Language Testing (Distance) PgCert - 2022 Entry

Entry Year
2022 (2021)

Duration
Part time 12 Month(s)

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Course Overview

Our programme aims to meet the practical needs of professionals who are involved in language testing and evaluation at institutional, regional or national level. The programme gives you the opportunity to develop a solid grounding in language test design, construction and evaluation. Through the programme, we aim to support you in creating testing and evaluation procedures and policy within your own context that conform to international standards of validity and reliability.

With orientation to launch the course and three online modules, our programme is designed for part-time study over twelve months. We offer opportunities to base your coursework on issues within your own educational or professional context. Programme content considers the major developments in language testing in recent years and reflects current thinking and good practice.

The PG Certificate in Language Testing is the first year of our highly respected MA in Language Testing. As a one-year programme, it is likely to be attractive to professionals who seek training in language testing but are unable to commit to a longer period of study or a dissertation project. Nevertheless, students who are successful on the PG Certificate programme can easily transfer to the MA programme should they so wish. In addition, students who graduate with the PG Certificate may subsequently re-join for the second year of the MA programme (surrendering the PG Certificate).

The PG Certificate programme starts with compulsory orientation in late September and runs for one academic year, ending with submission of the assignment for the third module in September one year later. Each taught module lasts one academic term. The three modules are taken in this sequence:

  1. Language Test Construction and Evaluation
  2. Exploring Language Constructs for Language Testing
  3. Issues in Language Testing

The part-time, web-based programme aims to provide flexibility so that you can study alongside work and personal commitments. We follow sound pedagogical principles for the provision of distance education and provide group-level and individualised support and feedback.

Taught by experts
Lancaster has a worldwide reputation for excellence in language testing. Our department ranks 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.

Online learning  
The course is delivered via Lancaster’s high quality virtual learning site. You will have access to the University’s extensive online library resources, and there will be plenty of opportunities to interact with peers and your tutors.

Career prospects
Graduates from the Lancaster PG Certificate in Language Testing programme will have the skills to be involved in test development and research projects in schools, colleges and universities at regional or national level. They will be equipped to contribute to decision-making about language test provision and use in language testing organisations, ministries of education and defence, curriculum development centres, schools, colleges and universities. Several of our MA students have won international awards for their dissertations and have published their research in academic journals.

Course Structure

Detailed module information for this postgraduate programme will follow shortly. However, if you have any questions please contact the department.

Fees

Fees

We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2022/23 entry fees have not yet been set.

The University will not increase the Tuition Fee you are charged during the course of an academic year.

If you are studying on a programme of more than one year's duration, the tuition fees for subsequent years of your programme are likely to increase each year. The way in which continuing students' fee rates are determined varies according to an individual's 'fee status' as set out on our fees webpages.

Fees for EU applicants

The UK government has announced that students who will begin their course in 2021 will no longer be eligible to receive the same fee status and financial support entitlement as UK students. This also applies to those who have deferred entry until 2021. Lancaster University has confirmed that students from EU Member States in 2021-22 and later, will now be charged the same tuition fees as other non-UK students.

What are tuition fees for?

Studying at a UK University means that you need to pay an annual fee for your tuition, which covers the costs associated with teaching, examinations, assessment and graduation.

The fee that you will be charged depends on whether you are considered to be a UK or international student. Visiting students will be charged a pro-rata fee for periods of study less than a year.

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12 month session, which usually runs from October to September the following year.

How does Lancaster set overseas tuition fees?

Overseas fees, alongside all other sources of income, allow the University to maintain its abilities across the range of activities and services. Each year the University's Finance Committee consider recommendations for increases to fees proposed for all categories of student and this takes into account a range of factors including projected cost inflation for the University, comparisons against other high-quality institutions and external financial factors such as projected exchange rate movements.

What support is available towards tuition fees?

Lancaster University's priority is to support every student in making the most of their education. Many of our students each year will be entitled to bursaries or scholarships to help with the cost of fees and/or living expenses. You can find out more about financial support, studentships, and awards for postgraduate study on our website.

Additional course costs and information

There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following your studies, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.

Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.

College Fees

Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. We have nine colleges in total, and every postgraduate student belongs to Graduate College, whether you live on campus or choose to commute. All students pay a small college membership fee, which supports the running of college events and activities. Once you have been accepted into Graduate College, you will receive confirmation and be required to pay the college membership fee.

For students starting in 2020 the fee is £15 for students on one-year courses, and £40 for research students. Fees for students starting in 2021 have not yet been set.

Computer Equipment and Internet access

To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.

The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or Broadband support in place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related courses

Take a Masters in Linguistic Studies or English Language at Lancaster University

Enhance your career or academic credentials with a specialist Masters degree from Lancaster University. Our Masters programmes include Language Testing, TESOL, Intercultural Communication, English Language, Discourse Studies and Corpus Linguistics.

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