English and TESOL BA (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
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Teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) can be fun, challenging, hugely rewarding, and can enable you to see the world and meet new people.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

Course code

QX31

Start date

September 2025


Course overview

This course can equip you with vital skills in English language, literature and authentic teaching practice so you can provide an immersive and engaging educational experience.

  • You will have opportunities to develop skills in teaching English to young learners (primary and secondary), teaching English to adults as well as teaching English online.
  • Develop highly sought after skills in English language and literature, critical thinking, analytical, written and spoken communication, skills which are key in a range of careers.
  • You may have opportunities for working with charities and NGOs to help improve the English skills of those coming to the UK to study, work and live2.
A star in the centre of a rosette.

Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

Five stars in a speech bubble.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

City buildings next to a tree.

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

Our course provides you with the opportunity to:

  • gain a teaching qualification by the end of the second year: The Cambridge Assessment Accredited Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) or Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT). These qualifications allow you to apply for positions in particular countries overseas or in the UK teaching English as a second language
  • benefit from our significant links with a wide variety of employers such as secondary schools, magazines, newspapers and local charities, many of whom may offer professional experience opportunities2
  • gain authentic experience of teaching learners of English. A large component of the assessment in your second year is centred on teaching practice with learners attending specially arranged classes at the university. In addition, in your second year, you will have the opportunity to try teaching online.
  • apply for a year’s work placement or an optional enhancement year. This has led previous students to work as English teachers with the British Council in Spain and France or at participating universities in China, for example2.

What you'll study

This course has a common first year.

The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn.

If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements).

Common first year courses

  • English Language and Literature BA (Hons)
  • English and Creative Writing BA (Hons)
  • English and TESOL BA (Hons)
  • English Literature BA (Hons)

In your first year, the curriculum is shared across related courses allowing you to gain a broad grounding in the discipline before going on in the second and third years to specialist modules in your chosen field.

Modules

In your second year, you will continue to develop the skills and knowledge you’ve learnt. We do this by embedding the following four principles into the curriculum and developing your:

  • technical skills – digital fluency, backed with the right academic knowledge
  • study skills – to be an adaptive, independent and proactive learner
  • professional skills – to have the behaviour and abilities to succeed in your career
  • global awareness – the beliefs and abilities to be a resilient, confident and motivated global citizen

In your second year, you will develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with: language and society, teaching language online and language in new media, among others.

Modules

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final years of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee3 of £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or participating institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement.

Modules

Your final year aims to bring you to the level to enter the world of work by consolidating your knowledge and skills from your first and second years. You could also work on a large final project in an area of your interest, with the support of a mentor. 

You will be asked to choose optional modules on top of the compulsory modules, ‘Teaching Young Learners’ and 'Teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP)', to total 120 credits in your final year.

Modules

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.


How you'll learn

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours:

Teaching hours vary depending on year of study and due to module selection. During your first year you can expect 15-18 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study:

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning:

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:

  • phase tests
  • essays
  • group work
  • presentations
  • reports
  • projects
  • coursework
  • individual assignments

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.  


International experience opportunities

This course is focused on supporting your skills development so you are able to teach English all over the world. Our curriculum explores a range of different cultures and contexts through modules such as Language and Globalisation and Language and Society.

There may be opportunities to engage with international students at home and abroad through online projects with students at international collaborating universities.

We strongly encourage you to broaden your theoretical, cultural and practical references, and we aim to provide opportunities for you to live, study and work abroad on a placement year2. For example, you may study English at Limoges in France, or teach English in Spain or China.

Please note that all UK and international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements and are therefore not guaranteed2.

I have developed skills such as: leadership, patience, team-building and the ability to improvise and adapt to different situations outside of my comfort zone. Definitely seize the opportunity, it is life changing. 

Terri-Rhiannon Anguish, BA (Hons) Spanish and TEFL graduate of 2020
Diverse group of young people sitting at a table having cups of coffee in front of them

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

Requirement What we're looking for
UCAS points 112
A level BBC
GCSE Minimum 5 GCSEs graded 9-4 to include English
BTEC DMM
IB Diploma 29 points
Access to HE The Access to HE Diploma. Plus GCSE English at grade 4 / C or above.

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme, you could automatically receive a contextual offer that may be up to 24 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.0 overall (with at least 5.5 in each component area)

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.


Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year
Request fee information
EU 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year with EU Support Bursary**
2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £16,800 per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £16,800 per year
Not available

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 of £1,250 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see the university’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip
  • any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

Students will benefit from studying on our well-equipped, modern campus. Our aim is to offer you sector-leading facilities4.

campus garden

Our facilities

Named after one of the leading writers of the Victorian age, the George Eliot building is the city centre home of English studies at Coventry University. Mingle with like minded students, cross the Edible Garden campus to relax at the Hub, or take the few minutes walk to immerse yourself in books at the Lanchester library.

lanchester library entrance

The Library

You will benefit from our support designed to help you succeed and our industry-relevant teaching and resources. These include our modern library and computing facilities, dedicated careers advice and Students’ Union.

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Confucius Institute

The School of Humanities is home to the Confucius Institute. This is a collaboration created with Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, which aims to promote an understanding of the Chinese language and culture.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.


Careers and opportunities

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in language teaching and learning to be effective teachers of English in the communities they go on to work in
  • demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of literary works from selected periods, geographic regions and genres
  • demonstrate a systematic understanding of the history, evolution, spread, and nature of the English language
  • analyse and critically assess a range of theoretical approaches used in literary, language and pedagogy studies
  • identify, apply and critically evaluate a range of teaching materials in order to meet learners’ needs
  • interrogate and critically analyse the arguments of others and to formulate and construct critical arguments of their own
  • reflect critically and analytically on their own and others' teaching practice in order to continue developing classroom-related skills
  • research subject-based materials to an advanced standard using specialist digital tools and methods
  • communicate effectively in professional, academic and social contexts, and across a range of mediums including in person, on paper and online

Once the course is successfully completed, you will be in a position to start applying immediately to a range of potential employers, including commercial language schools, education and development organisations, government departments, multinational companies, The British Council and a whole host of international volunteer organisations and NGOs.

Alternatively, if you decide not to teach, successfully completing this course should have prepared you for any career that involves the use of language and particularly those professions where communication dominates: the media and cultural industries, primary and secondary education, public relations, marketing and advertising.

Our career support team, also known as the Talent Team is on hand to offer tailored career and enterprise support if you wish to gain employment or take advantage of professional practice opportunities within course-specific industries2. Our dedicated enterprise officers also offer valuable assistance on how to begin as a freelancer/entrepreneur. (Talent Team and enterprise officers are subject to availability).

Where our graduates work

Previous graduates of the course have gone on to work for language service providers abroad as well as in the UK, and some have trained as school teachers through Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) programmes.

Further study

After two years of successful full-time teaching experience, you may wish to consider the opportunity to take the higher level Diploma in English Language Teaching (DELTA). 

You can choose to continue your studies at Coventry University with the English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics MA or the English and Education Management MA. You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.

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