The Bristol EdD in TESOL Applied Linguistics is a doctoral programme which prepares participants for a research career in Applied Linguistics or in professional leadership In TESOL contexts.
The programme is for early or mid-career TESOL professionals, who opt for a structured approach to a doctorate and would like to explore aspects of their work as they work towards a doctorate.
Normally applicants will have professional qualifications and experience, a good Masters degree, and a commitment to research in TESOL Applied Linguistics. Applicants who need to show a capacity for study in English should have IELTS 7 (no subtest less than 6) or equivalent.
A solid grounding in professional practice in TESOL (normally five years) is essential for successful learning in this programme. This may be teaching, but it could also involve work in materials development, e-tutoring, or other learning support.
All EdD students are required to attend and submit assignments for seven taught units, which are assessed. These include two generic units, which focus on approaches to research in education and the social sciences, and dissertation preparation. There are four TESOL Applied Linguistics units which focus on.
The 7th unit can be a
All units address topical content issues and research design and methods, thus providing both a grounding and updating in Applied Linguistics more broadly, and a systematic training in research design and data collection and analysis.
Each unit is intensively taught over three days. Before this there is a preparation phase which includes set readings and online tasks and discussion (Blackboard). Following the taught course tutors provide ongoing online or email support for the completion of the assignment.
All students are members of the Centre for Research on Language and Education (CREOLE), which organises seminars and workshops. Part-time students can participate in online activities. The Graduate School of Education hosts an annual doctoral conference, which has a significant TESOL Applied Linguistics strand. Students can take units from other EdD pathways by arrangement with the TESOL Applied Linguistics EdD coordinator, and the coordinator of the unit concerned.
All tutors and dissertation advisors are researchers in specialist areas of Applied Linguistics who are faculty of the Graduate School of Education. Current tutors are:
Dr Guoxing Yu (TESOL Pathway Coordinator)
Dr Talia Isaacs
Each assignment is a paper or portfolio of 4,000 words (or equivalent). Tasks include empirical research studies, programme evaluation designs, literature reviews, critical of published research studies and data analysis tasks. The skills developed through these assessed tasks constitute a systematic preparation for the dissertation.
The dissertation is a research study of 45,000 words. It is completed with the support of an supervisor, and is assessed by an internal and an external examiner. The assessment process includes an oral examination (viva voce).
