Is the MA Applied Linguistics suitable for working teachers?

Yes — the MA is widely taken by working English-language teachers and language-policy practitioners. The part-time and distance routes are designed around full-time work, with most students completing the degree over 24 months while continuing their professional roles.

Do I need a linguistics degree to enrol in the MA Applied Linguistics?

Not necessarily. Many students arrive with degrees in modern languages, TESOL, education or English literature. Career-changers with significant teaching, assessment or policy experience can apply without a linguistics-specific undergraduate degree, supported by their professional CV.

What does the dissertation on the MA Applied Linguistics look like?

A 15,000-word empirical study or extended theoretical investigation on an applied-linguistic question grounded in your own professional context — a classroom intervention, a small-scale corpus study, a language-policy analysis. Each student has a named supervisor with research expertise in the chosen sub-field.

How does the MA Applied Linguistics differ from a Cambridge DELTA?

DELTA is a Cambridge professional ELT qualification focused on teaching practice. The MA Applied Linguistics is a UK master's degree focused on the research base behind language teaching, assessment, discourse and policy. They suit different stages and ambitions — and many senior ELT practitioners hold both.

Will the MA Applied Linguistics prepare me for a PhD?

Yes. The MA includes a substantial research-methods strand and a supervised dissertation — both of which UK doctoral programmes look for in applicants. Graduates have progressed to PhD study in applied linguistics, language testing, education and related fields.

MA Applied Linguistics in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA Applied Linguistics at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for language teachers, researchers, materials writers and language-policy professionals who want to ground their practice in current applied-linguistic theory. The MA covers second-language acquisition, language teaching, language testing, discourse analysis and language policy — and asks you to apply the research to a problem in your own professional field.

This is the master's degree applied linguistics graduates need when they're done with general teacher training and ready to do something more — design assessment systems, advise on policy, run empirical classroom research, or move into doctoral work.

Key Features

UK master's degree from a specialist humanities institution in central London — one year full-time, two years part-time, with online and distance routes.
SLA module covering cognitive, sociocultural and dynamic-systems perspectives on second-language learning.
Language testing and assessment module aligned with CEFR, the British Council aptitude and proficiency literature, and contemporary critical assessment scholarship.
Discourse analysis module covering conversation analysis, critical discourse analysis, multimodal discourse and corpus-aided approaches.
Language policy module — UK and international contexts, English-medium instruction, minority and heritage language policy.
15,000-word dissertation on an applied-linguistic question grounded in your own professional context.

What You Will Learn

The MA Applied Linguistics is structured around the practice/research interface — the ability to read primary research critically, design an empirical study, and apply findings to a professional problem. You graduate equipped to lead the applied-linguistic work behind a teaching reform, an assessment redesign, a curriculum project or a language-policy intervention.

Second-language acquisition theory and the major research traditions.
Research methods in applied linguistics — qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods.
Language testing and assessment — validity, reliability, washback, fairness.
Discourse analysis — conversation analysis, CDA, multimodality.
Corpus linguistics for applied purposes — concordancing, frequency analysis, learner-corpus research.
Language policy and planning — national, regional and educational contexts.
Critical approaches to ELT and EMI (English-medium instruction).
Dissertation supervision — research-design, ethics, write-up.

Who This MA Is For

Experienced English-language teachers ready to deepen their theoretical foundation and move into senior or specialist roles.
BA Linguistics, BA Modern Languages or BA TESOL graduates progressing to a master's.
Materials writers, exam developers and language-assessment professionals wanting research grounding for their practice.
Language-policy professionals in government, international organisations or NGOs.
Prospective doctoral researchers using the MA as a research-methods training year.

Career Pathways

The MA Applied Linguistics is the standard postgraduate qualification across UK and international ELT, language testing and language-policy work. Graduates move into senior practitioner, research and policy roles. Typical destinations include:

Director of Studies / Academic Coordinator (private or university-sector ELT)
Language Assessment Specialist (Cambridge, IELTS, Trinity, or in-house assessment unit)
EAP (English for Academic Purposes) Lecturer (UK or international university)
Language Policy Researcher (think tank, NGO, government department)
ELT Publishing / Course Design (publisher, edtech provider)
Doctoral Researcher (PhD programmes in applied linguistics, education or language testing)

The MA is also a recognised foundation for doctoral work in applied linguistics, education and related fields.

Entry Requirements

A UK 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent) in a related subject (linguistics, modern languages, TESOL, education), 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 professional experience.

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.