Applied Language runs a part-time distance PhD programme recognised by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council. The programme is primarily aimed at English language teachers working abroad who want to maintain an academic base in the UK. The programme is centred on Professor Paul Meara’s vocabulary research group.
Part-time study:
The PhD programme is specially designed for people who want to join an active research group while continuing to work. The Department is strongly committed to supporting part-time students, and we do not normally accept students on a full-time basis. The part-time programme usually takes six years to complete, and we normally have four or five places available each October. Places are normally allocated in February, and you are advised to contact Applied Linguistics informally in advance if you are intending to apply for a place to study with us.
Applied Linguistics organises an annual summer school for research students in Swansea, details of which are available at
We normally only accept people if they already have an MA in linguistics or a related discipline. We also prefer applicants to have some experience of empirical research.
The programme is highly structured, the work for each year being tightly organised round a series of training tasks and experimental projects. The programme currently supports about 20 students, including a group of eight students based in Japan. All these students are working on aspects of vocabulary acquisition and lexical performance in second language speakers. The group has a particular interest in the development of innovative assessment testing tools.
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