| UCAS code | 1234 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 year full time |
| Entry year | September 2025 |
| Campus | St Luke's Campus |
| Discipline | Education and Teacher Training |
| Contact |
| Typical offer | 2:2 Honours degree |
|---|---|
Overview
- Aimed at qualified teachers and others who work in TESOL at either primary, secondary or tertiary levels in different educational contexts around the world
- We offer opportunities for existing teaching practitioners seeking to develop their professional skills and one for those wanting to enter a career in language teaching
- Develop your understanding of key aspects of linguistics and learning theory and their influence on the teaching of English to speakers of other languages
- You will benefit from small class sizes and working closely with our academic staff and your fellow students
- You’ll join a multicultural and multilingual environment with students from across the world such as China, Mexico, USA, South Korea, Japan and Thailand
Top 150 in the world for Education
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024
100% of our Education research has internationally excellent impact
Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
Home to one of the largest Education libraries in the UK
Top 150 in the world for Education
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024
100% of our Education research has internationally excellent impact
Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
Home to one of the largest Education libraries in the UK
Entry requirements
We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree with 53% or above in language- or education-related disciplines. While we normally only accept applicants who meet this criteria, if you are coming from a different academic background which is equivalent to degree level, or have relevant teaching experience, we would welcome your application.
Entry requirements for international students
English language requirements
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.
Course content
The MEd TESOL has international recognition and is seen as an important professional qualification worldwide to enable TESOL teachers to enhance their career prospects. At Exeter, depending on the modules taken, completion of the MEd TESOL can help you to move into new areas within TESOL such as teacher education and training, English for Special Purposes, curriculum development, and the teaching of English to young learners.
The programme will:
- develop and extend your understanding of key aspects of linguistics and learning theory and their influence on the teaching of English to speakers of other languages
- enable you to make informed, professional decisions regarding language teaching in the workplace and justify these to others
- enable you to select, adapt, and design materials and activities for language teaching
- enable you to investigate and research aspects of TESOL in ways that will support continuing development and practice as a foreign language teaching professional
What is the difference between a Master of Education, a Postgraduate Diploma and a Postgraduate Certificate?
To gain an MEd you must complete 180 credits of specified modules.
However, you may exit the programme early before completing 180 credits and still receive an award. These alternative awards are:
- If exiting the programme after completing 60 credits you will be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert).
- If exiting the programme after completing 120 credits you will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip).
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
120 credits of compulsory modules, and 60 credits of optional modules
Compulsory modules
Included withinin the 120 credits of core, students must choose one of the following two modules:
a - EFPM280 Developing Practical Knowledge for TESOL Teaching OR EFPM266 Principles of Language Learning for TESOL. Students with LESS than two years teaching experience must take EFPM280. Students with MORE than two years teaching experience take EFPM266.
b - You must pick ONE of EFPM329 or EFPM331
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EFPM333 | Analysing and Teaching Language Systems and Skills | 30 |
| EFPM280 | Developing Practical Knowledge for TESOL Teaching [See note a above] | 30 |
| EFPM266 | Principles of Language Learning for TESOL [See note a above] | 30 |
| EFPM329 | Preparing for TESOL Inquiry and Dissertation [See note b above] | 60 |
| EFPM331 | Preparing for Educational Inquiry Portfolio [See note b above] | 60 |
| EFPM200 | SoE Success for All | 0 |
Optional modules
Students may select any combination of option modules up to the maximum of 60 credits.
The availability of all modules is subject to timetable, staffing and other constraints, including financial viability as determined by student recruitment and fees. Module availability is thus subject to permission from the Director of Education.
For students attending the programme as part-time:
Option modules stage 180 credits of options are chosen from the list below
Option modules stage 2
30 further credits of options not already attempted are chosen from the list below
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EFPM311 | Principles and Practices of Curriculum Development and Syllabus Design | 15 |
| EFPM313 | Issues in English Language Teaching | 15 |
| EFPM292 | Bilingual and Multilingual Perspectives on Language Learning and Teaching | 15 |
| EFPM787 | Teaching English to Young Learners | 15 |
| EFPM835 | Foreign Language Testing and Assessment | 15 |
| EFPM837 | Teaching and Researching English for Academic Purposes | 15 |
| EFPM269 | Developing Language Teachers | 15 |
| EFPM330 | Technology, Learning and Pedagogy | 15 |
| EFPM334 | Learner Centred Education | 15 |
| EFPM335 | Teaching and learning vocabulary | 15 |
| EFPM838 | Transdisciplinary Collaborations for Creative Futures | 15 |
60 credits of compulsory modules, and 60 credits of option modules
Compulsory modules
Included withinin the 60 credits of core, students must choose one of the following two modules:
a - EFPM280 Developing Practical Knowledge for TESOL Teaching OR EFPM266 Principles of Language Learning for TESOL. Students with LESS than two years teaching experience must take EFPM280. Students with MORE than two years teaching experience take EFPM266.
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EFPM333 | Analysing and Teaching Language Systems and Skills | 30 |
| EFPM280 | Developing Practical Knowledge for TESOL Teaching [See note a above] | 30 |
| EFPM266 | Principles of Language Learning for TESOL [See note a above] | 30 |
| EFPM200 | SoE Success for All | 0 |
| EFPM200 | SoE Success for All | 0 |
Optional modules
Students may select any combination of option modules up to the maximum of 60 credits.
The availability of all modules is subject to timetable, staffing and other constraints, including financial viability as determined by student recruitment and fees. Module availability is thus subject to permission from the Director of Education.
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EFPM835 | Foreign Language Testing and Assessment | 15 |
| EFPM787 | Teaching English to Young Learners | 15 |
| EFPM269 | Developing Language Teachers | 15 |
| EFPM330 | Technology, Learning and Pedagogy | 15 |
| EFPM311 | Principles and Practices of Curriculum Development and Syllabus Design | 15 |
| EFPM313 | Issues in English Language Teaching | 15 |
| EFPM837 | Teaching and Researching English for Academic Purposes | 15 |
| EFPM292 | Bilingual and Multilingual Perspectives on Language Learning and Teaching | 15 |
| EFPM334 | Learner Centred Education | 15 |
| EFPM335 | Teaching and learning vocabulary | 15 |
| EFPM838 | Transdisciplinary Collaborations for Creative Futures | 15 |
Stage 1: 60 credits of compulsory modules
Compulsory modules
Included withinin the 60 credits of core, students must choose one of the following two modules:
a - EFPM280 Developing Practical Knowledge for TESOL Teaching OR EFPM266 Principles of Language Learning for TESOL. Students with LESS than two years teaching experience must take EFPM280. Students with MORE than two years teaching experience take EFPM266.
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EFPM333 | Analysing and Teaching Language Systems and Skills | 30 |
| EFPM280 | Developing Practical Knowledge for TESOL Teaching [See note a above] | 30 |
| EFPM266 | Principles of Language Learning for TESOL [See note a above] | 30 |
| EFPM200 | SoE Success for All | 0 |
| EFPM200 | SoE Success for All | 0 |
Optional modules
There are no option modules for the PG Cert TESOL
Fees
2025/26 entry
UK fees per year
- MEd
- £10,700 full-time
- PGDip
- £7,800 full-time
- PGCert
- £4,200 full-time
International fees per year
- MEd
- £25,300 full-time
- PGDip
- £16,200 full-time
- PGCert
- £8,600 full-time
Hornby Trust Scholarship
The Hornby Trust is delighted to be partnering with the University of Exeter to offer funding to academically talented and experienced applicants to the MEd TESOL at the University who are nationals of and work in countries as defined as Least Developed, Low Income, Lower Middle Income, or Upper Middle Income according to the OECD DAC list.
The Hornby Education Trust prioritises capacity building for English language teaching in low- and middle-income countries. It awards Master’s degree scholarships to teachers and related professionals with experience and evidenced potential to impact and enhance the field of English language teaching and learning in their home country.
Find out more about the Hornby Trust scholarship »
Scholarships
The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships*.
For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
*Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.
Teaching and research
Teaching
The programme involves tutorials, seminars, group activities, workshops, collaborative dialogue, and lectures. Through these you’ll:
- learn key principles of teaching methodology
- learn how language could be taught in different learning contexts
- learn and understand how language is learned in an instructed and uninstructed environment
- develop language analysis and awareness skills, such as analysing grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and discourse.
Visiting Speakers
During the year, from time to time there will be talks by visiting speakers who are authorities in particular areas of Education.
Study Skills Classes
Classes are provided for language support study skills in terms 1 and 2 that will help you adjust to academic study. These classes are provided by INTO and, while optional, are strongly advised if English is not your first language (more information below).
An optional two-hour workshop is also provided in term 1 by the Education Quality and Enhancement unit on Critical reading and writing. This is open to all MEd students and is strongly recommended.
Writing support tutorials
In addition to the on-going one to one tutorial support you will receive from your lecturers throughout the year, you will also be able to seek additional one to one writing tutorial support from a tutor from INTO if English is not your first language, and from the Study Skills Service for those who have English as a first language.
Staff-student research seminars
A programme of seminars on researching various aspects of education takes place regularly throughout the year on lunchtimes and evenings. Many of these are given by visiting academics from other institutions. We also organise Research-Day events for MEd TESOL students to come over and present a snapshot of their masters dissertation topic to their tutors and classmates. You are welcome to attend any of these, but we will also highlight those we feel to be of particular interest or of relevance to your studies.
Research
Our programme is designed to relate theory to practice, allowing you to introduce effectively the knowledge, skills and understanding gained through our research-led modules into your professional work. You’ll get informed on a diverse range of research conducted by the TESOL staff on applied linguistics issues such as EAP, professional development, multilingualism, language skills and strategies, corpus linguistics, and discourse analysis.
Careers
A Masters in TESOL has international recognition and is seen as an important professional qualification worldwide to enable TESOL teachers to enhance their career prospects. It is often seen as an important entry qualification for educators who want to work at University level.
In addition, depending on the modules taken, completing the MEd TESOL can help you move into new areas such as:
- teacher education and training
- English for Special Purposes
- materials development
- teaching English to young learners
Our MEd also offers excellent preparation for progression to MPhil/PhD
Career support
We have a good track record of graduate employment, and employers visit the University when recruiting. The EF recruitment team have visited the University to talk to our TESOL students about teaching and learning English in Chinese private language organisations, and conducted on-campus interviews. We also regularly receive details of job opportunities from Turkish and Chinese universities who are looking for high-quality language teachers.
Careers support including skills training, internships, jobs vacancies, employment fairs and other events is available through the Career Zone.
