The Open University of Hong Kong has a strong tradition in offering postgraduate and undergraduate programmes in language studies and translation. In addition to its BA (Honours) in Language and Translation, MA in Applied Translation and MA in Legal Translation, the School of Arts and Social Sciences will offer an English programme, the Master of Arts in Applied English Linguistics (MAAEL), from September 2012.

The programme is designed to meet the growing demand from professionals and individuals who are concerned with the use of language in a wide range of situations. It introduces students to the application of linguistic theories and methods in a variety of professional settings. It is therefore relevant not only to language teachers, but also to those who have a general interest in language issues or engage in solving language-related problems in other professions.

The programme aims to develop in students a broad understanding of the systems of English; a general knowledge of the central issues in applied linguistics; the skills required for conducting research in applied linguistics; and a critical awareness of the role of language in addressing real-world problems in different contexts, such as education, translation and the legal sector.