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level: masters top_up: false international: true clearing: false full_time: true part_time: true start_month: September, January location: Waterside, Distance Learning

Education MA

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Key Facts

  • Level

    Master'sPG MA

  • Duration

    1 year full time
    2-5 years part time
    1-3 years online

  • Starting

    September, January

  • UK Fees 25/26 >

    Full Time: £8,500
    Part Time: £1,417.50 per 30 credits
    Online: £1,265 per 30 credits

  • International Fees 25/26 >

    Full time: £17,495
    Online: £1,265 per 30 credits

  • Location

    Waterside, Distance Learning

Updated 17/04/2025

Open Days

Updated 17/04/2025

Get in touch

For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

international@northampton.ac.uk
44 (0)1604 892134

Overview

Our Education MA program is designed to deepen your understanding of educational issues, policy, and practice whilst empowering you with the skills and confidence to lead evidence-based change in your own context.  We encourage you to think critically and draw from your own experience to explore a range of themes, such as international perspectives, learning cultures and spaces, digital innovations, leadership, and health and wellbeing. You will discover the potential of education to enact positive change in both individuals and societies.

You can choose to study part-time or full-time for your MA Education on our Waterside Campus or 100% online from anywhere in the world. The MA Education degree online teaching option is designed for UK-based or international education professionals looking for the flexibility to fit the timing of their studies around life and work commitments.

However, if committing to a full Master’s course doesn’t suit your busy schedule right now, there are options to study standalone modules and build towards an MA at slower pace, or even fast-track pathways for applicants with a PGCE, mentor training or NPQs.  Contact cpd@northampton.ac.uk to find out more about these opportunities or click standalone modules for more information.

Join us in shaping a brighter future through informed and impactful education.

Highlights

  • Flexible study modes and a personalised approach to learning
  • An emphasis on contemporary and international educational themes
  • A supportive international learning community that values sharing and belonging
  • Engaging and enthusiastic lecturers helping you achieve your potential
  • Opportunities for you to present and publish your research
  • The chance to develop transferable academic and professional skills
  • Fast-track pathways for applicants with a PGCE, National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), or Mentor Training for Initial Teacher Training (ITT)
Aerial view of University of Northampton, Waterside campus featuring multiple modern buildings, a river, and surrounding greenery and open fields. Car parks and residential areas are visible in the background.

Waterside campus has everything students needs from: Learning Hub featuring 24/7 library, Creative Hub, on-site shop, restaurant, cafes and food outlets, multi-faith chaplaincy, student village hall, Students' Union and more. With only a short walk over the bridge into the town centre.

Internal view of the Learning Hub, showing barriers towards elevators and in the background the student information desk. There is a large clock on the wall. A person is walking through the spacious lobby.

The Learning Hub and Student Information Desk would be a student's first point of call when needing support.

Two floors of the Learning Hub library, showing a spacious, modern interior with rows of bookshelves, a mezzanine level, and several students studying on couches and tables below.

Our library covers three floors of the Learning Hub, with IT rich learning environments, including silent and group study spaces, physical books. Don't forget there are plenty more resources available online!

University of Northampton Student Information Desk area with digital screens, staff computers, and a sign reading

The Student Information Desk is the first place a student should go if they need any help. Here the team can direct you to academic support, mental health support, financial support, IT support, and more.

Spacious modern building lobby, the Learning Hub, with high ceilings, circular ceiling panels, staircase, and staff and students working at yellow seating areas.

The Learning Hub is where every student will go for library support and classes, as well as food outlets and social events.

External view of the Learning Hub, with large windows and vertical pillars housing, adjacent to a green lawn with benches and an outdoor seating area with an umbrella.

The Learning Hub also has lots of outdoor space for meeting with friends or finding some silent time between classes.

External view of the Learning Hub at the University of Northampton. The building features large glass windows, metal panelling, and pavements.

The Learning Hub is the biggest building on campus, home to our Student Information Desk, 24/7 library, teaching spaces, cafes, and more.

External view of Senate building at the University of Northampton, which is a modern building with cream features and grey roads surrounding it.

The big and spacious modern Senate building has various types of learning spaces, teaching rooms, our Bloomberg suite, Morley Room lecture hall, and cafes.

Entry Requirements

To study our Masters in Education 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 the broad field of education at graduate level or equivalent.

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 the MA Education degree with us, please see our How to Apply page.

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

    • Minimum standard – IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in each other band (or equivalent).

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

Course Content

  • The MA Education Degree comprises seven modules and a dissertation. The dissertation is an original piece of research which may be presented in a choice of formats. You will be supported to share your research in journals, online or at conferences.

    • EDUM160: International and Comparative Education (20 credits)
    • EDUM161: Learning Cultures, Places, and Spaces (20 credits)
    • EDUM162: Future Focused Education and Innovative Pedagogies (10 credits)
    • EDUM163: Digital Horizons in Education (10 credits)
    • EDUM164: Health and Wellbeing in Educational Contexts (20 credits)
    • EDUM123: Leadership and Change in Education (20 credits)
    • EDUM167: Research Methods in Education (20 credits)
    • EDUM166: Dissertation (60 credits)

    There is a range of assignment formats across the modules, with an emphasis on application to practice. Assignments include individual and group work and might involve essays, presentations, videos or portfolios. You can tailor assignment titles to your personal interests and explore aspects of education that are relevant to your own professional context. A key element across the course is a culture of knowledge-sharing which enables you to engage with fellow MA students and professional colleagues from around the world.

  • How will I learn on the MA Education?

    You can study either MA in Education face-to-face on campus or 100% online.

    Online and on-campus teaching is in small group format, such as seminars and workshops, enabling you to engage in active engagement, discussion and debate. You will be invited to join special interest groups and research centres. Depending on which modules you choose, study trips or experiential learning opportunities may be included, and we often bring in guest speakers from around the world.

    Teaching is underpinned by the linking of theory and practice, allowing you to critically reflect on work-based issues and innovations.

    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.

    In addition, there are many support systems available, including personal academic tutors, academic advisors, thesis supervisors and career services.

    What do our MA Education Degree students say?

    “It’s such a cool experience being able to share and learn about different learning cultures from all over the world. The discussions we have are so interesting, especially with classmates bringing in their unique perspectives. It’s like taking a journey through education globally, and I’m really enjoying every bit of it.”

    How much time will I need to commit?

    As a full-time student, you will typically have 6 hours of classes per week and be expected to undertake a further 20-24 hours of self-directed study and research. If you are studying part-time, you will typically have 2 to 4 hours of classes per week and should undertake 8-12 hours of self-directed study per week. However, the workload varies across the year.

    You will study for 1 year if you are full-time usually 2 years for part-time students – This can be adjusted to your needs.

    How will I be assessed?

    The way we assess is flexible and sensitive to your existing professional workloads. This enables you to link your studies to aspects of work in your own school or setting, or if you are a full-time student to your personal interests.

    There are no exams for this Master of Education course. Instead, assessment is in the form of essays, portfolios, presentations and small-scale research projects. There is a combination of formative and summative assessments. You will complete the MA with a final project or dissertation that is presented in a negotiated format.

    Who can I contact for more information about the MA in Education?

    For more information on the MA Education please contact Dr Helen Caldwell.

  • The following Educations MA program modules are available to study as standalone, with or without credits.  For more information and to apply, click on the links below:

Fees and Funding

2025/26 Tuition Fees

Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 25/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Full Time: £8,500
  • UK – Part Time: £1,417.50 per 30 credits
  • UK – Online: £1,265 per 30 credits
  • International – Full Time: £17,495
  • International – Online: £1,265 per 30 credits

  • There are no additional costs for Education MA students beginning their studies in September 2021. Should this change, applicants and students will be contacted by the university with details of the costs.

  • If you are starting a postgraduate Master’s course in 2021/22 either full-time or part-time* you may be able to apply for a Master’s 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 be eligible for Postgraduate funding as you must be studying the full 180 Credits.

  • For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

    For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.

  • Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

    • UK – Full Time: £8,250
    • UK – Part Time: £1,380 per 30 credits
    • UK – Online: £1,235 per 30 credits
    • International – Full Time: £16,995
    • International – Online: £1,235 per 30 credits

Staff

Eunice Lumsden, Head of Childhood, Youth & Families and Professor

Head of Childhood, Youth & Families and Professor
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Eunice Lumsden
Helen Caldwell, Associate Professor in Education

Associate Professor in Education
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Helen Caldwell
Joanne Barrow, Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)

Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Joanne Barrow
Emel Thomas, Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)

Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Emel Thomas
Toby Purser, Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)

Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Toby Purser
Helen Simmons, Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)

Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Helen Simmons
David Meechan, Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)

Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

David Meechan

Careers and Employability

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

This Master’s in education 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.

An MA in education is a versatile degree for students in search of career paths beyond teaching. Although this Master’s 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 can do following graduation include:

  • School Counsellor
  • Writer
  • School leader
  • NGO or charity leader
  • Learning mentor
  • Training or Development specialist
  • Instructional designer

Is this course for you?

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