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Overview
Learn how to teach English as a global language on this Master's in TESOL degree. You'll develop practical English language teaching skills, methodologies and techniques, and study the latest research-backed methods for effectively teaching English to speakers of other languages.
With this TESOL Master's degree, you'll become prepared to inspire students worldwide and find yourself ready for career opportunities both locally and internationally. As English continues to grow as the world's lingua franca, your specialised training will be highly valued by schools, universities, businesses and organisations in need of qualified English instructors.
You can study in a way that fits around your existing professional and personal commitments by choosing between full-time, part-time, campus-based or distance learning options. If you study full-time on campus, you can also choose to spend a year building professional teaching experience on placement.
Whether you want to teach in your local community or travel abroad to teach English, this course will give you the skills to positively impact students across diverse cultures through English language education.
Want to study with a work placement?
You can also study for this MA TESOL and spend time building professional experience.
In addition, if you are interested in gaining an internationally recognised teaching qualification, you can apply to take the Trinity College London Certificate in TESOL (CertTESOL) alongside your MA.
This option is subject to passing an additional entry test and interview after you start your studies.
By integrating the Trinity CertTESOL within the MA TESOL, you can work towards TEFLQ (Teaching English as a Foreign Language Qualified) status, a widely recognised professional benchmark in English language teaching that signals to employers you have both advanced academic knowledge and accredited practical teaching training.
Looking to explore linguistic theories and uses of language in teaching and beyond?
You may be interested in our MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL.
Or, prefer to focus on a broader study of language, including its use in social, professional and legal contexts?
You can also choose to study our MA in Applied Linguistics.
MA TESOL | University of Portsmouth
Peter Watkins
Students want to study a course like this because they have ambition - a desire to go into teaching.
Oliver
University of Portsmouth offers a lot of opportunities to expand practical knowledge, also on your theoretical knowledge.
Mario Saraceni
There's an element of advancing their career as well.
Peter Watkins
MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages gives people the foundation for building a career in English language teaching -
Mario Saraceni
both online by distance or campus based.
Oliver
They offer you the opportunity to do a English language teaching project or do a dissertation so it gives you the freedom to make your own style of learning.
Peter Watkins
The course covers a range of topics.
Mario Saraceni
‘How do you go about developing materials for teaching?’
Peter Watkins
‘How you teach grammar and vocabulary and reading, writing, speaking, listening.’ It is a course that's aimed at teachers who don't have much experience or perhaps no experience. We would expect most of our students to either be aiming to go into the teaching profession, English language teaching, or perhaps to already be teachers and be looking to develop their knowledge and experience further.
Oliver
I did my undergraduate degree here at University of Portsmouth and I really enjoyed it. So after I'd taught for a little while afterwards, I thought where best to come back and do my master's qualification?
Mario Saraceni
After they finish their degree, students have gone on to teach English in Japan, China, Thailand and Indonesia and in other parts of the world as well.
Peter Watkins
So the facilities we've got at university are obviously varied according to whether you do the course face to face or online. For our distance learners, we've got really good online facilities. We've built up really good resources, modern resources ,for teaching. Here actually in Portsmouth, we're very lucky. We've got modern classrooms, we've got everything networked. We've got a lovely physical library that students can use and sports facilities, which is very popular with students.
Oliver
Portsmouth has lovely nightlife. You have the beach that you can go to. There's never really a dull moment in Portsmouth.
Mario Saraceni
And so this is one of the main reasons why it's a really good idea to come and study with us.
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsEntry requirements
September 2026 / January 2027 start
- A 2:2 honours degree or equivalent.
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.
To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification.
- Some teaching experience is desirable, but not an expectation.
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.5.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English speaking country
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees (September 2026 / January 2027 start)
- Full-time: £9,700
(optional placement year: £2,000) - Part-time: £4,850 per year
- Full-time (distance learning): £9,700
- Part-time (distance learning - 2 years): £4,850 per year
- Part-time (distance learning - 3 years): £3,230 per year
- Full-time: £18,600
(optional placement year: £3,000) - Part-time: £9,300 per year
- Full-time (distance learning): £9,700
- Part-time (distance learning - 2 years): £4,850 per year
- Part-time (distance learning - 3 years): £3,230 per year
If you're an EU student you may be eligible to receive our EU Scholarship.
Modules
Full-time
Core modules
Through critical analysis and reflection, you’ll discover how key psychological concepts and theories relate to real-world language learning and teaching environments, including your own contexts.
You’ll learn about factors such as teacher and learner beliefs, emotions and identities that influence language learning and teaching. You’ll then use these insights to address issues and challenges informed by psychological theory and research.
Through practical tasks like lesson planning, material use, and micro-teaching, you’ll build essential skills for designing and delivering effective English lessons.
You’ll learn to plan lessons, design targeted activities, scaffold tasks, and guide structured writing, while building confidence through interactive sessions and small-group micro-teaching.
By building your language expertise, you'll gain critical evaluation skills and blend theoretical insights into practical knowledge.
Optional modules
You’ll explore leading theories and models explaining successful language learning, considering how individual differences intersect with social, cultural and linguistic environments.
You’ll reflect on your own unique language journey to help you rethink teaching practices. Gain tools to evaluate multilingual language policies and program design grounded in evidence-based best practices for dual language, ELL and foreign language education contexts.
You'll consider both what we know about how people learn languages and the practical considerations determined by the context in which the classroom teaching happens.
You'll learn about planning activities, lessons and courses for a variety of situations, as well as strategies for motivating learners.
You'll develop a proposal, choose appropriate methods, and carry out in-depth research, building your skills in critical inquiry and independent study.
Part-time on campus
Core modules
Through practical tasks like lesson planning, material use, and micro-teaching, you’ll build essential skills for designing and delivering effective English lessons.
You’ll learn to plan lessons, design targeted activities, scaffold tasks, and guide structured writing, while building confidence through interactive sessions and small-group micro-teaching.
Core modules
By building your language expertise, you'll gain critical evaluation skills and blend theoretical insights into practical knowledge.
Through critical analysis and reflection, you’ll discover how key psychological concepts and theories relate to real-world language learning and teaching environments, including your own contexts.
You’ll learn about factors such as teacher and learner beliefs, emotions and identities that influence language learning and teaching. You’ll then use these insights to address issues and challenges informed by psychological theory and research.
Optional modules
You’ll explore leading theories and models explaining successful language learning, considering how individual differences intersect with social, cultural and linguistic environments.
You’ll reflect on your own unique language journey to help you rethink teaching practices. Gain tools to evaluate multilingual language policies and program design grounded in evidence-based best practices for dual language, ELL and foreign language education contexts.
You'll consider both what we know about how people learn languages and the practical considerations determined by the context in which the classroom teaching happens.
You'll learn about planning activities, lessons and courses for a variety of situations, as well as strategies for motivating learners.
You'll develop a proposal, choose appropriate methods, and carry out in-depth research, building your skills in critical inquiry and independent study.
Full-time with professional experience
Core modules
Through practical tasks like lesson planning, material use, and micro-teaching, you’ll build essential skills for designing and delivering effective English lessons.
You’ll learn to plan lessons, design targeted activities, scaffold tasks, and guide structured writing, while building confidence through interactive sessions and small-group micro-teaching.
Through critical analysis and reflection, you’ll discover how key psychological concepts and theories relate to real-world language learning and teaching environments, including your own contexts.
You’ll learn about factors such as teacher and learner beliefs, emotions and identities that influence language learning and teaching. You’ll then use these insights to address issues and challenges informed by psychological theory and research.
By building your language expertise, you'll gain critical evaluation skills and blend theoretical insights into practical knowledge.
Optional modules
You’ll explore leading theories and models explaining successful language learning, considering how individual differences intersect with social, cultural and linguistic environments.
You’ll reflect on your own unique language journey to help you rethink teaching practices. Gain tools to evaluate multilingual language policies and program design grounded in evidence-based best practices for dual language, ELL and foreign language education contexts.
You'll consider both what we know about how people learn languages and the practical considerations determined by the context in which the classroom teaching happens.
You'll learn about planning activities, lessons and courses for a variety of situations, as well as strategies for motivating learners.
You'll develop a proposal, choose appropriate methods, and carry out in-depth research, building your skills in critical inquiry and independent study.
Core module
With support from our Placement and Careers teams, you’ll be responsible for securing your own professional experience opportunity - whether it's an internship or work placement.
You'll develop professional connections and employability skills while preparing for life after your degree.
Full-time (distance learning)
Core modules
Through critical analysis and reflection, you’ll discover how key psychological concepts and theories relate to real-world language learning and teaching environments, including your own contexts.
You’ll learn about factors such as teacher and learner beliefs, emotions and identities that influence language learning and teaching. You’ll then use these insights to address issues and challenges informed by psychological theory and research.
Through hands-on activities and micro-teaching, you'll connect TESOL theory to practice, develop lesson plans, deliver lessons, and learn to use classroom materials effectively.
You’ll learn to plan lessons, design targeted activities, scaffold tasks, and guide structured writing, while building confidence through interactive sessions and small-group micro-teaching.
You’ll develop principled frameworks for evaluating and writing language learning materials, drawing on theories of second language acquisition.
Discover a range of approaches to materials analysis, evaluation and writing and learn how to select appropriate approaches according to the teaching context.
Optional modules
You’ll explore leading theories and models explaining successful language learning, considering how individual differences intersect with social, cultural and linguistic environments.
You’ll reflect on your own unique language journey to help you rethink teaching practices. Gain tools to evaluate multilingual language policies and program design grounded in evidence-based best practices for dual language, ELL and foreign language education contexts.
You'll consider both what we know about how people learn languages and the practical considerations determined by the context in which the classroom teaching happens.
You'll learn about planning activities, lessons and courses for a variety of situations, as well as strategies for motivating learners.
From developing a proposal to choosing research methods and conducting independent study, you’ll strengthen your skills in inquiry, analysis, and academic writing.
Part-time distance learning (2 years)
Core modules
Through hands-on activities and micro-teaching, you'll connect TESOL theory to practice, develop lesson plans, deliver lessons, and learn to use classroom materials effectively.
You’ll learn to plan lessons, design targeted activities, scaffold tasks, and guide structured writing, while building confidence through interactive sessions and small-group micro-teaching.
Core modules
Through critical analysis and reflection, you’ll discover how key psychological concepts and theories relate to real-world language learning and teaching environments, including your own contexts.
You’ll learn about factors such as teacher and learner beliefs, emotions and identities that influence language learning and teaching. You’ll then use these insights to address issues and challenges informed by psychological theory and research.
You’ll develop principled frameworks for evaluating and writing language learning materials, drawing on theories of second language acquisition.
Discover a range of approaches to materials analysis, evaluation and writing and learn how to select appropriate approaches according to the teaching context.
Optional modules
You’ll explore leading theories and models explaining successful language learning, considering how individual differences intersect with social, cultural and linguistic environments.
You’ll reflect on your own unique language journey to help you rethink teaching practices. Gain tools to evaluate multilingual language policies and program design grounded in evidence-based best practices for dual language, ELL and foreign language education contexts.
You'll consider both what we know about how people learn languages and the practical considerations determined by the context in which the classroom teaching happens.
You'll learn about planning activities, lessons and courses for a variety of situations, as well as strategies for motivating learners.
From developing a proposal to choosing research methods and conducting independent study, you’ll strengthen your skills in inquiry, analysis, and academic writing.
Part-time distance learning (3 years)
Core modules
Through hands-on activities and micro-teaching, you'll connect TESOL theory to practice, develop lesson plans, deliver lessons, and learn to use classroom materials effectively.
You’ll learn to plan lessons, design targeted activities, scaffold tasks, and guide structured writing, while building confidence through interactive sessions and small-group micro-teaching.
Core modules
Through critical analysis and reflection, you’ll discover how key psychological concepts and theories relate to real-world language learning and teaching environments, including your own contexts.
You’ll learn about factors such as teacher and learner beliefs, emotions and identities that influence language learning and teaching. You’ll then use these insights to address issues and challenges informed by psychological theory and research.
You’ll develop principled frameworks for evaluating and writing language learning materials, drawing on theories of second language acquisition.
Discover a range of approaches to materials analysis, evaluation and writing and learn how to select appropriate approaches according to the teaching context.
Optional modules
You’ll explore leading theories and models explaining successful language learning, considering how individual differences intersect with social, cultural and linguistic environments.
You’ll reflect on your own unique language journey to help you rethink teaching practices. Gain tools to evaluate multilingual language policies and program design grounded in evidence-based best practices for dual language, ELL and foreign language education contexts.
You'll consider both what we know about how people learn languages and the practical considerations determined by the context in which the classroom teaching happens.
You'll learn about planning activities, lessons and courses for a variety of situations, as well as strategies for motivating learners.
From developing a proposal to choosing research methods and conducting independent study, you’ll strengthen your skills in inquiry, analysis, and academic writing.
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
How to apply
Extra information for international students
If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.
You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.
If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Ready to apply?
Start this course in September 2026
On-campus
Apply now (2 years full-time with placement)
Distance learning
Apply now (full-time) - 1 year
Start this course in January 2027
On-campus
Apply now (2 years full-time with placement)
Distance learning
Apply now (full-time) - 1 year
After you apply
Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.
You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.
Learn more about how we assess your application.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.