On the MAppLing programme, you’ll gain high-level skills that are transferable to related fields such as language testing, language assessment, and language education policy and planning.

If you want to pursue an academic path, the programme prepares you for entry into PhD programmes in New Zealand and overseas. Often PhD programmes require a Master’s thesis or dissertation—this is something you can incorporate into your MAppLing.

The University's Applied Linguistics programme is highly regarded worldwide. It has a strong international orientation that reflects New Zealand’s unique position in the Asia–Pacific region. Our graduates have gone on to teach English and work in educational leadership roles in New Zealand and around the globe.

The MAppLing programme builds on the legacy of sixty years of graduate TESOL and Applied Linguistics education at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

Staff teaching in the programme are internationally recognised researchers. They draw on their extensive experience as language teachers and teacher educators to bridge the gap between research, theory, and teaching practice.

You can choose to study on campus, online, or through a combination of the two. Start your study at the beginning of any trimester—February, July, or November.

If you study this programme from outside New Zealand, you’ll benefit from a strong network of learning support staff. They’ll help you access library resources, learn about research in language teaching, and develop effective study strategies. They can also offer writing support if English is not your main language.