phd in tefl

English Education PhD

Doctor of philosophy (75 points).

The primary purpose of the doctoral programs in English Education at Teachers College is to advance knowledge relevant to the teaching and learning of English and to prepare expert teachers of English for careers as scholars, researchers, and teacher educators in the field of English education. ​​ The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program in English Education is open to a wide array of scholarly interests and thrives on the diversity of backgrounds and experiences students bring with them. As a Ph.D. student, you will become conversant with the principal theories, research methods, and pedagogical traditions of the field of English education. The degree program leads to an original research project culminating in the development of a scholarly dissertation that contributes to knowledge in the field. Graduates often take up research careers in universities or other educational institutions upon completion of their Ph.D. 

Experiences and Exposures: 

• World-class faculty come together with a collaborative group of students from around the world to critically engage with theoretical and pedagogical stances that underpin English Education. 
• Engagement in the scholarly community via coursework, research experiences, and opportunities to write and present at scholarly conferences. 
• Supported by faculty mentors, students take on individual exploration of enquiries and conduct original research into issues of critical importance to the field of English Education.

Final Admissions Deadline:  January 15th

The final deadline for doctoral program applications is January 15th (with a December 1st as a priority deadline).

If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to a faculty member regarding the admissions process for this program.

Admissions Information

Displaying requirements for the Spring 2024, Summer 2024, and Fall 2024 terms.

Doctor of Philosophy

• Points/Credits: 75
• Entry Terms: Fall Only

Application Deadlines

• Spring: N/A
• Summer/Fall (Priority): December 1
• Summer/Fall (Final): January 15

Supplemental Application Requirements/Comments

• Online Degree Application , including Statement of Purpose and Resume
• Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed
• Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable)
• $75 Application Fee
• Three (3) Letters of Recommendation, one (1) of which must be academic
• Academic Writing Sample
• Three to five (3-5) years full-time teaching experience is expected

Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2023-2024)

Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 terms.

View Full Catalog Listing

Doctor of Philosophy in English Ed

The Doctor of Philosophy (75 credits) degree is designed to prepare candidates for positions in higher education as teachers and researchers whose scholarly activity is focused on the theoretical, philosophical, and pedagogical questions that define English education as a discipline for teaching and inquiry.

Required courses for ALL English Education/Teaching of English doctoral candidates:

A&HE 5510 Seminar in Foundational Texts 1 

A&HE 5504 Research Paper: Teaching of English (co-requisite with A&HE 5149)A&HE 5149 Writing Research: Methods and Assumptions (co-requisite with A&HE 5504)

A&HE 6504 Doctoral Seminar: Teaching of English

A&HE 7504 Dissertation Seminar: Teaching of English

A&HE 8904 Dissertation Advisement in the Teaching of English

A range of electives in literary and rhetorical studies

Four research methods courses for a total of at least 12 credits. It is recommended that candidates include at least two of the following:

A&HE 5150 Research in Practice

A&HE 5160 Qualitative Methodologies & Theoretical Frameworks

A&HE 6151 Narrative Research in English Education

A&HE 6152 Advanced Narrative Research in English Education

Students may also satisfy the requirement for research methods courses by completing approved courses in other programs and departments across the College.

Credit Requirements and Transfer Credits for the Ph.D. in English Education

The number of courses students take depends in part on the number of credits students transfer from previous graduate work at Teachers College. Students working toward the Ph.D. degree (75 credits) may transfer a maximum of 30 credits and will thus complete at least 45 credits while in the Ph.D. program. Approval of transfer of credits is always at the discretion of the advisor.

Coursework Restrictions

An academic advisor must approve all coursework in a student’s program plan, especially to ensure enforcement of the following College and Departmental policies:

No course that is “R” (attendance) credit or that is “P” (pass/fail) may be counted toward the Ph.D. aside from A&HE 6504 and A&HE 7504.

Students must consult their academic advisors when they undertake an independent study, an internship, fieldwork courses, or graduate courses in other colleges (usually GSAS) of Columbia University or at other universities within the Inter-University Doctoral Consortium.

Doctoral students are generally discouraged from taking 4000-level courses and must consult with their academic advisors before registering for these courses.

Candidates should take a minimum of two courses outside the English Education Program (Courses not designated A&HE).

Doctoral Program Milestones Program Plan

During their first year of study, students in consultation with their advisor should complete, and file with the Office of Doctoral Studies, a program plan (the forms are available in the English education office and in the Office of Doctoral Studies) anticipating all the courses they will need to complete within the scope of their doctoral studies. This program plan should then be reviewed annually with the student’s advisor (and revised as necessary) giving student and advisor an annual measure of the student’s progress through the program

A&HE 5504: Research Paper in the Teaching of English

Before enrolling in A&HE 5504, students must have completed at least two research methods courses, have successfully completed the Certification 1 Examination, have discovered an area or problem of interest that they wish to study for their 5504 project, and have familiarized themselves with some of the available research literature on the topic or problem they propose to investigate. The research paper completed in A&HE 5504 allows a doctoral student to demonstrate the capacity to complete independent research and produce a research paper at a level of sophistication that promises success in undertaking a doctoral research project and doctoral dissertation. The completed A&HE 5504 research paper must be approved by faculty as qualifying the student to proceed to the next milestone in the doctoral program, the Certification 2 Examination.

Certification Examinations

Certification examinations certify a student’s expertise in the foundational texts, research traditions, and theoretical perspectives that represent the history of English Education as an academic discipline and that inform research in the more specialized field of study defined by a student’s anticipated dissertation project. Doctoral students in the English Education Program must pass two separate certification examinations. Examination 1 is a take-home examination, seven days in duration, covering the history of English education with a focus on one of the major curricular strands within the discipline. Examination 2, covering a specialized disciplinary area related to the student’s dissertation topic, is a take-home written examination to be completed within a time frame (up to one semester) set by the student’s faculty advisor. The topics and texts to be covered by the two examinations and the examination questions are determined by each student’s advisor in consultation with the student who will be examined.

Foreign Language Requirement

Candidates for the Ph.D. degree in English education must demonstrate reading proficiency in at least one foreign language at a level of competence sufficient to read scholarly or professional work relevant to their own field of study. Students should contact the Office of Doctoral Studies for the current policy regarding satisfying this requirement. Courses in statistics or other past substitutes for a foreign language will not be accepted.

Dissertation Proposal (A&HE 7504)

The doctoral dissertation proposal consolidates the work candidates have done in courses, professional reading, and the two certification examinations. It is usually a 60 to 100-page document, which outlines a coherent account of the work a candidate wants to undertake for dissertation research, usually presenting drafts of early chapters for the dissertation. Typically a proposal includes an introductory chapter describing the origins and aims of the project, a fairly complete review of the literature, a chapter on research methods, and some preliminary data and data analysis. The dissertation proposal must be accepted at a formal or informal hearing where at least two faculty members function as examiners. Students may not undertake the dissertation proposal until both certification exams have been completed successfully.

Award of the Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) degree

Students become eligible to apply for the Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) degree upon completing 75 credits of coursework and fulfilling each of the previous doctoral program milestones. Upon being awarded the M.Phil. degree, doctoral students become “candidates” for the Ph.D. degree. Applications for the M.Phil. degree can be filed with the Office of Doctoral Studies.

Dissertation

The doctoral dissertation is the culminating research project of the doctoral program and constitutes a significant contribution to knowledge in the field of English Education. As candidates write their dissertations, they must enroll in A&HE 8904: Dissertation Advisement in Teaching English, which is designed to help them refine their thinking and revise their writing as they complete successive drafts of their dissertation.

The Advanced Seminar

What is known historically as the Advanced Seminar now functions as a pre-defense meeting of a portion (2-3 faculty members) of the Ph.D. candidate’s doctoral dissertation committee, which convenes to interrogate and advise the candidate on the dissertation in progress in order to ensure its successful completion. The committee may be convened at any point in a candidate’s progress toward completing the dissertation research, but is ordinarily convened for English education candidates at a point when the candidate can present a rough draft of the entire dissertation for scrutiny by the dissertation committee members. The committee is convened in response to a formal request filed with the Office of Doctoral Studies (ODS) by the candidate with the approval of the dissertation advisor. Candidates should consult the ODS early in the dissertation project to ensure that all procedural rules for convening the Advanced Seminar and reporting on its deliberations are properly observed.

Dissertation Defense

The dissertation defense offers the opportunity for members of the candidate’s dissertation committee, all of whom have carefully read the dissertation, to interrogate the candidate on any and all dimensions of the candidate’s research and the written dissertation that is the product of that research. In most cases the committee will suggest minor revisions that the candidate is expected to incorporate into the dissertation before filing the final version. A typical defense, however, is less an interrogation than it is a collegial discussion of the candidate’s research project and findings with attention to next steps in the candidate’s research agenda and possibilities for revising and publishing the dissertation or sections of it. A successful dissertation defense marks both a moment of certification and a ritual initiation. At the conclusion of a successful defense, authorized doctoral faculty officially certify a candidate’s accomplishment in completing a major research study that makes a significant contribution to knowledge in the field of English education broadly defined, and thereby welcome the doctoral candidate into the community of scholars.

• View Other Degrees

Program Director : Yolanda Sealey Ruiz, Limarys Caraballo

Teachers College, Columbia University 327 Horace Mann Hall

Phone: 212.678.3070 Fax: 212.678.8197

Email: pa_enged@tc.edu

Education (PhD) – Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Program at a glance.

• In State Tuition
• Out of State Tuition

Learn more about the cost to attend UCF.

Combining the interdisciplinary expertise of faculty in two Colleges, the PhD Track in TESOL offers students in-depth experiences in the research, theory, and practice of TESOL, as well as flexibility in selecting a complementary cognate that meets their professional goals.

The Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) track in the Education PhD program requires at least 63 credit hours of study beyond the master's degree. The curriculum includes 24 credit hours of core courses, 15 credit hours of TESOL specialization courses, 9 credit hours of cognate courses, and 15 credit hours of dissertation. All students must also complete the candidacy examination.

Total Credit Hours Required: 63 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Master's Degree

University of Central Florida Colleges

Request Information

Enter your information below to receive more information about the Education (PhD) – Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages program offered at UCF.

Track Prerequisites

A master's degree in a closely related field.

Prerequisites

• TSL 6250 - Applied Linguistics in ESOL 3 Credit Hours
• TSL 6440 - Assessment Issues in TESOL 3 Credit Hours
• TSL 6642 - Issues in Second Language Acquisition 3 Credit Hours
• EDF 6401 - Statistics for Educational Data 3 Credit Hours
• TSL 5345 - Methods of ESOL Teaching 3 Credit Hours or TSL 5085 - Teaching Language Minority Students in K-12 Classrooms 3 Credit Hours

Degree Requirements

Required courses.

• IDS7500 - Seminar in Educational Research (1 - 99)
• IDS7501 - Issues and Research in Education (3)
• EDF7475 - Qualitative Research in Education (3)
• EDF7403 - Quantitative Foundations of Educational Research (3)
• EDF7463 - Analysis of Survey, Record, and Other Qualitative Data (3)
• IDS7502 - Case Studies in Research Design (3)
• EDF7406 - Multivariate Statistics in Education (3)
• IDS 7502 - Case Studies in Research Design may be substituted for one of the approved research electives from group A listed in the Program Details section below. EDF 7406 - Multivariate Statistics in Education may be substituted for one of the approved research electives from group B listed in the Program Details section below.

Specialization

• TSL6643 - Diachronic Analysis of Second Language Acquisition Processes (3)
• TSL6379 - Second Language Literacy (3)
• TSL6600 - Second Language Vocabulary Acquisition (3)
• TSL6252 - Sociolinguistics for ESOL (3)
• TSL7006 - Second Language Teacher Preparation (3)
• Earn at least 9 credits from the following types of courses: A minimum of 9 credit hours of cognate courses must be approved by the adviser and graduate program director. Possible cognates include Communication Sciences and Disorders, Community College Teaching, Exceptional Education, Global and Comparative Education, Multicultural Education, Instructional Technology, Program Administration, Reading, and other related areas.

Dissertation

• Earn at least 15 credits from the following types of courses: TSL 7980 - Dissertation Research Doctoral students must present a prospectus for the dissertation to the doctoral adviser, prepare a proposal and present it to the dissertation committee, and defend the final research submission with the dissertation committee.

Examinations

• A qualifying examination will be required during the first year of study as an intake, diagnostic tool to determine student proficiency in TESOL. A written candidacy examination will be required to be admitted to candidacy and will normally occur at the completion of course work.
• The following are required to be admitted to candidacy and enroll in dissertation hours: - Completion of all course work, except for dissertation hours. - Successful completion of the candidacy examination. - Successful defense of the written dissertation proposal. - The dissertation advisory committee is formed, consisting of approved graduate faculty and graduate faculty scholars. - Submission of an approved program of study.

Additional Program Requirement

• Students must have completed a minimum of two college-level courses in a foreign language or basic proficiency in a foreign language as measured by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) oral proficiency interview (OPI) or other assessment approved by the program faculty before completion of 36 hours of study. Non-native speakers of English may use their native language to meet this requirement. This requirement may be satisfied prior to admission but must be satisfied prior to candidacy.

Grand Total Credits: 63

Application requirements, financial information.

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Fellowship Information

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.

Group A (Course below may be taken in place of IDS 7502 - Case Studies in Research Design in fulfilling CORE requirement above)

• EDF 7406 - Multivariate Statistics in Education 3 Credit Hours
• EDF 7405 - Quantitative Methods II 3 Credit Hours
• EDF 7410 - Application of Nonparametric and Categorical Data Analysis in Education 3 Credit Hours
• EDF 7415 - Latent Variable Modeling In Education 3 Credit Hours
• EDF 7473 - Ethnography in Educational Settings 3 Credit Hours
• EDF 7474 - Multilevel Data Analysis In Education 3 Credit Hours
• EDF 7488 - Monte Carlo Simulation Research in Education 3 Credit Hours
• SPA 7495 - Doctoral Seminar II: Spoken and Written Language Disorders 3 Credit Hours (Communication Sciences Track students only)
• IDS 7938 - Research Cluster Seminar 3 Credit Hours

Group B (Course below may be taken in place of EDF 7406 - Multivariate Statistics in Education in fulfilling CORE requirement above)

Independent Learning

The dissertation satisfies the independent learning experience.

Search NYU Steinhardt

How to Apply PhD, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Pursue scholarship that builds on your interests in language acquisition and multilingual education and your experience as a higher education ESL/EFL teacher, supervisor, administrator, researcher, or curriculum developer. This doctoral program will advance your knowledge of ESL pedagogy, intercultural communication, research methodologies, and educational foundations. You’ll conduct research in second language acquisition and pedagogy and prepare for a career in academic, second language, and bicultural settings.

Official Degree Title

Application Deadline

Admissions Information

Program Information

Admission Requirements

Doctoral applicants are required to possess a master's degree in a related area with a minimum GPA of 3.3.

How to Apply

These instructions and requirements are for all applicants. If you are not a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States, please read the  special instructions for international applicants .

Your application will require the following items. The following are acceptable document types for uploads: .pdf, .jpeg, .jpg, .gif, .tiff, .png, .doc, .docx, and bitmap

1. Prepare Your Application

You are required to upload a copy of your most recent résumé or curriculum vitae as part of your application.

Statement of Purpose

You are required to upload a typed, double-spaced, two- to three-page statement explaining your purpose in undertaking graduate study in this particular program as part of your application. This is your opportunity to introduce yourself and to inform the admissions committee about your goals, interests, and career plans as they relate to your intended academic pursuits.

Writing Sample

As part of your application, you are are required to submit an academic writing sample - a course paper or its equivalent - that demonstrates your writing and analytic abilities. The sample should be no more than 20 pages and does not need to display a knowledge of teaching English to speakers of other languages. 

Letters of Recommendation

Submit  three  letters of recommendation. Be sure to request them well in advance of the deadline. Read  detailed instructions .

Transcripts

Upload one official copy of transcripts from every postsecondary school you have attended or are attending. Make sure to request them in advance of the deadline.

If you completed or are completing a degree at an institution outside of the US or Canada, you are required to provide a WES or ECE evaluation. Please review our requirements for translation and a course-by-course evaluation of your transcripts.

See  detailed instructions on submitting transcripts .

Not required.

Proficiency in English

See  testing requirements .

Application

Start your application now

After you fill in and upload the required information, you can submit your completed application.  Your application must be completed, dated, electronically signed, and submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST of the stated deadline.

Application Fee

You will be prompted to pay a $75 application fee, payable by major credit card only. After submitting your payment, you will see your application status change from “saved” to “submitted.” Please print this screen for your records, as it confirms that your application has been successfully sent to our school. If you have problems submitting your payment, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions. Learn more about our  fee waiver policy .

Mailing Additional Items

If any application materials need to be mailed to our office, mail the materials to NYU Steinhardt, Office of Graduate Admissions, 82 Washington Square East, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10003-6680.  Please do not mail your materials in binders or folders. Any mailed materials must be  received by, not postmarked by, the stated deadline . Only completed applications will be considered and reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt of mailed materials.

Application Policies

Application deadlines are "in-office" deadlines, not postmark deadlines.  It is your responsibility to ensure that all materials are in the Office of Graduate Admissions by the appropriate deadline, and we reserve the right to return any application that arrives after the deadline. Only completed applications will be considered. Should a deadline fall on a weekend, the in-office deadline will be the next business day. We advise you to apply early.

Please check the online system to confirm that you have successfully submitted your application.  Due to the volume of applications and related materials received, the Office of Graduate Admissions will only contact you if your application was successfully submitted and is deemed incomplete because of missing required materials. Otherwise, you will hear from us when the admissions committee has made its decision.

Deferral policy:  NYU Steinhardt does not allow deferrals. Applicants who wish to be considered for a future semester must reapply by submitting a new application with all supporting materials, including letters of recommendations, by the application deadline.

3. Receive Your Admission Decision

You will be notified about your decision by email. Typically, decisions will start going out in late March or early April for fall enrollment. You may learn of your decision before or after this timeline.

• Graduate School
• Prospective Students
• Graduate Degree Programs

Doctor of Philosophy in Teaching English as a Second Language (PhD)

Canadian immigration updates.

Applicants to Master’s and Doctoral degrees are not affected by the recently announced cap on study permits. Review more details

Go to programs search

Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) examines the social, linguistic, educational, cognitive, cultural and political processes affecting the teaching, learning, assessment, and use of English as an additional language locally and globally. TESL graduate students gain experience and understanding in such areas as: current issues in TESL theory and practice; second language acquisition, second language reading and writing, language socialization, language and identity, second language assessment, discourse analysis, critical applied linguistics, and research methods.

For specific program requirements, please refer to the departmental program website

What makes the program unique?

The program faculty have expertise in TESL methods, applied linguistics, second language acquisition and socialization, content-based language education, pedagogical and functional grammar, second language writing, issues of language and identity, language in education, multilingual literacies, language policy, and English in immigrant and international communities. The program also jointly sponsors the UBC/Ritsumeikan Joint Academic Exchange Program.

Quick Facts

Program enquiries, admission information & requirements, 1) check eligibility, minimum academic requirements.

The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies establishes the minimum admission requirements common to all applicants, usually a minimum overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC). The graduate program that you are applying to may have additional requirements. Please review the specific requirements for applicants with credentials from institutions in:

• Canada or the United States
• International countries other than the United States

Each program may set higher academic minimum requirements. Please review the program website carefully to understand the program requirements. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as it is a competitive process.

English Language Test

Applicants from a university outside Canada in which English is not the primary language of instruction must provide results of an English language proficiency examination as part of their application. Tests must have been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of your application.

Minimum requirements for the two most common English language proficiency tests to apply to this program are listed below:

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language - internet-based

Overall score requirement : 92

IELTS: International English Language Testing System

Overall score requirement : 7.0

Other Test Scores

Some programs require additional test scores such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Test (GMAT). The requirements for this program are:

The GRE is not required.

Prior degree, course and other requirements

Prior degree requirements.

Master’s degree with high standing in a relevant educational discipline

Document Requirements

• Master’s degree with high standing in a relevant educational discipline.
• Sample of work demonstrating an ability to undertake research and scholarly writing (max. 30 pages).
• CV or resume outlining work experience and academic history.
• Well-written 500 word (maximum) Statement of Intent to describe your proposed doctoral research. Be sure to indicate how your previous education, professional experience, and research have prepared you to undertake your proposed research, and note which people in the department have expertise in your intended area of study.
• The support of three referees including an assessment by at least two university instructors, preferably one of whom is the supervisor of the masters thesis. 
• Scanned copies all official transcripts (including a key to transcript grades and symbols) and degree certificates from all post-secondary institutions attended outside UBC.

Other Requirements

Awards; fellowships; scholarships; and distinctions.

Relevant professional and academic experience including conference presentations, professional workshops, and publications.

At least two years of successful teaching experience or equivalent.

Applicants who received a degree from a North American university are not required to submit their English test scores. Similarly, applicants who completed their degree outside North America from an institution in which English was the primary language of instruction of the entire university (not just a program) are not required to provide English test scores as part of their application.

Please note that we can only accept your English test scores if the test has been taken within the last 24 months at the time of submission of the application. An official test score report ordered from the testing agency has to be sent to UBC. Acceptable English language proficiency tests for applicants to UBC Grad School are:

TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language, minimum score 580 (paper-based) or 237 (computer based), or new minimum TOEFL score of 92 (with a minimum of 22 for each component).

MELAB – Michigan English Language Assessment Battery. Minimum overall score 85.

IELTS – International English Language Testing System – Academic. Minimum overall band score 7, with no component less than 6.5.

2) Meet Deadlines

3) prepare application, transcripts.

All applicants have to submit transcripts from all past post-secondary study. Document submission requirements depend on whether your institution of study is within Canada or outside of Canada.

Letters of Reference

A minimum of three references are required for application to graduate programs at UBC. References should be requested from individuals who are prepared to provide a report on your academic ability and qualifications.

Statement of Interest

Many programs require a statement of interest , sometimes called a "statement of intent", "description of research interests" or something similar.

Supervision

Students in research-based programs usually require a faculty member to function as their thesis supervisor. Please follow the instructions provided by each program whether applicants should contact faculty members.

Instructions regarding thesis supervisor contact for Doctor of Philosophy in Teaching English as a Second Language (PhD)

There is no need to find a supervisor prior to applying for the program. If you are successful in the application process, you will be assigned a pro-tem supervisor whose research is closest to your area of interest. However, if you are interested in working with a particular faculty member, you can indicate it in your statement of interest or in the application form.

Citizenship Verification

Permanent Residents of Canada must provide a clear photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident card.

4) Apply Online

All applicants must complete an online application form and pay the application fee to be considered for admission to UBC.

Research Information

Research highlights.

TESL methods; Applied linguistics; Critical applied linguistics; Discourse analysis; Intercultural communication; Second language acquisition and socialization; Content-based language education; Pedagogical and functional grammar; Second language writing; Issues of language and identity; Language in education; Multilingual literacies; Language policy; English in immigrant and international communities.

Research Focus

Program components.

The program consists of 18 to 24 credits of course work (including the LLED 601 Doctoral Seminar), comprehensive exam followed by an oral examination, a dissertation proposal, and a doctoral dissertation.

Geographic Restrictions

The TESL/TEFL program accepts well-qualified students from around the globe into a richly international and multicultural academic community.

Tuition & Financial Support

Financial support.

Applicants to UBC have access to a variety of funding options, including merit-based (i.e. based on your academic performance) and need-based (i.e. based on your financial situation) opportunities.

Program Funding Packages

All full-time students who begin a UBC-Vancouver PhD program in September 2024 will be provided with a funding package of $24,000 for each of the first four years of their PhD. The funding package may consist of any combination of internal or external awards, teaching-related work, research assistantships, and graduate academic assistantships.

Average Funding

• 3 students received Teaching Assistantships. Average TA funding based on 3 students was $6,036.
• 5 students received Research Assistantships. Average RA funding based on 5 students was $10,150.
• 1 student received Academic Assistantships valued at $7,664.
• 6 students received internal awards. Average internal award funding based on 6 students was $25,441.

Scholarships & awards (merit-based funding)

All applicants are encouraged to review the awards listing to identify potential opportunities to fund their graduate education. The database lists merit-based scholarships and awards and allows for filtering by various criteria, such as domestic vs. international or degree level.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)

Many professors are able to provide Research Assistantships (GRA) from their research grants to support full-time graduate students studying under their supervision. The duties constitute part of the student's graduate degree requirements. A Graduate Research Assistantship is considered a form of fellowship for a period of graduate study and is therefore not covered by a collective agreement. Stipends vary widely, and are dependent on the field of study and the type of research grant from which the assistantship is being funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)

Graduate programs may have Teaching Assistantships available for registered full-time graduate students. Full teaching assistantships involve 12 hours work per week in preparation, lecturing, or laboratory instruction although many graduate programs offer partial TA appointments at less than 12 hours per week. Teaching assistantship rates are set by collective bargaining between the University and the Teaching Assistants' Union .

Graduate Academic Assistantships (GAA)

Academic Assistantships are employment opportunities to perform work that is relevant to the university or to an individual faculty member, but not to support the student’s graduate research and thesis. Wages are considered regular earnings and when paid monthly, include vacation pay.

Financial aid (need-based funding)

Canadian and US applicants may qualify for governmental loans to finance their studies. Please review eligibility and types of loans .

All students may be able to access private sector or bank loans.

Foreign government scholarships

Many foreign governments provide support to their citizens in pursuing education abroad. International applicants should check the various governmental resources in their home country, such as the Department of Education, for available scholarships.

Working while studying

The possibility to pursue work to supplement income may depend on the demands the program has on students. It should be carefully weighed if work leads to prolonged program durations or whether work placements can be meaningfully embedded into a program.

International students enrolled as full-time students with a valid study permit can work on campus for unlimited hours and work off-campus for no more than 20 hours a week.

A good starting point to explore student jobs is the UBC Work Learn program or a Co-Op placement .

Tax credits and RRSP withdrawals

Students with taxable income in Canada may be able to claim federal or provincial tax credits.

Canadian residents with RRSP accounts may be able to use the Lifelong Learning Plan (LLP) which allows students to withdraw amounts from their registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to finance full-time training or education for themselves or their partner.

Please review Filing taxes in Canada on the student services website for more information.

Cost Estimator

Applicants have access to the cost estimator to develop a financial plan that takes into account various income sources and expenses.

Career Outcomes

Career options.

Integrating research and practice, the graduate programs in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) offer professional development to teachers of ESL and prepare researchers and leaders in applied linguistics.

Enrolment, Duration & Other Stats

These statistics show data for the Doctor of Philosophy in Teaching English as a Second Language (PhD). Data are separated for each degree program combination. You may view data for other degree options in the respective program profile.

ENROLMENT DATA

Completion rates & times.

• Research Supervisors

This list shows faculty members with full supervisory privileges who are affiliated with this program. It is not a comprehensive list of all potential supervisors as faculty from other programs or faculty members without full supervisory privileges can request approvals to supervise graduate students in this program.

• Ahmed, Anwar (Languages and literature)
• Duff, Patricia (applied linguistics and sociolinguistics, multilingualism and work, sociocultural and sociopolitical aspects of languages in education, Adolescent issues, adult education issues, English and French as second languages, international perspecives)
• Early, Margaret (Adolescent issues, English as a second Language, language education, literacy, teacher research)
• Gunderson, Lee Paul (Languages and literature; reading-research; immigrant-achievement; home literacy environment)
• Kubota, Ryuko (Specialized studies in education; critical applied linguistics; culture and language; Language Rights and Policies; language education; language ideologies; multicultural education; race and language teaching)
• Li, Guofang (longitudinal studies of immigrant children)
• Norton, Bonny (education, ESL, international perspectives, literacy, teacher research)
• Talmy, Steven (ESL, TESOL, LOTE and sign language curriculum, pedagogy and didactics; teacher education)
• Wernicke, Meike (Specialized studies in education; Intercultural Education; Language Planning and Policy; Multi-/Plurilingualism; Second Language Education (French); teacher education)
• Zappa, Sandra (academic discourse socialization of (international) English language learners in higher education, examining the literacy socialization trajectories and the role their individual networks of practice (INoPs, a concept I coined) in becoming aware of the host culture values and expectations; projects examining the intercultural competence development of foreign language teachers studying abroad; foreign language-learning through peer exchange programs; academic English coaching for university-level English language learners; collaboration between language and subject specialists; and student perceptions of academic English language development in CBI courses.)

Doctoral Citations

Sample thesis submissions.

• Transcultural identity and Bangla heritage language teaching
• Pandemic transformations and settler discourse stabilities in Canadian English-language teacher identity

Related Programs

Same specialization.

• Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language (MA)
• Master of Education in Teaching English as a Second Language (MEd)

Same Academic Unit

• Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD)
• Master of Arts in Literacy Education (MA)
• Master of Arts in Modern Languages Education (MA)
• Master of Education in Literacy Education (MEd)
• Master of Education in Modern Languages Education (MEd)

Further Information

Specialization.

Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) examines the social, linguistic, educational, cognitive, cultural and political processes affecting the teaching, learning, assessment, and use of English as an additional language locally and globally. The program faculty have expertise in TESL methods, applied linguistics, second language acquisition and socialization, content-based language education, pedagogical and functional grammar, second language writing, issues of language and identity, language in education, multilingual literacies, language policy, and English in immigrant and international communities

UBC Calendar

Program website, faculty overview, academic unit, program identifier, classification, social media channels, supervisor search.

Departments/Programs may update graduate degree program details through the Faculty & Staff portal. To update contact details for application inquiries, please use this form .

Considering Vancouver as your next home?

This city won’t disappoint. It has it all: sea, parks, mountains, beaches and all four seasons, including beautiful summers and mild, wet winters with snow.

• Why Grad School at UBC?
• Application & Admission
• Info Sessions
• Research Projects
• Indigenous Students
• International Students
• Tuition, Fees & Cost of Living
• Newly Admitted
• Student Status & Classification
• Student Responsibilities
• Supervision & Advising
• Managing your Program
• Health, Wellbeing and Safety
• Professional Development
• Dissertation & Thesis Preparation
• Final Doctoral Exam
• Final Dissertation & Thesis Submission
• Life in Vancouver
• Vancouver Campus
• Graduate Student Spaces
• Graduate Life Centre
• Life as a Grad Student
• Graduate Student Ambassadors
• Meet our Students
• Award Opportunities
• Award Guidelines
• Minimum Funding Policy for PhD Students
• Killam Awards & Fellowships
• Policies & Procedures
• Information for Supervisors
• Dean's Message
• Leadership Team
• Strategic Plan & Priorities
• Vision & Mission
• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
• Initiatives, Plans & Reports
• Graduate Education Analysis & Research
• Media Enquiries
• Newsletters
• Giving to Graduate Studies

Strategic Priorities

• Strategic Plan 2019-2024
• Improving Student Funding
• Promoting Excellence in Graduate Programs
• Enhancing Graduate Supervision
• Advancing Indigenous Inclusion
• Supporting Student Development and Success
• Reimagining Graduate Education
• Enriching the Student Experience

Initiatives

• Public Scholars Initiative
• 3 Minute Thesis (3MT)
• PhD Career Outcomes
• Great Supervisor Week

Online Ph.D. in Literacy: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Specialization

Request more information, meet the literacy needs of english learners through evidence-based practice..

Explore differentiated literacy instruction and develop theoretical and applied expertise to help you support English learners domestically and abroad.

Use the most up-to-date research to enhance teaching, curriculum design, and professional development in nearly any educational setting. Through online coursework, graduate ready to help English learners of all ages and backgrounds address the challenges they face.

Career Outlook: Teach English in the US or around the World

Qualified TESOL instructors are in high demand in the United States, especially in areas with significant immigrant and refugee communities like California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Texas, and other urban areas. 1 Even outside of the US experienced, trained teachers are greatly needed. Those with a TESOL degree are usually sought out for positions that go beyond teaching, such as teacher training, curriculum and materials development, and program administration. 2

Career Spotlight: Director of Literacy and ESL Services

As a director of literacy and ESL services, you supervise, mentor, and instruct faculty; create and review course materials; test and place students in TESOL programs; and mediate interactions between faculty and staff to mitigate concerns and take suggestions. You might also teach TESOL courses and take charge of administrative duties.

In this position, you can make up to $132,722 3 annually, depending on your experience and location.

Potential career titles:

• Supervisor for curriculum and instruction: TESOL
• Research specialist
• Higher education instructor

Curriculum: TESOL Skills to Help Students Thrive

Our courses are designated to meet the highest professional standards in TESOL set by the International TESOL Association. Learn to conduct in-depth examinations of linguistic differences and cultural characteristics of English learners in order to assess their academic needs and provide authentic, collaborative learning opportunities.

Engage with full-time, tenured St. John’s faculty members and benefit from their years of experience as national and international educators and their cutting-edge TESOL research. As you learn, connect with a dynamic and collaborative online learning environment.

In addition to 18 credit hours of core literacy courses and 15 credit hours of research required for the Ph.D. in Literacy, the TESOL specialization includes the following three courses:

• EDU 9001: Foundations of Bilingual and Second Language Education
• EDU 9003: Literacy Development for First and Second Language Learners
• EDU 9010: Linguistics for Teachers of English Language (ELL) and Exceptional Learners

Specialization Outcomes

• Examine principles, policies, educational models, research assessment, and technology in TESOL education.
• Learn the history of American education with an emphasis on linguistically diverse learner programs.
• Understand the theory and practice necessary to teach literacy and language arts to monolingual and linguistically, culturally diverse learners.
• Examine the cross-cultural framework for the study of birth through adolescent development, focusing on the effects of cultural heritage characteristics and socioeconomic levels.

More Specialization Options

Ph.d. in literacy: literacy.

Support literacy as the backbone of education from kindergarten to high school graduation, gain first-hand experience with expert faculty, and build a foundation for student success.

Help drive success among English learners with a specialization in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages as part of your online Ph.D. in Literacy through St. John’s University. Contact us at 844-393-1677 or request more information today!

• “Teaching Opportunities in the United States.” (n.d.). TESOL International Association. Retrieved on October 6, 2022, from https://www.tesol.org/enhance-your-career/career-development/beginning-your-career/teaching-opportunities-in-the-united-states .
• “Teaching Opportunities Outside the United States.” (n.d.). TESOL International Association. Retrieved on October 6, 2022, from https://www.tesol.org/enhance-your-career/career-development/beginning-your-career/teaching-opportunities-outside-the-united-states .
• “How much does a Director of Literacy make?” (December 13, 2021). Glassdoor, Inc. Retrieved on October 6, 2022, from https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/director-of-literacy-salary-SRCH_KO0,20.htm .

• Graduate School of Education
• Academic Programs
• UB Directory
• Department of Learning and Instruction >
• Academics >
• Doctoral Degrees >

Language Education and Multilingualism, PhD

VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE Thursday, Nov. 9 Event Details Register Now

Our doctoral program in language education and multilingualism focuses on preparing you for research, teaching and administrative posts in colleges and universities, and for positions of educational leadership in the schools or in state education departments. The mission of our program is to foster the development of foreign/second/bilingual language education practitioners and researchers who can understand and analyze language teaching and learning, and language policy to improve language and content teaching and learning in diverse educational contexts.

On this page:

Why language education and multilingualism at ub.

The features of our program include:

• becoming familiar with groundbreaking inquiry processes and research methodologies
• carrying out principled, meaningful and rigorous research and applying it to real-world educational challenges
• collaborating with internationally recognized scholars who mentor students to engage in research studies
• developing an understanding of language theory and an ability to thoughtfully apply this theory
• engaging in scholarship that involves participation in the exchange of ideas and advancement of the field as a whole
• preparing scholars and educational leaders to pursue careers in academia, and occupy positions of leadership in American and global universities and colleges

Program Overview

Program coursework.

Your program of study requires 72 credit hours:

• Concentration — 24 credit hours 
• Research — 28 credit hours (21 credits of courses, 6 hours of research component/practicum, 1 credit of research analysis exam)
• Dissertation — 10 credit hours
• Relevant master's degree courses — 10 credit hours

Application Requirements

If you do not already hold a master's degree, you will be considered for admission if you have completed an otherwise field-relevant and highly rigorous undergraduate degree program or a collection of graduate courses not leading to a degree.

In an effort to make the application process more equitable, the GRE/MAT is no longer required for admissions consideration. If you still plan to take the GRE/MAT exam, you can send your scores through the testing agency, and they will automatically be added to your application; however, they are not required for admission consideration to this program.

Submit your completed online application, which includes:

• Application fee:  A $50 non-refundable application fee, submitted electronically through UB's ePayment system.
• Contact information for two individuals  who will each be asked to provide an electronic recommendation letter.
• Unofficial transcripts  from all colleges attended. (UB transcripts are automatically submitted for current UB students and alumni.)
• Sample of academic writing:  A sample of your academic writing (e.g., master's thesis, professional publication).
• Statement of interest:  Statement of your educational and career goals and objectives.

Admission Interview:  An interview is required to be considered for admission to this program.

Former/Maiden Name:  Please provide us with your former/maiden name if you have one. When requesting transcripts, please ask the sending institution to indicate your current name and former/maiden name.

Admissions Decision: The admissions decision will be communicated to you as soon as review is complete. The decision is based on a number of factors and is the result of a thorough and deliberate process. All decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

In order to qualify for the in-state residency tuition rate, you are required to provide residency documentation indicating you have lived in New York State (NYS) 12 months prior to your semester start date.

If accepted, you will need to upload 3 documents to qualify for the in-state tuition rate. See Required Documents for Residency Application  for more information. 

• Official original proof of your degree
• A copy of your passport biographical page
• TOEFL minimum score is a 250 for a computer based test, 600 for a paper based test and 96 for the Internet based test 
• IELTS minimum score is 7.0 overall
• PTE minimum score is 55 overall
• Financial documentation  — International graduate applicants must document their ability to pay for all costs incurred while studying in the U.S.
• An official bank statement

All financial forms and supporting documentation with required signatures must be uploaded with your application, and must be dated within one year of your intended enrollment date.

Program Faculty

Tasha Austin

Assistant Professor Learning And Instruction

505 Baldy Hall Buffalo, NY 14260 Buffalo, NY 14260

Phone: 716-645-2455

Email: [email protected]

Janina Brutt-Griffler

Professor Learning And Instruction

562 Baldy Hall North Campus Buffalo, NY 14260

Phone: 716-645-4066

Email: [email protected]

Erin Kearney

Associate Professor Learning And Instruction

554 Baldy Hall North Campus Buffalo, NY 14260

Phone: 716-645-4058

Email: [email protected]

Lilliam M. Malave Lopez

553 Baldy Hall North Campus Buffalo, NY 14260

Phone: 716-645-4060

Email: [email protected]

Lynne R. Yang

Clinical Associate Professor Learning And Instruction

586 Baldy Hall North Campus Buffalo, NY 14260

Phone: 716-645-3502

Email: [email protected]

We have a collection of frequently asked questions that may help you. If your questions are still unanswered, we are glad to help! Contact our admission office .

Questions About the Admission Process?

Office of Graduate Admission

Graduate School of Education 366 Baldy Hall, North Campus 716-645-2110 [email protected]

Chat with a Student Ambassador

PhD in Language and Literacy Education (TESOL and World Language Education)

Become an expert literacy educator-scholar in your field with our flexible, challenging Ph.D. program in Language and Literacy Education.

This emphasis aligns with the Georgia Performance Standards requirements for certification upgrade.

The TESOL and World Language Education community includes faculty and students with interests in several areas, including:

• Second-language acquisition
• Language assessment
• Teaching English to speakers of other languages (ESOL)
• Bilingual and world language education
• Heritage language education
• Less commonly taught languages
• Bi/multiliteracies
• Spanish children’s literature
• Multilingual poetry and memoir
• School-university partnerships
• Multicultural education
• Computer assisted language learning
• Language policy
• Bilingual cognition

We focus on a range of language education research methodologies including qualitative and quantitative analysis, arts-based inquiry, corpus analysis, discourse analysis, systemic functional linguistics, narrative inquiry, and ethnography. We bring these areas together in order to better address the needs of all learners in increasingly global and local (“glocal”) communities.

• Become eligible for high levels of teaching certification from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission
• Work with nationally and internationally celebrated faculty
• Our graduates are placed in top-tier universities across the country

Become proficient in TESOL and world Language Education through formal internships (in both research and university teaching), special courses, and independent research projects.

You will gain a broad core of proficiencies through the language and literacy education program’s courses as well as courses in other departments and programs. Students who wish to qualify for the Georgia Professional Standards Commission T6 or T7 promotions must consult planning sheets for their emphasis area.

To receive your doctoral degree, you will take a minimum of 46 semester hours of academic credit. This includes a minimum of 30 semester hours for admission to candidacy, and a minimum of 16 hours of 8000- and 9000-level courses. Requirements include:

• An introductory seminar (LLED 8000)
• Four research methodology courses
• Diversity studies
• A research apprenticeship

In consultation with a major professor, you will form a doctoral committee made of faculty who reflect your research goals. This team charts a path through the coursework, the comprehensive examination, the prospectus, and eventual dissertation.

The research apprenticeship pairs doctoral students with our nationally and internationally recognized faculty on a range of research activities. Past students have worked on writing grants, research design and implementation, collaborative writing and presenting, and community service work.

• Ph.D. Yearly Progress Form (PDF)
• Doctoral Program Requirements (PDF)
• Journal Articles Dissertation Format (PDF)

Our Faculty

A hallmark of our program is the close mentoring relationships doctoral candidates develop with our award-winning faculty. You will have numerous opportunities to apprentice on research projects, author articles and book chapters, present at national and international conferences, and teach university courses.

Our faculty have formed partnerships with local public school districts and community organizations. They also are affiliated with Linguistics, Germanic and Slavic Studies, Romance Languages, the Qualitative Research Program, the Center for Latino Achievement and Success in Education, the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Institute, and other units on campus.

Additional information and disclosures regarding state licensure for professional practice in this field can be found at the UGA Licensure Disclosure Portal .

Financial Assistance

Research assistantships and fellowships.

A limited number of highly competitive research assistantships and fellowships are available for those who are seeking to begin their degree program in Fall (August). These assistantships offer four years of funding (tuition, the majority of fees, and a monthly stipend) and focus on research. There may also be opportunities to teach undergraduate courses, depending on the requirements of the research assistantship or fellowship. Those interested in this type of funding should apply to our degree program by January 1st. Prior to or upon notification of admission from the Graduate School, contact the TESOL and World Language Education (TWLE) program coordinator to express your interest in applying for these awards. Assistantship notifications are typically sent between March and May.

Teaching Assistantships

We offer a limited number of teaching assistantships every year for those who are seeking to begin their degree program in Fall (August). These assistantships provide one year of funding (tuition, the majority of fees, and a monthly stipend) with the possibility of renewal for up to three additional years. Teaching Assistants typically serve as an Instructor of Record (IOR) for undergraduate courses offered by the department and/or provide instructional assistance to faculty teaching graduate level courses. Those interested in this type of funding should apply to our degree program by January 1st. Prior to or upon notification of admission from the Graduate School, complete the Teaching Assistantship Application . Assistantship notifications are typically sent between March and May.

Additional Funding Opportunities

Please visit the following websites for more information about graduate student scholarships, in-state tuition waivers, and other funding opportunities.

• UGA Graduate School: Funding Your Graduate Education
• Mary Frances Early College of Education Financial Assistance
• Regent’s Research Out-of-State Tuition Waivers Domestic Students
• Office of Global Engagement Out-of-State Tuition Waivers International Students
• UGA Career Center Listing of Part-time Campus Jobs
• Office of Student Financial Aid

How to Apply

Applicant requirements.

To be considered for our doctoral program, we

• recommend that applicants’ undergraduate GPA be at least a 3.0 and that applicants have at least two years of teaching;
• require all applicants to have a master’s degree from an accredited college or university in an area of language and/or literacy education, or a related field; and
• score at least a score of 100 on the TOEFL test, with a minimum score of 26 in speaking and 25 in writing;
• score at least a score of 7.5 on the IELTS test, with a minimum score of 8 in speaking and 7.0 in writing; and
• demonstrate proficiency with two languages as evidenced by a bachelor’s degree in English linguistics and literature OR a master’s degree where English was the medium of instruction

While completing your Graduate School application, include the required documents listed below. For anyone applying for Fall 2024 matriculation, GRE scores are no longer required .

• Statement of Purpose that includes the emphasis area of your doctoral studies ( English Education, Literacies and Children’s Literature, or TESOL or World Language Education )
• Current resume or CV
• TOEFL or IELTS scores ( required for international applicants )
• Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended
• Three (3) letters of recommendation
• Writing sample of no more than 20 pages

Fall semester is the only admissions term in which funding is awarded each year. Funding consideration will be given to students who apply for Fall matriculation by January 1 .

Apply to the University of Georgia

The Graduate School handles admission for all graduate programs at the University of Georgia, including those in the College of Education. The Graduate School website contains important details about the application process, orientation, and many other useful links to guide you through the process of attending UGA at the graduate level.

Start A Graduate School Application

Deadline To Apply

If you plan to start in a Spring semester, the deadline for applications is Nov. 15 (Oct. 15 for international applications)

To start in the Summer or Fall, applications are due April 1.

Log Into Existing Application

Additional Resources

Please use our online form if you have any questions for the department. Please be as specific as possible so that we may quickly assist you.

The College’s programs are taught by dedicated faculty who are experts in a range of areas and are passionate about helping students succeed both in their programs and professionally.

Meet the Faculty

Most graduate students at UGA are not assigned to a faculty advisor until after admittance. A close working relationship with your advisor is paramount to progressing through your program of study.

Almost all in-state students begin their studies at UGA paying limited tuition or fees. Please note that these amounts are subject to change and are meant to give prospective students an idea of the costs associated with a degree at the University of Georgia College of Education.

Students may qualify for a variety of assistantships, scholarships, and other financial awards to help offset the cost of tuition, housing, and other expenses.

Tuition Rates   Browse Financial Aid

Our students have a range of opportunities available outside the classroom as well, from professional organizations, experiential learning, clubs and other non-academic experiences.

See for yourself how much UGA College of Education has to offer! Schedule a tour of campus to learn more about the UGA student experience.

Schedule A Visit

Department of Education

University | A to Z | Departments

• Postgraduate study

PhD in TESOL

• Education home
• About the Department
• Undergraduate study
• Taught Masters
• PhD in Applied Linguistics
• PhD in Education
• PhD in Psycholinguistics
• PhD in Psychology in Education
• Available research projects
• PhD Studies in progress
• Teacher Training / PGCE
• Part-time graduate study
• How to apply
• Scholarships / Funding
• Teacher training/PGCE
• Equality and Diversity
• Meet our students
• International students
• Student wellbeing
• News and events

Programme Leader:   Dr Irena Kuzborska

The PhD in TESOL is available to be studied in 3 modes: part-time, full-time, and  distance learning

In order to apply for a PhD place, we ask that you first submit an application form.  We cannot accept a CV or any other documentation in place of a formal application.  When you apply for a PhD place, you must submit a research proposal about 1,500 words in length. More information about the PhD application and admissions process can be found on the How to apply and FAQ  pages . Apply now

The PhD in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) emphasises state-of-the-art second and foreign language research, and is designed to enhance specialised knowledge through academic study and research.

The programme is suitable for:

• English as second or foreign language teachers
• teacher educators
• professional development administrators
• curriculum developers
• materials writers
• researchers

The course emphasises state-of-the-art second and foreign language research. It focuses on practice and aims to help students to achieve a critical understanding of teaching theories and to obtain solid grounding in research methodology appropriate for conducting research projects in their professional contexts.

Our PhD research students in recent years have come both from the United Kingdom and from many overseas countries. Many of our overseas students have chosen to conduct studies which involve collecting fieldwork data in their home country. Proposals to conduct a study which involves collecting fieldwork data overseas are welcomed.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to have a good honours degree or a master's degree (MA, MSc or MEd) in a relevant discipline (eg TESOL, Applied Linguistics, ELT, or Education) although candidates with other evidence of ability to succeed at PhD level will also be considered.

If English is not your first language, we do expect you to be able to demonstrate a high level of proficiency.  The minimum requirement for PhD in TESOL is IELTS 7.0 with 6.5 in Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.  For further information please see  English language requirements .

Apply now for the PhD in TESOL

Apply now for the PhD in TESOL (Distance Learning)

Applying for a PhD How do I apply for a PhD? Scholarships and funding Tuition fees and expenses York Graduate Loyalty Discount UK government postgraduate loan scheme

Further information Our Research Centres York Graduate Research School Meet our PhD students Educational Research Group  (ERG) Writing Centre

Department of Education University of York , Heslington , York , YO10 5DD , UK Tel: work +44 (0)1904 323460 | [email protected]

Legal statements | Privacy | Cookies | Accessibility © University of York | Modify | Direct Edit

Study Postgraduate

Mphil/phd in english language teaching (2024 entry).

Course code

30 September 2024

3-4 years full-time; Up to 7 years part-time

Qualification

Applied Linguistics

University of Warwick

Find out more about our English Language Teaching MPhil/PhD.

Study any aspect of English language teaching on our MPhil/PhD in English Language Teaching at Warwick's Department of Applied Linguistics, ranked 3rd in The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022. Enhance your knowledge of teaching, learning, assessment and teacher development through research, under the supervision of field experts.

Course overview

Working under the expert guidance of a supervisor, PhD students design and pursue an individual research project shaped by their own personal, academic, or professional needs and interests. They participate in seminars and other activities in a diverse and vibrant research community, and disseminate their work through conference presentations and publications to both academic and non-academic audiences.

Teaching and learning

PhD researchers are individually mentored by academic supervisors from the beginning of their journey. They also participate in weekly research seminars in Year One to develop their skills and understanding in relation to research issues and approaches, methods of data collection and analysis, and research ethics.

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements.

2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in ELT/TESOL, English, Education, Linguistics, Languages or a relevant discipline and a Master’s degree in ELT/TESOL, Applied Linguistics or a relevant discipline.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirements Link opens in a new window . This course requires the following:

• IELTS overall score of 7.0 (with a 7.0 in Writing).

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page Link opens in a new window .

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Our research

We are committed to interdisciplinary research that can make a real difference to society and people’s lives by informing policy, changing practice, and challenging perceptions. Current research strengths in the department are:

• Language learning and teaching
• Working, relating, and adapting across cultures
• Language teacher education and development
• Professional and workplace communication
• Language structure, variation and change

Full details of our research interests  are listed on the Applied Linguistics web pages .

You can also read our general University research proposal guidance.

Find a supervisor

There are two ways to find a supervisor. The second way is our preferred way of handling initial communications with prospective applicants, in order to ensure that you can be matched with a potential supervisor, and in order to avoid the confusion that can arise if prospective applicants write simultaneously to several members of staff in the department.

1. Find your supervisor using the link below and discuss with them the area you'd like to research.

Explore our Applied Linguistics Staff Directory to see if you can identify someone whose research interests and publications relate closely to your research topic. Of course, it is very possible that you already have someone in mind because you have read their work, met them at a conference, or indeed were a student of theirs in the past. In such cases, you may wish to write informally to this person to discuss your plans for doing a PhD, and they may invite you to send a research proposal.

2. If you cannot identify a potential supervisor or are not sure exactly who to approach, the alternative way is for you to write to the Postgraduate Research Studies Admission Tutor, Professor Neil Murray [email protected] and send him your draft research proposal and CV. He can then follow things up and, if appropriate, pass on your inquiry to a potential supervisor.

You can also see our general University guidance about finding a supervisor.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

Find your research course fees

Fee Status Guidance

The University carries out an initial fee status assessment based on information provided in the application and according to the guidance published by UKCISA. Students are classified as either Home or Overseas Fee status and this can determine the tuition fee and eligibility of certain scholarships and financial support.

If you receive an offer, your fee status will be stated with the tuition fee information. If you believe your fee status has been incorrectly classified you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire (follow the instructions in your offer) and provide the required documentation for this to be reassessed.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provides guidance to UK universities on fees status criteria, you can find the latest guidance on the impact of Brexit on fees and student support on the UKCISA website .

Additional course costs

Please contact your academic department for information about department specific costs, which should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below, such as:

• Core text books
• Printer credits
• Dissertation binding
• Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Applied Linguistics at Warwick

Apply your learning from day one.

With a history dating back to 1983, Applied Linguistics at Warwick has diversified over the years from a main focus on English language teaching and teacher education to include expertise in areas such as: intercultural communication, professional communication, the sociolinguistics of language use, the teaching and learning of languages other than English.

Find out more about us on our website.

Our Postgraduate Taught courses

• Intercultural Communication for Business and the Professions (MSc)
• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (MA)

Our Postgraduate Research courses

• Applied Linguistics (MPhil/PhD)
• Discourse Studies (MPhil/PhD)
• English Language Teaching (MPhil/PhD)
• English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics (MPhil/PhD)
• Intercultural Communication (MPhil/PhD)
• Linguistics (MPhil/PhD)

How to apply

The application process for courses that start in September and October 2024 will open on 2 October 2023.

For research courses that start in September and October 2024 the application deadline for students who require a visa to study in the UK is 2 August 2024. This should allow sufficient time to complete the admissions process and to obtain a visa to study in the UK.

How to apply for a postgraduate research course  

After you’ve applied

Find out how we process your application.

Applicant Portal

Track your application and update your details.

Admissions statement

See Warwick’s postgraduate admissions policy.

Join a live chat

Ask questions and engage with Warwick.

Warwick Hosted Events Link opens in a new window

Postgraduate fairs.

Throughout the year we attend exhibitions and fairs online and in-person around the UK. These events give you the chance to explore our range of postgraduate courses, and find out what it’s like studying at Warwick. You’ll also be able to speak directly with our student recruitment team, who will be able to help answer your questions.

Join a live chat with our staff and students, who are here to answer your questions and help you learn more about postgraduate life at Warwick. You can join our general drop-in sessions or talk to your prospective department and student services.

Departmental events

Some academic departments hold events for specific postgraduate programmes, these are fantastic opportunities to learn more about Warwick and your chosen department and course.

See our online departmental events

Warwick Talk and Tours

A Warwick talk and tour lasts around two hours and consists of an overview presentation from one of our Recruitment Officers covering the key features, facilities and activities that make Warwick a leading institution. The talk is followed by a campus tour which is the perfect way to view campus, with a current student guiding you around the key areas on campus.

Connect with us

Learn more about Postgraduate study at the University of Warwick.

Page updates

We may have revised the information on this page since publication. See the edits we have made and content history .

Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

9th in the UK (The Guardian University Guide 2024) Link opens in a new window

67th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2024) Link opens in a new window

6th most targeted university by the UK's top 100 graduate employers Link opens in a new window

(The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers Research Ltd. Link opens in a new window )

About the information on this page

This information is applicable for 2024 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.

PhD degree programs

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) - PhD

Kish international campus, ph.d. degree program in, teaching english as a foreign language (tefl), introduction:.

Ph.D. program in TEFL is designed for those students who are willing to advance their Pedagogical Knowledge in English Language Teaching, research methodologies, intercultural communication and educational foundations. The Ph.D. program offers professional development to students and prepares them to be a researcher and leader in Teaching English. The Ph.D. students gain experience and understanding in areas such as ; second language acquisition, second language reading and writing, language socialization, language and identity, second language assessment, discourse analysis, critical applied linguistics, and research methods. The program offers a unique supervised teaching practicum in an intensive English program. This experience equips graduates to analyze language, meet the English language learning needs of the learners, and enter the field as a professional.

PhD Degree in TEFL

The PhD program requires completion of 36 credits, a set of core courses (10 credits), elective courses (8 credits) and a PhD thesis (18 credits). The main emphasis of the program is on the successful completion of an original and independent research project written and defended as a dissertation.

Comprehensive Exam

Comprehensive Exam should be taken at most at the end of the 4th semester and is required before a student could defend the Ph.D. proposal. Students will have two chances to pass the Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam. If students receive an evaluation of "unsatisfactory" on their first Comprehensive Exam attempt, the student may retake the qualifier once more. A second failure will result in termination from the program. The Comprehensive Exam is designed to ensure that the student has the potential to conduct doctoral-level research.

Ph.D. Proposal

The Ph.D. proposal must contain Specific Aims, Research Design and Methods, and Proposed Work and Timeline. In addition the proposal must also contain a bibliography and, as attachments, any publications/supplementary materials. The student must defend their thesis proposal to their committee in an oral exam.

A student should choose a thesis advisor (and one or two co-advisors if required) within the first year of being in the PhD program, approved by the Faculty committee. In the second year a thesis committee suggested by the advisor alongside by the Ph.D. proposal should be handed over for approval. The thesis committee should consist of a minimum of five faculty members. Two members of thesis committee should be from the other Universities at the associate Professor level. Not later than the end of the 5th semester a student has to present and defend a written PhD proposal. Research Progress A student is expected to meet with his/her thesis committee at least once a year to review the research progress. In the beginning of each university calendar year, each student and the student's advisor are required to submit an evaluation assessment of the student's progress, outlining past year accomplishments and plans for the current year. The thesis committee reviews these summaries and sends the student a letter summarizing their status in the program. Students who are failing to make satisfactory progress are expected to correct any deficiencies and move to the next milestone within one year. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the program.

PhD Dissertation

Within 4 years after entering the PhD program, the student is expected to complete the thesis research; the student must have the results of the research accepted or published in peer reviewed journals. Upon submitting a written thesis and public defense and approval by the committee, the student is awarded the PhD degree. The defense will consist of (1) a presentation of the dissertation by the graduate student, (2) questioning by the general audience, and (3) closed door questioning by the dissertation committee. The student will be informed of the exam result at the completion of all three parts of the dissertation defense. All members of the committee must sign the final report of the doctoral committee and the final version of the dissertation. A minimum GPA of 16 over 20 must be maintained for graduation.

Leveling Courses (not applicable to degree)

The Ph.D. in Teaching English Language assumes a Master degree in related fields. However students holding any other master degree besides will be required to complete leveling courses that are designed to provide a back ground for the Ph.D. courses.  These leveling courses are decided by the faculty committee and are not counted for graduate credits towards the Ph.D. in Teaching English Language.

Core courses: 5 courses required; 10 credits

Elective courses: 4 courses required; 8 credits, course descriptions, research in language education, course content:.

The Nature Of Research, Developmental Research, Verbal Protocols, Interaction Analysis, Survey Analysis, Language Learning and Teaching Attitudes, Vocabulary Learning Techniques, Issues Related to Data Gathering, Common Data Collection Measures, Coding, Research Variables Validity and Reliability, Designing a Quantitative Study, Qualitative Research, Classroom Research, Mixed Methods, Analyzing Quantitative Data, Concluding and Reporting Research. Technologies across Continents, Web Collaboration across Languages, Less Commonly Taught Languages, Teacher Education and Learning Strategies

Language Assessment

Foreign and Second Language Teacher Assessment, Validity in Language Testing, Principles of Language Assessment, The Assessment Development Process, Developing Test Specifications for Language Assessment, Linking Assessment with Instructional Aims, An Overview of Language Standards for Elementary, Assessment and Effective Peer Assessment, Web Based Language Testing, The Common European Framework of Reference, Implications for Teaching, Test Taking Strategies, What Teachers Need to Know About Test Analysis, Ethics in Language Testing and Assessment. Statistics for test analysis and improvement, Statistics for test use. References

SLA Studies

Investigating Instructed Second Language Acquisition, Investigating cognitive and processing mechanisms in instructed SLA, Instructed learners fluency and implicit explicit language processes, Psycholinguistic aspects of gender acquisition in instructed GFL learning, Is there a connection?, Formal instruction and the acquisition of verbal morphology, Investigating the role and effects of form focused instruction, Teaching marked linguistic structures more about the acquisition of relative clauses by Arab learners of English, The importance of form meaning mappings in explicit form focused instruction, Structure complexity and the efficacy of explicit grammar instruction, Focus on forms as a means of improving accurate oral production, The fault in the default hypothesis, Investigating the role and effects of interaction and Communication Focused Instruction, Negative feedback and learner uptake in analytic foreign language teaching, Noticing and the role of interaction in promoting language learning, Do they provide evidence for attention to form?, Assessment of the role of communication tasks in the development of second language oral production skills, Language learning in content based instruction, Effects of teacher discourse on learner discourse in a second language classroom, Comparing the effects of instructed and naturalistic L2 acquisition contexts, A comparative investigation of the effects of study abroad and foreign language instruction on the L2 learners grammatical development

Critique of Issues in Language Teaching

Critiquing the Research of Others, Applying for Research Funding and Grants, Using Research in the Language Classroom, Preliminary Decisions, Deciding Upon a Research Methodology, Choosing a Research Method, Qualitative Research, Narrative Inquiry, Doing a Literature Review and Creating Your, Human Subjects Review, Sampling and What it Means, Using Introspective Methods, Designing and Using Rubrics, Research Paradigms in Second Language Research, Mixed Methods Research, Choosing a Research Type, Action Research, Case study Research, Conversation Analysis, Replication Research in Quantitative Research, Analyzing Your Data Statistically, Publishing Your Research, An Oasis of Language

Language Curriculum Development

Environment Analysis, Needs Analysis, Principles, Goals Content and Sequencing, Format and Presentation, Monitoring and Assessment, Evaluation, Approaches to Curriculum Design, Negotiated Syllabuses, Adopting and Adapting an Existing Course Book, Introducing Change, Planning an in Service Course, Teaching and Curriculum Design, Curriculum development, Changing needs for foreign languages, Situation analysis, Planning goals and Course planning and some detail, The role and design, Approaches to evaluation References

Psycholinguistics

Neural Bases of Speech Perception Phonology Streams, Learning, The Sounds of Language, Spoken word recognition, Computational Models of Spoken Word Recognition, How Young Children Develop Skill, Event Related Potentials And Magnetic Fields Associated With Visual Word Recognition in Skilled Adult Readers, Connectionist, Computational Models, Patient and Imaging Research, Figurative language, Computational Approaches To Figurative Language, The Development Of Figurative Language, Cognitive Neuroscience Of Figurative Language, Discourse and conversation, Decoding Orthographic Learning and the Development of Visual Word, How Does The Brain Read Words?, Semantic memory, Computational Models Of Semantic Memory, Developing Categories And Concepts, Morphological processing, A Tale Of Two Mechanisms?, Sentence comprehension, The Neurobiology of Sentence Comprehension, Computational And Corpus Models Of Human Sentence Comprehension, Sentence Production, Department Of Psychology, Computational Modeling Of Discourse And Conversation, Children Conversation And Acquisition, The Electrophysiology Of Discourse And Conversation, Language and thought, Computational Approaches To Language And Thought, Language And Cognition In Development, Language Thought And Brain?

Sociolinguistics

History of Sociolinguistics, Sociolinguistics and the Sociology of Language, Language Variation and Change, Codes and Social Class, Dell Hymes and the Ethnography of Communication, Gumperz and Interactional Sociolinguistics, Sociolinguistics and Social Theory, Interaction, Sociolinguistic Potentials of Face-to-face Interaction, Doctor Patient Communication, Discourse and Schools, Courtroom Discourse, Analyzing Conversation, Narrative Analysis, Gender and Interaction, Social Stratification, Social Constructionism, Symbolic Interactionism Erving Goffman and Sociolinguistics, 9 Ethnomethodology and Membership Categorization Analysis, The Power of Discourse and the Discourse of Power, Globalization Theory and Migration, Interpretants Inference and Intersubjectivity, Language Variation and Change, Individuals and Communities, Social Class, Social Network, Phonology, Social Structure Language Contact and Language Change, Sociolinguistics and Formal Linguistics, Attitudes Ideology and Awareness, Historical Sociolinguistics, Fieldwork Methods in Language Variation, Interaction and the Media, Multilingualism and Contact, Societal Bilingualism, Codeswitching mixing, Language Policy and Planning, Language Endangerment, Global Englishes, Applications, Forensic Linguistics, Language Teaching and Language Assessment, Guidelines for Nondiscriminatory Language Use, Language Migration and Human Rights.

Discourse Analysis

Origins and Orientation, Two Key Studies, Method and Critique, Similarities and Differences, Persuasion and Authority, Discursive Psychology, Critical Approach to Discourse Analysis, Methodological Disputes, Conversation Analysis and Power, Discourse analysis across events, Central tools and techniques, Discourse analysis of ethnographic data, Discourse analysis of archival data, Discourse analysis and digital practices, Discourse analysis of games, Discourse cybernetics and the entextualisation of the self, Tagging on Flickr as a social practice, Intertextuality and interdiscursivity in online consumer reviews Spoken interaction analysis and digital discourse, Co-constructing identity in virtual worlds for children, Positioning and repositioning, A reflection on corpus assisted discourse analysis, Researching digital literacy practices in context, iPhone as technological artefact, Flows of language online and offline, Discourses of curation in digital times, The discursive construction of education in the digital age

Statistical analysis in Language Education

Functions and arguments, Factors, Descriptive statistics, Bivariate statistics, Dispersions, Means, Coefficients of correlation and linear regression, Multiple regression analysis, ANOVA analysis of variance, Binary logistic regression, Hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis

English for Specific Purposes

ESP and Speaking, ESP and Listening, ESP and Reading, ESP and Writing, Vocabulary, English for Academic Purposes, English for Research Publication Purposes, English for Academic Purposes, Needs Analysis and Curriculum Development in Genre and English for Specific Purposes, ESP and Assessment, Technology, ESP and Corpus Studies, ESP and Intercultural Rhetoric, English for Science and Technology, English in the Workplace, Business English, Where We Are, Legal English, Aviation English, English for Medical Purposes, English for Nursing, Thesis and Dissertation Writing

L1 Acquisition Studies

Acquiring language, Getting started In conversation with children, Perception, Early words, Production, Words and meanings, Constructions and meanings, First combinations first constructions, Modulating word meanings, Adding complexity within clauses, More complex constructions, Constructing words, Comprehension and production differ, Using language, Honing conversational skill, Doing things with language, Two languages at a time, Some translation equivalents or doublets in French, Principles of dialect acquisition, Process in acquisition, Specialization for language, Acquisition and change, Language And Cognition, Linguistic Determinism And "Thinking For Speaking", The Relation Between Language And Cognition In Different Language Acquisition Theories, Selected Aspects Of Spatial Cognition In Children, Verbalization And Motion Events, General Assumption, Experimental Study On The Expression Of Motion Events In French And German, Methodology, Specific Hypothesis, Results: Voluntary Motion, Results: Caused Motion, Discussion

Interlanguage Pragmatics

A Review of the Literature, Data Collection Techniques in Interlanguage Pragmatics, Methodology, Development of Pragmatic Awareness, Request Strategies, Internal Request Modification, External Request Modification, Institutional Discourse and Interlanguage Pragmatics Research, Institutional Discourse and the Role of Peer Tutors, Individual Differences in NS and NNS Teacher Directives, Getting the Job or Not in an Employment Interview, Uncovering Interlanguage Pragmatics in the University Classroom, English for Specific Purposes and Interlanguage Pragmatics, Using Moves in the Opening Sequence to Identify Callers in Institutional Settings, Practical Considerations

Language Teacher Education

The Knowledge Base Of Second Language Teacher Education, Contexts Of Second Language Teacher Education, Collaborations In Second Language Teacher Education, Teacher Education In Practice, Language in language teacher education A discourse perspective, Concepts of language in language teacher education, Is language a verb? conceptual change in linguistics and language, The social component of language teacher education, Defining the subject, Reflexive language in language teacher education, Training in instructional conversation, Issues for language study in language teacher, Language awareness in the preparation of teachers of English for specific, An approach to raising language, Trainee generated language awareness, What can we expect, The use of lesson transcripts for developing teachers classroom language, Towards a framework for language improvement within short in service, The Impact on Teachers of Language Variation as a Course Component, Integrating Language Teachers Discipline Knowledge in a Language Course, Constructing Theoretical Notions of L2 Writing Through Metaphor Conceptualization, Pre Service English Teachers Beliefs towards Language Use and Variation, Relevance of Knowledge of Second Language Acquisition, Knowledge about Language and the Good Language Teacher, Pre Service ESL Teachers Knowledge about Language and its Transfer to Lesson Planning, What is Phonetics Got to Do with Language Teaching? Realizations, Systemic Functional Linguistics and the Language Classroom, Researching the Effectiveness of Professional Development in Pragmatics, Why Teachers Don't Use Their Pragmatic Awareness, Teacher Trainees Explicit Knowledge of Grammar and Primary Curriculum Requirements in England, Knowledge about Language and Testing, Experience Knowledge about Language and Classroom Practice in Teaching Grammar, Discourse Analysis and Foreign Language Teacher Education1

• View all TEFL courses
• 120-hour Premier Online TEFL Course
• 200-hour Level-5 Online TEFL Course
• Online TEFL Courses
• Classroom TEFL Courses
• Combined TEFL Courses
• Virtual TEFL Courses
• Advanced TEFL Courses
• TEFL Lesson Plans & Resources
• Which TEFL course is right for you?

• Request a brochure
• TEFL Taster
• English Level Test

• TEFL Jobs Centre
• Recommended TEFL Jobs
• Summer Camp Jobs
• TEFL Internships
• Teaching placements in South Korea
• Thailand Teaching Programme
• Cambodia Teaching Placement
• Semester teaching position in Vietnam
• Japan teaching programmes
• Post a job advert

• Teach English Abroad
• Teach English in Japan
• Teach English in South Korea
• Teach English in Spain
• Teach English in China
• TEFL Salaries Abroad
• Requirements for teaching abroad
• Teach English abroad without a degree
• How to find teaching jobs abroad without experience
• Can you teach English abroad as a non-native speaker?

• Teach English Online
• TEFL Salaries Online
• Online TEFL Jobs
• Requirements for teaching online
• How to Teach English online without a degree
• How to teach English online without experience
• Teach English online as a non-native speaker?

• About the TEFL Org
• Accreditation
• Our TEFL Tutors
• The TEFL Team
• TEFL Certificate Verification
• TEFL Reviews

Save up to 50% on your TEFL course

Hurry! Ends in:

• The Definitive Guide to TESOL & TESOL certification

Choose your preferred region and currency:

Career paths in TEFL

It’s a misconception that TEFL is something only young people do for a year or two before coming home and finding a ‘proper job’. While many people do only teach English for a few years to travel and experience the world - and there’s nothing wrong with that! - there are a wide range of career paths within the TEFL industry.

We’re going to take a look at some of the common career paths for EFL teachers beyond entry-level teaching roles to give you an idea of what’s out there. You might be surprised by just how many routes you can go down after you gain your TEFL qualification and a bit of teaching experience!

The different career paths for EFL teachers

Senior teaching positions.

The first step for most teachers aiming to progress their TEFL career is to move into more senior teaching roles within schools, such as Co-ordinator and Senior Teacher positions. These jobs involve management responsibilities, such as mentoring and observing other teachers as well as curriculum development and timetabling and are suitable for teachers with one or two years experience under their belt.

School management

The top role within a school is the Director of Studies (DoS), who is responsible for the academic side of things. A Director of Studies will manage all staff and oversee the development of the curriculum, but their duties can vary a lot depending on the size of the school. These positions usually involve little to no teaching, with the focus being on administering the academic programme.

Language schools may also have a Centre Manager, whose role is more business-oriented as they are responsible for marketing and recruiting students. A business background is beneficial for these roles - you may see some ask for specific qualifications, even an MBA in rare cases - and it usually involves no teaching.

Millions of English language learners take proficiency exams every year, which means there’s always a demand for examiners! More than 2.5 million take the IELTS exam each year alone, but there are many other popular proficiency exams such as the TOEFL and Cambridge Assessment English . These roles typically require a university degree, a TEFL qualification and substantial teaching experience. You’ll need to undertake training with the examining body in order to qualify as an examiner.

University teaching

University TEFL jobs can vary, with some concentrated on teaching, and others more focused on research. You’ll need to be an experienced and well qualified teacher for both, but for research positions you’ll most likely need an MA or PhD in TEFL or a related subject.

College and ESOL teaching

If you’re looking for career opportunities within English-speaking countries then ESOL teaching in colleges and further education institutions is a popular option. In the UK, and a number of other countries, ESOL (English as a Second or Other Language) is the acronym used to refer to language learners who are already residing within an English-speaking country. ESOL classes are often state-funded and the classes can be very diverse in terms of ages, backgrounds and the circumstances in which they have arrived in the country.

Running a language school

If you’re very enterprising and want to work entirely for yourself then the idea of running your own language school might sound appealing. This undoubtedly requires a lot of work and your success will rely on the quality of the teaching you’re able to offer and your ability to market your school. As you’re working for yourself you won’t necessarily need any specific qualifications (unless it’s required by law in the country you intend on setting up in), but it will help in establishing and building reputation. Business training will also be extremely beneficial.

Working with refugees and asylum seekers

There are a number of opportunities to be found working with refugees and asylum seekers within English-speaking countries. These can be at a local council or government level, with charities, and as an ESOL teacher in colleges (as we’ve mentioned above). Such roles will usually require you to have a good amount of teaching experience and at least a TEFL qualification, but it’s often desirable to also have experience working with vulnerable groups. As such, volunteering first with refugees and asylum seekers is a common route to paid employment.

Teaching in state-run schools

You might spend some time teaching English abroad and realise that you love teaching but you don’t necessarily want to be teaching English for the rest of your life. It’s very common for EFL teachers to return home and complete a teaching qualification - such as a PGCE/PGDE in the UK - in order to teach within the school system. These postgraduate teacher training courses often require applicants to have already gained some sort of experience teaching, so EFL teachers are in a strong position for securing a place.  

Further teaching qualifications

If you have the aim to make a career out of TEFL then further training is an absolute necessity. Good teachers are always learning and to work your way up the ladder you’ll need to ensure you’re continually developing and strengthening your CV. There are a number of different options out there.

Advanced TEFL qualifications

Undertaking advanced training with a TEFL course provider is a great first step in an EFL teacher’s professional development. We run short self-paced courses in Business English, exam prep, teaching young learners and teaching English online at affordable prices. Such courses don’t require significant time or financial investment, but demonstrate to employers a commitment to self-development and serve as a solid introduction to areas you can further build on.

DELTA and Trinity DipTESOL

The DELTA (Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and Trinity DipTESOL (Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) are the two most widely recognised advanced TEFL qualifications in the world.

If you’re serious about TEFL as a career then a diploma is an important step. Teachers need at least one year of teaching experience in order to take the DELTA and two for the Trinity DipTESOL, which can be done in person or online via an approved centre. Be aware that some TEFL course providers refer to their Level 5 TEFL courses as ‘diplomas’ but they are in no way equivalent to the DELTA or Trinity DipTESOL, which are Level 7 courses and much more in depth.

Postgraduate teaching qualification

Postgraduate tefl study, ask employers about training and funding opportunities.

If you’re eager to advance in your career and undertake further training then you may find that your employer is equally as keen for you to do this and is willing to fund your training. If you’re moving to a new job and applying for positions then be sure to ask during an interview about the opportunities for development - ideally, you want to move into a role where this is supported if you have your own progression in mind.

A career in TEFL begins with a TEFL qualification. Get yours from the most accredited TEFL course provider in the world - check out our range of courses .

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment * (0/1500 characters)

Quick Maths Test

Post Comment   Cancel Reply

Doctor of Philosophy in Teaching English as Foreign languages (PhD in TEFL)

1. Introduction

The School of Foreign Languages and Journalism was established in 2009 with launching MA and MEd in TEFL programs on top of the already solid BA in English Language and Literature and Bed in English programs. Subsequently, BA programs in French and Arabic were added.

Besides, the School offers common courses in English across all the subjects/departments of HrU, both regular and continuing and distance programs as well as various in-service skills development courses to HrU staffs and the surrounding secondary and primary school teachers.

On the one hand, it aims at empowering students so that they effectively use English as Medium for Academic Purpose—studying other disciplines through English medium. On the other hand, the Department’s teacher education program aims at preparing secondary and tertiary English teachers and teacher educators competent in the contemporary theories of language, education, learning and research as well as state of the art skills in EFL/ELT pedagogy and classroom methodologies.

Accordingly, the SFLS staffs have designed a PHD in TEFL program that uniquely (differently from other universities) addresses the contemporary global-local contexts, that speak to learners’ and teachers’ interests and integrates pedagogy and research,   in all its approach, curricula, contents and methodology.  It was subjected to national Review Workshop wherein external and internal reviewers presented their evaluations of the document and approved with minor revision works. The 4-year PhD in TEFL program started regular program on September 2015.

2. Admission Requirement

M.A. /M.Ed. in TEFL/TESOL/ELT, English and Literature, Linguistics, Vernacular/Ethiopian Language, Bilingual Education, Foreign Language other than English   with focus and/or background (e.g. BA/B.Ed) in English language teaching is basic requirement to be considered as ‘eligible’.

Four key standards of admission are required but none of them is mandatory for application: (1) MA/MSc/Med GPA plus Thesis Grade (2) Publication(s) (3) Entrance examination (on basic concepts and skills in English language competence, TEFL and research), (4) Submission of a Concept paper (on an area of (future) interest in TEFL) and (5) Interview test (on communication and social skills).

3. Graduation Requirements

  In addition to demonstrating the developmental Core Competences/Skills (Table 2), students must normally have maintained the requirements of the HU Senate Legislation Article

• Administration of Final and Mid-Semester Examinations
• A list of candidates sitting in an examination shall be prepared in advance of the examination by departments or module/course instructor team leader/delegate to which the students belong and such a list shall be handed over to the invigilators for purposes of checking attendance in the exam;
• No student may be admitted into an exam hall 30 minutes after the beginning of the examination. However no additional time shall be allowed to compensate late arrival into the exam hall;
• No student may be allowed to leave an exam hall within 30 minutes of the beginning of an examination and before signing the examination attendance sheet. However, all examinations must start on time and no corrections and other announcements made for students at the beginning of the exam shall be repeated;
• In the event that a student is forced to leave an exam hall for health reasons, and in so far as the student is in a conscious and sound state of mind, the invigilator in attendance shall inform him of the fact that certification from a medical doctor has to be obtained expeditiously to substantiate the claim of sickness or illness; and

Upon conclusion of an examination, the invigilator shall submit a report on the conduct of the examination by completing a form prepared for that purpose. The report shall be submitted to the head of the department that offers the course

The requirements for successful, or otherwise, completion of the Comprehensive Examination and Oral Defence of Dissertation or Viva are governed by HU Senate Legislation Articles:

• Failure to achieve 60% score in the [Comprehensive] exams will result in studying further 4 to 8 weeks duration.
• Thesis Presentation and Defence (see details)

Copyright © 2023 HU. All Rights Reserved