• Trinity Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (DipTESOL)

    Graduate with a prestigious, internationally recognised advanced qualification, ready to take your career in education to the next level. 

    Trinity DipTESOL

    Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

Already a qualified English language teacher? Take your teaching career to the next level with the Trinity Diploma in TESOL. This prestigious, internationally recognised qualification with English for Asia offers a positive, dynamic and supportive learning environment with small groups and world-renowned tutors. 

  • Blended course: 6-month online phase; 4-week face-to-face assessment phase 
  • 3-year time frame to complete all the assignments for the qualification
  • Recognised globally
  • Accepted by the Hong Kong Education Bureau
  • Level 7 on the UK Regulated Qualifications Framework
  • Credits towards MA degree programmes at a number of UK universities

 

The blended course allows you to plan your study around your teaching work – you can even complete the Teaching Practice in your own school, with your own students, or to online classes using Zoom.

Course dates

The DipTESOL comprises 300 hours of study, broken into a six-month online study phase (part-time), followed by a four-week intensive phase (full-time) for your observed teaching practice and phonology interview. The online phase includes compulsory weekly contact sessions and assignments.

You can usually start the online phase in January, April or October with the practical phase typically taking place the following July or August. 

Course dates below are when the online phase begins. 

Hear from Laura, a DipTESOL trainer, as she answers your burning questions about the course: 

Is this the right course for you?

This course is for you if

  • Your goal is to work in more senior teaching positions or education management.
  • You want an advanced, credit-bearing qualification at UK masters level.
  • You want a course that allows you to plan your study around your teaching work.
  • You want personal feedback on your teaching with the option to teach your own students.
  • You want a manageable timeframe with three years to complete all the assignments.
  • You want access to the English for Asia network.

This course might not be for you if

  • You don’t need an accredited diploma-level qualification, benchmarked to national qualifications frameworks.
  • You don't have at least two years' experience as a TESOL teacher.
  • You don't have an initial TESOL qualification such as a CertTESOL or CELTA.
  • You don’t want to be observed or take feedback on your teaching.
  • Your language proficiency is below CEFR C1 (IELTS 7.0) – check out our CertPT or other TEFL course options if this applies to you.

Our typical trainees include ESOL teachers who are

  •  Looking for senior positions such as head teacher or DOS.
  •  Applying for the Hong Kong Secondary NET Scheme.
  •  Hoping to work as a teacher trainer. 
  •  Hoping to work in academic management or the higher education sector. 
  •  Looking to further their skills and knowledge for their own professional development.
  •  Requiring a course with credits awarded towards MA degree programmes.

 

Our courses comprise a diverse mix of ethnicities and nationalities, including native and non-native English speakers with a high level of spoken and written English. We welcome applicants of all ages and backgrounds, though it is essential that course applicants hold the minimum qualifications and skills required for entry onto the course.

Trinity DipTESOL: are you ready? Get a teacher trainer's perspective. 

What our graduates say

Our graduates are experienced professionals, here’s what some of them had to say.  

"I completed both the CertTESOL and DipTESOL programs and found the courses excellent. The content is well-structured, providing a solid combination of theory and practice. The teachers and staff in EfA are knowledgeable, supportive, and truly dedicated to helping students succeed. They offer constructive feedback and guidance throughout. It was a fantastic learning experience, and I would recommend it to anyone seeking high-quality TESOL education."

Hannah Liu

DipTESOL graduate, August 2024

“The EFA staff were lovely. With their guidance and input, my course mates and I were able to better refine our lesson plans, which helped make the lessons more engaging and enriching for our learners. I thoroughly recommend English for Asia to English teachers seeking their Cert/DipTESOL qualifications."

Paul Cowden

DipTESOL, 2019

"The first thing I noticed about the EfA tutors I had for my DipTESOL was that they were extremely knowledgeable and gave insightful, detailed advice about how I could improve my lessons during my practical block. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to aid me in my progress to become a teacher with a deeper awareness of the subject!"

Jennie Fung

DipTESOL, 2021

“From providing constructive feedback on my teaching practice to arranging classes for observations, the DipTESOL team at English for Asia has been very supportive. I really appreciate how the trainers were always available to discuss questions that I may have about teaching during the practical block.”

Jacqueline Shing

DipTESOL, 2021

Course content and structure

The Trinity DipTESOL comprises four components that cover the theory and practice of English Language Teaching. Our experienced tutors will help you to deepen your theoretical knowledge of teaching and learning. You will master new approaches to teaching and have the opportunity to put them into practice as the course progresses.

You will be examined according to the four units below. Some components are assessed by Trinity's panel of examiners; others are assessed by our trainers and moderated by Trinity. Attendance to a four-week block is mandatory in order to complete unit 3 and unit 4 assessments.

Below you can find more on what's covered in the different modules and assessments. Keen to know every detail? Download the DipTESOL Course Summary and Bibliography

Our tutors

Enjoys learning Mandarin

Clare Voke

Director of Teacher Training

An ancestor of his signed the Death Warrant of Charles I

Sean Martin

CertTESOL Trainer, DipTESOL Trainer

Appreciates a good bottle of wine

Kevin Clare

Course Director, DipTESOL Trainer

Dedicated to animal welfare

Maria Björning-Gyde

CertTESOL and DipTESOL Trainer, Course Writer

Fees

The total course fee for the Trinity DipTESOL is HK$30,000. This investment in your teaching career includes

  • Enrolment fee and Trinity DipTESOL course fees.
  • Expert input and support from highly qualified and experienced tutors.
  • Unlimited use of dedicated TESOL resource centre during the face-to-face phase.
  • Internationally recognised Trinity DipTESOL certificate.
  • Careers advice and access to our network and local employment opportunities.
  • Free graduate access to CPD workshops.

Additional and potential costs

  • Trinity minimum examination fees: GBP471 required eight weeks prior to the examination dates.
  • Course books: Approximately HK$2,500 for the seven required books, if purchased new.
  • Re-sit and resubmission fees: If applicable, these range from GBP32-205, depending on the unit(s) and/or section(s) (see FAQ below for details).

You can’t buy years of teaching experience, but you can gain access to some of the best, most renowned TESOL tutors, and the English for Asia network. Assuming you meet the entry requirements, of course – apply now.

Course payment is made in three instalments

  1. HK$10,000 as soon as you are offered a place on the course.
  2. HK$10,000 at the start of the course.
  3. HK$10,000 three months prior to the face-to-face assessment phase.

All fees are non-refundable unless a course is cancelled. 

“By the end, my coursemates and I had been able to practice approaches and activities that will be incredibly useful for us in our regular teaching contexts going forward.” - Paul Cowden, DipTESOL graduate

Entry requirements

We assess your suitability for the course throughout the application process, which includes an interview (Zoom or in-person) and supervised written task. During the interview, we discuss your teaching experience and language awareness to help decide whether this course is suitable for you – it's also an opportunity for you to ask questions. Acceptance onto the course is at the discretion of the Course Director.

You can find specific requirements below and we are always happy to chat with you and answer questions.

Recognition and accreditation

English for Asia is Trinity's largest TESOL course provider outside of Europe and the only dedicated TEFL/TESOL centre in Hong Kong. Our Trinity DipTESOL programme is run in cooperation with Oxford TEFL – one of the world’s foremost names in TESOL.

The DipTESOL is also accepted by many universities for credits towards MA TESOL programmes and other subject-related degrees.

Our insiders' guide to all things TESOL

Get insights from the experiences of trainees, graduates, teachers, teacher trainers and other experts on our blog

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Frequently asked questions

Apply now

Need to ask us some questions before you apply for your DipTESOL? Drop us a message in the live chat box, or reach out via any of the options at the bottom of the page. 

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Apply and attend a no-obligation interview

Accept an offer and confirm your place (pay 1st instalment)

Begin DipTESOL online phase (pay 2nd instalment 2 weeks prior)

Begin DipTESOL practical phase (pay 3rd instalment 2 weeks prior)

Let's do this!

Simply submit the form below for access to everything you need to apply. 

Still unsure?

Need a certificate level qualification, refresher course or workshop first? Try one of these options.  

CertTESOL

Recommended prior to the DipTESOL.

TEFL Course

A 40, 60 or 120-hour self-paced TEFL course.

CPD Workshops

Join a live workshop.

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