MSt in English Language Assessment

Virtual Open Events

You can watch back the recording of our most recent Open Day here.

Educational aims of the programme

This programme aims to provide an understanding of teaching, learning and assessment approaches to enable individuals and organisations to develop, apply and adapt language assessment tools for English. It will provide an open environment for critical approaches to learning and assessment for diverse contexts in the public and private sector in the UK and internationally. The programme will therefore be highly interactive with workshops, case studies, subject experts, and practitioners providing different perspectives on the content and method of assessment practices. 

The course aim is to produce graduates who:

• have a critical understanding of the different forms of English language assessment as seen through the lens of teaching and learning theories and theories of language assessment;
• are reflective practitioners in terms of subject specialist knowledge and are prepared to consider different assessment methods for English language learners in diverse contexts;
• are equipped with the advanced research skills required to actively contribute to the academic debate on language teaching and assessment, and to engage with intellectual rigor with individuals and organisations working towards the development of a range of assessment methods for individuals in diverse contexts;
• are prepared to critique and evaluate current pedagogical practices in English language teaching and assessment and to conduct systematic research relevant to their professional practice;
• are equipped with the knowledge and skills to design new assessment tools or strategies for learners of English.
   

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

• understand and critique the most common language assessment methods for each language skill (speaking, listening, reading, writing);
• reflect upon, communicate, and integrate key notions of linguistic, psychological and computational theories in assessment practices;
• recognise, appreciate, and assess multiple stakeholder perspectives in the implementation of language assessment methods;
• develop and apply advanced research skills;
• develop new assessment methods or tasks suitable for learners of English.

Continuing studies

The MSt is a taught degree, and successful completion of the MSt at a high grade may allow students to progress to a PhD either at the University of Cambridge or another institution.

Graduate employability and career destinations

Students will have been in employment prior to entering the course (one of the requirements is for a minimum of one year’s work experience in either the social, public or private sector). Some graduates may therefore choose to pursue (or continue) their employment within their chosen field. Predicted avenues of employment include teaching or teacher education, educational publishing, working for examination boards, assessment agencies, educational institutions, ministries, embassies, bodies such as the British Council, or multi-national companies where expertise in English language assessment is a relevant skill.

Teaching

Module 1: Understanding speech and language and how they are learned (20 contact hours) 

Module 2: Language learning in instructed contexts (20 contact hours)

Module 3: Principles of assessment; the role of assessment and how it contributes to learning (20 contact hours)

Module 4: Use of technology in language learning and assessment; how technology can be used to enhance learning (20 contact hours)

Module 5: Principles of research; mixed methods; introduction to statistical methods and statistical analysis for language assessment (20 contact hours)

Module 6: Critical view of language assessment tools (20 contact hours)

Teaching periods

There will be four teaching periods across the two years:

a) two in person residential teaching periods in Cambridge

b) two online teaching periods

In person residential teaching

This will be delivered over two residential periods, each lasting two weeks. There will be one residential for each year of the course. 

The face-to-face residential periods held in Cambridge are scheduled for:

Year 1: Monday 15 - Friday 26 September 2025 

Year 2: Monday 14 - Friday 25 September 2026

Online teaching

One module is planned to be taught online in early Lent Term 2026 and one module is planned to be taught online in early Lent Term 2027.

The modules are delivered using a blended learning approach. Outside of the residential teaching, there will be online one-to-one tutorials with the Course Director, online group tutorials, and online one-to-one dissertation supervisions.  You will be expected to engage for approximately 6-8 hours per week on average, with online study materials which will include readings, videos, online forum discussions and self-assessment. 

Assessment

Essays
 

In Year 1, you will complete the following assessments:

• One essay per module for Modules 1, 2 and 3, totalling 5,000 words per module and representing 12% of the final mark each (total 36% in Year 1)

In Year 2, you will complete the following assessments:

• For Module 4, there are assignments in a range of formats (such as multiple choice questions, hands-on practical exercises, and/or designing assessment tasks), representing 7% of the final mark
• For Module 6, one 3,000-word essay, representing 7% of the final mark.

Students may be required to give individual presentations or contribute to group presentations, on which students receive constructive feedback.

Dissertation

• Dissertation: 15,000-18,000 words (including footnotes and appendices but excluding bibliography), representing 50% of the final mark.

Marking criteria

The pass mark is 60% and a distinction is 75% or over

Fees

The fees for 2025-27, which include College membership, are:

• £8,269 per annum for Home students (total £16,538)
• £14,175 per annum for Overseas students (total £28,350)

Please contact our Admissions team if you would like guidance or are unsure whether you qualify for Home or Overseas fee status. 

The fee can be paid across the two years of the course, normally in eight equal instalments. All fees for Year 1 must be paid in full in order to progress to Year 2.

You will be expected to cover the application fee (£50 online) and any costs of travel, accommodation and subsistence during residential sessions in Cambridge.  

College membership

When you apply, you can specify a first and second choice from either of the following partner Colleges, or select ‘No Preference’:

• Fitzwilliam College 
• Homerton College

There may be small additional fees payable to a College for specific services provided; for further information please contact the College directly.

We will do our best to allocate students to their preferred College, but this is dependent on capacity and ensuring an equal balance between partner Colleges. To find out more about College membership, see the most recent ‘Meet the Colleges’ recording. 

If you have a pre-existing membership at a Cambridge College which is not listed above, you can approach them to ask if they would consider you as a member for this course. However, we are unable to arrange this for you. It is only possible to select membership of one of the above partner Colleges if this is not your case.  

Some Colleges might be able to offer accommodation for a fee during residentials (subject to availability), but this is not guaranteed. You are also free to make your own accommodation arrangements.

Funding

Information regarding Professional and Career Development Loans can be found here -  Sources of government funding and financial support. 

For information on a loan from Student Finance England for course fees and a contribution towards living costs, please see https://www.ice.cam.ac.uk/info/student-loans

Applications will be accepted until Wednesday 30th April 2025.

All applications are considered on a gathered field after the closing date. Late applications will not be considered. We encourage all applications to be submitted as early as possible, to avoid any possible technical difficulties with submission. 

Using AI in your application

When completing an application, you should note the following restrictions and risks of using AI tools: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/how/ai-postgraduate-applications

Interviews and offers of a place

All short-listed applicants will be invited to interview with two members of the academic team. Interviews are planned to take place in late May 2025, using video conferencing tools such as Zoom. Conditional offers will be sent to successful applicants, following interview, in summer 2025.

The MSt Admissions Guide is available here

If you have any questions about the application process, contact our Admissions team: mst.admissions@ice.cam.ac.uk

Supporting documents

You will be required to provide supporting documents as part of your application:

Undergraduate degree certificates & transcripts 

• Undergraduate degree certificates and transcripts
• If you have other academic qualifications (i.e. postgraduate qualifications) you have the option to provide these
• All documents should be translated to English if applicable

Language certificate

If applicable, speakers of English as an additional language should provide evidence of their English language proficiency

Sample of work

Applicants should provide a writing sample of between 2,000 and 5,000 words to demonstrate ability to write for a professional, academic or public audience on any topic (topics related to English language assessment or Linguistics are especially encouraged). This might be a news article, professional report, academic paper, internal report, blog post or other form of published or unpublished written communication.

You can submit an existing piece of work or write a new piece. Should you wish to create a new piece of work, you must use the following sample questions:

Please choose one of the 2 essay topics below. Your essay should contain no more than 2,000 words. 

1. Language assessment of the future will be completely online. Discuss.

OR 

2. Since most people read and write predominantly in the form of short messages on social media, we should stop using essays to assess candidates’ reading and writing skills. Discuss.  

Personal Statement

Applicants should provide a personal statement (500 words maximum)

CV or Resume

References

You will need to provide the details of two referees. These should be for either two academic references or one academic and one professional reference.

Employer Support Letter

You will need to provide a letter from your current employer (if applicable), confirming that they support your application for this MSt.

Below you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions (FAQs). If you cannot find what you are looking for then please click on the ‘ASK A QUESTION’ link at the top right of this page.

Can I do this course entirely online? 

No. This is an in-person course and attendance is compulsory at each of the two Residential periods in Cambridge. The programme is delivered via a combination of face-to-face and some online teaching, delivery through a virtual learning environment [VLE] and self-directed learning. There is no provision to attend the in person residentials online.

What references do I need to include in my application? 

The criterion for acceptance includes letters of recommendation from two referees who can provide academic or professional references. Only references officially evidencing the institutional affiliation of an academic referee will be accepted. Professional references should be from a person eligible using, where possible, a professional email address.

If you have been out of education for some time and you are not able to obtain an academic reference, please provide two professional references. 

What happens outside of the residential sessions?

The modules are delivered using a blended learning approach. Outside of the residential teaching, there will be online one-to-one tutorials with the Course Director, online group tutorials, and online one-to-one dissertation supervisions.  You will be expected to engage for around eight hours per week with online study materials which will include readings, videos, online forum discussions and self-assessment. 

Can I undertake this course whilst working?

As a part time course, the MSt in English Language Assessment enables learners to maintain personal and professional commitments while also studying. It is important to consider all aspects of your life before you decide to study on a course, having a clear idea of how you will accommodate studying into your current routine before you apply will enable you to get as much out of the course as possible.

I do not meet the academic criteria - can I still apply? 

We welcome applications from students with lower marks in their first degree than the standard requirement who have relevant professional experience. 

(Why) Do I need to do complete a language test? 

Evidence of English language proficiency is a University requirement, and rigorously applied. Even those applicants who may have obtained previous degrees in English may be required to take a language test, as the University’s regulations are time dependent. It is imperative that applicants check in advance, and if necessary, arrange for appropriate testing, as they must comply before taking up any offer of admission. Any English language proficiency test needs to have been completed within the last 3 years. 

The University's main graduate admissions office website has a language calculator, https://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/international/competence-english which you may find helpful at this stage of the application process. 

The Admissions team will only make a formal assessment of whether or not an applicant will be required to provide additional evidence of their current English language proficiency after they receive an academic decision to accept your application from the department. It is best to check ahead of this in order to give yourself enough time to take a test if required.

Do I need a Visa, and if so, how do I obtain one? 

Please see the information on Visas from the International Student Office at Cambridge here:  https://www.iso.admin.cam.ac.uk/visa-advice-service