Master of English Language Studies

This programme introduces key concepts and issues in the acquisition, use and teaching and learning of English.

Entry Requirement

1. A bachelor’s degree with a CGPA of not lower than 3.0 or equivalent in the field of English language or linguistics studies, or

2. A bachelor’s degree with a CGPA of not lower than 3.0 or equivalent in a non-language related field; and a minimum of one year’s work experience in a field related to studies in language use or linguistics, or

3. A bachelor’s degree with a CGPA lower than 3.0 or equivalent; and a minimum of two years’ work experience in a field related to studies in language use or linguistics, or

4. Other qualifications approved by the Senate from time to time.

Language Requirement

Applicants who are non-Malaysian citizens and obtained their degrees from universities or institutions of higher learning that do not use English as the medium of instruction for the respective degrees, and wish to pursue a program and/or write a dissertation in English, are required to fulfill the English competency requirement set by the University as follows:

1. Attain a minimum Band of 4.5 in the Malaysian University English Test (MUET); or

2. Achieve a score of 79 (with a writing component score of 24) in the internet-based TOEFL (iBT Centre-based), or a score of 9.5 (with a writing component score of 9.5) in the Essentials (Online) for Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); or

3. Attain a minimum Band of 6.5 (with a writing component score of 6.5) in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)(Academic); or

4. Achieve a minimum score of 63 in the Pearson Test of Academic English (PTE Academic) (with a writing component score of 63); or

5. Attain a minimum score of 176 in Cambridge English as follows:

       (a) B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency

       (b) B2 Business Vantage, C1 Business Higher

       (c) Linguaskill Online

6. Achieve a minimum score of 300 in the Cambridge English for Occupational English Test (OET) (Conventional/Online).

Graduates from this programme can work, for example,

• In the media, advertising and publishing industry (e.g. script-writers, journalists, writers, editors, copywriters, proof-readers);
• In corporate communication;
• in the education industry (e.g. corporate trainers, language teachers, teacher educators, programme/curriculum developers, education managers/administrators at government and private schools and institutions, researchers and lecturers in higher education);
• as English language consultants.

Full Time

Minimum          : 3 semesters
Maximum         : 8 Semesters

Part Time

Minimum          : 5 semesters
Maximum         : 12 Semesters

Programme Structure (42 CREDITS)

• Core Courses (34 credits)
  • Research Report
  • Methodology in English Language Studies
  • Academic Writing for English Studies
  • Structure of English
  • English and New Technologies
  • Language Ideologies
  • Global Englishes
  • Understanding Language Development

• Faculty Elective Courses (8 credits)
  • Approaches to Discourse Analysis
  • Multilingualism
  • Translation Studies
  • Pragmatics
  • Language for Specific Purposes
  • Multimodal Studies
  • Critical Discourse Studies