Trinity DipTESOL

Our Trinity DipTESOL programme begins with a comprehensive 10-month Study Phase, designed to prepare candidates thoroughly for each of the four Trinity assessment Units. Throughout the course, every component focuses on developing the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to succeed in the individual Unit assessments.
Candidates can choose the study pathway that best suits their needs. The four assessment Units may be completed at the end of the programme (typically from month 12 onwards), or they can be taken on a modular basis, allowing candidates to complete assessments as they progress through the Study Phase, similar to the Cambridge DELTA model.
All course content, participation and assessment are delivered online through our interactive learning platforms, including Moodle, Microsoft Teams and Zoom. This flexible format enables candidates to engage with the programme from anywhere while benefiting from ongoing support and collaboration.
The course is highly teacher-focused, with a strong emphasis on practical application and immediate relevance to each participant’s own teaching context. Combining hands-on professional development with a solid academic foundation, the programme is designed to help candidates become reflective, knowledgeable and highly skilled ELT practitioners.

The Trinity Dip TESOL course is a very demanding, but rewarding experience. When you study this course, you’ll develop:

• An in-depth understanding of the grammatical and phonological systems of English.
• An ability to identify the needs and motivation of learners from a variety of backgrounds.
• A knowledge of the main theories of teaching and learning and how they relate to ELT.
• An awareness of the role of English in the world.
• A heightened awareness of how to reflect on your own teaching.
• A greatly increased repertoire of techniques that you can use in the classroom.
• An ability to select and exploit materials according to learners’ needs.
• A greater appreciation of how to approach the teaching of the four skills.
• An awareness of how to support your colleagues, including new teachers, in the work environment.
• Knowledge of areas key to the teaching and classroom management of younger learners.

The Trinity DipTESOL is a qualification listed at Level 7 on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications in the UK and can carry credits for Level 7 MA degrees in the UK.

We realise that trainees have different schedules and there are times when you can expect to be busier at your place of work than others. However, generally, you will need to allocate approximately 10 hours for reading/writing per week.

Through the use of the forums and chatrooms on the online Moodle platform you will be regularly interacting with fellow trainees over the nine months – the collaborative nature of the tasks also contributes to feeling included. In addition, there are regular individual tutorials held with the course leaders.

Oxford International’s tutors take great care to provide a personal service so that you won’t feel isolated during the course. The Course Lead or one of the Senior Tutors will act as your principal contact and help you with any queries or problems you might have. Additionally, the interactive nature of the Moodle system ensures that throughout the course, you will be exchanging views and collaborating with fellow course members.

DipTESOL Next start Date:

14th September 2026
11th January 2027

This assessment consists of a written assignment of up to 4,200 words, divided into three parts. It requires candidates to demonstrate their understanding of language and their ability to apply this knowledge effectively within their own teaching context.

The assignment is initially reviewed by a course tutor and is followed by an interview to confirm the candidate’s understanding of and engagement with their written work. Once this stage has been successfully completed, the assignment is submitted for external assessment by a Trinity moderator.

Throughout the Study Phase, candidates are supported in developing their theoretical understanding of grammar, lexis, language functions and teaching methodology, as well as their ability to apply this knowledge in the classroom. Tutors provide individual feedback on assignment ideas and offer detailed guidance throughout the writing process, helping candidates produce work that meets the required standard.

This assessment takes the form of a research portfolio that demonstrates candidates’ ability to engage in practical, classroom-based research. The portfolio consists of four components, including classroom observations, developmental teaching, and an independent research project centred on a topic chosen by the candidate. The project should be directly relevant to the candidate’s own teaching context and professional interests.

The completed portfolio is assessed by the course lead tutor and then moderated by Trinity to ensure it meets the required standards.
Throughout the Study Phase, candidates receive comprehensive support at every stage of the research process. This includes guidance in selecting a suitable research topic, detailed advice on planning and conducting the investigation, individual tutorials, and written feedback on drafts. The aim is to help candidates develop the skills and confidence needed to carry out meaningful classroom research and reflect critically on its outcomes.

Candidates undertake their research in their own workplace, working with their own students collaborating with fellow teachers. This ensures that the project is both professionally relevant and immediately applicable to their teaching practice.

• Maintain and update your coursework journal as you reflect on the aspects of how your teaching has developed over an extended period.
• Identify and research an area of TEFL/TESOL on which you will write an extended essay piece. Our training team will help you to select appropriate topics and give advice on how they might best be developed.

To complete this unit of the course you will need to be teaching on a regular basis alongside experienced fellow teachers.

This assessment is a 30-minute oral examination conducted online with a Trinity examiner. The interview consists of three parts: a presentation of a successful pronunciation activity used in the candidate’s own classroom, a language transcription and analysis task, and a discussion on phonology and its application to English language teaching.

The Study Phase provides comprehensive preparation for all aspects of the exam. Candidates develop their understanding of key areas of phonology, including intonation, segmental features and suprasegmental features, while exploring a wide range of practical classroom activities that support pronunciation teaching. The course also includes opportunities to take part in a mock examination, helping candidates build confidence and become familiar with the exam format.

Delivered via Zoom, this unit combines theoretical knowledge with practical classroom application, enabling candidates to develop both their phonological awareness and their ability to teach pronunciation effectively. The final assessment is carried out directly by a Trinity examiner.

This unit enables candidates to demonstrate their ability to plan, deliver and critically evaluate their teaching, both orally and in writing. It assesses not only practical classroom skills but also candidates’ ability to reflect on their teaching decisions and identify areas for professional development.

The assessment consists of five lessons and a teaching journal. Candidates begin with a diagnostic lesson, followed by three internally assessed lessons and one lesson that is observed and assessed externally by a Trinity examiner.

Throughout the Study Phase, candidates receive extensive support to prepare for this unit. Course input focuses on key areas such as effective lesson planning, teaching methodology, materials design and reflective practice. Candidates are encouraged to draw on the knowledge and skills developed throughout the programme and to demonstrate their growing professional expertise in their teaching.

All five lessons are delivered and assessed online via Zoom. Candidates teach groups of students provided by the course provider, featuring a mix of nationalities and language abilities. This creates an authentic teaching environment in which candidates can demonstrate their ability to plan and deliver effective lessons while responding to the diverse needs of learners.

Upon enrolment, you will be issued with personal log-in details that will allow you to access the Oxford International Teacher Training Diploma course.

• English language: minimum CEFR C1 level (or equivalent)
• Academic: Undergraduate degree (or above); CertTESOL, CELTA or an equivalent desirable but not essential
• Professional: a minimum of two-years teaching experience of EFL; actively engaged in teaching during the Study Phase

£1710 in a single payment or
£1900 in 4 instalments

Instalment payment option = £100 nonrefundable deposit, then 3 payments of £600 (2 weeks before course, then before progress tutorials at the start of months 2 and 4). The prices above cover online training course and tutorage only. You will also need to buy certain key texts (recommended), and pay Trinity College assessments fee of £538 (2025).*

The full amount is payable as soon as you have completed the Study Phase, or can be paid individually if taking the modular approach. We require a minimum of 2 months’ notice. The assessments fee is broken down as follows for 2026:

• Unit 1 (Written Exam) £46
• Unit 2 (Coursework portfolio) £70*
• Unit 3 (Phonology assessment) £102
• Unit 4 (Observed Teaching Practice) £199
  *All are determined by Trinity, and subject to change.