Master of Applied Linguistics

at University of New South Wales

Program Structure

Students must complete 96 UOC when taken as a standalone program.

48 UOC specialisation (LINGHS)

• Research Core Courses (24 UOC)

• Prescribed Electives (24 UOC)

72 UOC specialisation (LINGIS)

• Research Core Courses (24 UOC)

• Disciplinary Courses (12 UOC)

• Prescribed Electives (36 UOC)

96 UOC specialisation (LINGGS)

• Research Core Courses (24 UOC)

• Disciplinary Courses (24 UOC)

• Prescribed Electives (48 UOC)

Specialisation Requirements

You must complete one of the following specialisations:

• Applied Linguistics C

• Applied Linguistics A

• Applied Linguistics B

There are three different streams of the Master of Applied Linguistics. The stream you apply for will depend on the depth of your prior academic and/or professional experience, and how closely it relates to linguistics.   

You may be eligible to have your study recognised via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If your work experience or prior study is recognised, credit points can be counted towards the degree, and you would then be able to complete the coursework undertaking fewer subjects.

For all three streams, you will need to meet the following admission requirements to be considered for entry into the program:

For the 1 year stream (A)

• Honours degree or Graduate Diploma* (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%^.

• Bachelor degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%^, plus one year relevant professional experience.

For the 1.5 year stream (B)

• Bachelor degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%^.

• Bachelor degree (or equivalent qualification) in any discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%^, plus one year relevant professional experience.

• Honours degree or Graduate Diploma* (or equivalent qualification) in any discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%^.

For the 2 year stream (C)

• A Bachelor Degree or equivalent with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%*.

*It is expected that a Graduate Diploma will have been completed after an undergraduate degree.

Students from a non-211 university in China are now required to have a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW distinction average (75%).

Relevant disciplines include Linguistics; Languages; TESOL; Cognitive Science; Speech Pathology; Interpreting and Translation; Health Sciences.

Applicants with a degree in a discipline not listed here but who wish to make a case for its academic relevance may apply and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Indicative First Year Fee

AU $38,285

Potential careers

Applied Linguistics leads to careers in the field of foreign and second language education, including

• Teaching English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D)

• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

• Consultancy in inter-cultural communication

• Discourse analysis for corporations and market research,

• Advocacy for linguistically disadvantaged groups including refugees and immigrants

• Language policy advisory role in government departments,

• Policy and curriculum development in bilingual and second language contexts

• Corpus linguistics for computer science

• Researching diverse aspects of second language acquisition and language use in society

Research pathways in linguistics

Our new straightforward research pathways are open to our high achieving Master of Applied Linguistics students seeking further study in a Higher Degree by Research.

Students will complete a PhD or Masters by Research on a topic of particular interest in applied linguistics, under expert supervision.