Course Overview

About This Course

With the UNSW Master of Applied Linguistics, you'll develop linguistic knowledge for intercultural communication in diverse professional, educational and interdisciplinary settings. This two-year postgraduate program will prepare you for roles in political, medical, legal and educational settings. You'll graduate equipped to work in a range of fields, exploring the language used in all fields of activity — developing language technologies, highlighting communication within and across different cultures, and working with the acquisition of first and second languages and investigating different discourses.

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

Requirements

Stream A (1-year program — Domestic): Honours degree or Graduate Diploma (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline with a UNSW credit average of 65%; OR Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline with a UNSW credit average of 65%.
Stream B (1.7-year program — Domestic): Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline with a UNSW credit average of 65%; OR Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with a UNSW credit average of 65%; OR Honours degree or Graduate Diploma (or equivalent) in any discipline with a UNSW credit average of 65%.
Stream C (2-year program — Domestic): A Bachelor Degree or equivalent with a UNSW credit average of 65%.
Stream A (1-year program — International): Honours degree or Graduate Diploma (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline with a UNSW credit average of 65%; OR Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline with a UNSW credit average of 65%, plus one year relevant professional experience.
Stream B (1.5-year program — International): Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline with a UNSW credit average of 65%; OR Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with a UNSW credit average of 65%, plus one year relevant professional experience; OR Honours degree or Graduate Diploma (or equivalent) in any discipline with a UNSW credit average of 65%.
Stream C (2-year program — International): A Bachelor Degree or equivalent with a UNSW credit average of 65%.
Note: Students from a non-211 university in China are required to have a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW distinction average (75%).
Relevant disciplines include: Linguistics; Languages; TESOL; Cognitive Science; Philosophy; Speech Pathology; Interpreting and Translation; Health Sciences.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): Applicants may be eligible to have prior study recognised, with credit points counted towards the degree.
English language requirements: Evidence of English proficiency may be required depending on educational background and citizenship.

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

UNSW Master of Applied Linguistics graduates are in high demand for their ability to describe, analyse and research languages. Potential careers include: Teaching English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D); Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL); Researching diverse aspects of second language acquisition and language use in society; Consultancy in inter-cultural communication; Discourse analysis for media and professional communication; Discourse analysis for corporations and market research; Advocacy for linguistically disadvantaged groups including refugees and immigrants; Language policy advisory roles in government departments; Policy and curriculum development in bilingual and second language contexts; Language technology for speech recognition and production, documenting under-researched languages, and other digital technology including the development of search engines and machine translation. Research pathways leading to a PhD or Masters by Research are also available for high achieving graduates.

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Accreditation Details

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Professional Body

AITSL (for teaching pathway) / NEAS (for ELICOS)

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Skills Assessor

AITSL / VETASSESS

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units28 units

The Grammar of English

Core course

The Structure of Language

Core course

Language and Meaning

Core course

The Use of Language

Core course

Current Issues in Bilingualism

Research course

Cross-cultural Pragmatics

Research course

Research Methods in Linguistics

Research course

Research Topics in Applied Linguistics

Research course

Indigenous Languages of Australia

Elective course

Advanced Quantitative Research

Elective course

Advanced Qualitative Research

Elective course

Advanced TESOL Methodology

Elective course

Advanced TESOL Curriculum Design and Assessment

Elective course

Educational Research

Elective course

Contemporary Issues in Language Education

Elective course

Second Language Acquisition

Elective course

Language Technology

Elective course

Discourse Analysis

Elective course

The Sound System of English

Elective course

The Psychology of Language

Elective course

Thesis Writing 1

Elective course

Thesis Writing 2

Elective course

Documenting Linguistic Diversity

Elective course

Linguistics Practicum

Elective course

Research and Theories of Translation and Interpreting

Elective course

Multimedia Translation

Elective course

Specialised Translation

Elective course

Translation Technology

Elective course

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the three streams of the Master of Applied Linguistics and how do I know which one to apply for?

The program offers three streams based on your prior academic experience and its relevance to linguistics. Stream A (1 year full-time) is for those with an honours degree or graduate diploma in a relevant discipline, or a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline. Stream B (1.5–1.7 years full-time) is for those with a bachelor's degree in a relevant or any discipline, or an honours degree in any discipline. Stream C (2 years full-time) is for those with a bachelor's degree in any field with limited prior linguistics experience. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may also allow credit points to be counted toward the degree, potentially reducing your study duration.

Can I combine the Master of Applied Linguistics with another degree?

Yes, you can graduate with two master's degrees by combining the Master of Applied Linguistics with another eligible Arts, Design & Architecture master's degree through the Master of Arts and Social Sciences (Combined) program.

What are the indicative fees for the Master of Applied Linguistics?

For domestic students, the 2026 indicative first year full fee is $33,000 and the indicative full fee to complete the degree is $67,500. For international students, the 2026 indicative first year fee is $47,000 and the indicative full fee to complete the degree is $98,500. Fees are subject to annual review and these figures are a guide only based on typical enrolment patterns.

What elective specialisations are available within the program?

The program offers a wide range of elective courses allowing you to tailor your studies to your career goals. These include Advanced TESOL Methodology, Language Technology, Discourse Analysis, Second Language Acquisition, Translation Technology, Multimedia Translation, Specialised Translation, Documenting Linguistic Diversity, Indigenous Languages of Australia, Advanced Quantitative and Qualitative Research, Linguistics Practicum, and Thesis Writing, among others.

Are there research pathway options available after completing the Master of Applied Linguistics?

Yes, straightforward research pathways are open to high achieving Master of Applied Linguistics students who wish to pursue further study. Students can complete a PhD or Masters by Research on a topic of particular interest in applied linguistics, under expert supervision from UNSW's linguistics academics.

Application

How to Apply

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Step 02

Submit Documents

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Step 03

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Master of Applied Linguistics

About This Course

Entry Requirements

Where this takes you

Accreditation & Migration

Units of Competency

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Apply

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