PGDip in English as an Additional Language
About the course
The PGDip in English as an Additional Language (EAL) is designed for education professionals working with multilingual learners in the national and international sectors. This part-time course, taken over three terms, grounds participants in EAL research evidence to help inform policy and practice.
Delivery of this course is mostly online, with a one-week residential component.
Across all components of the PG Diploma, students will receive a grounding in core knowledge and skills, and cover four key themes of EAL policy and pedagogy:
- Understanding who EAL Learners are and associated theory;
- School-level policy for EAL;
- Supporting classroom practice for EAL learners; and
- Understanding approaches to research in EAL.
The core aims of the course are to promote:
- understanding of theory and research relating to language acquisition among school-aged EAL learners, and effective related pedagogy
- a practical understanding of research-informed practice, including critically engaging with research evidence and designing and conducting classroom-based research
- an understanding of cross-cutting themes relevant to research-informed EAL practice
- the application of research and theory to practice through reflection on ones’ own teaching
- the skills of independent critical thought, rational inquiry, and self-directed learning
- critical engagement with, and reflection on, current issues and debates in the field of EAL research and practice, through the lens of research and theory.
Course structure
The course consists of three summatively assessed modules, and a one-week residential which will be formatively assessed.
You will have the opportunity to take a non-assessed module on research methods in applied linguistics. This self-paced, eight-session module provides deeper information about the methods by which research is conducted in the field, and will help to prepare you for your independent study and to interpret reports of research that your read. The optional research methods module will be available for the duration of the course and can be studied independently at your own pace.
Residential induction week
Prior to the formal start of the course, you will attend a one-week residential module in August in the Department of Education in Oxford. At the residential week you will meet your fellow students and course leaders. The week will help to prepare you for the coming year’s study by introducing key themes around research and evidence in EAL, exploring the principles of conducting and interpreting EAL research, introducing you to the University’s IT and library systems, and providing guidance on engaging with research literature and writing for an academic audience.
Module 1: Building the foundations of research-informed practice for EAL
This module, taken in the first term (Michaelmas term), will explore in depth the broader picture of EAL research and practice. You will learn about who EAL learners are, explore the types of research that help us understand the linguistic and developmental needs of EAL learners, understand the principles and patterns of multilingual development, and explore data about the relationships between English proficiency, linguistic background, and general attainment at school. You will also learn about whole school approaches to EAL, the principles underpinning EAL-aware curricula, assessing linguistic proficiency, and how families and schools can work together.
Module 2: Supporting EAL learners through research informed practice
This module, taken in the second term (Hilary Term), focuses on classroom practice. You will learn about pedagogical models that have been used with EAL learners, including in bilingual education, what research tells us about how to develop the skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening, what we know about bringing learners’ first languages into the classroom, and the intersection between EAL and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The modules will prepare you to reflect on what has been shown to be effective in a variety of contexts and encourage you to interpret that evidence for policy and practice in your own.
Module 3: Independent study – practice-based research project
You will build on your learning in Modules 1 and 2, to plan, conduct and write up an independent study/project relating to the education of EAL learners. Supported by your academic supervisor, you will formulate a research question to be addressed through research in your own professional context, or through a literature-based enquiry. You will conduct the study and write it up in a dissertation of between 10- and 15,000 words. The focus of your study will be unique to your professional development goals and circumstances, and will provide you with the opportunity to address to real-world questions about working with multilingual learners.
Preparation for Module 3 will begin in Michaelmas term through meetings with your academic supervisor. The bulk of the work will be conducted in Trinity Term and the long vacation.
Teaching and learning
With the exception of the residential induction week and the independent study, all modules are delivered asynchronously online through Canvas, the University’s online learning platform. Sessions will be posted weekly, and you will engage with them at your own pace over the week. Typically, each session will consist of a pre-recorded lecture, accompanied by a mix of pre- and post-lecture readings, forum discussions, quizzes and activities. You should expect to spend about ten hours per week engaging directly with the module materials. Module leads will convene a live Q&A session on Microsoft Teams at least once per term.
Work on your independent study will begin with discussions with your supervisor in at the start of the course, and will be your sole focus of Trinity term and the long vacation. Typically, this will involve engaging in background reading, collecting data (in your school or setting), and writing up.
Employment in, or access to, an appropriate professional context (eg school, early years setting, ethnic minority achievement service, youth group, etc) will be helpful. Many of the activities will ask you to reflect on the relationship between your learning and a relevant context. Your independent study may focus on your professional context and/or the learners in them.
You will be entitled to attend the department’s fortnightly applied linguistics lunchtime seminars and weekly public lectures, all of which are streamed live and recorded for viewing later.
Attendance
This course is part-time and teaching is delivered virtually with one residential period in Oxford. You must attend the residential teaching week at the start of the course.
You will receive full access to the virtual learning environment (Canvas) where lectures, seminars and tutorials will occur.
Resources to support your study
As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of world-class resources including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources and IT services.
The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK. It includes the main Bodleian Library and libraries across Oxford, including major research libraries and faculty, department and institute libraries. Together, the Libraries hold more than 13 million printed items, provide access to e-journals, and contain outstanding special collections including rare books and manuscripts, classical papyri, maps, music, art and printed ephemera.
The University's IT Services is available to all students to support with core university IT systems and tools, as well as many other services and facilities. IT Services also offers a range of IT learning courses for students, to support with learning and research.
You will have access to the specialist EAL and applied linguistics collections at the Department of Education library.
Supervision
The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department of Education and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Department of Education.
Typically, you will have the opportunity to meet with your academic supervisor twice in both Michaelmas and Hilary terms and three times in Trinity term. In these meetings you may review module content, and plan and discuss your independent study. Your supervisor will guide your independent study and provide feedback as you prepare your manuscript.
Assessment
During the residential week, you will write a short academic essay, on which the course leads will provide formative feedback.
Modules 1 and 2 are assessed by submitted assignments, usually taking the form of a 2,500-word essay.
The independent study will be assessed through a 10- to 15,000-word dissertation on a topic selected by you and approved by your supervisor
Graduate destinations
Most students will already be in employment and will use the qualification bestowed by the PGDip to enhance their professional practice and support career development. The PGDip will provide an advantage in applications to work in sectors where understanding of EAL matters is crucial, such as in the international, independent, and state education sectors.
Changes to this course and your supervision
The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made if a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency occurs. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.
Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.
For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.
Entry requirements for entry in 2025-26
Proven and potential academic excellence
The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown. You can use our interactive tool to help you evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive.
Please be aware that any studentships that are linked to this course may have different or additional requirements and you should read any studentship information carefully before applying.
Degree-level qualifications
As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:
- a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in any discipline, though qualifications in a related discipline such as education or languages and linguistics will be an advantage.
For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum overall GPA that is normally required to meet the undergraduate-level requirement is 3.6 out of 4.0.
If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.
The requirement for a first-class or strong upper second-class degree with honours can be alternatively demonstrated by a strong degree at master’s level and/or substantial relevant professional experience.
GRE General Test scores
No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.
Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience
Teaching qualifications (such as QTS, PGCE, TEFL, CELTA, DELTA and/or HLTA) are not mandatory but may be taken into consideration. Relevant evidence should be provided for these qualifications in the application.
You will be expected to have some experience of working with learners with English as an Additional Language, and to be intending to continue to be employed with such learners. Much of the coursework requires you to apply research to your own setting.
Publications are not required.
English language proficiency
This course requires proficiency in English at the University's standard level. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's standard level are detailed in the table below.
| Test | Minimum overall score | Minimum score per component |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (Institution code: 0713) | 7.0 | 6.5 |
TOEFL iBT, including the 'Home Edition' (Institution code: 0490) | 100 | Listening: 22 Reading: 24 Speaking: 25 Writing: 24 |
| C1 Advanced* | 185 | 176 |
| C2 Proficiency† | 185 | 176 |
*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
†Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)
Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides further information about the English language test requirement.
Declaring extenuating circumstances
If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.
References
You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The How to apply section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.
Supporting documents
You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The How to apply section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.
Performance at interview
Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process.
Candidates will be shortlisted based on academic ability, potential, and fit of interests with the course content. Interviews for shortlisted candidates are normally held two to six weeks after the closing date of the admissions round. They are conducted by two interviewers, in person or using Teams video-conferencing, and will focus on candidates’ academic and professional background. Interviews last approximately 20-25 minutes. Candidates’ understanding of themes related to the education of EAL/multilingual learners and associated research may be explored. Candidates may be asked to outline their research interests and how these might be developed during the dissertation element of the course, although students are not expected to already have a fully developed research plan. This will be developed in discussion with successful applicants’ supervisors once they have started the course. Candidates may also be asked why they want to study in this area and the reasons why this particular course is of interest.
Offer conditions for successful applications
If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our 'After you apply' pages provide more information about offers and conditions.
In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:
Financial Declaration
If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a Financial Declaration in order to meet your financial condition of admission.
Disclosure of criminal convictions
In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any relevant, unspent criminal convictions before you can take up a place at Oxford.
Evidence of ability to study for employed part-time applicants
If you are currently employed, you may be asked to provide evidence that your employment will not affect your ability to study and that you can commit sufficient time to fulfil all elements outlined in the course description. You may be asked to provide details about your pattern of employment and obtain a statement from your employer confirming their commitment to make time available for you to study, to complete coursework, and attend course and University events and modules.
Permission to use data obtained through your employment
If you are embarking on study with the support of your employer and intend to use data obtained through your employment, evidence should be provided of permission to use your employers’ data in your proposed research project.
Other factors governing whether places can be offered
The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:
- the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the About section of this page;
- the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
- minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.
Education
Oxford has been a major contributor to the field of education for over 100 years and today the University’s Department of Education has a world class reputation for research, for teacher education and for its graduate courses.
The department combines international standing as a research-intensive department with the highest quality teaching. It’s masters' courses are delivered by academics and research experts, the majority of whom are permanent staff engaged in their fields of research. The DPhil in Education has excellent facilities for the large number of full-time research students who are well integrated into the research of the department.
The department has an outstanding research profile. In the 2021 evaluation of research quality in UK universities, the Research Excellence Framework (REF), Oxford University’s Department of Education had the highest overall percentage of research judged to be 4* (ie world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour) in Education in the UK.
The department has ESRC recognition for its graduate training, and its teacher training was rated ‘outstanding’ by the Office for Standards in Education (OfSTED) in its most recent inspection in 2024. A wide range of funded research projects are based in the department and many of these projects have had a major impact on national policy.
Funding
For this course, we recommend that you visit our dedicated funding pages which include details of a range of external funding, loan schemes for postgraduate study. Some scholarships may also be available through our fees, funding and scholarship search tool. You should review the information carefully, including the eligibility criteria and application deadlines, noting that not all funding opportunities are available for postgraduate diploma and postgraduate certificate courses.
Costs
Annual fees for entry in 2025-26
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Information about course fees
Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges.
Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.
Where can I find further information about fees?
The Fees and Funding section of this website provides further information about course fees, including information about fee status and eligibility and your length of fee liability.
Additional information
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Living costs
In addition to your course fees and any additional course-specific costs, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.
Living costs for part-time study
Your living costs may vary depending on your personal circumstances but you will still need to cover your cost of living on a full-time basis for the duration of your course, even if you will not be based in Oxford throughout your studies. While the range of likely living costs for a single, full-time student living in Oxford is between £1,425 and £2,035 per month, living costs outside Oxford may be different.
Part-time students who are not based in Oxford will need to calculate travel and accommodation costs carefully. Depending on your circumstances and study plans, this may include the cost of a visitor visa to attend for short blocks of time (assuming that visitor visa eligibility criteria are met).
Further information about living costs
The current economic climate and high national rate of inflation make it very hard to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. For study in Oxford beyond the 2025-26 academic year, it is suggested that you budget for potential increases in living expenses of around 4% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. For further information, please consult our more detailed information about living costs, which includes a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs.
College preference
Matriculation confers membership of the University on students. Students who enrol on this course will not be matriculated and will not become a member of an Oxford college. Although not formally members of the University, non-matriculated students are expected to observe the same rules and regulations as matriculated students. Further information about matriculation is available on the Oxford Students website.
Before you apply
Our guide to getting started provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. You can use our interactive tool to help you evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive.
If it is important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under the January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance. Check the deadlines on this page and the information about deadlines and when to apply in our Application Guide.
Application fee waivers
An application fee of £75 is payable for each application to this course. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:
- applicants from low-income countries;
- refugees and displaced persons;
- UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and
- applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.
You are encouraged to check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver before you apply.
Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?
You do not need to make contact with the department before you apply but you are encouraged to visit the relevant departmental webpages to read any further information about your chosen course.
You are not expected to contact academic members of staff before you apply.
Completing your application
You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents.
For this course, the application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé. You should not upload a separate document. If a separate CV/résumé is uploaded, it will be removed from your application.
If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.
Referees:
Three overall, at least one of which should be academic and one professional
Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.
Your referees should give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. Ideally, at least one should be an academic referee and one a professional referee.
Your references will support intellectual ability, your motivation and interest in the course and subject area, your ability to work effectively in both a group and independently, and your ability to manage your own time and workload effectively and efficiently.
Official transcript(s)
Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.
More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.
Personal statement:
A maximum of 750 words
Your statement should be written in English and explain your motivation for applying for the course at Oxford, your relevant experience and education, and the specific areas that interest you and/or you intend to specialise in.
If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.
This will be assessed for:
- your reasons for applying
- your ability to present a coherent case in proficient English
- your commitment to the subject, beyond the requirements of the degree course
- your preliminary knowledge of the subject area
- your capacity for sustained and intense work.
Written work:
Two essays of a maximum of 2,000 words each
Academic essays or other writing samples, from your most recent academic qualification, typed and written in English, are required. These can be excerpts from a longer work such as chapters from a dissertation, in which case they should be prefaced by a note which puts them in context. The written work should be related to the subject you propose to study.
If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.
The word count does not need to include any bibliography or brief footnotes.
The written work will be assessed for:
- a comprehensive understanding of the subject area, including problems and developments in the subject
- your ability to construct and defend an argument
- your aptitude for analysis and expression
- your ability to present a reasoned case in proficient academic English.
Start or continue your application
You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please refer to the requirements above and consult our Application Guide for advice.
After you've submitted your application
Your application (including the supporting documents outlined above) will be assessed against the entry requirements detailed on this course page. Whether or not you have secured funding will not be taken into consideration when your application is assessed. You can find out more about our shortlisting and selection process in our detailed guide to what happens next.
Find out how to manage your application after submission, using our Applicant Self-Service tool.