Enhance your career prospects with an internationally recognised post-graduate qualification in English language teaching from the UK

Why choose this course?

  • Developed collaboratively by the University of Southampton and the British Council, it offers postgraduate- level study in key areas of current theory and practice in applied linguistics and English language teaching.
  • This course makes use of the latest developments in technological design and is delivered by an experienced team of e-tutors through an online distance-learning environment.
  • Students engage in online discussion and use interactive multimedia course materials including lectures and podcasts by internationally renowned staff from the University of Southampton.
  • Students have access to the University library and its stock of e-books and journals online.
  • The programme structure involves two years of taught assessed modules and a final semester spent undertaking research and writing a dissertation. Take this course and you will:
  • Take part in online discussions with internationally renowned staff from the University of Southampton Learn through using interactive multimedia course materials including lectures and podcasts Have access to the University library and its stock of e-books and journals online Gain the skills and knowledge you need to take on leadership roles in ELT.

Find out more or contact us at MastersELTonline@britishcouncil.org

“The MA in ELT online prepares you during four semesters with ideas to identify your area of interest which in my case was developing the speaking skill of my students. The programme fulfilled my dream of studying in a prestigious British University.” Kenya Melissa Hernández Trejo, MA in ELT graduate, 2015.

Information about the Programme

Qualifications and typical entry requirements

  •  Degree: a good first degree in language or other relevant discipline, plus two years’ relevant experience related to English language teaching.
  • International students must meet the English Requirement of Southampton University (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent).
  • A university application with transcripts and personal statement must be provided.

Programme Structure

This programme is divided into 180 credits with 120 credits obtained from taught modules and the remaining 60 credits from the dissertation.

Course content

Learning and teaching

Students can expect a weekly commitment of 10 to 12 hours of online study, chatroom seminars and online forums, supported by 10 hours of private study. The course concludes with a 15,000-20,000 word dissertation.

Modules of the MA programme:

  • Language Analysis for Teaching: Covers all language analysis for the teaching and learning of English.
  • Principles of Communicative Language Teaching: Explores the context, methods and approaches of communicative language teaching.
  • A Critical Appraisal of Language Teaching Methodologies: A comparison and evaluation of different teaching and learning approaches and methods.
  • E-learning for English Language Teaching: To understand and develop Insight and skills in all aspects of e-learning, tutoring and moderation.
  • English as a World Language: Exploring the place and role of English as a world language.
  •  Discourse Analysis: The study of various approaches to analyzing written and spoken language use.
  • Second Language Learning: Exploring second language acquisition (SLA) and use.
  •  Research skills for Dissertation: Introduction to a range of research approaches relevant to dissertation study.
  •  Dissertation: Supervised 15,000 a 20,000 word dissertation research.

External links