Cambridge Certificate In English Language Teaching To Adults

Cambridge Certificate In English Language Teaching To Adults

School of Childhood and Social Care

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Cambridge Certificate In English Language Teaching To Adults

School of Childhood and Social Care

Course dates

11 February 2026 - 22 July 2026

Attendance

Part-time

Learning

On campus, University Square Stratford

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CELTA Part-time (Feb - July 2026)

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Course summary

CELTA is a highly practical qualification that gives you the essential skills, knowledge and hands-on teaching experience you need to teach English as a second language to adults. It is recognised in the UK and internationally as the gold-standard teaching qualification needed to teach English. By studying for your CELTA qualification at UEL, you will benefit from learning in a supportive university environment with experienced trainers, while having access to all the excellent resources and facilities on our campus.

The Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults is a hands-on course that helps you connect theory with practice through plenty of classroom training led by experienced trainers. You’ll gain the professional skills you need in real teaching settings, preparing you for your future career - whether that’s teaching English, moving on to full teacher training, or building your teaching skills.

This CELTA course is ideal if you're completely new to teaching, or if you have some teaching experience but want a recognised qualification to help you gain employment. Reputable employers across the world request the qualification as a basic requirement for teaching English. The certificate is accredited as a level 5 qualification and is awarded by Cambridge English, which is part of the University of Cambridge.

CELTA is the Gold Standard teaching qualification for English Language Teaching.

What makes this course different

  • CELTA is the Gold Standard teaching qualification for English Language Teaching, equipping you to teach English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Second Language (ESOL) courses.

  • The qualification is recognised globally, giving you the chance to teach anywhere in the world. CELTA is highly valued by employers, with 70% of job advertisements specifically requiring the qualification (Cambridge English 2015).

  • CELTA is ideal for recent graduates, career changers and practising teachers who want a formal qualification.

English grammar img
The course has been both challenging and informative. It has helped me develop lots of skills. I am grateful for this experience and would like to thank the tutors for being great, supportive tutors."

Priya Chawla

CELTA, 2019

Fees and Funding

£1,400

Tuition fees are subject to annual change. Fees for future years will be published in due course.

Entry Requirements

Academic requirements

Accepted Qualifications

Level 3 qualification in any subject.

 

International Qualifications

We accept a wide range of European and international qualifications in addition to A-levels, the International Baccalaureate and BTEC qualifications. Please visit our International page for full details.

English Language requirements

Applicants must have an awareness of language and a competence in both written and spoken English, which will enable them to undertake the course and prepare for teaching a range of levels.

If you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol on a pre-sessional English course. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and a 10-week pre-sessional course.

Interview

Where is the interview located?
All interviews take place online via Teams or at the Stratford University campus

The University of East London
University Square
1 Salway Road
London E15 4LZ

Please note that parking is not available on campus. We recommend using public transport. 

When you arrive
Please enter the campus via the main entrance and ask the staff at the main reception to direct you to the room number you were given.
Please ensure that you arrive on time for your interview. We may turn you away if you are late. 

 

What do I need to bring?
You will need to bring the following:

  • A copy of the email inviting you to the interview, with the date and time to show the Helpdesk staff

  • Original level 3 qualification certificate (or higher) if you have one;

  • Your original passport or photo driving licence.  You will not be permitted to attend your interview without a photo ID.

  • Your marriage certificate, if your educational certificates are in a maiden name.
     

*If your qualifications were gained overseas, you will need to verify their equivalence with UK NARIC. They can be contacted on 0870 990 4088, and either at interview or as a condition of the offer, written verification will need to be provided

What should I expect on the day?
The entire interview process lasts for up to three hours. It will consist of the following tasks: 

  • A language awareness task
  • A piece of free writing
  • A 1 - 1 interview.

Please note that the CELTA course is a pre-service course. No prior knowledge is assumed.

 

What happens during the interview?
At the interview, we will be testing your aptitude for teaching, your ability to think about language from a learner’s perspective and your ability to write error-free English. We will not be testing existing grammatical knowledge. The interview is designed to ensure you have the capacity to pass successfully should you be offered a place on the course. In addition to having a level of education equivalent to that required for university entrance, you must have a high standard of written and spoken English language use, and this will be assessed through the tasks.

Mature applicants and those without formal qualifications

As an inclusive university, we recognise that those who have been out of education for some time may not have the formal qualifications usually required. We welcome applications from those who can demonstrate their enthusiasm and commitment to study and have the relevant life/work experience that equips them to succeed in the course. We will assess this from the information provided in your application, or we may request additional information, such as a CV or attendance at an interview. Please note that some courses require applicants to meet the entry requirements outlined.

Admissions policy / Terms of Admittance

We are committed to fair admissions and access by recruiting students regardless of their social, cultural or economic background. Our admissions policy sets out the principles and procedures we use to admit new students for all courses offered by the university and its partners.

Please note that all applicants must have permission to study in the UK in place. The university cannot support visa applications for this course.

Further advice and guidance

You can speak to a member of our Applicant Engagement team on +44 (0)20 8223 3333, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. Alternatively, you can visit our Information, Advice and Guidance centre.

What you'll learn

Throughout this Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults course, you will acquire essential knowledge of the English language and develop familiarity with the principles of effective teaching. You will put this theoretical knowledge into practice and acquire a range of practical skills for teaching English to adult learners.

You will have the opportunity to apply your learning in a real teaching context and, once you have completed the qualification successfully, you can begin working in a variety of ESOL and EFL teaching contexts around the world.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

  • assess learner needs, and plan and teach lessons which take account of learners' backgrounds, learning preferences and current needs;
  • demonstrate language knowledge and awareness, and appropriate teaching strategies;
  • demonstrate knowledge about language skills and how they may be acquired;
  • plan and prepare lessons designed to develop their learners' overall language competence;
  • demonstrate an appropriate range of teaching skills at this level and show professional awareness and responsibility.

How you'll learn

We teach using a wide variety of methods to ensure your learning experience is diverse and that different aspects of your Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults course are suited to develop specific skills. You will benefit from a mixture of classroom teaching, practical teaching experience, independent study, tutorials and written assignments - all of which will develop your theoretical and practical understanding in different ways.

Our superb academic staff have a wealth of teaching experience and will assist you with supervised lesson planning, provide feedback on your teaching experience, and guide you through observation sessions with peers and qualified teachers.

The timetable is also designed to meet the needs of students who are currently in employment, so you can juggle work and study whilst pursuing your Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults.

The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers.

Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.

Module Specification

What you'll study and when

  •  
  • Topic 1: Learners and teachers, and the teaching and learning context
  • Topic 2: Language analysis and awareness
  • Topic 3: Language skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing
  • Topic 4: Planning and resources for different teaching contexts
  • Topic 5: Developing teaching skills and professionalism
  •  

How you'll be assessed

100 per cent coursework for the entire course.

Two components to the award.

6 hours observed and assessed teaching practice and

Four assignments:

  • focus on adult learners and learning contexts
  • focus language systems
  • focus on language skills
  • focus on reflection on classroom teaching and the identification of action points

Assignments are between 750 - 1000 words.

 

Download course specification

Your future career

The CELTA course gives you a practical, vocational qualification that is highly respected by employers across the world. You'll be able to teach EFL and ESOL courses in a variety of contexts, whether in Further Education Colleges, adult and community learning settings, or in private language schools.

Teaching English is a hugely rewarding profession which gives you the chance to help people grow and develop new skills while constantly challenging yourself to learn more about the English language and the practice of teaching. The skills you learn during the Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults course are extremely valuable and highly transferable in many settings, and can be a stepping stone into other careers such as academic management, materials authoring, teacher training and private tuition.

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In the meantime...

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