TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) (Distance)

PgCert

  • Entry year 2025
  • Duration Part time 1 year
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Overview

Take your Postgraduate Certificate in TESOL in one of the best Linguistics Departments in the world. We are placed 3rd in the QS World Rankings 2024.

This course is suitable for prospective and experienced language teachers and language professionals who have an interest in second language learning and teaching in classroom contexts and at wider national and international levels.

The programme gives you the opportunity to develop a solid understanding of second language learning theories, language teaching pedagogies and classroom-based research. We aim to equip you with up-to-date knowledge and skills that will enable you to work in a variety of language teaching contexts. The programme is entirely web-based and allows you to focus your coursework on issues and problems pertinent to your own professional contexts.

During the course, you will work together with fellow students from different parts of the world in a supportive online learning environment.

On successful completion, this course allows progression to one of our Master level courses: MA in TESOL with Language Testing (one year teaching / assessment experience is required) or MA in TESOL with Corpus Linguistics (no teaching experience is required).

Careers

This course will prepare you for careers that include:

  • Language teacher
  • Language support assistant / coordinator
  • Developer of language teaching materials

MA TESOL distance learning postgraduate courses at Lancaster

Our distance learning postgraduate courses are aimed at those wishing to enhance their careers by learning flexibly – from home, work, or wherever and whenever is convenient. Our MA in TESOL programmes offer the opportunity to specialise in an additional area of study, Language Testing and Corpus Linguistics.

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Entry requirements

Academic Requirements

2:1 Hons degree in a related subject is normally required. We will also consider applications where you have a degree in other subjects, have a 2:2 or equivalent result and/or extensive relevant experience. In these cases, you should clearly demonstrate how your experience and skills have prepared you for postgraduate study.

If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.

Additional Requirements

We accredit the Diploma in English Language Teaching (DELTA) qualification or equivalent (e.g. Level 7 Diploma in TESOL) as prior learning. It counts 20 credits and exempts students from LING531, Trends and Issues in Language Teaching Methodology. Applicants whose prior learning is accredited receive a 10% reduction in fees. Students need to request accreditation at the point of application to the programme. Credit will be awarded for learning that has taken place within the last five years immediately prior to the start of the course. Credit may also be awarded in cases where a TESOL qualification has been awarded more than five years ago but where the applicant can provide evidence that their learning has continued in a professional or similar context since then.

English Language Requirements

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.5 in reading and writing and 6.0 in listening and speaking. We also consider other English language qualifications.

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Pre-master’s programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master’s pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master’s degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Course structure

You will study a range of modules as part of your course, some examples of which are listed below.

Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, but changes may be necessary, for example as a result of student feedback, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes, and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Core

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Fees and funding

1 year programme

  Year 1 (60 credits)
Home £3,900
International £3,900

Cost per 20 credit Module (2025-26)

  • Home £1,300
  • International £1,300

General fees and funding information

Additional fees and funding information accordion

Scholarships and bursaries

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

If you're considering postgraduate research you should look at our funded PhD opportunities.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Important Information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

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