Is the MA Applied English Studies more a language or a literature programme?

Both. The MA Applied English Studies treats English language and literature as a single discipline, with substantial coverage of both and the applied research methods that link them. Students may emphasise one in their dissertation.

Can I take the MA Applied English Studies part-time?

Yes. The MA can be taken over 24 months part-time. Online and distance routes are available for working professionals and international students. Most working students complete the MA Applied English Studies in two years.

Does the MA Applied English Studies qualify me as an English teacher?

No. Teaching qualification (PGCE, QTS, or international equivalent) is a separate award. The MA Applied English Studies provides the advanced subject grounding many teacher-training programmes require for English-specialism entry.

What sort of dissertation will I write on the MA Applied English Studies?

A 12,000-to-15,000-word applied piece on a topic agreed with your supervisor. Past examples include applied research on UK adult ESOL settings, archival work on twentieth-century English-language periodicals, and discourse-analytic studies of public-facing English in policy texts.

Is the MA Applied English Studies recognised internationally?

Yes. The MA Applied English Studies is a UK-recognised Master's degree taught in London. Graduates have moved into senior teaching, assessment and editorial roles in the UK, the EU, the Gulf, East Asia and elsewhere.

MA Applied English Studies in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA Applied English Studies at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for graduates and senior practitioners who want advanced study of English language and literature with a deliberately applied bent — teaching, editorial work, assessment, public-humanities communication, or research that lands outside academic journals.

The course is built around current English Association, British Council and Modern Language Association practice. You will produce a 12,000-to-15,000-word dissertation on a topic in applied English studies and graduate with a piece of work substantial enough to take into a senior professional role or onto a doctoral programme.

Key Features

English Association-aligned curriculum covering advanced language, literature and applied research.
Applied research methods module — empirical, archival, comparative, public-humanities.
Specialist literature seminars covering canonical and contemporary work.
Language-and-pedagogy module for students moving toward teaching or assessment work.
Industry-led masterclasses from working editors, examiners, broadcasters and public-humanities practitioners.
12,000–15,000 word dissertation supervised by an active academic or senior practitioner.

What You Will Learn

The MA Applied English Studies is structured around the working practice of an advanced English specialist who needs to apply the discipline outside the seminar room. You graduate able to read literature with the discipline a Master's expects, work with English language at advanced professional standard, and produce applied research that lands with non-academic audiences.

Advanced English language analysis — grammar, register, style at MA level.
Literature seminars — canonical, contemporary, comparative.
Critical theory at MA level — major twentieth-century and contemporary traditions.
Applied research methods — empirical, archival, comparative, public-humanities.
Language and pedagogy — for students moving toward teaching or assessment.
Editorial and publishing practice — for students moving toward editorial leadership.
Public humanities — writing for non-academic audiences.
Dissertation research methods — qualitative and quantitative, archival sources.

Who This MA Is For

BA English graduates moving into a research-active or applied specialism.
Working English teachers, lecturers and academic editors seeking a postgraduate credential.
Career-changers from publishing, journalism or assessment moving into MA-level English work.
International graduates seeking a UK Master's in English Studies taught in central London.

Career Pathways

Graduates of the MA Applied English Studies move into senior roles in education, examinations, publishing and the public humanities, or progress to doctoral study. Typical post-MA destinations include:

English Teacher (with appropriate teaching qualification)
Academic Editor (publisher, university press)
Examinations Officer (Cambridge English, British Council)
Lecturer (further education, university supplementary teaching)
Educational Materials Writer (publisher, EdTech firm)
Public Humanities Programmer (museum, festival, broadcaster)

The MA also serves as a launchpad for doctoral study in English, applied linguistics or a related discipline.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in a related subject, OR a 2:2 in any subject with two years of relevant professional experience.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Personal statement (max 1 page) outlining your motivation, relevant experience and intended specialism.
Two academic or professional references.
Applicants without a related undergraduate degree may be considered with significant industry experience and a written sample.

Why Study at LSJHML

The London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London. Our programmes are designed in dialogue with working professionals — journalists, translators, civil servants, academics, broadcasters, editors, publishers and policy researchers — so what you learn in seminar on Monday is what your future employer is using on Tuesday. We deliberately keep cohorts small, give every student named tutor support, and treat employability as a structural part of every programme rather than an optional add-on.

London is the work — politics, courts, capital markets, theatre, broadcasting, publishing, public service, the global press. Your studies are taught in the same square mile where the stories you read about happen. Whether you join us on-campus, online or by distance learning, the city is your classroom and our industry network is your launchpad.