Are you considering a Masters’ degree in a TEFL or related field? Like me, are you confused by the options? The aim of this page is to centralise all my information from web searches in order to make comparisons easier.
The courses looked at so far include (not in any order of importance):
Sheffield Hallam
Lancaster
Manchester
Portsmouth
Oxford Brookes
Aston
Surrey
University of East London
Nottingham
Leicester
Reading
Essex
However, this information will not give you the proper ‘flavour’ of a course. Hearsay tells me that one of the most important aspects of the courses is the materials and teacher support. What other ‘intangibles’ might there be, I wonder? So do not rely on this page, but follow the provided links and have a look for yourself.
Would you like to make any contributions, please leave a comment.
For those who have a DELTA
You can get credits towards your MA. See this ih link for more information.
Further searching the Cambridge DELTA pages showed up this table.
Assessment and examinations: Usually consists of a written assignment of 3.500 words for a 15-credit course unit (double this word count for a 30-credit course unit). All assignments will be followed by both formative and summative feedback.
Participants can choose between a Mode A (or more traditional type) which can also be characterised as having of one of the following centres of gravity:
empirical (which report on a research project);
conceptual (which discuss or develop a conceptual understanding or framework of relevance to the participant’s professional development;
or practical (which involve the development of a rationale for practical activities related to professional practice).
Mode B portfolio-type dissertations are very similar but in the latter the materials produced are close to being in a publishable format.
Duration: 3 Years Distance
Entry requirements:
Material Requirements:
Fees: The 2008 FT onsite fee is £3,300 for home/EU* students and £10,500 for international students. For PT onsite, the fee is £1,650 and the Distance Learning fee is £1,660 per year.
Learning materials: You will be provided with course booklets for each unit of the course in hard copy and/or CD format. Learning will be supported by online student discussion boards with tutor input, complemented by individual email discussion with course tutors. Where you are grouped in a particular geographical region, then additional support in the form of intensive face-to-face teaching in situ will be facilitated.
You are required to have access to and to be competent in the operation of the following:
a computer (PC) and word processing software (e.g. Microsoft Office/Word)
a web browser (Internet Explorer)
an internet connection (broadband if possible)
Additional learning materials will be provided in the case of certain units, such as key textbooks or databases (e.g. the British National Corpus). In addition, you will be entitled to open an Athens account with the University Library, which will enable access to elctronic books and journals.
Assessment and examinations:
Duration: 2 years
Fees: Quoted from the Humanities Admissions Centre
“Fees for our distance learning courses for 2007-8 are on a per 15-credit unit basis:
£300 per unit for Home/EU students
£675 per unit for International students
There are 12 units in total to complete the MA, including a dissertation which is worth 60 credits and charged as 4 units.
You choose at the beginning of Semester 1 how many units you wish to take that semester and pay the appropriate fee for that number of units. At the start of Semester 2 you choose how many units you want to take for that semester and the summer and pay the appropriate fee for that number of units. Depending on how many units you choose to take in each semester you can take anything from 2 years up to 5 years to complete the full 12 units.”
Language and learning – Principles and Practice. (20 credits)
Language teaching – Principles and Practice. (20 credits)
Descriptions of English. (20 credits)
Research methods. (20 credits)
Optional
Teaching EAP-ESP (20 credits)
Teaching business English (20 credits)
Online tutoring and CALL (20 credits)
Teaching Young Learners. (20 credits)
Testing & assessment. (20 credits)
Second language aquisition. (20 credits)
Dissertation (60 credits)
Learning materials:
Assessment and examinations:
Duration: Very flexible one, two or three years, online and on campus.
Entry requirements:
Material Requirements:
Fees: For students entering the part time programme in 2008/09 the tuition cost is £340 (GBP) per module for UK and EU students.
Start Dates:
DELTA Exemption: From 40 to 60 M-level credits from 180 M credits required – total depends on the pathway the student follows.
Aston
Aston: Click on the Aston link to read the excellent introduction to the course.
Quotations from the site include: “we pride ourselves on the speed and quality of our responses to participants” and:
“what we try to keep in mind at all times is that there are few things in distance education more frustrating and upsetting than sitting alone, thousands of miles away from an institution, waiting for someone there to get back to you with a response to a concern that has been nagging away at your peace of mind for weeks on end.”
Programme modules:
MSc/Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
MSc/Diploma in Teaching English for Specific Purposes (TESP)
MSc/Diploma in Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL)
MSc/Diploma Educational Management in TESOL (EMT)
Modules available on the MSc – there is a lot of reading here, so I have simply given the links for brevity.
Teaching Young Learners (TYL) Core for TEYL, elective for other programmes
Learning materials:
Assessment and examinations:
MA TEFL All assessment is by written assignment, except for Teaching in Practice where teaching performance will also be assessed. Participants choose their own assignment titles, under the guidance of module tutors.
MA Applied Linguistics The taught modules are assessed by written examination or extended essay. The taught element of the programme is complemented by a 15,000 word dissertation leading to the award of the MA.
Duration: Each 20 credit module = 100 (study) hours, but further study and assignment writing will add extra hours to this. Total “learning hours†per module is calculated as the sum of study hours (100), reflection time (50), and action (50). This produces a total learning time for the MSc of 1800 hours
Core Programme modules: MA in Linguistics (TESOL) Curriculum Development, Evaluation, & Change and Language Teaching Methodology; Second Language Acquisition & Pedagogic Grammar; Discourse Analysis & Sociolinguistics; Phonetics & Testing.
Optional modules: Bilingualism; Computers and Applied Linguistics; English Language Teaching Management; Learner Independence; Literature; Statistics and Empirical Research Methods; Scientific English; Language Typology; Written Genres.
Core Programme modules: MSc in ELT Management ELT Management; Syllabus Design; Introduction to Business and Finance in ELT; Human Resource Management in ELT; Language Teaching Methodology; Marketing; Research Methods and Decision-Making in Business; Language Testing.
Optional modules: Discourse Analysis; Pedagogic Grammar; Phonetics; Second Language Acquisition; Sociolinguistics.
Learning materials:
Assessment and examinations: The final requirement is a 10,000 – 12,000 word dissertation. Core modules assessment has two parts: an assignment of 4,000-4,500 words, and research task or practical exercise of 1,000-1,500 words. Options are assessed by a shorter assignment of 2,500-3,000 words. For all work the pass mark is 50%. A pass at Distinction level is awarded for a mark of 70% or above.
Duration: Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma and MA stages.
Entry requirements:
Material Requirements:
Fees:
Instalment 1: £1130 (payable before you commence the programme)
Instalment 2: £1130 (payable in month 3 of the programme)
Instalment 3: £1130 (payable in month 7 of the programme)
Instalment 4: £1130 (payable in month 11 of the programme)
Instalment 5: £1630* (payable on progression to the MA stage around month 17)
Start Dates: October/March
Staff: Jonathan Charteris-Black (Head of group), Fiona Doloughan, Smiljka Gee (Postgraduate programmes director), Charles Mann
Programme modules: Strong practıcal emphasis in all modules. Modules include:
Language Systems and Language Skills
Methodology and Materials in ELT
Second Language Acquisition and ELT
ELT and its Contexts
Research Methods Component
Learning materials: Each module consists of reading and self-check and interactive tasks. In addition to online discussions, which involve the module tutor on a weekly basis, you also have access to the module tutor via online tutorials.
Assessment and examinations: Dissertation and the written assignments for each module. Modules are assessed by assignment (either two assignments of 2,500 words, or one assignment of 5,000 words).
The research methods training is an integral part of the dissertation and forms part of the overall assessment. This assessment takes the form of a draft dissertation proposal, which may be modified in consultation with the dissertation supervisor, and against which the final dissertation will be considered.
The dissertation is a major piece of work and consists of 20,000 words, excluding appendices and bibliography.
Duration: The MA is part-time over two years, although some students may wish to take longer – in which case modules may be spread over five years in consultation with the programme leader.
Entry requirements: MA English Language Teaching. Intermediate awards available: Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate.
Material Requirements: Expected fees are academic year 2008/9 are £760 per 30-credit module. This will affect all students.
Fees: Expected fees are academic year 2008/9 are £760 per 30-credit module. This will affect all students.
Start Dates: February / September.
DELTA Exemption: none
Warwick
?
Nottingham
“Unlike some other universities’ distance learning courses, (…) a personal sense of individual tutor’s ‘voices’ in our course material, in order to preserve the experience of studying with ‘the Nottingham School’. Tutors will answer any questions you may have, will guide you through the course, will assess your work and give you feedback on your studies. The course convenor has overall responsibility for all the different modules, and will act as another point of contact if you would prefer to talk to someone who is not your module tutor.”
English Vocabulary: Teaching and Learning I 15 credits
Literary Linguistics I 15 credits
Literary Linguistics II 15 credits
Syllabus Design and Methodology I 15 credits
Syllabus Design and Methodology II 15 credits
The Teaching of Language and Literature I 15 credits
The Teaching of Language and Literature II 15 credits
World Englishes 15 credits
International Englishes : The Atlantic Triangle 15 credits
International Englishes : Dreams of the Orient 15 credits
Text, Talk and Corpus Analysis 15 credits
Language and Gender I 15 credits
Language and Gender II 15 credits
Research Methods in Applied Linguistics 15 credits
What is Literature 30 credits
Narratology I 15 credits
Middle English Romance 15 credits
Choose 90 credits worth…
MA Dissertation 60 credits
Learning materials: The course is taught using a course tool software called WebCT. It is also supported by extensive online resources, course materials and teaching. The study units on the web will consist of the following components:
direct information and an outline of key concepts in the area
a survey of important published work
questions on the main issues
exercises and activities with texts and data for you to practise on and develop your own thinking
Assessment and examinations: The above modules & a 12-15,000 word dissertation on a subject of your choice.
Duration: between 2 and 4 years
Material Requirements:
Fees:
a 15 credit module will cost £465
a 30 credit module will be £930
the dissertation (60 credits) will be £1860
Total cost = £5580 for the whole MA
Individual modules are available on a ‘pay-as-you-learn’ basis.
Start Dates: September, January or March
DELTA Exemption: Exemption of one 30-credit core module.
“The programme is recognised by the ESRC and offers an excellent route towards pursuing a PhD”
The Structure of English: Grammar Awareness, Phonology and Pronunciation Teaching
Language, Discourse and Society
Options or a module from the MA Educational Studies, or MSc Educational Leadership.
Dissertation
Learning materials: On campus teaching is seminar-based, with tutorial support. The DL course uses both e-learning and some paper-based materials. Students are encouraged to develop their transferable skills, including IT and oral presentation.
Assessment and examinations: Assessment is through essays and some tests and project work.
Duration: One year full-time or two years part-time. The MA in TESOL and Applied Linguistics will be offered through campus-based and/or distance learning.
Research design & dissertation (Dissertation Track only)
Optional modules
Dissertation Track – 3 modules from the following list; Taught Track – 6 modules from the following list:
English for specific purposes
Intercultural communication
Language testing
Management in English language teaching
Spoken language (listening & speaking)
Teaching English to young learners
The teaching and learning of vocabulary
Written language (reading & writing)
Students must choose 3 option modules (each of 20 credits) if following the Dissertation Track, and 6 option modules (each of 20 credits) if following the Taught Track, to make a total of 180 credits when combined with the other course modules and the dissertation (where relevant).
Learning materials: Students communicate with staff and each other online, through e-mail and Blackboard (our Virtual Learning Environment). All materials needed to pass the course (Taught Track) are provided in the form of specially written module materials (with tasks for students to complete), core textbooks and Module Readers. Dissertation Track students need access to a good English language teaching library at this stage of their study.
Assessment and examinations: Assessment is by assignment and two examinations, which students arrange to take in their country of residence.
Duration: Distance students are expected to study for 12-15 hours per week. The course can be completed in between two and five years, with a recommended length of three years: one year for five compulsory modules, the second for 3 options and the third for another three options (for taught -track – see Course Content below) or the dissertation. Students can ‘speed up’ their period of study by coming on campus to study, but campus-based study is not a requirement.
Material Requirements:
Fees: The fee for the academic year 2007/2008 is £350 for 10 credits. Payment may be made in a total of six instalments over the whole course.
Start Dates: November and May
DELTA Exemption: Language Curriculum Design (10 credits) and one of: Written Language (20 credits), Spoken Language (20 credits), Language Testing Principles (20 credits). This equals a total credit transfer of 30 credits towards this 180-credit degree.
Are you considering a Masters’ degree in a TEFL or related field? Like me, are you confused by the options? The aim of this page is to centralise all my information from web searches in order to make comparisons easier.
The courses looked at so far include (not in any order of importance):
However, this information will not give you the proper ‘flavour’ of a course. Hearsay tells me that one of the most important aspects of the courses is the materials and teacher support. What other ‘intangibles’ might there be, I wonder? So do not rely on this page, but follow the provided links and have a look for yourself.
Would you like to make any contributions, please leave a comment.
For those who have a DELTA
You can get credits towards your MA. See this ih link for more information.
Further searching the Cambridge DELTA pages showed up this table.
Sheffield Hallam
Sheffield Hallam
Lancaster
Lancaster (testing)
Manchester
Manchester
Programme modules: Watch these videos:
Learning materials:
Assessment and examinations: Usually consists of a written assignment of 3.500 words for a 15-credit course unit (double this word count for a 30-credit course unit). All assignments will be followed by both formative and summative feedback.
Participants can choose between a Mode A (or more traditional type) which can also be characterised as having of one of the following centres of gravity:
Mode B portfolio-type dissertations are very similar but in the latter the materials produced are close to being in a publishable format.
Duration: 3 Years Distance
Entry requirements:
Material Requirements:
Fees: The 2008 FT onsite fee is £3,300 for home/EU* students and £10,500 for international students. For PT onsite, the fee is £1,650 and the Distance Learning fee is £1,660 per year.
Start Dates:
DELTA Exemption: ?
Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Programme modules:
Core Units:
Electives: choose three over the total course.
Learning materials: You will be provided with course booklets for each unit of the course in hard copy and/or CD format. Learning will be supported by online student discussion boards with tutor input, complemented by individual email discussion with course tutors. Where you are grouped in a particular geographical region, then additional support in the form of intensive face-to-face teaching in situ will be facilitated.
You are required to have access to and to be competent in the operation of the following:
Additional learning materials will be provided in the case of certain units, such as key textbooks or databases (e.g. the British National Corpus). In addition, you will be entitled to open an Athens account with the University Library, which will enable access to elctronic books and journals.
Assessment and examinations:
Duration: 2 years
Fees: Quoted from the Humanities Admissions Centre
“Fees for our distance learning courses for 2007-8 are on a per 15-credit unit basis:
There are 12 units in total to complete the MA, including a dissertation which is worth 60 credits and charged as 4 units.
You choose at the beginning of Semester 1 how many units you wish to take that semester and pay the appropriate fee for that number of units. At the start of Semester 2 you choose how many units you want to take for that semester and the summer and pay the appropriate fee for that number of units. Depending on how many units you choose to take in each semester you can take anything from 2 years up to 5 years to complete the full 12 units.”
Start Dates:
DELTA Exemption: 30 credits at M-level.
Oxford Brookes
Oxford Brookes
Programme modules:
Compulsory
Optional
Dissertation (60 credits)
Learning materials:
Assessment and examinations:
Duration: Very flexible one, two or three years, online and on campus.
Entry requirements:
Material Requirements:
Fees: For students entering the part time programme in 2008/09 the tuition cost is £340 (GBP) per module for UK and EU students.
Start Dates:
DELTA Exemption: From 40 to 60 M-level credits from 180 M credits required – total depends on the pathway the student follows.
Aston
Aston: Click on the Aston link to read the excellent introduction to the course.
Quotations from the site include: “we pride ourselves on the speed and quality of our responses to participants” and:
“what we try to keep in mind at all times is that there are few things in distance education more frustrating and upsetting than sitting alone, thousands of miles away from an institution, waiting for someone there to get back to you with a response to a concern that has been nagging away at your peace of mind for weeks on end.”
Programme modules:
Modules available on the MSc – there is a lot of reading here, so I have simply given the links for brevity.
Learning materials:
Assessment and examinations:
MA TEFL All assessment is by written assignment, except for Teaching in Practice where teaching performance will also be assessed. Participants choose their own assignment titles, under the guidance of module tutors.
MA Applied Linguistics The taught modules are assessed by written examination or extended essay. The taught element of the programme is complemented by a 15,000 word dissertation leading to the award of the MA.
Duration: Each 20 credit module = 100 (study) hours, but further study and assignment writing will add extra hours to this. Total “learning hours†per module is calculated as the sum of study hours (100), reflection time (50), and action (50). This produces a total learning time for the MSc of 1800 hours
Entry requirements:
Material Requirements:
Fees: Contact Virginia Soriano-Chico Postgraduate Programmes Coordinator
Start Dates: October
DELTA Exemption: 20 credits. (tbc)
Surrey
Surrey
Core Programme modules: MA in Linguistics (TESOL) Curriculum Development, Evaluation, & Change and Language Teaching Methodology; Second Language Acquisition & Pedagogic Grammar; Discourse Analysis & Sociolinguistics; Phonetics & Testing.
Optional modules: Bilingualism; Computers and Applied Linguistics; English Language Teaching Management; Learner Independence; Literature; Statistics and Empirical Research Methods; Scientific English; Language Typology; Written Genres.
Core Programme modules: MSc in ELT Management ELT Management; Syllabus Design; Introduction to Business and Finance in ELT; Human Resource Management in ELT; Language Teaching Methodology; Marketing; Research Methods and Decision-Making in Business; Language Testing.
Optional modules: Discourse Analysis; Pedagogic Grammar; Phonetics; Second Language Acquisition; Sociolinguistics.
Learning materials:
Assessment and examinations: The final requirement is a 10,000 – 12,000 word dissertation. Core modules assessment has two parts: an assignment of 4,000-4,500 words, and research task or practical exercise of 1,000-1,500 words. Options are assessed by a shorter assignment of 2,500-3,000 words. For all work the pass mark is 50%. A pass at Distinction level is awarded for a mark of 70% or above.
Duration: Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma and MA stages.
Entry requirements:
Material Requirements:
Fees:
Start Dates: October/March
Staff: Jonathan Charteris-Black (Head of group), Fiona Doloughan, Smiljka Gee (Postgraduate programmes director), Charles Mann
DELTA Exemption: none. (tbc)
University of East London
University of East London: MA English Language Teaching (ELT) by distance learning online
Programme modules: Strong practıcal emphasis in all modules. Modules include:
Learning materials: Each module consists of reading and self-check and interactive tasks. In addition to online discussions, which involve the module tutor on a weekly basis, you also have access to the module tutor via online tutorials.
Assessment and examinations: Dissertation and the written assignments for each module. Modules are assessed by assignment (either two assignments of 2,500 words, or one assignment of 5,000 words).
The research methods training is an integral part of the dissertation and forms part of the overall assessment. This assessment takes the form of a draft dissertation proposal, which may be modified in consultation with the dissertation supervisor, and against which the final dissertation will be considered.
The dissertation is a major piece of work and consists of 20,000 words, excluding appendices and bibliography.
Duration: The MA is part-time over two years, although some students may wish to take longer – in which case modules may be spread over five years in consultation with the programme leader.
Entry requirements: MA English Language Teaching. Intermediate awards available: Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate.
Material Requirements: Expected fees are academic year 2008/9 are £760 per 30-credit module. This will affect all students.
Fees: Expected fees are academic year 2008/9 are £760 per 30-credit module. This will affect all students.
Start Dates: February / September.
DELTA Exemption: none
Warwick
?
Nottingham
“Unlike some other universities’ distance learning courses, (…) a personal sense of individual tutor’s ‘voices’ in our course material, in order to preserve the experience of studying with ‘the Nottingham School’. Tutors will answer any questions you may have, will guide you through the course, will assess your work and give you feedback on your studies. The course convenor has overall responsibility for all the different modules, and will act as another point of contact if you would prefer to talk to someone who is not your module tutor.”
Nottingham – Appied Linguistics
Nottingham -MA ELT
Programme modules: More fully described here.
Obligatory:
Elective courses:
Choose 90 credits worth…
Learning materials: The course is taught using a course tool software called WebCT. It is also supported by extensive online resources, course materials and teaching. The study units on the web will consist of the following components:
Assessment and examinations: The above modules & a 12-15,000 word dissertation on a subject of your choice.
Duration: between 2 and 4 years
Material Requirements:
Fees:
Total cost = £5580 for the whole MA
Individual modules are available on a ‘pay-as-you-learn’ basis.
Start Dates: September, January or March
DELTA Exemption: Exemption of one 30-credit core module.
“The programme is recognised by the ESRC and offers an excellent route towards pursuing a PhD”
Leicester
Leicester
Programme modules:
Learning materials: On campus teaching is seminar-based, with tutorial support. The DL course uses both e-learning and some paper-based materials. Students are encouraged to develop their transferable skills, including IT and oral presentation.
Assessment and examinations: Assessment is through essays and some tests and project work.
Duration: One year full-time or two years part-time. The MA in TESOL and Applied Linguistics will be offered through campus-based and/or distance learning.
Material Requirements:
Fees: 5000GBP
Start Dates:
DELTA Exemption: Exemption on first module.
Reading
Reading
Programme modules:
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
Dissertation Track – 3 modules from the following list; Taught Track – 6 modules from the following list:
Students must choose 3 option modules (each of 20 credits) if following the Dissertation Track, and 6 option modules (each of 20 credits) if following the Taught Track, to make a total of 180 credits when combined with the other course modules and the dissertation (where relevant).
Learning materials: Students communicate with staff and each other online, through e-mail and Blackboard (our Virtual Learning Environment). All materials needed to pass the course (Taught Track) are provided in the form of specially written module materials (with tasks for students to complete), core textbooks and Module Readers. Dissertation Track students need access to a good English language teaching library at this stage of their study.
Assessment and examinations: Assessment is by assignment and two examinations, which students arrange to take in their country of residence.
Duration: Distance students are expected to study for 12-15 hours per week. The course can be completed in between two and five years, with a recommended length of three years: one year for five compulsory modules, the second for 3 options and the third for another three options (for taught -track – see Course Content below) or the dissertation. Students can ‘speed up’ their period of study by coming on campus to study, but campus-based study is not a requirement.
Material Requirements:
Fees: The fee for the academic year 2007/2008 is £350 for 10 credits. Payment may be made in a total of six instalments over the whole course.
Start Dates: November and May
DELTA Exemption: Language Curriculum Design (10 credits) and one of: Written Language (20 credits), Spoken Language (20 credits), Language Testing Principles (20 credits). This equals a total credit transfer of 30 credits towards this 180-credit degree.
Essex
Essex
There are many other courses on offer, for example:
Programme modules:
Compulsory:
Optional:
Plus, dissertation.
Learning materials: Is this only an on-site course?
Assessment and examinations:
Duration:
Entry requirements:
Material Requirements:
Fees: The standard fees for taught MA postgraduate courses appears to be: £3240.
Start Dates:
DELTA Exemption: none
If you have studied, or are studying on any of these courses, I would love to hear from you before I take the plunge!
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