Prepare for a career in the fast-evolving world of English language teaching. You’ll gain fresh perspectives on English language education across the globe.

Our MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) course is a specialist master's suitable for anyone working in, or aspiring to work in, the field of teaching English as an international language.

Throughout the course, you’ll be challenged to think differently about how English is used, taught and learnt worldwide. You’ll analyse its role as the world’s major international language, challenge the assumptions many have about its use, and explore current issues and debates.

Gain up-to-date knowledge and skills

Working with expert tutors who have taught English around the world, you’ll explore professional practice, research and theory, to enhance your knowledge of the latest developments in TESOL. All of the teaching staff you’ll work with are active researchers, so the knowledge you’ll gain will be relevant and contemporary.

As well as this, you’ll develop advanced academic and communication skills, to give you a solid foundation for future careers and doctoral study.

We place particular emphasis on helping you to apply the latest thinking about English language teaching to different social and cultural contexts, including your own. In addition to core units, you will have the opportunity to:

• attend specialised teacher training workshops to gain expertise in relevant classroom procedures
• develop your academic writing, communication and study skills
• take part in discussions that focus on current key topics and issues in TESOL
• gain advice from MA TESOL graduates and current PhD students about dissertation and research topics
•  share experiences with language educators from a range of backgrounds and build your international network of professional contacts

Apply your skills with a consultancy project

The consultancy project is an alternative to a dissertation. It offers you the opportunity to use the knowledge and research skills you’ll develop during your studies to work on an issue or strategic priority with an external organisation.

Projects are research-based and typically developed in collaboration with an organisation, such as a school, university, governmental department or education provider. This collaborative aspect means that you’ll be looking at a current challenge, which will allow you to demonstrate your academic learning in a real-world context and enhance your CV.

Consultancy projects may involve activities such as:

• critical evaluation of existing policies or practices
• research-informed proposals for improvement or reform
• internationalisation-related projects
• analysis to support institutional strategy, development, or marketing
• community engagement or outreach initiatives
• critical analysis of organisational or sector-level data

Once you have designed and completed an appropriate piece of research, you’ll present your findings and recommendations as a presentation and written academic report.

Enhance your career skills

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• develop appropriate teaching methods and materials to enhance how English is taught in your own country, and other countries around the world
• use the latest research to reflect on, and inform, your daily practice and decision-making
• build an international profile and contribute academically and professionally to this rapidly evolving field

You’ll also enhance your employability in a range of fields, including English language teaching, bilingual education, language teacher education, intercultural communication and business communication.

Graduate prospects

Many of our graduates have gone on to work in a range of English language educator roles within schools, colleges and universities; or as academic language tutors, teacher trainers, or educational leaders. Lots of these roles are based in different countries across the world.

Recent graduates have gone on to education roles within organisations such as:

• Beijing Normal University
• British Council
• Dulwich College
• Kaplan International
• New Oriental Education & Technology Group
• University of International Business and Economics, Beijing (UIBE)
• Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Others have chosen to progress to doctoral study.

Get a taste of our courses before you apply

We hold a variety of in-person and virtual open days throughout the year. Come along and speak to our academics, current students and alumni to find out which course is right for you.

Sign up for a Postgraduate event

Scholarships and bursaries

You could be considered for a bursary or scholarship to help you study at Bath.

Find out more and apply