Core Modules taken in stage 1
EFPM295 and EFPM268
EFPM329 is started

Core Modules taken in stage 2
EFPM280 OR EFPM266
EFPM329 is completed

CodeModule Credits
EFPM295 Language Analysis for TESOL 15
EFPM268 Developing an Appropriate Language Teaching Methodology 15
EFPM280 Developing Practical Knowledge for TESOL Teaching [See note a above]30
EFPM266 Principles of Language Learning for TESOL [See note a above]30
EFPM329 Preparing for TESOL Inquiry and Dissertation 60
EFPM200 SoE Success for All 0

Optional modules

Students may select any combination of option modules up to the maximum of 60 credits.

The availability of all modules is subject to timetable, staffing and other constraints, including financial viability as determined by student recruitment and fees. Module availability is thus subject to permission from the Director of Education.

 

For students attending the programme as part-time:

Option modules stage 180 credits of options are chosen from the list below

Option modules stage 2
30 further credits of options not already attempted are chosen from the list below

CodeModule Credits
EFPM311 Principles and Practices of Curriculum Development and Syllabus Design 15
EFPM313 Issues in English Language Teaching 15
EFPM292 Bilingual and Multilingual Perspectives on Language Learning and Teaching 15
EFPM787 Teaching English to Young Learners 15
EFPM835 Foreign Language Testing and Assessment 15
EFPM837 Teaching and Researching English for Academic Purposes 15
EFPM269 Developing Language Teachers 15
EFPM330 Technology, Learning and Pedagogy 15

Stage 1: 60 credits of compulsory modules, and 60 credits of option modules

Compulsory modules

Included withinin the 60 credits of core, students must choose one of the following two modules:

a - EFPM280 Developing Practical Knowledge for TESOL Teaching OR EFPM266 Principles of Language Learning for TESOL. Students with LESS than two years teaching experience must take EFPM280. Students with MORE than two years teaching experience take EFPM266.

CodeModule Credits
EFPM295 Language Analysis for TESOL 15
EFPM268 Developing an Appropriate Language Teaching Methodology 15
EFPM280 Developing Practical Knowledge for TESOL Teaching [See note a above]30
EFPM266 Principles of Language Learning for TESOL [See note a above]30
EFPM200 SoE Success for All 0

Optional modules

Students may select any combination of option modules up to the maximum of 60 credits.

The availability of all modules is subject to timetable, staffing and other constraints, including financial viability as determined by student recruitment and fees. Module availability is thus subject to permission from the Director of Education.

CodeModule Credits
EFPM835 Foreign Language Testing and Assessment 15
EFPM787 Teaching English to Young Learners 15
EFPM269 Developing Language Teachers 15
EFPM330 Technology, Learning and Pedagogy 15
EFPM311 Principles and Practices of Curriculum Development and Syllabus Design 15
EFPM313 Issues in English Language Teaching 15
EFPM837 Teaching and Researching English for Academic Purposes 15
EFPM292 Bilingual and Multilingual Perspectives on Language Learning and Teaching 15

Stage 1: 60 credits of compulsory modules

Compulsory modules

Included withinin the 60 credits of core, students must choose one of the following two modules:

a - EFPM280 Developing Practical Knowledge for TESOL Teaching OR EFPM266 Principles of Language Learning for TESOL. Students with LESS than two years teaching experience must take EFPM280. Students with MORE than two years teaching experience take EFPM266.

CodeModule Credits
EFPM295 Language Analysis for TESOL 15
EFPM268 Developing an Appropriate Language Teaching Methodology 15
EFPM280 Developing Practical Knowledge for TESOL Teaching [See note a above]30
EFPM266 Principles of Language Learning for TESOL [See note a above]30
EFPM200 SoE Success for All 0

Optional modules

There are no option modules for the PG Cert TESOL

Fees

2024/25 entry

UK fees per year

  • MEd
    • £10,300 full-time
  • PGDip
    • £7,500 full-time
  • PGCert
    • £4,050 full-time

International fees per year

  • MEd
    • £24,300 full-time
  • PGDip
    • £15,600 full-time
  • PGCert
    • £8,250 full-time

Hornby Trust Scholarship

Applications for this award are now closed.

Applicants will be notified if they have been shortlisted to attend an interview no later than 15th April 2024.

Interviews will be held during the weeks commencing Monday 29th April & Monday 6th May.

Applicants shortlisted to attend an interview will be notified of the final outcome no later than 22nd May 2024. 

Scholarships

We invest heavily in scholarships for talented prospective Masters students. This includes over £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as our Global Excellence Scholarships*.

For more information on scholarships, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

*Selected programmes only. Please see the Terms and Conditions for each scheme for further details.

Teaching and research

Teaching

The programme involves tutorials, seminars, group activities, workshops, collaborative dialogue, and lectures. Through these you’ll:

  • learn key principles of teaching methodology
  • learn how language could be taught in different learning contexts
  • learn and understand how language is learned in an instructed and uninstructed environment
  • develop language analysis and awareness skills, such as analysing grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and discourse.

Visiting Speakers

During the year, from time to time there will be talks by visiting speakers who are authorities in particular areas of Education.

Study Skills Classes

Classes are provided for language support study skills in terms 1 and 2 that will help you adjust to academic study. These classes are provided by INTO and, while optional, are strongly advised if English is not your first language (more information below).

An optional two-hour workshop is also provided in term 1 by the Education Quality and Enhancement unit on Critical reading and writing. This is open to all MEd students and is strongly recommended.

Writing support tutorials

In addition to the on-going one to one tutorial support you will receive from your lecturers throughout the year, you will also be able to seek additional one to one writing tutorial support from a tutor from INTO if English is not your first language, and from the Study Skills Service for those who have English as a first language.

Staff-student research seminars

A programme of seminars on researching various aspects of education takes place regularly throughout the year on lunchtimes and evenings. Many of these are given by visiting academics from other institutions. We also organise Research-Day events for MEd TESOL students to come over and present a snapshot of their masters dissertation topic to their tutors and classmates. You are welcome to attend any of these, but we will also highlight those we feel to be of particular interest or of relevance to your studies.

Research

Our programme is designed to relate theory to practice, allowing you to introduce effectively the knowledge, skills and understanding gained through our research-led modules into your professional work. You’ll get informed on a diverse range of research conducted by the TESOL staff on applied linguistics issues such as EAP, professional development, multilingualism, language skills and strategies, corpus linguistics, and discourse analysis.

Read more

Careers

A Masters in TESOL has international recognition and is seen as an important professional qualification worldwide to enable TESOL teachers to enhance their career prospects. It is often seen as an important entry qualification for educators who want to work at University level.

In addition, depending on the modules taken, completing the MEd TESOL can help you move into new areas such as:

  • teacher education and training
  • English for Special Purposes
  • materials development
  • teaching English to young learners

Our MEd also offers excellent preparation for progression to MPhil/PhD

Career support

We have a good track record of graduate employment, and employers visit the University when recruiting. The EF recruitment team have visited the University to talk to our TESOL students about teaching and learning English in Chinese private language organisations, and conducted on-campus interviews. We also regularly receive details of job opportunities from Turkish and Chinese universities who are looking for high-quality language teachers.

Careers support including skills training, internships, jobs vacancies, employment fairs and other events is available through the Career Zone.

Read more