Course Summary
The MA in TESOL is an internationally recognised qualification in the field of English language education.
College Link
Career Sectors
This course prepares you for working in the Career Sectors below. Follow the links to get a fuller understanding of the sectors you are preparing for.
Entry Requirements
• Applicants must hold an honours undergraduate degree (NFQ level 8) or equivalent, having normally reached a 2H1 or better. Applications with a 2H2 average are considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Applicants should have a minimum of one years’ relevant teaching experience in Ireland or overseas (applicants with less/no experience should apply for our other MA TESOL stream Z378 instead)
• Applicants, whose first language is not English, should have an overall band of 7.0 in IELTS (with no band less than 6.5).
• Applicants who do not meet the language requirements for direct entry can apply for our Pre-Sessional EAP Programme at a 50% discount.
You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information at: https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/ Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.
Application Details
Online Application.
Who Should Apply?
Full Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: Yes
Part Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: No
Z155: Master of Arts TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Full-Time
Commencing September 2026
Graduate Taught
Z173: Graduate Diploma in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Full-Time
Commencing September 2026
Graduate Taught
Z259: Master of Arts TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Part-Time
Commencing September 2026
Graduate Taught
Fees
MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Z155) Full Time
EU fee per year - € 9100
nonEU fee per year - € 21520
MA Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (Z259) Part Time
EU fee per year - € 5340
nonEU fee per year - € 11300
***Fees are subject to change
Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.
The Student
Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Linguistic
The Linguistic's interests are usually focused on ideas and information exchange. They tend to like reading a lot, and enjoy discussion about what has been said. Some will want to write about their own ideas and may follow a path towards journalism, story writing or editing. Others will develop skills in other languages, perhaps finding work as a translator or interpreter. Most Linguistic types will enjoy the opportunity to teach or instruct people in a topic they are interested in.
Career Progression
Graduates of the programme aim to apply for senior positions within TESOL – posts of responsibility such as Academic Directors, teacher trainers, materials designers, examiners, senior teachers, course designers and beyond. The international field of TESOL continues to expand and there are exciting opportunities for graduates in Ireland and beyond with advanced qualifications. Other graduates have gone on to complete PhDs in the field.