Applied Linguistics is the study of how languages are used and how they can be analyzed, learned, and best be taught.

Understanding how languages are used is crucial in understanding human behaviour as we grow, live, work and interact with each other, whether in the home, school, work, or across international boundaries, cultures and customs. 

Our program in Applied Linguistics is a quality professional development program for Australian and International language professionals in second language teaching, learning and use. Courses are designed around the practical applications of language studies which will improve your understanding of how language works in a wide range of social and professional environments.

Students can complete a range of courses covering the analysis of language in use and have the option to take a selection of elective courses to tailor the program to their individual learning goals. There are 2 fields of study students can choose from: TESOL or Language and Discourse Analysis (new in 2023). In the TESOL field of study students take a number of courses dedicated to issues in teaching English around the world. Those in the Language and Discourse Analysis field of study will take courses covering a range of qualitative and quantitative approaches to language in use.

The Master of Applied Linguistics prepares graduates to be employable across a range of industries including education, translation, editing, publishing, language data analysis and language technologies.

Program highlights

• Study at UQ’s School of Languages and Cultures, an international leader in the teaching of interpreting and translation.
• Work with and learn from more than 50 leading researchers who specialise in a diverse range of disciplines.
• Specialise in Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Studies or Language and Discourse Analysis.