Our MA and GradDip TESOL programmes are designed to provide students with practical knowledge and skills they can immediately apply to their teaching practice.
Students will see a difference in how they approach their teaching and in the value they give to their own students. Most importantly, our programmes work around typical language school timetables, which means students have the opportunity to teach part-time while undertaking the TESOL courses.
We welcome applicants with no teaching experience as well as more experienced teachers, as we have two MA TESOL streams available.
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The programme emphasises the importance of research-informed practice, critical reflection, autonomous learning and the translation of theory into practice.
Students will explore the theoretical underpinnings of English language teaching and will link them directly to their experience in the classroom.
The TESOL team are classroom-based language practitioners who underpin their work with the most cutting-edge pedagogical research and advances in technology.
Our small group teaching offers a personal, interactive experience.
We also offer a teaching practice module where student teachers will be observed and receive feedback on their teaching. Students will also have the opportunity to observe our live language classes in the UCD Centre for English and Global Languages.
Our TESOL programmes cover a broad range of subjects relevant to ELT professionals and their career advancement.
Each week, research will be brought to the practical setting of the classroom context as students develop their knowledge and reflect on good practice.
This goal will be achieved through the use of small groups, discussions, teaching observations, presentations, workshops and blended learning.
Graduates are well positioned to take up employment as specialist teachers and/or academic managers, contributing significantly to teacher development and the design of teaching materials.
The UCD Centre for English and Global Languages is a hub of communicative and applied language teaching which means you have access to a range of teaching styles. Your experience is enhanced through our programme of guest speakers and we encourage you to engage with current debates in ELT.
The Centre has been offering TESOL programmes and engaged in language teacher education since 1989. We are currently involved in a number of research projects concerning the relationship between language proficiency, academic success and employment after university, and the academic faculty are actively engaged in publishing their work. Find our more about the TESOL team here.
For TESOL students looking to also complete a recognised English teaching qualification to allow them to teach in Ireland, we are happy to announce that we have partnered with a local language school who are offering UCD MA TESOL students a discount of 15% on their CELTA courses.
The UCD Language Centre are offering 8 competitive Scholarships (6 full-time Non-EU and 2 full-time EU) for students who will study on either MA in TESOL full-time in the academic year 2025/2026.
The scholarships will cover 50% of the 2025/2026 tuition fees and will be awarded on merit. In order to be eligible to apply for this advertised scholarship, applicants must have a firm or conditional offer on either MA full time.
Deadline for Scholarship Scheme applications: Friday 30 May 2025 4pm (Irish time)
You can find out more about how to apply here.
We welcome applications from experienced teachers of English as a second, foreign or additional language as well as new teachers with no experience, as we have two streams of the MA.
The programmes are open to international students as well as students from Ireland.
Applicants should meet the following entry requirements:
Applicants who do not meet the language requirements for direct entry can apply for our Pre-Sessional EAP Programme at a 50% discount.
Students on the MA or GradDip in TESOL programme will explore the theoretical underpinnings of English language teaching and will link them directly to their experience in the classroom. Each week, research will be brought to the practical setting of the classroom context as students develop their knowledge and reflect on good practice. This goal will be achieved through the use of small groups, discussions, teaching observations, presentations, workshops and blended learning.
List of modules covered by the MA or GradDip in TESOL programme:
Stream 1 (experienced teachers):
Stream 2 (new teachers):
Please note, modules are subject to availability.
The aims of the MA/GradDip in TESOL programme are for students to:
Our MA/GradDip in TESOL programme is unique. We work around typical language school timetables, which means you will have the opportunity to continue teaching while undertaking the TESOL programme. You will see a difference in how you approach your teaching and in the value you give to your students. You will become a part of the wider ELT community, allowing you to benefit from networking and career development opportunities. You will be able to contribute to the growing professionalism across the field and be part of the growth of ELT in Ireland and beyond.
The TESOL team are classroom-based language practitioners who underpin their work with the most cutting-edge pedagogical research and advances in technology. Our small group teaching offers a personal, interactive experience.
We combine theory with practice, offering students the chance to observe live language classes in the Centre. The Language Centre is a hub of communicative and applied language teaching which means you have access to a range of teaching styles. Your experience is enhanced through our programme of guest speakers and we encourage you to engage with current debates in ELT. Successful completion of our MA programme will help you become a more accomplished ELT professional, with a solid theoretical knowledge and the transferable skills necessary to enhance your career.
| Applicant Designation |
MA TESOL Full Time |
GradDip TESOL |
MA TESOL Part Time |
| EU |
€9,330 |
€7,030 |
€5,470 |
| Non-EU |
€21,520 |
€15,070 |
N/A |
Fees are subject to change. More detailed tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website: http://www.ucd.ie/students/fees/
UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full- time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see here.
Students who wish to undertake postgraduate training in TESOL but prefer not to complete the thesis requirement associated with the MA are welcome to apply for the GradDip TESOL.
The GradDip in TESOL invites students to follow the same course of modules as the MA.
For more information about the application and admission process for the MA or the GradDip in TESOL programmes for those with at least 1 year of teaching experience, please visit the UCD Graduate Studies site (opens in a new window)here.
For more information about the application and admission process for the MA in TESOL programmes for those with no teaching experience (Pre-Service), please visit the UCD Graduate Studies site here.
| IELTS | DET (Duolingo) | PTE | TOEFL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA TESOL Direct Entry Requirements |
Ovr: 7.0; L: 6.5; R: 6.5; W: 6.5; S: 6.5 |
Ovr: 130; Lit: 120; Comp: 120; Conv: 120; Prod: 120 | Ovr: 66; L: 57; R: 61; W: 74; S: 54 | Ovr: 94; L: 20; R: 16; W: 24; S: 20 |
This is an International Pathway Programme for students who hold a conditional offer for their desired UCD undergraduate or postgraduate course.
Two Pre-Sessional EAP Programmes are available, 10 Week and 7 Week programmes, both of which take place in the Summer. Students successfully completing their Pre-Sessional Programme progress to their UCD degree in September. Find out more and apply here. Entry requirements for the Pre-Sessional are outlined below:
| IELTS | DET (Duolingo) | PTE | TOEFL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA TESOL Direct Entry |
Ovr: 7.0; L: 6.5; R: 6.5; W: 6.5; S: 6.5 |
Ovr: 130; Lit: 120; Comp: 120; Conv: 120; Prod: 120 |
Ovr: 66; L: 57; R: 61; W: 74; S: 54 | Ovr: 94; L: 20; R: 16; W: 24; S: 20 |
| 10 week Pre-Sessional Programme Entry Requirements | Ovr: 6.0; L: 5.5; R: 5.5; W: 5.5; S:5.5 |
Ovr: 110; Lit: 100; Comp: 100; Conv: 100; Prod: 100 |
Ovr: 52; L: 43; R: 48; W: 51; S: 42 | Ovr: 60; L: 11; R: 12; W: 20; S: 17 |
| 7 week Pre-Sessional Programme Entry Requirements | Ovr: 6.5; L: 6.0 ; R: 6.0; W: 6.0; S: 6.0 | Ovr: 120, Lit: 110; Comp: 110; Conv: 110; Prod: 110 |
Ovr: 59; L: 48; R: 54; W: 63; S: 46 | Ovr: 79; L: 19; R: 18; W: 23; S: 19 |
If you have any questions about our TESOL programmes, please email us at (opens in a new window)tesol@ucd.ie
To find out more about our academic staff, please visit our Meet the Team page
We are based on the first floor of the Daedalus building, in the heart of the UCD Belfield campus. When the building was opened, it was the first purpose built language teaching centre in the country and remains an architecturally impressive hub in the centre of campus.
We are also happy to announce that we are offering a short Summer Professional Certificate in TESOL soon too.
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