Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages - TESOL

Overview

Gain the skills to teach English to speakers of other languages and put your learning into practice with an overseas teaching placement.



Summary

Whether you are a qualified teacher or have no previous teaching experience, the MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at Ulster is designed to enhance your teaching and communication skills and explore how people from different cultures learn languages.



Ulster’s TESOL programme is the only master's level TESOL course in the UK which offers an overseas teaching placement.



You will have the opportunity to complete a placement in Gyor, Hungary, and teach English to non-native speakers, in either a state primary or secondary school.



About

Offered on both a full-time and part-time basis, the MA TESOL at Ulster is an exciting programme for individuals who wish to develop their teaching ability and knowledge about language.



You will study both the theory and practice of teaching, from classroom management to syllabus design, and gain the expertise and confidence to teach English in a variety of settings to students from across the globe.



Throughout the programme you will enhance your creativity and learn to adapt your teaching style and approach in order to effectively support a range of learners, with consideration to ethical and cultural differences.



You will also improve your research skills which will enable you to further your knowledge, particularly when completing the dissertation component of the MA, on a topic of your choice.



Employability is embedded within the programme design. A unique feature of the course is the eight-week ERASMUS-funded teaching placement in Hungary. This offers an authentic environment where you will have the opportunity to put your learning into practice.



Work placement / study abroad

This exciting MA in TESOL includes a teaching practice placement. You can opt to do the placement with one of our Northern Irish partners or overseas, with one of our partner schools in Gyor, Hungary. In Northern Ireland, there are opportunities to work in primary, secondary, further education colleges, private language schools and higher education whilst in Hungary our partner schools offer placements in primary or secondary schools.



TESOL student teachers teach during semester two, normally starting in February and finishing just before the Easter holidays.



There are extra costs involved in going to Hungary, however, you can apply for ERASMUS funding of 370.00 Euro per month which can cover accommodation and subsistence costs. You teach in Gyor, which is a beautiful central European city located midway between Budapest and Vienna. Our students teach in primary or secondary schools and are supported by Hungarian host teachers and staff of the university who stay in Gyor for that purpose. We need at least eight students to sign up for the teaching practice placement in Hungary in order for it to run. Where students take up the overseas option, there may well be additional funding provided by the University to help towards travel.

Full-Time Programme

Year One

English Language Teaching Methodology

Teaching Practice

Language, Learning and Acquisition

Knowledge About Language

Research Methods for TESOL

Dissertation

Research Project



Part-Time Programme

Year One

English Language Teaching Methodology

Knowledge About Language



Year Two

Teaching Practice I

Teaching Practice II

Language, Learning and Acquisition

Research Methods for TESOL

Dissertation

A second class honours degree from a University of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from an institution of another country which is recognised as being of an equivalent standard; and evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent).



A satisfactory criminal record check from your country of residence.



See https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants for further information.



English Language Requirements

English language requirements for international applicants

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.



Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

Attendance

MA full-time: normally 4 days per week in semester one; 3 days per week (6 weeks) plus 8 weeks teaching practice in sem 2; followed by independent study for the dissertation during semester three (summer semester). This can be done at a distance.



MA part-time: Year 1: normally, 2 days per week in semester one, 4 weeks teaching practice semester 2. Year 2: normally, 2 days per week in semester one, and 4 weeks teaching practice in semester two. This is followed by independent study for the dissertation during semester three (summer semester) and during semester one and two of year 3. This can be done at a distance.

Start Date: September 2025

Career options

Graduates of this programme have gained work as English language teachers in private language schools, further education colleges, universities and schools in the UK, Ireland and in many countries all over the world. Some have progressed to work in EAL related fields, others to doctoral study whilst others have got jobs as on-line English language teachers or developer of online language teaching resources. Students have gone on to work in teaching related areas: for example, developers of online English language teaching materials; whilst some of the students use their qualification to work for charities abroad in developing countries.