Program Overview

MA Early Childhood Education

The MA Early Childhood Education from Queen Margaret University is a 100% online program designed for individuals passionate about advancing their knowledge and skills in early childhood education. This program empowers students to develop a deep understanding of child development, effective teaching methodologies, and curriculum design suitable for young children.

Programme Overview

This program is tailored to individuals who want to make a real practical difference in the world. Social justice is central to QMU's mission, and this value is hard-wired into the approach to education. The community of students, staff, and alumni is characterized by people who want to make a positive impact.

Programme Modules

The program consists of the following modules:

• Understanding Early Childhood Learning and Development in Context
• Young Children's Rights in Action: Navigating Research, Policy & Practice
• Cultivating Holistic Early Learning Environments
• Digital Literacies for Education
• Critical Education in the 21st Century
• Being a Reflective Practitioner in Intercultural Settings
• Inclusive Education: Global Perspectives
• Shared Leadership for Sustainable Development in a Global World
• Research Methodology and Methods
• Ethical Research
• Independent Enquiry Project

Module Descriptions

Understanding Early Childhood Learning and Development in Context

Gain an understanding of children's learning and development in early childhood by placing principal theories, concepts, and practices into dialogue with research that challenges those concepts.

Young Children's Rights in Action: Navigating Research, Policy & Practice

Explore young children's rights by critically reflecting on the research, policy, and practice of children's rights in different contexts and paradigms.

Cultivating Holistic Early Learning Environments

Examine a variety of dimensions of young children's learning environments, considering physical, emotional, historical, and sociocultural aspects.

Digital Literacies for Education

Provide a range of specialized skills and knowledge in the use of digital technologies within educational contexts.

Critical Education in the 21st Century

Introduce education from a range of different theoretical, political, and historical perspectives, enabling critical analysis of contemporary educational issues.

Being a Reflective Practitioner in Intercultural Settings

Introduce the notion of the 'reflective practitioner' and teachers as 'agents of change', exploring important issues of teacher professionalism, professional values, and identity.

Inclusive Education: Global Perspectives

Explore the complex relationship between the ideals of inclusive education and the realities of educational practice, considering implications for stakeholders and education policy.

Shared Leadership for Sustainable Development in a Global World

Focus on strategic thinking and planning to meet the challenges of the 21st century, introducing strategic leadership thinking and planning for times of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.

Research Methodology and Methods

Provide opportunities to critically reflect upon research methods used in education, as well as the duties of the researcher in terms of ethical practice, research integrity, and communication of findings.

Ethical Research

Explore ethics for the social sciences and working with human participants across various culturally informed social settings, understanding the importance of ethical principles in protecting the dignity, rights, and welfare of research participants.

Independent Enquiry Project

Enable students to build upon program modules to develop and apply the skills of research and independent inquiry to a self-selected project, contributing insights and advancing understanding to a subject, field, or profession.

Admission Requirements

• A recognized undergraduate or postgraduate degree (or equivalent qualification) from an accredited college, institution, or university, equivalent to or higher than a UK Bachelor Honours degree qualification.
• Alternatively, applicants who do not hold a recognized degree but can demonstrate at least two years of relevant work experience in a professional, managerial, or supervisory role may be considered.

English Language Requirements

If English is not the first language, evidence of English language ability is required, such as:

• IELTS (Academic) at 6.0 overall with no individual component below 5.5
• Pearson PTE (Academic) overall minimum 59 with 59 in all components
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CCAE & CPE) with minimum scores of 162 in Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking
• TOEFL iBT overall minimum 80 with 18 in Reading; 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking, and 17 in Writing
• Trinity Integrated Skills in English (ISE) II: Merit or Distinction
• Duolingo minimum overall score of 100 with no individual component of literacy, comprehension, conversation, and production below 90
• IGCSE - ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE need minimum grade C
• IGCSE - ENGLISH LANGUAGE minimum grade C
• Degree - Taught and Assessed in English and completed within the last three years with transcript confirming language of study is English
• O-Level English Language or GCSE English Language Grade C or above (UK Exam Board)
• Malaysian SPM 1119 Grade C or above
• Nationals of UKVI listed English-speaking countries are exempt from providing a language certificate

Tuition and Fees

The total fees for the program are ｣7,284, with a per-module fee of ｣607. The Independent Enquiry Project module costs ｣1,214.

Duration and Start Dates

The program can be completed in as little as 14 months. Start dates are available throughout the year, with application deadlines preceding each start date.