The Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Trinity DipTESOL) is a prestigious, internationally recognised qualification for experienced ESOL/EFL teachers. It is equivalent in level and status to the Cambridge DELTA and is highly regarded by employers around the world.
One of the key strengths of the Trinity DipTESOL is its practical, teacher-centred approach. Compared to the Cambridge DELTA, it places a stronger emphasis on phonology and offers greater flexibility by allowing you to base assessed projects on your own teaching context. This means what you learn is immediately relevant and directly applicable to your professional environment.
The Trinity DipTESOL is now even more flexible. You can now take individual modules in the order that works for you or complete the full course (just like the Cambridge Delta).
With the Trinity DipTESOL, you don’t just gain an advanced qualification — you position yourself as a confident, highly skilled professional in the global ELT field.
The Trinity DipTESOL is designed for English language teachers -including primary and secondary school teachers — who want to take the next step in their ELT career.
As a participant of this course, you will deepen your expertise, transform your classroom practice, and open the door to more senior and specialised roles in ELT, including examiner, teacher trainer, coursebook writer, and academic or school management positions.
It’s ideal for teachers who:
Your DipTESOL course includes access to our comprehensive, lifelong careers service, offering exceptional value compared to many other providers and supporting you well beyond course completion.
Our courses are highly rated by our graduates. This is why we have grown to become the go-to course provider for those looking for high-quality training which will help them stand out in the ELT industry.
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Our goal is to make this course as accessible and as flexible as possible. Can’t commit to the full course right now? Choose the module which fits your current needs. Need the full Trinity DipTESOL qualification for a new ELT role? Take the full course and get qualified by this time next year.
Take as many independent modules as you like, in any order:
Module 1: Preparation + Unit 1 (Project)
Module 2: Preparation + Unit 2 (Research portfolio)
Module 3: Preparation + Unit 3 (Phonology interview)
Module 4: Preparation + Unit 4 (Teaching practice)
Get certified by module and take as long as you like to gain the full qualification.
Enroll in the entire course:
Module 1: preparation + Unit 1 (Project)
Module 2: Preparation + Unit 2 (Research portfolio)
Module 3: Preparation + Unit 3 (Phonology interview)
Module 4: Preparation + Unit 4 (Teaching practice)
Get fully qualified with the Trinity DipTESOL within just one year.
With over 27 years of experience, Oxford TEFL is the world’s leading Trinity DipTESOL provider. Since 1998, we’ve trained 1,000+ teachers and are trusted by British Council centres and partners worldwide, as well as individual teachers seeking a rigorous, results-driven qualification.
Our Trinity DipTESOL course is practical, up to date, and expertly designed around what candidates need to succeed. You’ll receive highly personalised academic and pastoral support, keeping you motivated and confident throughout the course.
You’ll be guided by a world-class tutor team, led by Course Director Andréia Zakime, who will support you from day one and help you achieve your professional goals.
Train with Oxford TEFL and you won’t just gain a qualification — you’ll develop the skills, confidence, and professional insight needed to reach your full potential.
You must have a bachelor’s degree (any discipline) or equivalent. An equivalent qualification would be one that shows evidence of sustained academic study, potentially enabling you to cope successfully with the requirements of the diploma.
You must have two years of full-time ESOL teaching experience at the time of interview, the minimum for a year’s experience normally being at least 15 hours per week over 32 weeks. The minimum amount of teaching required for entry is therefore 960 hours of which 75% of these hours must be with classes.
The experience can be with any age group or teaching context (e.g., online or face-to-face).
We can also consider applicants who have acquired at least 960 hours of experience over a longer period (i.e., part-time teachers), but two years is still the minimum. It is not possible to meet this requirement by teaching 960 hours over a shorter period.
You should not have taken more than a year’s break from ESOL teaching prior to interview.
If you do not meet these requirements, we recommend our CELTA course.
Due to the demands of the course, we ask that applicants have a C2 level of English.
You do not need a certification to prove your English level.
However, we have included a table below showing what score would be required to achieve a C2 level of English on different exams:
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | Cambridge C2 Proficiency | Cambridge IELTS | TOEFL iBT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade A and no less than 200 in any paper | Grade A, B or C and no less than 200 in any paper | Overall band score 8.5 and no less than 8.0 in any skill | Overall score 115 and no less than 27 in any skill |
Your English level will be assessed throughout the application process.
You can choose to enrol in one of two ways:
Module-by-Module
Choose the module(s) you would like to take and complete the order that most suits you. After you have completed and passed the assessment of one module, you will receive a Trinity College London certificate. Complete one module or more, it’s up to you.
Full Trinity DipTESOL course
Enrol in the full Trinity DipTESOL course, which includes preparation for all four units. You can take the units in any order. Need the qualification fast? Complete all units within one year. Have other commitments? Take up to two years to gain your qualification.
Each module consists of a Preparation Phase to help you get ready for the Trinity assessment at the end of the module.
During this phase you will be guided by a team of highly experienced and qualified tutors, and each module will help you strengthen both your theoretical knowledge and practical teaching skills.
| Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online study modules to prepare candidates to write their remotely assessed essay and take their pre-assessment discussion. | Guidance and tutoring for candidates to develop and write their research portfolio. | Online study modules to prepare candidates for their assessed Phonology interview. This course also includes a mock interview and feedback. | Online study modules to prepare candidates for their assessed teaching practice. This course also includes diagnostic teaching practice and feedback on the candidate’s teaching. |
Unit 1 Assessment – Project
In this Unit, candidates are required to write an essay. The essay is submitted online and remotely assessed. The essay involves analysing a group of learners, assessing useful teaching techniques and materials, and devising a developmental plan for teachers. Candidates are also required to attend a pre-assessment interview online.
Unit 2 Assessment – The Portfolio
A coursework portfolio including three action research projects. The projects involve observation of other experienced teachers, reflection on your own teaching and a research project, where you collect data. Work on the portfolio will be completed during a 3-month course, with self-access materials and tutor support.
Unit 3 Assessment – Phonology Interview
In this 30-minute interview with a Trinity examiner, you will deliver a short presentation on a pronunciation activity you have designed and delivered, analyse the phonemic transcription of a short utterance and have a discussion of the theory and practice of phonology.
Unit 4 Assessment – Teaching Practice
Four one-hour assessed lessons, each preceded by a discussion of your lesson plan (5 minutes) and followed by a post-lesson discussion with the examiner (20 minutes). Three lessons are assessed by Oxford TEFL tutors, the fourth by a Trinity examiner alongside an Oxford TEFL tutor. You can teach your own students, or Oxford TEFL can supply the students for your observed lessons.
Each module starts with the Preparation Phase and ends with the Trinity assessment (unit 1/2/3/4).
Upcoming Module Dates
There are multiple opportunities throughout the year to start each module:
| Module 1 (Project) | Module 2 (Portfolio) | Module 3 (Phonology) | Module 4 (Teaching Practice) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19th October 2026 – 18th December 2026 | 7th September 2026 – 20th December 2026 | 31st August 2026 – 2nd October 2026 1st February 2026 – 5th March 2027 31st May 2027 – 3rd July 2027 | Full-time in January, July or August Part-time in April – June (Mondays and Wednesdays) |
Upcoming Assessment Dates
You will register for your assessment (unit 1/2/3/4) once you have started the associated module.
| Module 1 (Project) | Module 2 (Portfolio) | Module 3 (Phonology) | Module 4 (Teaching Practice) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment completed at the end of the module. | Assessment completed at the end of the module. | Assessment completed at the end of the module. | 29 Jun – 24 Jul 3 Aug – 28 Aug |
There are several ways that you can complete the teaching practice (unit 4):
| Online | Face-to-face / Remote | |
|---|---|---|
| Teach your own students | Teach your own students online via Zoom. | Teach your own face-to-face class remotely and livestream it via Zoom. |
| Oxford TEFL supplies the students | Oxford TEFL supplies adult students for you to teach online via Zoom. | Oxford TEFL supplies adult students for you to teach face-to-face at one of our centres in Barcelona or Hong Kong. |
Whichever option you choose, you’ll receive live tutor support, including lesson plan discussions and post-lesson feedback.
After completing an individual module and the assessment, you will receive a digital certificate awarded by Trinity College London which proves you have participated in the module and passed the assessment.
This certification will be particularly useful for those who are looking for a way to prove to potential employers that you are continuing your professional development and are motivated to hone your skills in ELT.
It will also count towards your final Trinity DipTESOL qualification, if you are planning to complete this in the future.
By passing all four Trinity assessments, you will be awarded the full Trinity DipTESOL, an internationally recognised professional qualification in English Language Teaching.
Many UK universities now offer credits or exemptions on MA and other postgraduate courses for DipTESOL holders.
This qualification also opens doors to advanced roles in ELT. Our graduates have gone on to become:
Our Trinity DipTESOL trainers are experts in their field, all qualified to at least DELTA/DipTESOL level, meaning they are fully equipped to train teachers of English. They provide support at every stage of your course and are active contributors to the global TEFL community.
These are the next available start dates for the study phase of the DipTESOL course
Get full flexibility by enrolling in one module at a time, in any order which works for you. Prove to potential employers that you are continuing your professional development and are motivated to hone your skills in ELT.
The fees below include the Trinity assessment fees (€606 in 2026).
Module 1
Preparation Phase
+
Unit 1 Assessment (Project)
€575
(including Trinity assessment fee)
Module 2
Preparation Phase
+
Unit 2 Assessment (Portfolio)
€625
(including Trinity assessment fee)
Module 3
Preparation Phase
+
Unit 3 Assessment (Phonology)
€675
(including Trinity assessment fee)
Module 4
Preparation Phase
+
Unit 4 Assessment (Teaching Practice)
€2125*
(including Trinity assessment fee)
* Instalment option available for Module 4: €425 deposit + 2 instalments of €900 at the start of month one and two = €2225.
Enrol in the full Trinity DipTESOL qualification now and start your path towards gaining the qualification within 1-2 years . To secure your place on the course, either the €450 deposit or the full fee must be received.
The fees below include the Trinity assessment fees (€606 in 2026).
Pay in full within 7 days of your Place Offer
€3450
(including Trinity assessment fees)
Pay in full after 7 days of receiving your Place Offer
€3550
(including Trinity assessment fees)
*Instalment option available: €450 deposit + 4 instalments of €800 in month 1, 3, 5 and 7 = €3650.
Please note:
Aside from the Trinity DipTESOL course fees, the following fees will also have to be paid in order to complete the course:
Some of those who take our Trinity DipTESOL courses are partially/fully financed by their schools, usually in return for a commitment to stay on with them after graduation. You may wish to ask your employer about any funding for development available.
Oxford TEFL graduate additional discount: €100! (if paying in full)
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