Program Overview

Key Facts

Qualification

MA

Course duration

3 years

Typical Entry Requirements

• hold qualified teacher status (QTS) and be registered with the EWC as a teacher in a school, an advisory teacher in a local authority or a teacher in a setting such as a pupil referral unit (QTS and EWC registration must be maintained throughout the course of the programme) OR be a college lecturer and be registered with the EWC (EWC registration must be maintained throughout the course)
• be employed by a maintained school in Wales / college in Wales / local authority in Wales as a teacher / lecturer / advisory teacher OR be employed by a registered independent school or specialist college

English Language Requirements

IELTS 6.5 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent

Other Requirements

Applicants are encouraged to submit an up-to-date CV as part of their application

Course Overview

The course is 3 years part-time. There is no full-time option. Applicants who have completed a PGCE (or equivalent) with 60 credits at level 7 and/or significant professional experience are likely to be exempt from the first year of study. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must provide appropriate academic and/or professional evidence of this in the application process via the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Form.

The programme consists of 200 hours of study per 20 credit module, of which 22 will be contact hours.

Learning will be a blend of online independent study and face-to-face activities. This will include a combination of activities.

Students on this course will join students on the same course at 6 other HEIs. This includes joining for face-to-face sessions online at the National Saturday events.

Assessments are all coursework assignments and will be submitted at the end of each module. Wherever possible, assignments have been designed to complement the working contexts and schedules of full-time teacher. More information about assessment can be found on the specific module pages. The final year will focus on completing a dissertation.

The course can be study via the medium of Welsh.

The School of Education has been offering stimulating and innovative study programmes for over 100 years.

School of Education staff are either qualified to PhD standard or are experienced practitioners in their field.

About this course

Course Duration

The MA Education (Wales) is a part-time Masters over three years, but applicants may be exempted from the first year by completing the RPL form.

General course information

The modules and structure of the course are noted in the sections ‘Modules’ and ‘Teaching and Learning’.

Prospective students are encouraged to contact Dr Megan Hicks, Programme Director for the MA for more information about the course.

Application information

Applications are currently being accepted until 31st August, but applicants are encouraged to submit as early as possible. Applications will be reviewed by a departmental application panel and a national funding panel. These panels take place May-September.

Course Fees and funding

Welsh Government funding is available for eligible candidates. For information on this and to view the conditions/eligibility of funding criteria click the link - Funding criteria.

If you would like to discuss your eligibility for funding, please contact the Programme Director.

In addition, applicants who meet the entry requirements are welcome to apply for the MA as self-funded candidates.

Additional Costs

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Aberystwyth University.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

• Travel to and from campus
• Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
• Purchase of books or texts
• Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Modules

Year 1

• Collaborative and Professional Practice
• Evidence-informed Practice
• Pedagogy and Practice

Year 2

• Two optional modules from Term 1, Term 2 or Term 3
• Advanced Research and Enquiry Skills

Year 3

• Dissertation

Optional Modules

• Additional Learning Needs- Excellence in Practice
• Curriculum Design and Realisation
• Curriculum Leadership and Innovation
• Emotional Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Equity and Diversity
• Exploring Pedagogies
• Inclusive Classroom Practice
• Leadership and Management of ALN
• Leading Organisational Change
• Leading Within and Across Education Systems
• Leading and Managing Education Professionals
• Responding to the effects of poverty and disadvantage in education

Teaching & Learning

How is the course structured?

All students undertaking the National MA Education (Wales) will follow the course structure below (unless you are applying for RPL in Year 1):

• Year 1: Collaborative and Professional Practice, Evidence Informed Practice, Pedagogy and Practice
• Year 2: Two optional modules from Term 1, Term 2 or Term 3, Advanced Research and Enquiry Skills
• Year 3: Dissertation

Module tutors and personal tutors are provided for the students studying the MA Education (Wales).

For those who wish to study the MA Education (Wales) with a specific pathway, there will be specialist modules required to follow. For more information, please view the relevant course profiles.