This distance learning course will enable you to gain a University of Sunderland qualification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from anywhere in the world.
Teachers with a qualification in TESOL are in great demand because of the value of English language skills. English is the top language of the internet and the world’s third most widely spoken language, so our course can open up new opportunities for you around the world.

Unlike some other TESOL courses, Sunderland’s course not only covers theoretical aspects but also includes a practical teaching module. You will find an institution in your own country where you will teach a lesson and record it on a DVD to be sent for assessment.

The course includes core modules in ‘Principles and Practice of English Language Teaching’ and ‘Linguistics for TESOL’. There are also optional modules with a strong practical element such as 'Corpus Linguistics and Language Teaching’. The final phase of the course is a Masters dissertation whose topic will reflect your personal interest in an area of TESOL.

Entry Requirements

We usually require applicants to hold an honours degree. You should also have excellent English language skills.
Applicants whose first language is not English must achieve a minimum IELTS band score of 6.5, with no less than 5.5 in any element.
For the practical teaching module you will need access to a language school or other institution where you can observe and teach English language classes, and where you can record a lesson on DVD.
If you have already covered one or more of the topics covered by the course, and would like to apply for accreditation of prior learning (APL), please contact the course leader.

Other Fees

Books fee - £330

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This distance learning programme is a way to build on your professional skills and educational leadership at a time and place that suits your circumstances.

This distance learning programme is an opportunity to continue your professional development and acquire advanced research and study skills whether you are in the UK or Overseas.

Entry Requirements

We usually require applicants to hold an honours degree. We also expect you to have experience of teaching or training, following your graduation from your first degree.
Applicants whose first language is not English must achieve a minimum IELTS band score of 6.5, with 6.5 in writing, and no less than 6 in Reading, Speaking and Listening.

If you have already covered one or more of the topics covered by the programme, and would like to apply for accreditation of prior learning (APL), please contact the programme leader.

Other Fees

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A PhD is “probably the most internationally transferable qualification” according to the Higher Education Policy Institute. The programme is based around your personal interests and research passions rather than any pre-set curriculum. It’s an opportunity to develop your own agenda and do what you find interesting, every day.
Once you have negotiated the topic with your supervisor, you will develop mastery of research methods that are appropriate to your chosen field. You will also critically investigate your topic in great depth, with support, guidance and encouragement from our supervisory team.

Crucially, your investigation should result in the creation and interpretation of knowledge which extends the forefront of your discipline. It should make an original contribution to knowledge.

Increasingly, a doctorate is an essential requirement for recruitment and promotion in university teaching roles. A PhD is highly advisable if you are considering a career as an academic.

More broadly, a PhD is a life-changing programme that trains you to think at a deep level while you become an expert in a particular topic. It is quite possible that you will end up knowing more about that topic than almost anyone else in the country – and discovering things that no-one else has ever discovered.

Entry Requirements

The normal entry requirement for a research degree is a UK honours degree (first or upper second class) or a Masters degree or an equivalent qualification.

We will consider candidates with other qualifications, looking at evidence of academic ability such as published work.

If English is not your first language, you will need a British Council International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall score of 6.5, with at least 6.0 in each component: reading, writing, listening and speaking (or equivalent).

Other Fees

When you have completed your study and research you will spend additional time writing up your thesis. The write up fee will be charged during this period.

One-off write up fee

Domestic students - £2,520

International students - £6,600

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A Higher Doctorate is awarded for published work of the highest quality, which has made a very significant and sustained contribution to the subject.

We ask candidates to submit a collection of their published work and a commentary that demonstrates its impact on the subject. Your application should be supported by a professor from the University of Sunderland.

There is a high level of scrutiny for all applications. The Higher Doctorate Panel includes the University’s Vice–Chancellor, and the examiners will be leading authorities in your field of study.

The University of Sunderland awards four Higher Doctorates:

Doctor of Letters (DLitt)
Doctor of Science (DSc)
Doctor of Technology (DTech)
Doctor of Laws (LLD)

Higher Doctorates are rarely awarded and they are elite qualifications that will mark you out as an outstanding contributor to your field.

Entry Requirements

Applicants will typically be full-time members of the research staff of the University, or Visiting Professors, with at least three years of service.

Applicants can also be people from outside the University who are leading authorities in their field. In this case you should have a sponsor who is a professor on the full-time teaching staff of the University of Sunderland. You should have completed a Masters degree at least four years ago, or an honours degree at least seven years ago.
We ask applicants to write a statement of no more than 1,000 words that outlines the significance of your contribution to knowledge and the impact within your chosen area.

If English is not your first language, you will need a British Council International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall score of 6.5, with at least 6.0 in each component: reading, writing, listening and speaking (or equivalent).

Other Fees

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With an MPhil, unlike a taught degree, you decide what areas you want to study, and which questions you want to research. You take the initiative while we support you with advice, guidance and facilities.

For many people an MPhil is a way of testing whether postgraduate research suits them. If it does, you can often convert your MPhil programme into a PhD and continue your research.

Compared to a PhD, an MPhil requires fewer years of study – as few as two years compared to at least three years for a PhD. The demands for originality are also less than those required for a PhD.

During your MPhil we will train you in rigorous research methodologies that are transferable to many different careers. Our Postgraduate Research Development programme allows you to learn alongside other candidates, building up a network of potential collaborators in research projects.

There is no doubt that research degrees require persistence and dedication. At the same time they are excellent opportunities to develop your critical skills and high-level thinking. Most important of all, they allow you to focus on what you find interesting and to follow your personal research interests.

An MPhil thesis is typically 20,000-40,000 words while a PhD thesis is up to 80,0000 words, depending on the subject area.

Entry Requirements

The normal entry requirement for a research degree is a UK honours degree (first or upper second class) or a UK Masters degree or a qualification which is regarded as equivalent.
We will consider candidates with other qualifications, looking at evidence of academic ability such as published work.

If English is not your first language, you will need a British Council International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall score of 6.5, with at least 6.0 in each component: reading, writing, listening and speaking (or equivalent).

Other Fees

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