Call for Applications | PhD in TESOL | Fall 2026

The Department of Languages and Literature, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Nicosia, announces the opening of five (5) positions for admission to the Doctoral Programme (PhD) in TESOL for the Fall 2026 semester of the academic year 2026-2027. 

How to Apply 

For academic information related to the PhD in TESOL, please contact: Dr Christine Savvidou, PhD TESOL Programme Coordinator via email at  [email protected] .  

The application can be submitted online through the following link https://www.unic.ac.cy/apply or in person by visiting the Department of Admissions at the University of Nicosia.  

Areas of Supervision 

Applicants should align their proposed research with the expertise of one of the following faculty members. 

Dr Christopher Alexander 

• Artificial intelligence in TESOL 

Dr Alexander is co-Editor in Chief of the AI in TESOL Journal – Teaching English with Technology (The Journal of Teaching English with Technology – TEwT Journal) and Head of the AI Learning Centre at UNIC (AILC Portal – AI Learning Centre) 

Supervisor profile: https://www.unic.ac.cy/alexander-christopher/ 

Professor Maria Economidou-Kogetsidis 

L2 pragmatics and politeness, Young Learners’ Pragmatics, Pragmatics in the L2 Classroom; Email pragmatics; Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Pragmatics; Email pragmatics and AI; Pragmatic competence and awareness of AI models, AI as pragmatic feedback provider. 

Supervisor profile: https://www.unic.ac.cy/economidou-kogetsidis-maria/ 

Dr George Georgiou 

Research Areas 

• Perception and production of English sounds by nonnative speakers and linguistic, cognitive, and other factors affecting speech acquisition
• Interventions for the learning of English sounds through phonetic training or the use of AI applications
• Effects of AI conversational partners on pronunciation anxiety and speaking confidence in EFL learners
• Automatic classification of EFL learners through machine learning based on acoustic and/or linguistic features (e.g., classification in terms of improvement vs no improvement after training, proficiency levels, intelligibility levels, native vs nonnative speakers, etc.)
• Explainable machine learning trained on linguistic features for transparent and evidence-informed assessment of English learner writing (i.e., which linguistic features determine the quality of student essays) 

Supervisor profiles: www.georgiougeorg.com / https://www.unic.ac.cy/georgiou-george/ 

Dr Aretousa Giannakou 

• Decolonising perspectives in TESOL, including research focused on contexts in Africa, Latin America, and other under-represented regions 
• Multilingualism in TESOL, including research on the role of learners’ linguistic repertoires in English language education, cross-linguistic influence, and multilingual classroom practices in diverse educational contexts
• Artificial intelligence in TESOL from a critical pedagogical perspective, examining the pedagogical, ideological, and ethical dimensions of AI-mediated English language teaching and learning
• English as a heritage language in Cyprus, including research on patterns of language use, community attitudes, and pedagogical practices for heritage or locally spoken English 

Supervisor profile: https://www.unic.ac.cy/giannakou-aretousa/ 

Dr Antroulla Papakyriakou 

• Quality assurance in Content and Language Integrated Learning/CLIL, including quality control indicators and control mechanisms
• The use of artificial intelligence in Content and Language Integrated Learning/CLIL, including course design, materials development and assessment
• CLIL teacher education
• Plurilingualism-based pedagogies in TESOL 

• The use of collaborative tools in TESOL
• Teaching grammar in TESOL 

Supervisor profile: https://www.unic.ac.cy/papakyriakou-antroulla/

Admission Requirements 

Applicants must meet the following minimum criteria: 

• An accredited Master’s degree in TESOL, Applied Linguistics, English Language, or Linguistics
• At least one year of relevant teaching experience
• English language proficiency equivalent to CEFR C1–C2
• An initial research proposal (2,000–2,500 words, excluding references)
• A completed online application form
• A Statement of Purpose outlining academic background, motivation, and career objectives
• Two letters of recommendation, at least one from a previous academic institution
• Copies of previous theses/dissertations and any relevant academic publications (if available)
• Availability for an individual interview, where required 

Selection Process 

Selection is competitive and based on: 

• Academic qualifications
• Quality, originality, and feasibility of the research proposal
• Alignment with supervisory expertise
• Interview performance (if applicable) 

Application Procedure 

Step 1: Initial Contact (Recommended) 

Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact a potential supervisor in advance with: 

• A full academic CV
• A 1–2-page cover letter
• A 2,000–2,500-word research proposal (excluding references), including a brief literature review, study rationale, research questions, and proposed methodology 

This step does not constitute a formal application. 

Step 2: Formal Application 

Applications must be submitted exclusively online via: https://www.unic.ac.cy/apply 

Incomplete applications or submissions unrelated to the advertised research areas will not be considered.