Professional Doctorate in English Language Education & English Literature

The Professional Doctorate Programme offers English language professionals an opportunity to gain a research qualification at doctoral level linked to their area of work or professional expertise.

A professional doctorate is equivalent to a more traditional PhD by Research in terms of the original contribution to knowledge a candidate is expected to make in a given field, but it involves a taught part in addition to the advanced research each student undertakes.

Students on this programme complete six modules covering the areas English language education, literature and linguistics, before embarking on a research project related to their professional interests and experience.

Graduates of the programme are awarded the title Doctor of English Language Education (DELE).

Why choose this course

1. Career progression through a doctoral degree related to your professional experience
2. Possibility to maintain professional commitments
3. Taught modules covering key areas of English Language Education
4. Strong links between research and practical application

Course Overview

During the taught part (Part 1, Year 1) of the programme, a student studies six modules covering English language education, literature and linguistics.

All modules are worth 30 credits (180 credits in total) and are assessed through coursework assignments.

Part 2 of the programme (worth 360 credits) is a period of supervised advanced research (Years 2 and 3) leading to the submission of a research portfolio, including a research dissertation of 60,000 words, at the end of Year 3.

For more information about this program, please contact:

Associate Professor Thomas Jansen | t.jansen@uwtsd.ac.uk

Bursary/Scholarship Information:

Please visit our Scholarships and Bursaries pages for more information.

(Overseas bursaries are also available to those who apply via our East Asia Office)

Entry Requirements:

The normal minimum entry requirement for applicants for the degree of Professional Doctorate is an upper second class honours degree or a Master’s degree relevant to the proposed programme awarded by a UK or other recognised University or higher education institution, or by the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA).

At least three years of recent and relevant work experience are desirable. Every application will be assessed on its own merits.

English Language Requirements for International Students: 

IELTS equivalent of 6.0 or higher overall with all component parts at 5.5 or higher. 

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this programme have a wide range of career opportunities, including

• Teaching in Higher Education
• Teaching English as a second language
• English for Academic Purposes
• Media and communications, journalism
• Publishing 

The University’s Careers Service provides specialist support to enhance students’ career and employment opportunities during the course and after graduation.