Language Testing (Online)

MA

  • Entry year 2026
  • Duration Part time 2 years

Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • Your gateway to a wide range of rewarding careers

  • 100% of research environment ranked world-leading (REF 2021)

  • 3rd in the World QS World University Subject Rankings 2025 (Linguistics)

Advanced skills for professionals with responsibility for language testing and assessment at institutional, regional or national level. Lancaster University is one of the best places in the world to study language testing, and we offer a full set of UK-accredited academic qualifications.

The Master’s programme helps you develop a solid grounding in language test development and evaluation, and in research design. An ideal stepping-stone to advance your career.

Why Lancaster?

  • Study at a university with a global reputation for excellence in language testing, and one of the only universities worldwide to offer full qualifications in this area
  • Explore current thinking and good practice, and engage with recent developments in language testing research
  • Gain language testing skills and knowledge and develop research skills through your dissertation project
  • Access Lancaster University’s extensive online resources and interact with peers and your tutors via our virtual learning site
  • Follow in the footsteps of award-winning graduates who lead test development and research projects around the world
  • Join this 100% online programme from anywhere in the world, regardless of your time zone — ideal if you're a working professional wanting to advance your knowledge

Your future in language testing

Do you want to understand how language tests work and how second language learning and assessment is researched? Establish a foundation in language test development and evaluation, as well as research design and implementation? Explore technical and practical issues faced by language testing professionals?

On our part-time, online MA in Language Testing you will develop the advanced skills and knowledge you need to progress in language testing and assessment. We’ll explore major recent developments in language testing and discuss current thinking and good practice. By the end of your studies, you’ll be confident in developing assessments and policies for your context that meet international standards and in carrying out research independently.

Expert teaching

Lancaster has a worldwide reputation for excellence in language testing. We rank very 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. You will benefit from their expert tuition.

Flexible. Supportive. Collaborative.

The programme is delivered via Lancaster’s high-quality virtual learning site. You will have access to the University’s extensive online library resources and custom-made learning materials.

You will have the flexibility to study alongside your work and personal commitments from anywhere in the world. You’ll always feel supported, thanks to close interaction with your tutors, detailed feedback on your work, and opportunities to collaborate and share experiences with other students.

What will I study?

Our programme is designed for part-time study over two years. You will take a series of online modules and carry out a dissertation project. You’ll have the opportunity to base your coursework and dissertation research on issues within your own educational or professional context.

In each module you will engage with tasks and targeted reading on specific topics, perhaps introduced with short video lectures. Tasks may include individual responses and reflection or more practical work, for example, evaluating test items. You will share your ideas with other students via online forums, and comment on their contributions.

The tutor will provide thorough, tailored feedback on these tasks at the end of each unit (week). For every module, you will also participate in work on one or two more substantial tasks, involving preparation in a small group of students. These tasks create the input for other students to review and comment on.

There will be plenty of opportunities to interact with peers and your tutors. The international reach of the programme allows you to learn from the diverse experience and expertise of the other students as well as of your tutors. Equally important, you will contribute and reflect on your own experience and values.

Programme options

We offer a suite of postgraduate level awards in Language Testing:

The Certificate and Diploma programmes each comprise a sub-set of modules from the Master's programme, offering shorter study pathways.

This flexibility is valuable to those who are combining study with work or other responsibilities, or who are not in a position to commit straightaway to a two-year Master’s programme.

After successfully completing the Certificate, you can apply for the Diploma or the Master's with exemption and a discount for modules already taken. Similarly, after the Diploma, you can apply for the Master's and carry out a dissertation project.

Please contact pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk for further information.

Careers

MA Language Testing graduates from Lancaster lead test development and research projects in many parts of the world. Through the network of contacts that you will develop during your studies on the Lancaster MA programme, you will expand your knowledge of the professional opportunities available in the field of language testing and assessment. You will also be able to use this network to find further openings for collaboration and support as your career develops.

After graduating, you may find opportunities to progress in your current role or decide to apply your skills to a different position.

Your skills will be valued by employers in a range of settings, including:

  • Language testing organisations
  • Ministries of education, foreign affairs and defence
  • Curriculum development centres
  • Schools, colleges and universities
  • Cultural organisations
  • Educational publishing

Several of our MA students have won international awards for their dissertations and have published their research in academic journals. If you enjoy working on your own research, you may decide to continue exploring this area by studying for a PhD.

Careers and employability support

Our degrees open up an extremely wide array of career pathways in businesses and organisations, large and small, in the UK and overseas. Our specialist Employability team is ready to support you, whether you are starting out your career after leaving higher education or returning to university to open up new career options.

We provide individual employability advice, application support, career events, development opportunities and resources to help you plan and achieve your career goals.

The Lancaster Award is available to all postgraduate taught students and recognises work experience, volunteering and personal development alongside your studies. Developed with employers, it helps you reflect on key skills, boost your CV and articulate your strengths with confidence.

Whether you have a clear idea of your potential career path or need some help considering the options, our friendly team is on hand.

Find out more about Lancaster’s careers events, extensive resources and personal support for Careers and Employability.

Entry requirements

Academic Requirements

2:2 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in a related subject is normally required. We will also consider applications where you have a degree in other subjects and/or extensive relevant experience. In these cases, you should clearly demonstrate how your experience and skills have prepared you for postgraduate study.

Additional requirements

You will have teaching experience, and, ideally, a current post with responsibility for language test design, construction or evaluation. We may consider alternative language teaching or testing backgrounds.

English language requirements

We require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.5 in reading and writing and 6.0 in listening and speaking.

We also consider other English language qualifications and if your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.

Help from our Admissions team

If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, complete our enquiry form and one of the team will get back to you.

We also have more details on our website about:

Pre-master's programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master's pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master's degrees. Visit INTO Lancaster University for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Course structure

We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.

Core

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Fees and funding

We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2026/27 entry fees have not yet been set.

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Scholarships and bursaries

Details of our scholarships and bursaries for 2026-entry study are not yet available, but you can use our opportunities for 2025-entry applicants as guidance.

Check our current list of scholarships and bursaries.

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to the stated entry year and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. Find out more about our  Charter and student policies.