Zhewei Zha (Aurora)
TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, MSc, PgCert or PgDip
Introduction
Did you know that any discipline at undergraduate level can kickstart a career in teaching English to speakers of other languages? Our conversion programme can be completed in a single year, giving you a master’s level qualification. With a strong commitment to global standards for excellence, our MSc reflects a refreshingly practical approach to acquiring expert knowledge in linguistics to flourish academically and professionally.
Study Information
Study Options
- Learning Mode
- On Campus Learning
- Degree Qualification
- MSc, PgCert or PgDip
- Duration
- 4 months, 9 months, 12 months, 21 months or 24 months
- Study Mode
- Full Time or Part Time
- Start Month
- September or January
- Location of Study
- Aberdeen
The ability to teach English as a foreign language is a skill highly valued worldwide making native English-speaking teachers high in demand. The MSc in TESOL aims to equip you with the knowledge and practical skills required to help learners grow the confidence to speak English fluently and confidently.
Our programme offers a range of innovative courses to develop your critical and creative thinking skills while giving you a solid grounding on relevant themes in language teaching. Deepen your understanding of language teaching by exploring our optional courses in curriculum and materials development, the psychology of wellbeing in language teaching, key concepts and TESOL-orientated theories of learning and more.
You also have the option to write a dissertation that provides great preparation to study for a PhD or build a Focused Teaching Portfolio showcasing a valuable record of your growing knowledge, skills, and experience, thereby adding depth to your CV.
The programme attracts a cultural mix of students worldwide and draws upon a range of specialist knowledge from our Departments of Language, Linguistics and Education, creating a dynamic environment to appreciate different perspectives and engage in stimulating discussions.
Available Programmes of Study
- MSc
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TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Qualification Duration Learning Mode Study Mode Start Month LocationMSc 12 months or 24 months On Campus Learning Full Time or Part Time September Aberdeen MoreMSc 12 months or 24 months On Campus Learning Full Time or Part Time January Aberdeen MoreProgramme Fees
Fee information Fee category Cost EU / International students £23,000 Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year UK £11,100 Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year Graduates of the University of Aberdeen are eligible for the Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship, which reduces the tuition fee to £7,000, in line with the current tuition fee loan amount offered by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). Please see the following for full terms and conditions: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/funding/653 - PgDip
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TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Qualification Duration Learning Mode Study Mode Start Month LocationPgDip 9 months or 21 months On Campus Learning Full Time or Part Time September Aberdeen MoreProgramme Fees
Fee information Fee category Cost EU / International students £15,335 Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year UK £7,385 Tuition Fees for 2023/24 Academic Year - PgCert
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TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Qualification Duration Learning Mode Study Mode Start Month LocationPgCert 4 months or 9 months On Campus Learning Full Time or Part Time September Aberdeen MoreProgramme Fees
Fee information Fee category Cost EU / International students £7,670 Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year UK £3,700 Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year Semester 1
Compulsory Courses
- LN5045 Technology and Media for TESOL (15 credits)
- Theories of Learning (LN5023)
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15 Credit Points
This course will focus on key concepts, hypotheses and models related TESOL-oriented theories of learning, including behaviourist, cognitive and socio-cultural perspectives. The structure of this course will facilitate development of and reflection on teaching beliefs and teaching philosophy. Strengths and weaknesses of common learning theories will be identified and their applicability to the English language teaching context will be examined.
- Second Language Acquisition (LN5036)
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15 Credit Points
This course on the processes that are involved in the learning of second language vocabulary, morphosyntax, collocations, formulaic language, language functions and phonology. In addition to critical analysis of theory and research, students will have an opportunity to engage in designing EFL (English as a Foreign/Second Language) classroom activities that address areas of difficulty for English language learners from different linguistic backgrounds.
- English Structure and Academic Writing (LN5043)
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This course opens up new ways for students to think about language by introducing them to the fundamentals of English linguistics. Students will learn how to identify and analyse the major "building blocks" of language in phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. Examples for illustration and discussion will be drawn from varieties of English spoken in the British Isles and worldwide, with lectures and tutorials geared to providing students with an active vocabulary with which to discuss language, and essential tools with which to analyse its structure and function.
- Getting Started at the University of Aberdeen (PD5006)
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This course, which is prescribed for all taught postgraduate students, is studied entirely online, is studied entirely online, takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and can be taken in one sitting, or spread across the first 4 weeks of term.
Topics include University orientation overview, equality & diversity, MySkills, health, safety and cyber security, and academic integrity.
Successful completion of this course will be recorded on your Transcript as ‘Achieved’.
Optional Courses
- LN5032 Curriculum and Materials Development (15 credit points)
- Creativity and Innovation in Language Teaching & Learning (LN5031)
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15 Credit Points
In this course, students will learn about the relevance of creativity in both language teaching and learning. Students will be asked to think more deeply about what creativity means, how it relates to teaching and learning strategies and outcomes, and how they, as teachers, can better enact creativity in their classroom practices. Further, with an ever-growing emphasis on enriching creativity and thinking skills in ESL/EFL education, the course will also consider how language teaching has changed, and indeed continues to change, and the possible reasons and implications for innovations in the field that are happening around the world.
- Psychology of Well - Being in Language Teaching (LN5030)
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15 Credit Points
The course aims to help students develop a theoretical and practical understanding of psychological, physiological and environmental factors that influence the well-being of language teachers and learners. Course is an elective course for the MSc in TESOL.
Programme Fees
Fee information Fee category Cost EU / International students £7,670 Tuition Fees for 2025/26 Academic Year UK £3,700 Tuition Fees for 2024/25 Academic Year
We will endeavour to make all course options available. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.
Fee Information
Additional Fee Information
- Fees for individual programmes can be viewed in the Programmes section above.
- In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses, for example field trips. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
- For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including payment plans and our refund policy, please visit our Tuition Fees page.
Scholarships
All eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Masters students starting in September 2025 will receive an £8,000 scholarship. Learn more about this Aberdeen Global Scholarship here.
To see our full range of scholarships, visit our Funding Database.
How You'll Study
You will develop the ability to apply appropriate teaching techniques and assess situations from different viewpoints with support from highly qualified and committed academic staff. Using a combination of learning methods and assessments such as experimental teaching sessions, seminars, and peer language teaching observations, you will find meaningful ways to teach as an individual.
- Lectures and seminars designed to enhance individual and teamwork skills and group discussion.
- Peer review and critique.
- A variety of learning styles.
- Language teaching.
- A focused teaching portfolio.
- Written dissertation with practical work in teaching.
Instead of writing an academically oriented dissertation, you can compile a Focused Teaching Portfolio as the final element in your studies, an offering unique in the field. Preparing and presenting the Portfolio involves the same research skills as producing a dissertation but with the added benefit of involving practical work aimed towards the goal of becoming a teacher of TESOL.
Learning Methods
- Individual Projects
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Tutorials
Assessment Methods
Assessment is by a combination of coursework, written and oral examinations and by preparation of an acceptable portfolio of documents on language acquisition and language teaching methods and practice.
Why Study TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages?
- Excellence with relevance.
- A 'conversion' programme that can be completed in a single year from any background, any discipline at undergraduate level to kick start a career teaching English to speakers of other languages.
- Master a very marketable set of skills as you embark on your career.
- Excellent balance between theory and practice using a range of innovative teaching methods.
- We draw upon the range of specialist academic knowledge from our Departments of Language and Linguistics and Education.
- High-quality teaching through face-to-face communication.
- Observe and take part in language teaching in the University’s well-established Language Centre.
- Practical assignment projects with constructive tutor feedback.
- Having a wide choice of learning formats, courses and seminars helps give you a broader platform to gain greater knowledge.
- Strong international flavour - students come from a range of countries. This adds a multicultural perspective. Surround yourself with students and teaching staff whose diversity of ideas and interactions become part of the learning experience.
- Develop a Focused Teaching Portfolio showcasing your credentials, sampling evidence of your teaching and reflections on that evidence, adding depth to your CV.
- We examine CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning), CMC (Computer-Mediated Communication), Young Learners, Discourse Analysis and ESP (English for Specific Purposes).
- Excellent career prospects, get a job anywhere in the world.
- For English Language and Literature 'research outputs’, we rank number 1 in Scotland and Number 2 in the United Kingdom.
- Learn from practitioners who are experts in their field.
- Benefit from a strong international and multi-cultural mix. You will study in a group that mixes students from Europe to Asia and South America.
- As a world centre for the energy industry, Aberdeen is the perfect cosmopolitan city, full of people from all over the world, working in Europe's energy capital with links to tourism and global business. Here, there’s a constant flow of new people and ideas from all over the world. It’s a perfect place to enjoy your international learning experience.
- Our Alumni network of 82,500, spanning 192 countries, provides valuable peer-to-peer networking for years to come.
What Our Students Say
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Entry Requirements
Prospective students requiring a visa to study in the UK are advised to apply as early as possible to secure a place. Submitting a CV with your application is optional.
Qualifications
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
Students are required to have a good 2.1 degree (or its equivalent) in a related discipline, such as English or Linguistics, and/or sufficient English Language Teaching experience as approved by the admissions officer.
Please enter your country or territory to view relevant entry requirements.
English Language Requirements
To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:
IELTS Academic:
OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 6.0; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
TOEFL iBT:
OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 21; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
PTE Academic:
OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 59; Reading - 59; Speaking - 59; Writing - 59
Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency:
OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 169; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169
Read more about specific English Language requirements here.
Document Requirements
You will be required to supply the following documentation with your application as proof you meet the entry requirements of this degree programme. If you have not yet completed your current programme of study, then you can still apply and you can provide your Degree Certificate at a later date.
- Degree Transcript
- a full transcript showing all the subjects you studied and the marks you have achieved in your degree(s) (original & official English translation)
- Personal Statement
- a detailed personal statement explaining your motivation for this particular programme
- Reference
- a reference letter from your university discussing your academic ability. If you have been out of education for a long time you may wish to use your current or most recent employer, or another professional person
Aberdeen Global Scholarship
Eligible self-funded Postgraduate Taught (PGT) students will receive the Aberdeen Global Scholarship. Eligibility details and further information are available on our dedicated page.
Aberdeen Global ScholarshipCareers
The English language is in ever-increasing demand throughout the world. Knowledge of the English language and the ability to use this language is a valuable global commodity.
There are opportunities to observe and engage in language teaching in the University’s well-established Language Centre and master a very marketable set of skills. A selection of students on the programme have previously taught English to real learners at local language charities, allowing them to put their skills and knowledge into practice
- Employment anywhere in the world.
- Native English teaching, English as second language advisors, lecturers.
- Teaching TESOL up to professor level at specialist colleges and institutes.
- Centre Directors.
- Language specialists, assessment specialists.
- Continuation to a PhD by research from this degree.
Our Experts
- Programme Coordinator
- Dr Agni Connor
- Other Expert
- Ishrat Rehman-Feltell
Information About Staff Changes
You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. However, these may be subject to change - see our Student Terms and Conditions page.
Facilities
Sir Duncan Rice Library
The University’s award winning Sir Duncan Rice Library is listed in the “Top 20 spellbinding University libraries in the World”. It contains over a million volumes, more than 300,000 e-books and 21,000 journals.
Find out moreVirtual Learning environment MyAberdeen
This the University’s virtual learning environment. This is where you will find learning materials and resources associated with your courses and where you will be notified of any announcements about your courses or the University.
University Language Centre
Home to state-of-the-art comprising audio-video facilities.
Get in Touch
Contact Details
- Address
-
Student Recruitment & Admissions
University of Aberdeen
University Office
Regent Walk
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX