Skip navigation
Language Testing (Online) at Lancaster University - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 20262026 - 2027
Apply

Course summary

Advanced skills for professionals with responsibility for language testing and assessment at institutional, regional or national level. Lancaster University is one of the best places in the world to study language testing, and we offer a full set of UK-accredited academic qualifications. The Master’s programme helps you develop a solid grounding in language test development and evaluation, and in research design. An ideal stepping-stone to advance your career. Why Lancaster?

  • Study at a university with a global reputation for excellence in language testing, and one of the only universities worldwide to offer full qualifications in this area
  • Explore current thinking and good practice, and engage with recent developments in language testing research
  • Gain language testing skills and knowledge and develop research skills through your dissertation project
  • Access Lancaster University’s extensive online resources and interact with peers and your tutors via our virtual learning site
  • Follow in the footsteps of award-winning graduates who lead test development and research projects around the world
  • Join this 100% online programme from anywhere in the world, regardless of your time zone — ideal if you're a working professional wanting to advance your knowledge
Your future in language testing Do you want to understand how language tests work and how second language learning and assessment is researched? Establish a foundation in language test development and evaluation, as well as research design and implementation? Explore technical and practical issues faced by language testing professionals? On our part-time, online MA in Language Testing you will develop the advanced skills and knowledge you need to progress in language testing and assessment. We’ll explore major recent developments in language testing and discuss current thinking and good practice. By the end of your studies, you’ll be confident in developing assessments and policies for your context that meet international standards and in carrying out research independently. Expert teaching Lancaster has a worldwide reputation for excellence in language testing. We rank very highly in international and national rankings for Linguistics. Staff members have led and contributed to numerous language testing projects, including national test development projects in many countries and international test development and assessment projects in English and other languages. You will benefit from their expert tuition. Flexible. Supportive. Collaborative. The programme is delivered via Lancaster’s high-quality virtual learning site. You will have access to the University’s extensive online library resources and custom-made learning materials. You will have the flexibility to study alongside your work and personal commitments from anywhere in the world. You’ll always feel supported, thanks to close interaction with your tutors, detailed feedback on your work, and opportunities to collaborate and share experiences with other students. What will I study? You will take a series of online modules and carry out a dissertation project. You’ll have the opportunity to base your coursework and dissertation research on issues within your own educational or professional context. In each module you will engage with tasks and targeted reading on specific topics, perhaps introduced with short video lectures. Tasks may include individual responses and reflection or more practical work, for example, evaluating test items. You will share your ideas with other students via online forums, and comment on their contributions. The tutor will provide thorough, tailored feedback on these tasks at the end of each unit (week). For every module, you will also participate in work on one or two more substantial tasks, involving preparation in a small group of students. These tasks create the input for other students to review and comment on.

Assessment method

Assessment is by coursework and a dissertation.

Entry requirements

2:1 degree in a related subject is normally required. We will also consider applications where you have a degree in other subjects, have a 2:2 or equivalent result and/or extensive relevant experience. In these cases, you should clearly demonstrate how your experience and skills have prepared you for postgraduate study. Additional Requirements: You will need to have three years of teaching experience and a current post with responsibility for language test design, construction and evaluation. We may consider alternative language teaching or testing backgrounds. We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously. We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.5 in reading and writing and 6.0 in listening and speaking. We also consider other English language qualifications.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

For information about fees and funding please visit our website: www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding.
Language Testing (Online) at Lancaster University - UCAS