IELLI PGT Graduate Dissertations

The following table showcases master’s dissertations produced by graduates of IELLI programmes at the University of St Andrews. The list includes work recognised by the British Council ELT Master’s Dissertation Award, the BALEAP MA Dissertation Award, and dissertations hosted on the Open Science Framework (OSF). Click on a dissertation title to access the full text.

Dissertations available on the Open Science Framework (OSF)
NameDissertation Title
Lifan LiuLecturer attitudes and beliefs regarding lecturer English proficiency in EMI (English Medium Instruction) universities: A study of users of English as an additional language in China and Japan
Sho KatoTechnology-mediated vocabulary learning in EFL classrooms in Japan: A qualitative synthesis of research
Inge HeradienPedagogical well-being of NETs (Native English Teachers) teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) at rural public elementary schools in South Korea
Xiaoxuan ZhuChinese EFL teachers’ perspectives on the use of extensive reading in Chinese primary schools
John EnglishA framework for implementing a formal, online English-speaking formative assessment course for Korean young professionals
Roisin GwyonAffect and student engagement with feedback in pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
Jason KushnirBarriers to educational technology in Japanese education: A qualitative research synthesis of post-secondary teacher views
Yilan XuChinese EFL teachers’ perceptions of the effects of subtitle types on English comprehension and vocabulary acquisition of Chinese students in secondary education
Atsuko MachidaThe affordances and challenges of drama pedagogies among young learners in the EFL context: A qualitative research synthesis
Yan ShenThe effects of different Chinese high school English textbooks on vocabulary acquisition
Elnaz NobakhtInvestigating improvement of Iranian university students in English academic writing and their engagement with the instructor’s corrective feedback
Bing LinAn investigation of B2 level Chinese learners’ reading comprehension difficulties in IELTS reading tests
Lusi LinA systematic review: The effectiveness of using storytelling in China’s English as a Foreign Language (EFL) or English as a Second Language (ESL) classes
British Council ELT Master’s Dissertation Award
NameDissertation TitleAward/Recognition
Lijun YinAn investigation of experienced EAP teachers’ marking processesBritish Council ELT Master’s Dissertation Awards 2019 — Commendation
Allison CrumIntroducing standards for evaluating enrichment materials (SEEM): Testing the modern framework with football-themed materialsBritish Council ELT Master’s Dissertation Awards 2021 — Commendation
Mairi CanningThe Value of Co-teaching in Teacher Agency: A Focus on ESL Teachers in South KoreaBritish Council ELT Master’s Dissertation Awards 2022 — Commendation
Mellidy Campbell-LochrieA socio-political and cultural driven analysis of the representations of protected characteristics in UK-produced ELT textbooks, through the lens of the Equality Act (2010)British Council ELT Master’s Dissertation Awards 2022-2023 — Winner
Katherine BroomheadEnglish as an Additional Language (EAL) for all: A systematic review of research into pedagogical approaches to teaching learners with Special Educational Needs (SEN)British Council ELT Master’s Dissertation Awards 2024 — Commendation
Angela PalmerA critical evaluation of the online resource ‘Progression Pathways’ through the lens of participatory ESOL, as a teaching tool for encouraging self-reflection and empowerment of forced migrant ESOL learners from a professional background.

(Full text not available online)
British Council ELT Master’s Dissertation Awards 2025 — Commendation
BALEAP MA Dissertation Award
Peter BannisterExploring the critical listening assessment conundrum on pre-sessional EAP programmes in higher educationBALEAP MA Dissertation Award 2023 — Winner
Paul RobertsonStudent and staff perceptions of student digital competencies on an English-Medium international foundation year programme in Europe, with reference to the EU’s Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp)BALEAP MA Dissertation Award 2024 — Winner
Cathy FaulknerThe place for Creative Writing within EAP provision: a poetic autoethnographyBALEAP MA Dissertation Award 2025 — Winner

Are you an IELLI graduate who would like your dissertation to be showcased on the CILTER website? Please get in touch with us at [email protected].