Education MA

• Overview

  As a teacher, education professional or recent graduate, you can take this opportunity to enhance your practice by reflecting on your own personal and professional experiences. A Masters in Education allows you to develop further skills, knowledge and understanding of aspects of specific interest.

  This course is available for full-time and part-time study. If you choose the full-time route, the course has a distinct international and comparative perspective, while the part-time option features optional additional modules relating to teacher-led research, mathematics and early years.

  Choose your path

  You can choose to study for a 100% online MA Education degree on any device from anywhere in the world over 1-3 years. This option is designed for UK-based or international education professionals looking for the flexibility to study at a distance and fit the timing of their studies around life, work and family commitments. You may prefer to mix and match online learning with some campus-based modules. It is up to you to tailor your MA route to suit your career goals.

  If you are interested in the online route please contact Dr Helen Caldwell for more information.

  Postgraduate Event

  Read more

  Course

  Highlights

  • Modules relevant to those working in children’s and young people’s services
  • Recognised postgraduate professional development for teachers
  • Modules can be taken in isolation for professional development
  • Modules can build into three successive postgraduate awards from Certificate to Diploma and Masters
  • Modules relevant to those working in early years or children’s services
  • Employment-related course designed to fit with your work
  • Fully online option based on active distance learning

  Apply Now Open Days

  
• Course Details

  What can I do with an MA in education?

  An MA in education is a versatile degree for students in search of career paths beyond teaching. Although this masters programme equips you with skills and knowledge specifically within the field of education, it is not limiting but rather accommodates to other niche roles.

  Some examples of the kind of work students are able to do following graduation include;

  • School Counsellor
  • Manager
  • Writer
  • Learning mentor
  • Training or Development specialist
  • Instructional designer

  How long is a master’s degree in education?

  Within the UK, the time spent studying a postgraduate degree is highly dependent on whether you decide to study full-time, part-time or through distance learning.

  For those on this masters program you will study for 1 year if you are full-time and for part-time students, it will be between 2-5 years. The Online MA Education is 1 year full time or part time over 2 or 3 years.

  Throughout the course we encourage you to engage with other students and professional colleagues in order to develop critical approaches to your study of education and your practical teaching.

  The MA comprises of modules that can be studied one by one. A key element of many modules is the provision for ‘shared enquiry’, enabling you to engage with other professional colleagues and researchers in developing critical approaches to enquiry within practical education (and education-related) contexts.

  There is a full time pathway through this MA. This is particularly targeted at international students and has a strong international and comparative flavour, although UK students are very welcome to apply. It consists of four compulsory modules and a thesis.

  The four modules that must be taken on the full-time pathway are:

  School and Classroom Cultures
  Educational Leadership
  International Perspectives on Education
  Research methods

  There are also a range of modules which enable teachers to engage with reflective, teacher-led research.

  Read more

  Additional

  Information

  MA Education options

  For a more detailed subject focus, we also offer pathways in: Early Years, English Language Teaching, Management and Leadership, Mathematics and an MA in SEN and Inclusion.

• Careers and Events
  • Open Days

    See for yourself

    Our Open Days offer you a fantastic opportunity to get a real taste of university life at Northampton and discover how studying here will be a life-changing experience.

    Each Open Day has a postgraduate stall, where you can speak with tutors about the postgraduate courses that interest you, to give you all the information you need about studying at the University of Northampton.

    To find out more about the day, please feel free to have a look at our Open Day Guide.

    
  • Careers

    Career Opportunities

    Postgraduate qualifications can give you the opportunity for higher level responsibility and senior posts within education, children’s services and Further Education.

    This course addresses the needs of local authorities in the East Midlands as well as the government agenda for continuing professional development and the development of teaching as a research based profession.

    
• Requirements

  To study this course, you will need an honours degree, usually at 2:2 or above, from a UK institution or equivalent.

  If you have other qualifications and have recent professional experience of three years or more, you will also be considered. In this case you will be interviewed and asked to demonstrate that you have engaged with children’s services at graduate level or equivalent, by presenting a portfolio of your responsibilities in your work with children and young people.

  If you have master’s (level 7) credits from another course, including the PGCE, NPQH, or programmes run by University of Northampton, then it may be possible to credit these towards this degree.

  For information on how to apply to study with us, please see our How to Apply page.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • Minimum standard – IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent)
    for study at postgraduate level.

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

  Contacts

  Course enquiries
  study@northampton.ac.uk

  Application status enquiries
  admissions2020@northampton.ac.uk

  Online enquiry form

  Current student enquiries
  SID@northampton.ac.uk

  International student enquiries
  international@northampton.ac.uk

  Applying for 2020
  Facebook Applicant Group

  Office hours:
  Mon – Thu: 9am – 5pm
  Fri: 9am – 4.30pm

  Phone Call

  0300 303 2772

  +44 (0)1604 892134

  +44 (0)1604 892546

• Course Content
  • Level 7

  There is a full time pathway through this MA. This is particularly targeted at international students and has a strong international and comparative flavour, although UK students are very welcome to apply. It consists of four compulsory modules and a thesis, which include; School and Classroom Cultures, Educational Leadership, International Perspectives on Education, Research Methods.

  • Contemporary & international Issues in Early Years (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM072

    Core Module N
  • Supporting Parents and Developing Community (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM073

    Core Module N
  • International Perspectives on Education (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM074

    Core Module N
  • Practitioner Led Development Project (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM146

    Core Module N
  • Research Methods (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM077

    Core Module N
  • Principles and Practice in Action Research (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM089

    Core Module N
  • Reflecting on Professional Practice Through Autoethnography (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM145

    Core Module N
  • Young Children’s Literature, Media and Culture (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM101

    Core Module N
  • Exploring Pedagogy and Practice (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM149

    Core Module N
  • School and Classroom Cultures (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM116

    Core Module N
  • Leading for Change (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM118

    Core Module N
  • Perspectives on Leadership and Management (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM122

    Core Module N
  • Approaches to Leadership and Management (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM123

    Core Module N
  • Developing and Supporting Others (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM124

    Core Module N
  • Designing for the 21st Century Learning (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM129

    Core Module N
  • Understanding Language in Use: Approaches to the Analysis of Discourse (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM133

    Core Module N
  • Approaches to Language Learning – Theory and Method (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM134

    Core Module N
  • ELT in Practice (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM135

    Core Module N
  • Classroom Language Assessment and Test Construction (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM136

    Core Module N
  • Contemporary Issues in Education (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM137

    Core Module N
  • Historical Themes in Education (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM142

    Core Module N
  • Research Thesis (60 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM100

    Core Module N
  • Dissertation (60 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM079

    Core Module N
  • Developing Digital Literacy (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM140

    Core Module N
  • Developing Digital Leadership (30 Credits)
    Module code: EDUM141

    Core Module N

  Throughout our MA Education course, we encourage you to engage with other students and professional colleagues in order to develop critical approaches to your study of education and your practical teaching.

  The MA comprises of modules that can be studied one by one. A key element of many modules is the provision for ‘shared enquiry’, enabling you to engage with other professional colleagues and researchers in developing critical approaches to enquiry within practical education (and education-related) contexts.

  Methods of Learning

  All of the teaching for the campus-based course is in small group format, such as seminars and workshops, enabling you to engage in discussion and debate. You will also be able to attend research seminars, day courses and other educational activities. Underpinning all of what we teach is the linking of theory and practice, allowing you to critically reflect on work-based issues, concerns and developments.

  This course is taught as interactive sessions, with a focus on active engagement and discussion. There are 140 contact hours for the entire MA, which means you will typically have six hours of classes per week for full-time attendance and you will be expected to undertake a further 24 hours of self-directed study and research each week.

  If you are studying part-time, the course will take between two and five years to complete, and you will typically have two hours of classes per week and should undertake eight hours of self-directed study per week. However, the workload is not consistently spread over the year and so there may be times when you are working more hours in a given week.

  As well as your usual sessions, you can also attend workshops and presentations associated with research that the Faculty of Health, Education and Society is involved in.

  The Online MA Education also focuses on engagement and discussion through an innovative model of active distance learning. Our online learning environment includes a virtual classroom for regular online conferencing in small groups or 1-1 with a personal tutor, and an online community space for ongoing discussions with fellow education professionals. There are structured links to course materials and resources that are designed to enable you to learn in different ways and through different media. Our online library gives you access to a vast collection of electronic books and journals to support your independent study.

  You may choose to mix and match online learning with some campus-based modules.

  Assessments

  The way we assess is flexible and sensitive to your existing professional workloads, linking your studies with aspects of work on-going in your own school or setting.

  There are no exams for this course. Instead, assessment is in the form of essays, portfolios, presentations and small scale research projects. You will complete the MA with a final project or dissertation.

  Facilities &

  Special Features

  At the University of Northampton, our Education postgraduate degrees are designed to fit around your work, allowing you to pursue a career in education with confidence. Modules can be taken in isolation for professional development and, for a more detailed subject focus, we also offer pathways in; Early Years, English Language Teaching, Management and Leadership, Mathematics and an MA in SEN and Inclusion.

• Further Studies
  • Alumni 20% Discount

    Our Graduate Discount Scheme

    If you have previously studied an undergraduate degree with the University of Northampton, you may be eligible for a 20% discount on Postgraduate course fees.

    Visit our Graduate Discount Scheme page to find out more information and eligibility requirements.

    
  • Postgraduate Loan

    Get funding to study

    If you are starting a postgraduate Master’s course full-time or part-time you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan through Student finance England.

    Visit the GOV website for more information on eligibility.

    Please note to be eligible for a postgraduate loan for this course you must be studying the full 180 credits.

    
• Fees & Funding
  • UK & EU
  • International

  20/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £7,425
  Part Time:£1,235 per 30 credits
  Online: £1,100 per 30 credits

  Additional Costs

  There are no additional costs for this course for students beginning their studies in September 2020. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.

  Postgraduate Loans

  If you are starting a postgraduate Master’s course in 2020/21 either full-time or part-time* you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan through Student Finance England**.

  *Please note that the maximum period of study allowed for part-time courses is two years.

  **If you have exemptions from studying a PGCE you will not e eligible for Post graduate funding as you must be studying the full 180 Credits.

  19/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  Full Time: £6,750
  Part Time:£1125 per 30 credits

  Additional Costs

  There are no additional costs for this course for students beginning their studies in September 2019. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.

  Postgraduate Loans

  If you are starting a postgraduate Master’s course in 2019/20 either full-time or part-time* you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan through Student Finance England**.

  *Please note that the maximum period of study allowed for part-time courses is two years.

  **If you have exemptions from studying a PGCE you will not e eligible for Post graduate funding as you must be studying the full 180 Credits.

  20/21 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 20/21 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  International: £13,750
  Online: £1,100 per 30 credits

  Additional Costs

  There are no additional costs for this course for students beginning their studies in September 2019. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.

  19/20 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 19/20 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  International: £12,750

  Additional Costs

  There are no additional costs for this course for students beginning their studies in September 2019. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.

  Scholarships

  EU and International Scholarships

  We’re committed to offering the opportunity to study in the UK to the best and brightest students from around the world.

  TD Lewis Scholarship

  The T D Lewis Scholarship provides both undergraduate and postgraduate students with financial awards of up to £1,000.  This scholarship is awarded on educational excellence…

  The Chancellor's Fund

  The Chancellor’s Fund is a bi-annual fund providing students with awards of between £100 and £1,000. You must be a current student to apply.  The…

• Part Time Study

  Courses offered on a part time basis are an excellent way of gaining a qualification around a busy home life or job. The University of Northampton recognises that many of our students have family and work commitments and offer various courses on a part time study basis, working flexibly around your requirements.

  A lot of our courses can be completed part-time, so you can fit your studies around your life. The majority of part-time and professional courses start in October. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure we have your details before your course starts.

*Course data provided by Unistats