Program Overview

Master of Education (Higher Education) MEd

Overview

This Master of Education (Higher Education) offers you the ability to study a wide range of topics relevant to educating academic staff working in Higher Education. The course provides initial teacher preparation for staff new to education, with modules covering teaching, learning, assessment, and curriculum design.

Later modules cover leading course provision and dealing with student success, retention, attainment, and managing complex issues. By undertaking the full master's degree, you'll examine an aspect of pedagogical practice in detail, using educational research methods.

Why us?

• This course is an internationally recognised higher degree in education studies, specific to Higher Education, making this an ideal qualification for academics who wish to progress into management, as well as learning and teaching development
• Gain preparation to be a leading contemporary teacher, while attaining the skills and knowledge necessary to engage in educational research and scholarship
• You will be taught in state of the art facilities and through the use of virtual, augmented, and immersive equipment and environments
• Visiting guest speakers from a range of backgrounds will share their experiences of working in the field

Course structure

The Master of Education (Higher Education) course uses a mix of lectures, group-based seminars and interactive workshop activities, and action learning sets. Online quizzes and self-directed learning will also support your learning experience.

You will be assessed using multiple methods reflecting the underpinning principles of universal design for learning, including essay format, a spoken individual presentation, written module document and verbal defence, reflective account, presentation, a written research proposal, and an independent project report.

The course is taught on a part-time basis, on a Thursday from 9am-3pm in year 1, and on a Tuesday from 9am-3pm in year 2.

Course modules

Year 1:

• Learning and Teaching: Applying Theory to Practice (30 credits)
  • Be introduced to academic practice with an overview of learning theories, practical classroom teaching and learning approaches, and a range of pedagogical approaches.
  • Explore key theories in learning and teaching in the context of your own academic practice.
  • Engage in technology enhanced learning both in use and pedagogy.
  • Review your progress and plan your development as a teacher and academic in a peer-supportive environment.
• Designing Learning and Assessment in Higher Education (30 credits)
  • Gain insight into the theory behind approaches to learning and teaching within Higher Education, such as gamification, object-based learning and more traditional approaches.
  • Develop your skills and confidence in delivering learning using these methods.
  • Learn to meet the needs of a diverse range of learners with a variety of needs and learning preferences.

Year 2:

• Research Methods in Education (30 credits)
  • Explore the principles and practice of conducting educational research, including research design; research paradigms; data collection, management and analysis; use of ICT tools and resources; conducting literature surveys, writing for the academic research community; the politics and ethics of educational research; epistemological and theoretical perspectives; and current debates relating to research.
  • You will be provided with the opportunity to generate and evaluate your own research tools, and to search for and engage in depth with relevant critical literature.
• Academic Practice: Independent Project (60 credits)
  • Develop your applied research capabilities by means of a substantive dissertation project or systematic review of literature surrounding a chosen topic.
  • You'll be allocated a project supervisor with whom you'll negotiate an appropriate topic relevant to their academic practice.

Route module:

• Designing, Leading and Managing Higher Education (30 credits)
  • Focus on your leadership and management skills and explore approaches to student retention, attainment and progression.
  • Learn how to manage the operational issues of module or course delivery, set against a higher educational landscape of change and policy constraints.
  • Study change management theory and develop your academic practice to successfully navigate and respond effectively to this context of practice.

Facilities

You'll be based at the recently refurbished Wearside View, situated on the award-winning Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's. This stunning riverside location benefits from dedicated library services and has superb transport links with the city centre and City Campus.

Entry requirements

We usually require applicants to hold at least a 2:2 honours degree. Applicants must be in a role which includes a full range of academic responsibilities in line with the UK Professional Standards Framework dimensions and which includes at least 100 hours of face-to-face scheduled teaching each year.

University of Sunderland staff will apply via the HR staff qualifications policy agreeing workload remission and support with their line manager.

This course is suitable for applicants to enter with advanced standing (eg APL). APL is permitted for up to 30% of the course (60 credits). APL will normally be applied against the modules in the Postgraduate Certificate, usually because the applicant holds a Postgraduate Certificate of equivalence. Normal University processes of mapping learning outcomes will be applied. Only where all of the course learning outcomes to the level of a particular exit award have been met will APL be permitted.

We advise all potential applicants to have an informal phone or Skype call with the course leader before applying to ensure that the course learning outcomes can be achieved and that the route is suitable for you.

Fees and finance

Fees are £4,250.

Please note, part-time courses aren't available to international applicants who require a student visa to study in the UK.

Career ready

On completion of the Master of Education course, you may look to find employment at Higher Education institutions, teaching across a range of year groups.

This course is aimed at academic staff in Higher Education, working to the relevant regulations and organisational requirements. It is designed to develop your skills and knowledge as a teaching professional and as such, be able to offer student-centred teaching and learning experiences.