Overview

This Level 7 programme advances teachers into curriculum designers and academic leaders. You’ll integrate SLA and applied linguistics with
CEFR-mapped planning and assessment, lead standardisation/moderation cycles, mentor colleagues, and design research-informed interventions for ELT,
EAP and ESP contexts.

Final admissions, credit recognition and award decisions rest with the receiving university/awarding body. Always consult the official LRN specification for units and rules of combination.

Who It’s For

• Experienced teachers seeking postgraduate-level TESOL credentials and leadership roles.
• Academic managers/Directors of Studies building QA, assessment and curriculum capability.
• Practitioners preparing for MA/MEd progression or research-informed EAP/ESP delivery.

Modules (Indicative)

• Advanced SLA & Applied Linguistics: TBLT, task complexity, noticing, corpus-informed teaching, feedback dynamics.
• Curriculum Leadership & QA: needs analysis at scale, SoW design, internal standardisation, moderation, observation cycles.
• Assessment Design & CEFR: validity, reliability, banded rubrics A1–C2, test specs, alternative assessment & analytics.
• Language Systems (Advanced): discourse, pragmatics, formulaic language; pronunciation (connected speech, prosody).
• Technology & AI in ELT: LMS, item banks, authoring, classroom analytics, AI-aware pedagogy & ethics.
• EAP & ESP Syllabus Design: academic literacies, genre-based teaching, workplace English, CLIL options.
• Inclusive Practice & Safeguarding: SEND, UDL, EDI, wellbeing, policy integration.
• Research Methods for TESOL: designs, instruments, ethics; small-scale inquiry/proposal.
• Mentoring & Professional Practice: coaching, peer observation, reflective supervision.

Assessment Model

• Observed teaching (full lessons) with pre/post observation reports and reflective commentary.
• Curriculum/assessment portfolio (SoW, test specs, CEFR-mapped rubrics, moderation records).
• Language analysis & pedagogy tasks (grammar/lexis/pronunciation at advanced level).
• Research proposal or small-scale practitioner inquiry with ethics.
• Professional portfolio (QA evidence, CPD plan, mentoring records).
• Internal standardisation; external moderation as applicable.

Credit & Time Allocation

Adjust to the official LRN specification for your intake/units.

Entry & English

• Academic: Level 6 (degree-equivalent) or substantial teaching experience evidencing Level-7 readiness.
• English: Typically CEFR C1 / IELTS 6.5+ (some universities may require higher for progression).
• Documents: Degree/diploma & transcript, CV, teaching hours record, ID, personal statement, references.

CEFR-Mapped English
About LRN
Assessment & QA

Progression

Graduates may be considered (subject to university evaluation) for:

• MA TESOL / Applied Linguistics / Education (top-up or advanced standing)
• PGCert/PGDip in Higher Education, EAP specialist routes
• Academic leadership: DoS/Coordinator, Assessment Lead, Teacher Developer

Next step
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