What is the Trinity College London DipTESOL?
The Trinity College London Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (DipTESOL) is an English Language Teaching qualification rated at a Level 7 on the UK's The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) which is the level of a Master's degree or any other post-graduate qualification. It is ideal for experienced practitioners wishing to progress to positions in management, teacher education and examining. It's also suitable for teachers wanting to advance their knowledge and skills for their own personal development, or to support and guide less experienced colleagues. The Trinity College London DipTESOL is accepted by the British Council and other international teaching organisations around the world as a full English language teaching certification.
Why should I do my Trinity DipTESOL at CILA, Kerala, India?
- We have highly-trained professionals. The Trinity DipTESOL course offered by CILA, Angamaly, Kerala, is led by instructors who have completed their Level 7 TEFL qualifications and have more than 20 years of experience in the field. You can get to know them better here.
- We have a well-equipped centre. The DipTESOL is offered online and can be completed online for all Units. The Input sessions are all completed online but you can come to CILA to take the Unit 4, Observed Teaching in person or complete the Unit online. CILA will help you make arrangements if you wish to take Unit 4 in person at CILA.
- We are the only Trinity College London DipTESOL centre in India. CILA Kerala is the only provider of the Trinity College London DipTESOL, an OFQUAL Level 7 qualification in India, allowing Indian nationals a chance to fulfil their dreams without leaving the country and providing foreign nationals with the opportunity to study the Dip with Indian candidates and find out about teaching English in India. Find us on the list of official DipTESOL certification providers here.
- When you have completed the Trinity College London's DipTESOL at CILA Kerala, you will be given 60 level 7 credits. Taking this route will ensure that, as a candidate for a senior position in ELT, you have an excellent blend of advanced practical teaching skills (DipTESOL) and advanced theoretical knowledge (MA. TESOL): a career boosting combination.
- If you are taking the course at CILA Kerala, there is the possibility for Indian nationals of working as a teacher at CILA during the course. The normal recruitment process will be followed and a job offer would be made based on qualifications and length of experience.
- After the course, there is the opportunity to train as a CertTESOL tutor. The CertTESOL tutor programme is open to those who have passed Units 3 and 4 of the Diploma. The training consists of in-house, on-the-job training. Two courses must be 'shadowed' and the Diploma in TESOL must be completed within one year of beginning the training. Candidates can be employed as full or part time CertTESOL tutors and can progress to more senior positions in the organisation.
- This DipTESOL has been specifically designed to focus on teaching in multilingual countries, especially where English is an official language. It covers the whole Trinity Curriculum but emphasises the complexity of teaching in multilingual situations.
- This DipTESOL is also rooted in the evidence-based approach to teaching. As a result, those completing the course will have a clear understanding of the use of research in teaching, excellent preparation for higher studies, such as the MA TESOL or Ph.D.
- Collaboration with the University of Westminster. After completing the Trinity College Diploma in TESOL, you have the option to enroll in a shortened, reduced-price MA in TESOL programme at the University of Westminster, available in both online and in-person formats. CILA has a collaboration agreement with the University, renowned for its high standard of education courses. Following the MA, you may choose to apply for a Ph.D. in TESOL to further develop your expertise in the field.
What modules will I be covering if I choose to do my DipTESOL?
The Diploma in TESOL has been revised by Trinity College London. The new version was introduced in April 2026. Both the new version and the old version will run in parallel for three years from 2026 to 2029. CILA will be teaching the new version. However, candidates from previous courses will be able to continue with the old version and will have access to the old version of the Moodle.
Queries about the old version of the course should be sent to the DipTESOL Course Director - diptesol@cilakerala.com
The NEW VERSION of the Diploma in TESOL at CILA
| Unit | Assessment | Description |
| Pre-Course Assignments | Not Assessed | These include a range of readings and exercises/assignments aimed at recapping all that is covered during the CertTESOL – basic concepts in grammar, phonology, teaching methodology, language acquisition and classroom management, along with an introduction to research methodology. |
| Unit 1 – Language, Teaching and Learning | 1 x externally assessed written essay submission (no centre attendance needed), comprising three sections:
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Assessment is focused on the candidate's own context, enabling essays demonstrating knowledge and skills in a full range of teaching situations from Young Learners, to different areas of English for Special Purposes. |
| Unit 2 – The Teacher as a Developmental Reflective Practitioner | Internally Assessed and Externally Moderated | 3 x 3,000-word research projects, linked under a common teacher development aim, for example, the teacher's role in guided discovery approaches to language learning. |
| Unit 3 – Phonological Theory in Classroom Practice | Three part Externally Assessed Interview:
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Three parts externally assessed interview, including a prepared transcription from a lesson taught by the candidate with follow-up questions about the teaching context in which it was used rather than a test of the academic skill of transcription. |
| Unit 4 – Learner Analysis, Preparation, Delivery and Self-Evaluation in Teaching |
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The system will now allow increased transparency of assessment. Final assessment decisions will rest with the Trinity examiner, but are informed by the discussion with a local tutor. |
The new version of the course is much more focused on the candidates' own personal development as a reflective practitioner. Candidates receive the final Ofqual regulated qualification certificate on completion of all four units but are given certificates on completion of each Unit of the course but must complete all the input sessions before entering for the assessments. There is also provision for the accreditation of prior learning. This will be offered after review of the candidates' prior qualifications.
How much would I have to pay?
If you wish to take up the DipTESOL at CILA, here are the expenses you will have to take into account:
| Individual Expense | Description | Fee |
| Training Fee | This fee covers the complete course. It also includes all facilities, materials and resources provided such as reference books needed for the course, library access, access to computers with a Wi-Fi connection, printer access with a provision to print the first 500 sheets for free, tea and coffee whenever you need a bus service to and from the main gate to the institute on working days and an airport or railway station pick-up at any time of the day on arrival. | ₹ 2,25,000 (INR) for Indians £ 2250 (GBP) for international students |
| Assessment / Exam Fee | The examination fee is to be paid separately and is NOT included in the training fee. It must be paid 2 months before your first submission, so you can take up to 1 month after joining our institute to pay this. | INR 75,000 |
Trinity College London DipTESOL Course Dates
Phase 1 – 22 weeks part-time online from 4th January 2027 to 4th June 2027.
Phase 2 – 2 weeks full-time on-site at CILA Kerala or 2 weeks fully online from 7th June 2027 to 17th June 2027.
Phase 1 – 22 weeks part-time online from 6th July 2027 to 3rd December 2027.
Phase 2 – 2 weeks full-time on-site at CILA Kerala or 2 weeks fully online from 6th December 2027 to 17th December 2027.
I would like to apply… where do I turn in my application? – Right here!
If you'd like to turn in your application physically you can visit us
4th Floor, INKEL Tower 1, Near TELK, Angamaly South, Ernakulam District, Kerala, India, 683573
Apply for the DipTESOL here
Apply NowTestimonials
"Regarding the DipTESOL, I think there's a few key skills that have really helped me in my first year here. The most important of which has been being an overall more independent and confident teacher, as my coworker (also Dip trained) and I were asked to basically build the program from scratch with very little training or oversight. Even a year in, we are still working without a supervisor and are trusted to deliver satisfactory outcomes. I don't think it would have been possible without advanced training that helped me feel like I was qualified for this role and that the decisions I was making were correct (or at least well-informed).
Another skill that has been particularly relevant is being able to assess student needs and better tailor the course based on what outcomes the school is looking to achieve. It's a different environment than I'm used to teaching in, and the goals of the students and administrators are different as well. Ostensibly they're studying general English, but in practice it is much more important for them to improve their receptive skills. It's very different from speaking-focused "conversation" classes or test prep, so there have been some unique challenges in adapting the materials that we've been given.
Along the same vein, I've also benefited from a better knowledge of assessments. We've had to design our own skill-based assessments for everything aside from grammar and vocabulary, so having a good understanding of the purpose, design, and different types of assessments has helped us track student progress and measure them against the school's own standards."
"CILA gave me everything I needed to complete the DipTESOL comfortably after some unhelpful experiences with other organisations. Expert knowledge, advice, guidance and supporting students is their motivation! Thank you, CILA."
Do you have any further questions? Here are some FAQs!
About the DipTESOL
The DipTESOL focuses strongly on:
- Advanced Pedagogy: language teaching and learning with external observation by internal and external assessors of lessons.
- Phonology: focus on the use of phonology in speaking and listening with a Phonology interview.
- Action research: 3 linked projects focused on an issue in teaching and learning chosen by the candidate such as teacher elicitation from students.
The DELTA focuses on a number of written assignments concerning practical and theoretical issues. There is observation of other teachers and reports of own lessons. There is no explicit Phonology module or Action Research module although there are modules where these can be chosen as topics for presentations.
As a result of the success of the Trinity College TESOL qualifications in India, a number of career pathways have opened up, such as CertTESOL Tutor, CertTESOL Course Director, DipTESOL Tutor, DipTESOL Course Director, and eligibility for training as a Certificate in TESOL tutor or developing your own language centre.
For any of the above, you must first become a CertTESOL Tutor by completing a Trinity approved training programme. At CILA, we require two CertTESOL courses to be shadowed. Initially, the Tutor in Training will, for example, observe CertTESOL trainees along with a fully registered tutor. They will compare their observations and develop their knowledge and skills in supporting trainees. This is on-the-job training and as you acquire the skills, you can begin to work more independently.
Requirements for entry into training: Pass in Units 3 + 4 of the Diploma. Units 1 + 2 must be completed in one year from the start of training.
In order to be registered with Trinity as a CertTESOL tutor, you must then write a 500-word reflective essay about your development as a CertTESOL tutor.
- Dr Helen Macilwaine, Course Director
- Mr Mayank Kaushik, Deputy Course Director
- Mr Lijoy Joseph, Specialist Course Tutor for Phonology
About the DipTESOL at CILA
We will not be responsible for your travel beyond this; however, any assistance you may need with renting vehicles, booking a cab, etc. we will be more than happy to provide! All you have to do is ask.
CILA has multiple desktop computers with active internet connections that can be used to complete your assignments, should you need to; however, these will only be available from 9 am to 5 pm and are for the perusal of the staff and students alike – as such, we cannot promise that these will always be available to participants for use as per their convenience.
If you are interested in working with us after your DipTESOL, we may certainly be able to provide you with a placement at CILA! You can learn more about the current openings at CILA here.
Do you have something else you'd like to know? Leave us a message and we'll get right back to you!
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