MSc in Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition

The very strongest applicants for all our MSc programmes are automatically considered for University Clarendon scholarships. There is no separate application process. These are highly competitive and each year only one or two of our students are successful. During our initial admissions screening, supervisors nominate applicants with outstanding academic records to be considered. They then prepare a supporting statement.  The Admissions tutor puts forward a shortlist of the strongest applicants to the divisional committee.

When funds are available, the scholarship will provide full funding for a South African citizen to study a one year full-time MSc in Education or MSc in Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition at the Department. The scholarship will be awarded based on academic excellence, leadership ability, community involvement and the candidate’s potential to be a destiny changer. The successful candidate will be a member of Wadham College. Candidates need to apply by the course’s January application deadline. 

NB: Candidates who have studied outside South Africa before for degree purposes are not eligible.

It is not possible to study at a distance or online on the MSc Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition. However, we offer the MSc in Applied Linguistics for Language Teaching, a specialised distance/online master’s degree in applied linguistics aimed at teachers of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and modern foreign languages. 

We offer a very wide range of courses. As well as a comprehensive Doctoral programme attracting students from all over the world, we offer full-time one year MSc in Education and in MSc Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition (ALSLA) courses, as well as a range of part-time courses, some aimed primarily at UK teachers (e.g. MSc Learning & Teaching, MS Teacher Education) and some at distance learning (e.g., Applied Linguistics and Language Teaching). Consequently our courses cater to students from a diverse range of backgrounds. 

For example in 2023/24, the Department had a total complement of 751 students of whom 408 were studying full-time and 343 were studying part-time. For 2022/23, across the MSc Education, MSc ALSLA, and DPhil programmes, approximately 21% of our students came from the UK, and the remaining 79% from the EU or overseas. The cohort from those programmes included students from Azerbaijan, Australia,  China, Germany, India, Malaysia, Nigeria, Qatar, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand and the United States, among many others.  

What our students share is exceptional academic achievement in their previous learning and an ambition to excel academically.

A part-time study is possible on the MSc in Applied Linguistics for Language Teaching.

To find out how much it will cost to undertake your studies at the University, please visit the Fees and Living Costs webpage for details.

Please see the Multiple Applications policy in the University Application Guide.

Yes, you may apply for any of our courses whilst studying for another degree. If you are successful in achieving a place on one of our programmes, we would make a conditional offer which would include the condition of you achieving your qualification. You are required to submit an interim transcript at application. However, your final outcome would need to be available prior to you commencing the course at Oxford.

If you do not have English as your first language, we would like you to have achieved the higher level competence in English Language proficiency. Find a list of standardised English-language tests accepted by the University on their website. Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. We encourage applicants to apply with a successful language test however if evidence that you successfully meet the English language requirements cannot be provided with your application your application will still be considered as long as all other required documents have been submitted. Any offer of a place will require you to submit English language test results at the required level by a deadline set in the offer letter. Further information can be found by visiting the Application Guide.

For information on applying for a waiver of the English test requirement please visit the Application Guide.

Read guidance about colleges and making an open application on the University website.

For a detailed explanation of the process, please read the Application Guide on the University website.

Applications are accepted for the January and the March deadlines. Applicants who wish to be considered for scholarships must apply by the relevant January deadline. Applications may also be accepted after the March deadline if places remain available.

If you require more space on the application form, please contact Graduate Admissions for advice.

Please contact Graduate Admissions for advice.

One of your references should be from your most recent academic tutor. If you are currently in employment, you would be expected to provide a reference from your employer alongside academic references which comment on your academic suitability for the course.

Your supervisor will be decided by the Department following your successful offer of a place on the course on the basis of staff research interests and staff workload and availability.

Candidates will be shortlisted based on academic ability, potential and fit of interests with the course content. Interviews for shortlisted candidates are normally held 2-6 weeks after the closing date of the admissions round. You will be given advance notice of your interview date and time and we require confirmation of attendance.

All interviews will be held online via Microsoft Teams.

The interviews are normally conducted by two interviewers on Microsoft Teams, and will focus on your academic background. You may be asked to outline your research interests and how these might be developed during the dissertation element of the course. You may also be asked about your reasons for wanting to study in this area and the reasons why this particular course is of interest to you.

Applications will be considered by the admissions panel within the Department and decisions will be made in accordance with the following deadlines:

Applications submitted before January will receive a decision by mid March 
Applications submitted before March will receive a decision by early April 

You will be informed of our decision by email to ensure that you receive the outcome as soon as possible.

In the event that we are not able to offer you a place, we regret that it is not possible to provide you with feedback on your application.

The University will only consider requests for deferral of entry due to exceptional unforeseen circumstances, and only after all conditions set for the offer (both academic and financial) have been met.