Ofqual, the exams regulator of the UK government, has confirmed that Cambridge ESOL’s Delta qualification for teachers is at the same level as a Master’s degree or a professional diploma in the European Union. This is a result of Delta being placed at level 7 of the UK government’s Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF), making it the only English language teaching diploma currently included at this level.
Welcoming this new recognition, Cambridge ESOL’s Chief Executive Dr Mike Milanovic says: “Teachers holding this qualification demonstrate a very high level of expertise indeed and we’re delighted by this acknowledgment from Ofqual. This reflects the quality standards associated with the Delta qualification which is great news for teachers and the millions of students around the world learning English.”
N.B. The DELTA on its own does not constitute an MA qualification but is considered to be at the same level, which makes holders eligible for exemptions, credits, and fast track options in a variety of UK based universities.
The following UK institutions offer credits or exemptions to DELTA holders, for the courses listed. We make every attempt to keep this information up to date – however, applicants should always check with the institution, as they do change their requirements, and these may differ for individual applicants.
Please use Google to verify the information below and do leave a comment if you have information about other universities not included here – we have added total number of credits where this was available and easy to find from the university website.
| Institution | Courses with credits/exemptions | Further information | Total Credits |
| Aston University | MSc in Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages (TESOL)
MSc in Teaching English for Specific Purposes (TESP)· MSc in Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL) MSc in Educational Management in TESOL (EMT) |
Exemption from the Methodology module plus 20 credits toward an additional module | 4 modules |
| Bath, University of | MA ELT | Fast track available: exemption of two core units (from total of 5). | 5 core units |
| Bath Spa University | MA/Teach TESOL | Exemption from first semester equal to 60 credits | 180 credits |
| Birkbeck, University of London | MA TESOL
MA Language Teaching |
30 credits | |
| Bristol, University of | MSc in TESOL | 40 credits. | |
| Bedfordshire, University of | Applied Linguistics MA (TEFL) | Exemption from assessed teaching practice (30 points) | |
| Canterbury Christ Church | MA TESOL | Exemption from first two modules (40 credits). | 5 modules |
| University of Derby | Education MA | DELTA holders offered up to 60 credits upon consultation | |
| East London, University of | MA English Language Teaching (ELT) | Exemption from one 30-credit module | |
| Edinburgh, University of | MEd TESOL | Students may request accreditation for prior learning for the core course in TESOL Methodology.2 core modules | 6 core modules |
| Exeter University | Med TESOL | DELTA holders offered up to 60 credits | Link to info |
| Institute of Education, University of London | MA Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (campus-based) | Exemption from one 30-credit optional module. | 180 credits |
| King’s College London | MA in ELT & Applied Linguistics (part-time programme only) | Fast track option – exemption from one core module (Principles and Practice in ELT) and one option – 30 credits in total. | 180 credits |
| Leeds Beckett University | MA English Language Teaching | 60 credit exemption | Direct entry to semester 2 |
| Leicester, University of | MA TESOL & Applied Linguistics (campus-based and distance learning versions) | 30 credit exemption | 6 modules |
| Northumbria University | MA in Applied Linguistics forTESOL· MA TESOL | Exemptions of up to 3 modules, or 60 credits, equivalent to 1/3 of the MA | 180 credits |
| Nottingham, University of | MA ELT distance | Exemption of two core modules running from May to end of year (January start recommended) | 40 points/credits |
| Open University, The | Masters degree in Education (Applied Linguistics) | 60 credits | |
| Oxford Brookes University | MA in Education | One module only worth 20 credits | 180 credits |
| Portsmouth, University of | · MA Applied Linguistics and TESOL (both on site & distance modes) | 30 credits at M-level. | 180 credits |
| Reading, University of | · MA in English Language Teaching | Language Curriculum Design (10 credits) and one of: Written Language (20 credits), Spoken Language (20 credits), Language Testing Principles (20 credits). This equals a total credit transfer of 30 credits towards this 180-credit degree. | 180 credits |
| Sheffield, University of | MA Applied Linguistics | Exemption from 15-credit core module on Language Teaching Methodology. | 8 core modules |
| Sheffield Hallam | MA TESOL | 60 credits to DELTA holders (i.e. they are exempt from the Postgraduate Certificate, which forms the first part of the MA). | 180 credits |
| York St John University | MA English Language Teaching | Exemption from 30-credit core module on Practical English Language Teaching | |
| Warwick University | MA ELT | Exemption of 60 credits from an 180 credit course | Link to info |
About the Author
Marisa Constantinides, Dip.RSA, M.A. App Ling
A teacher, teacher educator and materials writer, Marisa Constantinides is the head of CELT Athens, a teacher education centre established in 1993, She is responsible for the design and training on all courses including Cambridge CELTA and DELTA, face-2-face and online. Marisa has a strong presence in Social Networks, moderates #ELTchat, a weekly discussion on Twitter (recently nominated for an ELTons award in Innovation in Teaching Resources). Marisa maintains a number of blogs (TEFL Matters, #ELTchat, Teaching & Learning Languages, the DELTA course blog, the CELTA course blog). She has published materials for young learners as well as for B2 and C2 level classes.
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And those are actually only some of the exemptions. If you’re willing to go through the request for exemption procedure most universities will give you at least some credit for the DELTA.
It saved me about $3k with an exemption at Macquarie University in Sydney, for example.
Thanks for this information, Jonathan. We weren’t aware of it – colleagues tell me that it’s worth exploring this with US universities as well.
Great! Go for it!