Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition MSc

<strong>The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2025). For complete and up-to-date information about this course including information about course components or research areas, please visit the course page on the University of Oxford website.</strong><br/><br/>The MSc in Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition will introduce you to key issues within the field of applied linguistics, with a focus on second language learning and teaching.<br/><br/>Applied linguistics is an interdisciplinary field which mediates between the theory of language and the practice of language learning and language use. It is also an overarching field that includes second language acquisition (SLA) and, as such, can shed light on the teaching and learning of a second or foreign language.<br/><br/>The topics represented in the course may also draw on related fields such as psychology, education (language teaching/learning), linguistics, and sociolinguistics.<br/><br/><strong>Course structure</strong><br/>An overview of the course structure is provided below. Details of the compulsory elements of the course are provided in the Course components section of this page.<br/><br/>The MSc is taken full-time over one year and consists of six core taught modules and a research dissertation.<br/><br/>All taught modules take place in Michaelmas and Hilary terms. In Trinity term the focus of study is the dissertation. In addition to the compulsory assessed modules in Michaelmas and Hilary terms, you will attend non-assessed modules in research methods (including critical reading) and quantitative data analysis.<br/><br/>The course is designed to provide you with an opportunity to reflect and further develop your understanding of both theoretical and practical considerations in the field of language learning and teaching. It will encourage you to develop a broad theoretical base reflecting current research in applied linguistics. Additionally, this course makes links between the different disciplines which contribute to our knowledge of language learning and issues related to language pedagogy.<br/><br/>Research in the department is organised around three major themes:<br/><br/><br/>• Language, Cognition and Development<br/><br/><br/><br/>• Policy, Economy and Society<br/><br/><br/><br/>• Pedagogy, Learning and Knowledge.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Within each of these themes there are several research groups and centres. All staff and doctoral students belong to one or more of these research groups, each of which has its own seminar programme to which graduate students sometimes contribute. In addition, the department as a whole sponsors seminars and public lectures which attract distinguished national and international speakers.<br/><br/><strong>For the full description, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas</strong>