Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
FAQ
Enquiries Information
Application and Admissions
Contact: Faculty of Education
+852 3917 4659
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Academic Matters
Contact: Ms Nicole Tavares (Programme Director)
+852 3917 2175
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1. Am I eligible to apply for the MA(TESOL) if my Bachelor’s degree is not in English or Linguistics or Literature?
Applicants who do not hold a Bachelor’s degree in English, Linguistics, English Language Education or English Language and Literature may still apply for the programme but may be given a lower priority for admissions.
2. Am I eligible to apply for the MA(TESOL) if I am in the final year of undergraduate studies?
Applicants who are in their final year of undergraduate studies should provide us with a certified photocopy of their available results after submission of the online application. Successful candidates will be given a conditional offer and required to submit an official transcript soon after the result of the final degree examination is known, and in any case no later than 31 July.
3. What documents should I submit to support my application?
Please refer to the “Instructions for Submitting Supporting Documents” for details. Supporting documents should be uploaded to the online application system by the application deadline or within four weeks from the date of creation of your application account, whichever is earlier.
4. Do I need to post the documents after submitting an online application?
Posting of documents is not required at the application stage. Should an applicant be considered for admissions, he/she will receive an e-mail notification from the Programme Office to submit the required documents. Please note that our request to submit documents does not necessarily mean that you will receive an offer of admissions.
5. Can I apply to more than one taught postgraduate programme at HKU?
Yes, it is possible for you to apply to multiple programmes at HKU. You should submit one online application with the corresponding supporting documents and pay the application fee for each programme that you wish to apply to.
6. Do I need to submit results of TOEFL/IELTS tests?
Candidates wishing to be admitted on the basis of a qualification from a university or comparable institution outside Hong Kong where the language of teaching and/or examination is not English are required to obtain the following scores in IELTS or TOFEL and submit the official score report to support their application:
- IELTS: a minimum overall band of 7.0 with no sub-test lower than 6.5.
- TOEFL: a score of 580 or above in the paper-based TOEFL, with a score of 4.0 or above in the Test of Written English; or a score of 94 or above in the internet-based TOEFL with a score of 25 or above in the Writing section.
For admissions, only TOEFL/IELTS scores recorded within two years before the date of application will be considered.
7. Does the University accept other English test results (e.g. IELTS Indicator, TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition & Duolingo English test) in place of the IELTS/TOEFL for the English language requirements?
Applicants are advised to take the IELTS/TOEFL test at their earliest convenience to ensure their eligibility to meet the English language requirements of the programme.
8. Can I submit the IELTS/TOEFL score report after the application deadline if my IELTS/TOEFL result is not yet available at the time of application?
Applicants should submit their IELTS/TOEFL score reports recorded within two years before the date of application and the reports should normally be uploaded to the application system before the application deadline. Applications will be reviewed based on the information and documents submitted. Incomplete applications or missing documentation will lead to a delay in processing your application.
9. Can I check whether my application has been received by the Faculty successfully?
Upon successful payment of the application fee and submission of an application, you will receive an application number and an e-mail notification within 48 hours.
10. How long is the processing time after an application has been made and when will the results be announced?
Successful applicants will be notified of their admissions results by e-mail. Applicants who do not receive an offer by July may regard their applications as being unsuccessful.
11. Am I required to attend any interview?
Candidates may be invited to attend an interview. However, being invited to an interview is not an indicator of the chance of admissions.
12. Will the classes be held in daytime or evening?
Classes are normally held during daytime.
13. Are there any awards or scholarships that successful MA(TESOL) applicants could apply for?
Please visit the HKU Academic Advising and Scholarships Office website for scholarship opportunities and contact the Academic Advising and Scholarships Office for further information.
14. Am I eligible to be a teacher in Hong Kong upon completion of this programme?
The MA(TESOL) programme equips students with a thorough grounding in current research, teaching theory, principles and practices in English language education, applicable in schools, universities and other educational institutions in Asia and elsewhere. However, it is not equivalent to a teacher training qualification that guarantees you a teaching position on the approved teaching establishment in aided primary or secondary schools in Hong Kong. Despite this, graduates from the programme may succeed in securing a teaching position if they possess relevant teaching qualifications. Please refer to the Education Bureau website for more information about teacher training qualifications in Hong Kong. Please refer to the Programme Overview and Aims section for the ‘Programme Recognitions’.
15. Can I take up a part-time/summer job in Hong Kong with a student visa?
Please contact the Admissions Office of the Registry and the Immigration Department of the HKSAR Government for further information.