Skip to Content
MSc | Postgraduate Taught

Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages and Applied Linguistics - January intake

Entry year
Academic Year - Start Jan 2026
Entry requirements
2.2
Attendance
1 year (Full-time)
Places available
50 (Full Time)

The MSc in TESOL and Applied Linguistics is a professionally-oriented higher degree for those who intend to pursue a career in language teaching (i.e., novice as well as practicing teachers) or careers in other professional areas related to language advocacy, policy, or research. The programme provides students with the opportunity to develop deeper, contextualised understandings of the flexible and dynamic ways that language is learned, taught, and used in education, media, workplaces, and in greater society. It enables participants to gain the necessary knowledge and skills to devise and teach language, in addition to equipping students with the essential research and analytical skills to stay current with rapid developments in language teaching and other robust areas of applied linguistics.

Through the range of modules, you can also focus on certain pedagogical aspects of TESOL and Applied Linguistics, including, materials development, bilingual education, language assessment, or you can learn about broader intersections of language in society such as social justice, the impact of digital literacies and communication. One of the key features of the MSc TESOL and Applied Linguistics is that the programme is linked directly to the Centre for Language Education Research which means that students can benefit from a rich research culture to augment their course activities.

Core Modules

An Introduction to Research Methods: Children, Young People and Education (20 credits)
Independent Research module (IRM) (60 credits)
TESOL: Principles and Practices (20 credits)
Contemporary Issues in Applied Linguistics (20 credits)
Language Awareness (20 credits)
Bilingualism, Literacy and Disciplinary Literacy Development (20 credits)

Optional Modules

E-learning: Concepts and Pract (20 credits)
Leadership: Theoretical Perspectives (20 credits)
Leadership in Practice (20 credits)
Leadership for School Improvement and Change (20 credits)
Behaviour Change in Education and Supervising Others (20 credits)
Social Justice in Special Needs Education and Inclusion: A Capability Approach (20 credits)
Epistemic Injustice: The Ethics of Knowing in Special Educational Needs/ Inclusion (20 credits)
Deconstructing Special Needs Education and Inclusion (20 credits)
Fundamental elements of behaviour change (20 credits)

Over 83% of research submitted by colleagues based in the Education Unit of Assessment was judged to be ‘World Leading’ or ‘Internationally Excellent' by a peer review panel (REF2021).

Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages and Applied Linguistics - January intake highlights

Student Experience

Small-group teaching

The academic team is internationally recognised for its range of teaching and research in language education and Applied Linguistics.

Flexibility:

Diploma and Certificate options are also available.

Credit transfer:

Students who have completed other masters-level awards, e.g. PGCE, within the last 10 years are eligible to credit transfer. The credit transfer application must be submitted at the same time as the online programme application as retrospective applications are not accepted.

Disciplinary-focused assessment:

There are no examinations. Assessment is based on continual assessment of coursework, e.g. written assignments, online discussion forum tasks, presentations, role plays, online and digital projects.

Course Structure

SStudents must successfully complete a minimum of 80 CATS from the selection of core TESOL and Applied Linguistics modules.

Students will normally take three taught modules in spring semester (60 CATS), followed by an independent research module in the summer semester (60 CATS). The programme will then be completed with a further three taught modules in the autumn semester (60 CATS).

Students will have the opportunity to resit failed modules once, at the next available opportunity—usually at the end of the following semester.

Students who do not pass all modules by the end of a semester will be given academic advice on how best to manage their workload. In particular, students who have failed all taught modules in a semester will normally be advised to defer all or some of their resits in order to ensure a manageable and balanced academic load. Opportunities to resit or defer assessments will be discussed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account individual progress and circumstances.

Progression after each semester will be determined by the Board of Examiners at the relevant stages.

The MSc programme includes exit pathways at both Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate level. A Postgraduate Diploma can be awarded for successfully completing a minimum of 120 CATS, including a minimum 60 CATS from the selection of core TESOL & Applied Linguistics module s, but less than 180 CATS total in modules on the programme.

A Postgraduate Certificate can be awarded for successfully completing a minimum of 60 CATS, including a minimum 40 CATS from the selection of core TESOL & Applied Linguistics modules, but less than 120 CATS total in modules on the programme

People teaching you

Director of the Centre for Language Education, Senior Lecturer in Education

SSESW
Dr O’Boyle’s research explores the relationships between dialogue and education. This leads to methodological interests in corpus linguistics and discourse analysis and applied research in English Language Education, particularly in the topics of academic discourse and the socially embedded nature of English language teaching and learning in refugee and gender equality concerns. Her interests in the dialogic nature of language and the need for context-sensitive language education are borne from her experiences of teaching in a range of multilingual/plurilingual educational contexts. Email: a.oboyle@qub.ac.uk

Lecturer

SSESW
Dr Ibrar Bhatt is Senior Lecturer in Education at Queen’s University Belfast. He is a Leverhulme Research Fellow (2021-22), a member of the Governing Council of the Society for Research into Higher Education, and Executive Editor for the journal ‘Teaching in Higher Education’. He specialises in research and teaching related to literacy and writing studies, digital epistemologies and higher education. He tweets at @ibrar_bhatt.

Lecturer

SSESW
Dr Engman's research interests address questions related to Indigenous/heritage language maintenance and reclamation, materials use, identity, and policy in a variety of language teaching and learning contexts. She draws on her years of experience with Native and settler educators in the Upper Midwest of the United States to examine the intersections of language, sign, and power in the social and material world. Email: m.engman@qub.ac.uk

Programme Director

SSESW
Dr Sultan Turkan’s academic background is in language teaching and teacher education. Her research focuses on promoting bilinguals/multilinguals’ participation and engagement in the formal and informal processes of schooling and other sociocultural landscapes through drawing on bilinguals/multilinguals’ linguistic and cultural capital. Email: s.turkan@qub.ac.uk

Contact Teaching Hours

Personal Study

24 (hours maximum)
e.g. 22-24 hours studying and revising in your own time each week, including some guided study through online activities.

Medium Group Teaching

10 (hours maximum)
Weekly module lectures (in classroom), online discussion.

Teaching Times

In-class teaching is on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.

Learning and Teaching

Learning opportunities available with this course are outlined below:

Contact hours per semester

Varies, depending on module choice and study mode (full-time/part-time).

Assessment

Assessments associated with this course are outlined below:

  • There are no examinations. Assessment is based on continual assessment of coursework, e.g. written assignments, online discussion forum tasks, presentations, role plays, online and digital projects.

Facilities

The School is situated across a suite of three buildings in Belfast's Queen's Quarter. We provide student and staff common rooms, computer suites and designated study spaces.
Explore the teaching and social spaces in our School through our 360 Virtual Tour:
https://youtu.be/PJeiF24bjxE

The Graduate School
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSfCd4Ycb70

What our academics say

PREV
Overview

NEXT
Modules

Modules

The information provided in this Course Finder reflects the module details for the current year of study (2025/26). Please note that modules are subject to annual review and changes may occur in response to various factors, including student feedback and academic developments. Prospective students will be notified of any significant changes to module offerings before the start of the new academic year.

Entrance requirements

Graduate

Normally a strong 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in any subject discipline plus evidence of relevant teaching experience (minimum of 30 hours).

Late applications may be considered.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the application portal against the programme application page.

The University's Recognition of Prior Learning Policy provides guidance on the assessment of experiential learning (RPEL). Please visit the link below for more information.
http://go.qub.ac.uk/RPLpolicyQUB

International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, Queen's University Belfast International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

  • Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
  • Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

PREV
Modules

NEXT
Careers

Career Prospects

Introduction

Graduates have found their degree very beneficial in gaining employment in a range of teaching institutions worldwide, international agencies and examination bodies, and to gain promotion in their current workplace. Others progress to further doctoral-level studies and research.

Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.

Prizes and Awards

Teachers working on classroom-based dissertation projects may apply for the Northern Ireland Centre for Educational Research (NICER) award.

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1 £7,300
Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 £7,300
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 £9,250
EU Other 3 £21,500
International £21,500

1EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.

2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.

3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

More information on postgraduate tuition fees.

Additional course costs

Students who choose to conduct dissertation research in Northern Ireland, involving participants under the age of 18, will be required to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure Check with Access NI costing £33.

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

How do I fund my study?

The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study. Tuition fee loan information.

A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas (excluding Initial Teacher Education/PGCE, where undergraduate student finance is available). Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are available on the UK government website.

More information on funding options and financial assistance - please check this link regularly, even after you have submitted an application, as new scholarships may become available to you.

International Scholarships

Information on scholarships for international students, is available at www.qub.ac.uk/Study/international-students/international-scholarships.

PREV
Careers

NEXT
Apply

How to Apply

Apply using our online Queen's Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Apply now

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study.
Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions.

Download a prospectus