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Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
PostgraduateCUR-TES-GCE2025
Specialist English language TESOL teachers are in demand worldwide
Add TESOL to your resume to find career opportunities in specialist language centres in Australia and overseas. Gain an appreciation of the value of cultural and linguistic diversity and its place in teaching.
- Study method
- 100% online study with practicum placement
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 21 May 2025,
- 20 Aug 2025,
- 19 Nov 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 6 months full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 4
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
About this degree
At the completion of this degree students will demonstrate:
- an ability to apply the theoretical principles and concepts which underpin contemporary TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) specific practices
- an understanding of the diverse needs of students and an ability to frame creative solutions to problems of pedagogy
- an ability to access key texts in the field, and to analyse critically key concepts in the field and an ability to synthesise information from a variety of theoretical and practical perspectives
- an ability to communicate effectively, including the ability to communicate key concepts relevant to TESOL
- an awareness of available technologies and an insight into how they can be used creatively to a specific advantage in TESOL
- an awareness of the importance of self-directed learning for professional growth and a demonstrated ability to take responsibility for individual intellectual development
- an awareness of the theoretical and practical implications for TESOL in a global context
- an appreciation of the value of cultural and linguistic diversity and its place in TESOL
- an ability to work both independently and as part of a team; plan a challenging and supportive learning environment.
The Graduate Certificate (TESOL) equips student teachers to Teach English to Speakers of Other Languages both in Australia and overseas.
This degree assists experienced, practising teachers in their career development by providing them with an additional specialist teaching area. For teachers who wish to add TESOL to their professional repertoire, this Certificate will provide them with a qualification which will allow them to work within the field in their current employment and assist with applications for positions at specialist language centres in Australia and overseas. Student teachers choose four of the five units on offer (see Subjects in this degree). One of these can be a practicum unit (CUR-TESOL505 Language Teaching Practice) which requires student teachers to work alongside an approved mentor teacher in a school or language centre for 10 days with at least 20 hours of supervised and assessed face to face teaching practice within that time. Student teachers hoping to use their Grad Cert TESOL in schools and centres in NSW (and other states where a practicum component is compulsory) should choose the practicum unit (CUR-TESOL505 Language Teaching Practice) alongside the unit Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language Methodologies (CUR-TESOL502) in SP1. CUR-TESOL501 (Materials Design and Assessment) will not be chosen by those wishing to complete a practicum component as CUR-TESOL505 replaces this unit.
PLEASE NOTE: CSP funding has been secured for this Grad Cert TESOL
The Grad Cert TESOL is a pathway to the Curtin MA Applied Linguistics which builds on the knowledge and skills in TESOL developed in the Certificate. For more details on this see Curtin MA Applied Linguistics.
Recommended study pattern
Complete 4 subjects.
See the enrolment planner below.
Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) enrolment planner (XLS)
Award requirements
To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in TESOL students must complete 4 subjects or equivalent.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $2,312
The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
Start your career with Curtin’s globally recognised courses and extensive industry connections. Through OUA, their online courses offer an interactive and collaborative learning experience that gets you the same degree as if you studied on campus. Curtin is a global university with a vibrant culture of innovation and collaboration and is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide.
Learn more about Curtin University.
Explore Curtin courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 13
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- 14
Entry requirements
This is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
A four year undergraduate degree in teaching including evidence to show the assessed practicum component
OR
A bachelor degree and a one year postgraduate degree in teaching including evidence to show the assessed practicum component
OR
A bachelor degree and a CELTA or Cert IV TESOL qualification including evidence to show the assessed practicum component
* Note: A Certificate IV In Training and Assessment is not an approved teaching qualification for entry into this program.
Applicants need to meet Curtin’s English Language requirement as all degrees are taught in English.
If your education degrees were not solely in English, as per the International Handbook of Universities or the World Higher Education database please attach a scanned original copy of English Proficiency Test results. Admission requires an overall International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) (or equivalent test) score of at least 6.5 and competence in all test components (IELTS score of 6.0).
Please refer to the 'Minimum English Entry Requirements' document at English Language Requirements.
Applicants are required to meet University academic and English language entry standards; details are provided at: English Proficiency Tests.
*** Please Note: If any academic or legal document is not in English, you must provide a colour scan of the non-English documents, including a colour scan of the official English translations of these documents. This is for comparison purposes. ***
Credit for Recognised Learning (CRL) is assessed on individual merit and is awarded for different types of learning, for example, studies you have previously completed or for relevant work experience.
Students must be admitted in an award degree of study before lodging their completed CRL application, along with all required supporting documentation for a formal assessment.
To apply for CRL, please visit the Curtin University website: Credit for Recognised Learning (Advanced Standing)
It is important to note accepted documentation includes scans of the original Transcripts and/or Award Certificate; front and back; in colour; and original size. For further information see the scanned documents and certification requirements and guidelines.
More information about the policies and procedures related to CRL assessment and appealing a CRL assessment outcome can be found in the Credit for Recognised Learning Policy (PDF).
Study method requirements
Students may choose to enrol in TESOL505 Language Teaching Practice, which includes a professional experience placement in an approved educational setting. The placement must be a minimum of 10 days duration. Please note that any checks and/or clearances required by the placement provider must be provided prior to commencement of the placement.
Career opportunities
A world-wide need has been identified for specialist English language teachers. There are three main groups who would benefit from the completion of this qualification: Practising teachers in all sectors - to develop an additional specialist teaching area; qualified teachers currently working overseas as TESOL teachers who feel they are being hampered by a lack of formal qualifications; first-language speakers of languages other than English who work as English language teachers in their own countries and who need a qualification from a university in an English-speaking country that might assist their career.
Professional recognition
When the degree is undertaken by practising teachers from other disciplines, successful completion of the Certificate will provide an additional specialised teaching area. Successful completion of the Certificate will provide a qualification which will allow graduates to be considered for specialist ESL and EFL teaching positions at language centres in Australia and overseas. Student teachers hoping to use their Grad Cert TESOL in schools and centres in NSW (and other states where a practicum component is compulsory) should choose the practicum unit (CUR-TESOL505 Language Teaching Practice) along with the unit Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language Methodologies (CUR-TESOL502). CUR-TESOL 505 will replace CUR-TESOL501 Materials design and assessment in this instance.
PLEASE NOTE: CSP funding has been secured for this Grad Cert TESOL
The Grad Cert TESOL is a pathway to the Curtin MA Applied Linguistics which builds on the knowledge and skills in TESOL developed in the Certificate. For more details on this see Curtin MA Applied Linguistics.
Below is link to the list of state-based teacher registration bodies for reference.
State-based Teacher Registration Bodies (PDF, 30Kb)
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Private Tutors and Teachers | N/A^ | Up 9% |
| Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages | N/A^ | Down 62.1% |
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