Do I need teaching experience to enrol in the MA Language Education?

Yes — the MA is built around senior practice and assumes meaningful classroom teaching experience. Applicants with adjacent experience (ELT publishing, edtech materials writing, language-policy research) are welcome where the case is clearly made in the personal statement.

How is the MA Language Education different from a Delta?

Delta is a professional teaching diploma. The MA Language Education is a research-track master's degree with deeper applied linguistics, classroom research design and an original research dissertation. Several teacher trainers and directors of studies hold both — Delta as the professional credential, the MA as the academic and research credential.

Can I do the MA Language Education part-time?

Yes. The MA can be taken over 24 months part-time. Online and distance routes are designed for working teachers and trainers — most students continue teaching through the course, with the classroom research dissertation built around their own teaching context.

What kind of classroom research dissertation do students write on the MA Language Education?

Original research, 12,000–15,000 words, based on a classroom or programme context the student has access to. Recent dissertations have covered task design in multilingual classrooms, learner autonomy in online TESOL, assessment washback at university foundation level, and teacher cognition in newly-qualified ELT staff.

Is the MA Language Education recognised by international institutions?

Yes. It is a UK-recognised master's degree taught in London — the academic centre of much UK ELT scholarship — and meets entry requirements for PhD programmes in applied linguistics and language education at UK and international universities.

MA Language Education in London | LSJHML | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA Language Education at the London School of Journalism, Humanities & Modern Languages (LSJHML) is a one-year UK postgraduate degree for experienced language teachers, teacher trainers and academic coordinators ready for research-track work. You will study applied linguistics and language pedagogy at advanced level, design and conduct an original classroom research study, and produce a 12,000-to-15,000 word dissertation supervised by an active researcher in language education.

This MA is for the person whose next step is to shape teaching practice rather than only to deliver it. By the end of the MA Language Education you can design classroom research that holds up to peer review, lead teacher development with discipline, and contribute credibly to scholarly and professional conversation in the field.

Key Features

Advanced applied linguistics core — second-language acquisition, language assessment, sociocultural perspectives, multilingualism.
Pedagogy at advanced level — methodology critique, materials evaluation, teacher cognition.
Classroom research module — research design, methods, ethics for school-based research.
Teacher development module — observation, mentoring, in-service training design.
Industry-led masterclasses from working directors of studies, teacher trainers, ELT publishers and academic linguists.
12,000–15,000 word dissertation based on original classroom research.

What You Will Learn

The MA Language Education is structured around the analytical, research and leadership work expected of a senior language educator. You graduate able to design and conduct classroom research, lead teacher development, and engage credibly with scholarly conversation in applied linguistics and language pedagogy.

Second-language acquisition — current cognitive, sociocultural and identity-focused models.
Language assessment — CEFR, large-scale tests, classroom assessment, washback effects.
Sociolinguistics for the language teacher — multilingualism, code-switching, identity.
Materials evaluation and design at research standard.
Teacher cognition and development — observation, feedback, mentoring.
Classroom research methods — action research, case study, ethnography, mixed methods.
Research ethics — consent, safeguarding, school-based research protocols.
Dissertation methodology — design, write-up at MA standard.

Who This MA Is For

Experienced EFL/ESOL teachers moving into director-of-studies or teacher-training roles.
International school and university EFL academic coordinators wanting research-track credentialing.
ELT publishers and materials writers wanting structured academic grounding.
Future academics preparing for PhD work in applied linguistics or language education.

Career Pathways

Graduates of the MA Language Education move into senior teaching, training and leadership roles across UK and international language education. Typical post-MA destinations include:

Director of Studies (UK language school, international school, university EFL centre)
Teacher Trainer (CELTA/Delta centre, in-service training provider, edtech)
Senior EFL Teacher (university foundation programme, international school)
ELT Materials Writer (lead — major educational publisher, edtech platform)
Academic Coordinator (international school, university foundation programme)
Language Policy Researcher (British Council, government research, academic centre)

The MA also serves as a launchpad for doctoral research in applied linguistics and language education.

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.