Applied Linguistics and TESOL Lancaster University

Overview

The Applied Linguistics (TESOL) course from Lancaster University  will give you a strong foundation in both theoretical knowledge and practical skills - making you a competitive candidate across language-related industries.

Are you passionate about language, how it is learned, and how it can be taught effectively? If you want to explore both the theoretical foundations of language and its practical applications in teaching and learning, our MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL is designed for you.

You’ll develop a strong foundation in second language acquisition and teaching methodologies, while exploring how linguistic theory applies in practice—across areas like digital communication, AI and literacy, language policy, multilingualism, and sociopolitical discourse.

Career opportunities:

In addition to subject-specific expertise, you’ll gain the kinds of transferable skills that are immensely valuable across sectors - including critical thinking, research design, data analysis, academic writing, communication and project management. These skills will serve you well, whether you stay in the field or branch out into other areas.

Graduates from our programme go on to work in diverse roles within:

• Education
• Research
• Publishing
• Consultancy
• Language teaching, both in the UK and internationally
• Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL), as well as other modern languages
• Curriculum design
• Language assessment and materials development, helping to shape the way languages are taught in classrooms, online, and in corporate training settings

Our alumni have taken up teaching and coordination roles with respected organisations such as the British Council, private language schools and universities across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.

Some have moved into roles such as:

• Policy or advisory roles, where they contribute to educational reform
• Language planning and multilingual education strategies
• Language consultants
• Supporting international businesses, NGOs and government departments in areas such as intercultural communication, language policy and professional communication