Program Overview

MA Education

The MA Education program is designed for individuals with a broad interest in education, aiming to improve practice and gain the skills needed to excel in the field. This course is ideal for both education professionals looking to enhance their practice and recent graduates seeking to enter the field.

Course Overview

• The program is offered by the Department of Education and is available for a September 2026 start.
• The course duration is 1 year full-time.
• The tuition fees for 2026/27 are £12,000 for UK (home) students and £26,900 for international and EU students.

Course Content

• The course provides a foundation for conducting small-scale research projects in various educational settings.
• Students will take a total of 180 credits, including core modules, option modules, and a dissertation.
• The core modules include:
  • Teaching and Learning in Schools
  • Theories of Learning and Development
  • Research Methods for Education I: Researching Questions
  • Research Methods for Education II: Researching Answers or Professional Practice in Education
• Option modules include:
  • Bilingualism
  • Motivation in Education
  • Contemporary Issues in Teaching
  • Intercultural Communication in Education
  • Gender, Sexuality and Education
  • Higher Education in the 21st Century
  • Language and Power
  • Evaluating UK Classroom Practice
  • Migration in Education
  • Teaching & Learning with Technology
• Elective modules may be available, allowing students to replace one option module with a complementary subject, language, or interdisciplinary topic.

Dissertation

• Students will develop, design, implement, and manage their own original research project, supervised by a member of staff with relevant experience.
• The dissertation will be 10,000 words and based on the research project.
• Examples of recently completed dissertations include:
  • Teaching English Language for Cultural Understanding
  • Identity and Language Learning
  • Reforming Mathematics Education
  • Practical Work in School Science Teaching
  • Education Reform in Rural China

Learning Outcomes

• Analyze and assess the implications of current issues and key trends in the field of education.
• Contribute to decision-making concerning teaching, learning, and education.
• Inform and improve practice in specific educational contexts.
• Communicate complex information and arguments clearly and professionally.
• Initiate and conduct independent, focused research projects.
• Collate, manage, and critically analyze complex data using digital tools.

Fees and Funding

• Annual tuition fees for 2026/27:
  • UK (home): £12,000
  • International and EU: £26,900
• Additional costs: There are no mandatory additional fees, but students may wish to budget for photocopying and course books.
• Funding opportunities:
  • UK government Masters loans
  • Funding for UK students
  • Funding for international students
  • Chevening Scholarships

Teaching and Assessment

• Teaching format: Combination of formal lectures, seminars, practical exercises, workshops, and online learning.
• Teaching location: Department of Education on Campus West.
• Assessment and feedback: Types of assessments include:
  • Four 3,500-word assessed essays
  • Online exams
  • Research proposal and ethics audit
  • 10,000-word dissertation

Careers and Skills

• Career opportunities:
  • Teacher
  • Online English curriculum designer
  • Learning mentor
  • Community education officer
  • HR advisor
  • Journalist
• Transferable skills:
  • Qualitative and quantitative research methods
  • Data analysis
  • Design and completion of original research
  • Critical reasoning
  • Communication skills
  • Academic and professional language skills in English

Entry Requirements

• Qualification: 2:2 undergraduate degree in a relevant subject.
• International pre-masters programme: Pre-masters from the International Pathway College.
• Other international qualifications: Equivalent qualifications from the student's country.
• English language requirements:
  • IELTS (Academic and Indicator): 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component
  • Cambridge CEFR: B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component
  • Oxford ELLT: 7, minimum 6 in each component
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: 136, minimum 126 in each component
  • Duolingo: 120, minimum 105 in all other components
  • LanguageCert SELT: B2 with 33/50 in each component
  • LanguageCert Academic: 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component
  • Kaplan Test of English Language: 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components
  • Skills for English: B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component
  • PTE Academic: 61, minimum 55 in each component
  • TOEFL: 87, minimum 21 in each component
  • Trinity ISE III: Merit in all requirements

Related Courses

• MA in Social Justice in Education
• MA in Global and International Citizenship Education