Scholarship Opportunity – Call for Applications for the Doctorate (PhD) in TESOL | Fall 2021
The Department of Languages and Literature at the University of Nicosia is offering a scholarship for its PhD TESOL programme commencing Fall semester 2021.
The scholarship is open to applications that focus on the study of TESOL within the Cyprus context.
Specialized areas of study within this context may include, but are not limited to the following: Teaching English with technology; Sociolinguistics; Second language pragmatics; Bilingualism and multilingualism; Interlanguage and intercultural education; Literature in second language education; CLIL; Second language teacher education. (See below for more areas of study – Faculty members’ research areas).
The scholarship will be awarded to a new application to the PhD TESOL programme. It is not open to students currently pursuing their PhD. The scholarship coverage is a tuition fee reduction of 70% and will be awarded on the applicant’s competitiveness and merit, and the strength of the research proposal submitted. Applications will only be considered if they fully meet the admissions requirements set out below.
More about the programme:
The programme aims to meet the increasing demand for specialists and researchers in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages in schools, universities, government, and other organisations throughout the world. The doctoral programme is a PhD programme by Coursework and Thesis that aims to enhance the ability of ESL/EFL teachers, teacher educators, researchers, and curriculum/materials developers to create, conceptualize, design and implement a substantial research project that generates new knowledge and contributes to theory and practice within the field of TESOL. The specific aims of the programme are to:
- Develop students’ in-depth understanding and critical analysis of current literature and research methodology in the field of TESOL;
- Provide students with a critical awareness of current problems and debates within the field, and enhance their skills in critical evaluation of theoretical and empirical literature relevant to TESOL and their area of specialization.
- Provide students with the research skills and competencies to be able to undertake an original and significant research project that merits publication in the field of TESOL.
- Develop students’ skills in communicating TESOL-related research knowledge to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- Enable students to make a significant and original contribution to the field of TESOL through the advancement of scholarly knowledge and professional practice.
- Enable students to become autonomous and expert researchers in the field of TESOL with an understanding of the quality of research required for potential peer-reviewed publications.
How to Apply
For academic information related to the doctorate programme, contact the PhD TESOL programme coordinator Dr Christine Savvidou via email at savvidou.c@unic.ac.cy.
The application must be submitted only via the online procedure available at https://www.unic.ac.cy/apply.
- School: School of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Duration: 3 years (minimum)
- Selection Criteria: Preselection on the basis of evaluation of qualifications and final selection on the basis of an individual interview
- Application Deadline: 1st September 2021
- Language: All aspects of the programme are conducted in English (application submission, individual interviews, and programme study).
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES
- Accredited Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline (e.g. Humanities, Social Sciences and Education)
- Accredited Master’s degree in TESOL, or Applied Linguistics, or English Language/ Linguistics
- Teaching experience: at least one year
- English language proficiency
- IELTS 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each of the skills.
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): Grade B
- Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE): Grade A
- Pearson Test of English (Academic): 67 with a minimum of 60 in each of the four skills
- TOEFL-Internet Based Test: total 100 (at least 23 in each module).
- Application form: Applicants must submit an application form for admission and enrolment to the programme. The application form requests general information about the applicant, their qualifications, relevant experience etc.
- Initial Research Proposal: Proposal: An initial proposal (2,000-2,500 words, excluding references) outlining the research topic, aims and objectives, research questions and proposed research methodology as follows:
- Title
- Literature review (brief)
- Identifications of gaps in existing literature and rationale for proposed research
- Aims and objectives
- Research hypotheses
- Research methodology
- Ethical Considerations (if applicable)
- Time plan for completion
- References
- Statement of Purpose: Applicants are required to submit a comprehensive outline highlighting their academic and individual competencies and state why they believe they are suitable for admission to the programme, as well as their reflections regarding the expectations and value of the programme for their personal advancement and career development.
- Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must obtain two recommendation letters from individuals who have known the applicant in an educational and/or professional environment. At least one of the recommendation letters must be from an academic institution where the applicant has studied previously.
- Previous theses/dissertations and any published work of academic relevance (if any).
- Individual Interviews: The Department Postgraduate Programme Committee will hold an individual interview of the applicant prior to deciding. The Department Postgraduate Programme Committee, having examined the applicant’s suitability against the entry criteria, having reviewed the application and interviewed the applicant, will determine his or her suitability and the appropriateness of their initial proposal.
Final Evaluation: The Department Postgraduate Programme Committee will exercise its judgment, taking into account the overall quality, merit, feasibility and strength of the research proposal, the fit between the proposal and faculty research interests, the applicant’s teaching experience, the quality of the prior research work of the applicant, other academic and relevant qualifications and the applicant’s performance during the individual interview.
Source: https://www.unic.ac.cy
