MTESOL - Master of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Overview
Entry Requirements, Fees and Dates
Regulations
Schedule
Graduate Profile and Programme Capabilities

This taught masters programme is designed for the professional development of teachers. You can better understand the problems that people face when learning a new language. You will be able to apply this knowledge to improve your teaching practice and employment prospects.

You may be able to take some of the courses towards your degree online. Completing the MTESOL does not qualify you to teach in state schools in New Zealand.

Other related programmes include the PGDipLT - Postgraduate Diploma in Language Teaching and the MA - Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics.

There are two different ways that you can structure your MTESOL:

Taught courses only

Three elective courses in conducting research in applied language studies, curriculum design, sociolinguistics, second language acquisition, discourse analysis, assessment, or creativity in language teaching (45 points)
Five more elective courses from our wide range of language teaching courses (75 points)

Taught courses and a dissertation

One core course in conducting research in applied language studies (15 points)
Five elective courses from our wide range of language teaching courses (75 points)
A dissertation (30 points)

If you have experience in language teaching, the MTESOL will further your knowledge and skills to enable you to advance your career as a professional in the field.

English as a second/foreign language teacher
Second/foreign language teacher trainer
Lecturer in second/foreign language teacher education
Professor

PhD - Doctor of Philosophy

Once you become a student at the University, you can get help with planning and developing your career from Career Development and Employability Services.

Key Information for Students

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You'll also need to meet other requirements, including time limits and total points limits. See Postgraduate enrolment.

Depending on the type of programme you are pursuing, you may have the opportunity to complete a unique research project. To find out more about the research carried out at the University of Auckland and to identify potential supervisors, check out our researcher profiles.

Year Fees Applicable

Domestic Student Annual Fees

International Student Annual Fees

Fees are set in advance of each calendar year and will be updated on this website. Fees are inclusive of 15% GST, but do not include the Student Services Fee, course books, travel and health insurance, or living costs. Fees will be confirmed upon completion of enrolment into courses. For more information, please see Fees and Money Matters .

*Please note: amounts shown are indicative and estimates only.

Scholarships and awards

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Student loans and allowances

Are you a New Zealand citizen or resident? You could be eligible for a student loan or allowance.

Cost of living

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Please note: we will consider late applications if places are still available. International students should start the application process as early as possible to allow sufficient time to apply for a visa.

Semester	Application Closing Date	Semester Start Date	Semester End Date
2025 Semester One	08 December 2024	03 March 2025	30 June 2025
2025 Semester Two	04 July 2025	21 July 2025	17 November 2025
2026 Semester One		02 March 2026	29 June 2026
2026 Semester Two		20 July 2026	16 November 2026

1 - 4

See important dates for the academic year, including orientation, enrolment, study breaks, exams, and graduation.

The regulations for this degree are to be read in conjunction with all other relevant statutes and regulations including the Academic Statutes and Regulations.

1 In order to be admitted to this degree, an applicant must have:

a (i) completed the requirements for a relevant Bachelors degree from this University with a Grade Point Average of 3.5 or higher, or have equivalent prior study

and

(ii) at least two years of relevant professional experience or the equivalent

b (i) completed the requirements for a relevant Bachelors degree from this University with a Grade Point Average of 3.5 or higher in 60 points above Stage II

and

(ii) at least two years of relevant professional experience or the equivalent

c (i) completed the requirements for a Bachelors Honours degree from this University, in a relevant subject with a Grade Point Average of 3.5 or higher, or have equivalent prior study

and

(ii) at least one year of relevant professional experience or the equivalent.

2 Equivalence and relevance in Regulation 1 will be determined by the University. Equivalence pertains to the standard as well as nature and level of study.

3 In order to be admitted to this degree, applicants who have not completed two years of full-time study in an English medium institution must have achieved an overall score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 on all bands in IELTS (Academic) or equivalent.

4 In exceptional circumstances the requirements in Regulation 1 may be waived by the relevant Associate Dean Academic or nominee if they determine that an applicant has a Bachelors degree and relevant practical, professional or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind that is equivalent to one year of postgraduate study.

Notes:

(i) Admission to and completion of this programme does not meet New Zealand teacher registration requirements.

(ii) A relevant subject may include: Business English, Linguistics, Language Studies, Language Teaching, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), or Translation and Interpreting.

5 A student enrolled for this degree must:

a pass courses with a total value of 120 points

and

b complete within the time limit specified in the General Regulations – Masters Degrees

and

c not exceed 160 points in total enrolment for this degree.

6 A student enrolled for this degree must complete the requirements as listed in the Master of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Schedule.

7 A student must complete the University of Auckland Academic Integrity course as specified in the Enrolment and Programme Regulations, Academic Integrity, of the University Calendar.

8 a The research project, when included in the programme, is to be carried out under the guidance of a supervisor appointed by the Academic Head.

b A student must have passed or be enrolled in LANGTCHG 757 before commencing the research project.

c The research project topic must be approved by the Programme Director prior to enrolment.

d The research project is to be completed and submitted in accordance with the General Regulations – Masters Degrees.

9 This degree may be awarded with either Honours, Distinction or Merit as specified in the General Regulations – Masters Degrees.

10 In exceptional circumstances the Programme Director may approve a variation to a programme of study in accordance with the Enrolment and Programme Regulations.

11 These regulations and/or schedule have been amended with effect from 1 January 2025.

Complete 120 points comprising:

Either:
120 points for Coursework Option, or
120 points for Research Project Option, and
1 item from Academic Integrity Course

Coursework Option

Complete 120 points comprising:

45 points from Group 1 Elective Courses, and
75 points from Group 2 Elective Courses

Group 1 Elective Courses

Complete exactly 45 points from the following:

LANGTCHG 757 - Conducting Research in Applied Language Studies (15 points)

LANGTCHG 760 - Curriculum Design (15 points)

LANGTCHG 761 - Sociolinguistics (15 points)

LANGTCHG 762 - Second Language Acquisition (15 points)

LANGTCHG 763 - Discourse Analysis (15 points)

LANGTCHG 764 - Creativity: Research and Practice (15 points)

LANGTCHG 765 - Language Testing and Assessment (15 points)

Group 2 Elective Courses

Complete exactly 75 points from the following:

LANGTCHG 701 - Multilingual Lives (15 points)

LANGTCHG 708 - Special Topic: Experimental Approaches to SLA (15 points)

LANGTCHG 710 - Task-based Language Teaching (15 points)

LANGTCHG 715 - Developing Academic Literacy (15 points)

LANGTCHG 734 - Identity in Language Teaching and Learning (15 points)

LANGTCHG 739 - Directed Study (15 points)

LANGTCHG 740 - Language Analysis for Teachers (15 points)

LANGTCHG 746 - Materials Development and Evaluation (15 points)

LANGTCHG 751 - Corpus Studies in Applied Linguistics (15 points)

LANGTCHG 752 - Computer Assisted Language Learning (15 points)

LANGTCHG 754 - English for Specific Purposes (15 points)

LANGTCHG 756 - Special Topic (15 points)

LANGTCHG 757 - Conducting Research in Applied Language Studies (15 points)

LANGTCHG 760 - Curriculum Design (15 points)

LANGTCHG 761 - Sociolinguistics (15 points)

LANGTCHG 762 - Second Language Acquisition (15 points)

LANGTCHG 763 - Discourse Analysis (15 points)

LANGTCHG 764 - Creativity: Research and Practice (15 points)

LANGTCHG 765 - Language Testing and Assessment (15 points)

Up to 30 points may be substituted from other relevant 700 level courses offered at this University approved by the Programme Director or nominee.