After your graduation
Upon graduation you will receive a Master of Education (MEd) degree, together with the International Diploma Supplement (IDS) in English. You will be ready for an exciting (international) career teaching English language and literature.
Firstly, you will be qualified to teach English to the higher classes of Dutch higher secondary and tertiary education. Moreover, you may develop into department head or team leader. Alternatively, you could move abroad to teach English as a second language to people of all levels and backgrounds, or develop teaching or exam materials.
Career prospects for English teachers
In the coming years, a lot of English teachers will retire, so there will be plenty of opportunities for a newly qualified first-grade teacher. You can also become a freelancer and teach/tutor privately, write course books or exam materials, or work in teacher training.
You can start working as
- English teacher to the higher classes of Dutch higher secondary education (HAVO and VWO in Dutch)
- English teacher to the higher classes of Dutch tertiary education (HBO in Dutch)
- Language institutes around the world
- Publishers
- Governmental institutions
The competences you’ll develop
After the Master Teacher Education in English programme, you can:
- Teach English at a high level
- Speak and write English on 'near-native' level
- Design an interesting curriculum
- Recognise and develop your students' talents
"The level of English at the HU is high (teachers and classmates) and it has been great that everything has been provided to me in my native language of English. "
Melissa Donders (47)1st year student
Having done the first year of the Master Teacher Education (in English) course during the pandemic, the teachers have provided quality education while teaching online. Some teachers added presentation videos to the portal or interactive elements to the classes or just been more accessible to ask questions or provide information. This support during the year has been very helpful, especially in the first half of the year where the course is ‘top heavy’. The first half of each of the two years has more classes than the second half, so extra preparation and organisation is needed at these times. Spreading out the classes over the year is the only thing I would change about this course.
The level of English at the HU is high (teachers and classmates) and it has been great that everything has been provided to me in my native language of English. This gives me the confidence of knowing what to do for each class, what to expect from the grading and general information that is provided from HU itself.
Tip: Plan your workload from week 1 as it is too much to leave to the deadline.
"Together we have created wonderful materials and have given each other valuable feedback which truly prepared me to collaborate with colleagues too."
Miklós Rétei (29)1st year student
Looking back at the studies I will never forget the learning teams I have worked with and the inspiring literature that we have read. The fact that most courses are partially completed in groups was great. Together we have created wonderful materials and have given each other valuable feedback which truly prepared me to collaborate with colleagues too.
Also, I have met very interesting people and we have promised to share more materials after the studies too. I currently work at Veluws College Walterbosch in Apeldoorn and have combined the studies with a full time job teaching upper form classes only. This was quite busy at times. Therefore, I recommend working less than 0.8 FTE next to the Master studies. Especially if you have to run a family as well.