1. Introduction

The School of Foreign Languages and Journalism was established in 2009 with launching MA and MEd in TEFL programs on top of the already solid BA in English Language and Literature and Bed in English programs. Subsequently, BA programs in French and Arabic were added.

Besides, the School offers common courses in English across all the subjects/departments of HrU, both regular and continuing and distance programs as well as various in-service skills development courses to HrU staffs and the surrounding secondary and primary school teachers.

On the one hand, it aims at empowering students so that they effectively use English as Medium for Academic Purpose—studying other disciplines through English medium. On the other hand, the Department’s teacher education program aims at preparing secondary and tertiary English teachers and teacher educators competent in the contemporary theories of language, education, learning and research as well as state of the art skills in EFL/ELT pedagogy and classroom methodologies.

Accordingly, the SFLS staffs have designed a PHD in TEFL program that uniquely (differently from other universities) addresses the contemporary global-local contexts, that speak to learners’ and teachers’ interests and integrates pedagogy and research,   in all its approach, curricula, contents and methodology.  It was subjected to national Review Workshop wherein external and internal reviewers presented their evaluations of the document and approved with minor revision works. The 4-year PhD in TEFL program started regular program on September 2015.

2. Admission Requirement

M.A. /M.Ed. in TEFL/TESOL/ELT, English and Literature, Linguistics, Vernacular/Ethiopian Language, Bilingual Education, Foreign Language other than English   with focus and/or background (e.g. BA/B.Ed) in English language teaching is basic requirement to be considered as ‘eligible’.

Four key standards of admission are required but none of them is mandatory for application: (1) MA/MSc/Med GPA plus Thesis Grade (2) Publication(s) (3) Entrance examination (on basic concepts and skills in English language competence, TEFL and research), (4) Submission of a Concept paper (on an area of (future) interest in TEFL) and (5) Interview test (on communication and social skills).

3. Graduation Requirements

 In addition to demonstrating the developmental Core Competences/Skills (Table 2), students must normally have maintained the requirements of the HU Senate Legislation Article

  • Administration of Final and Mid-Semester Examinations
  • A list of candidates sitting in an examination shall be prepared in advance of the examination by departments or module/course instructor team leader/delegate to which the students belong and such a list shall be handed over to the invigilators for purposes of checking attendance in the exam;
  • No student may be admitted into an exam hall 30 minutes after the beginning of the examination. However no additional time shall be allowed to compensate late arrival into the exam hall;
  • No student may be allowed to leave an exam hall within 30 minutes of the beginning of an examination and before signing the examination attendance sheet. However, all examinations must start on time and no corrections and other announcements made for students at the beginning of the exam shall be repeated;
  • In the event that a student is forced to leave an exam hall for health reasons, and in so far as the student is in a conscious and sound state of mind, the invigilator in attendance shall inform him of the fact that certification from a medical doctor has to be obtained expeditiously to substantiate the claim of sickness or illness; and

Upon conclusion of an examination, the invigilator shall submit a report on the conduct of the examination by completing a form prepared for that purpose. The report shall be submitted to the head of the department that offers the course

The requirements for successful, or otherwise, completion of the Comprehensive Examination and Oral Defence of Dissertation or Viva are governed by HU Senate Legislation Articles:

  • Failure to achieve 60% score in the [Comprehensive] exams will result in studying further 4 to 8 weeks duration.
  • Thesis Presentation and Defence (see details)