MA Education (Distance Learning)
This course is open for applications
Introduction
Gain this flexible part-time qualification and you'll be equipped to drive educational developments while progressing your career. Apply theory to your specific professional context, reflect on your experiences and engage in educational research to make a direct contribution to practice.
The quality of education plays an important role in facilitating learning. As an educator, you make a difference to the community through inspiring the next generation of learners. Educators need to understand the role they play in their students' learning and know what impacts the success of their learners. Gain an insight into what affects student performance and discover ways to develop learners' reflective skills while improving your own too.
A relevant, context-based course
Our MA Education course allows you to personalise your studies to suit your own professional development. By linking academic theory with educational policy and your own everyday practice, you'll be equipped to make a real contribution to developments within the field of education.
Critically analyse and explore the relationship between theoretical models in education and professional practice, as well as examining educational policies in a range of contexts. You'll also learn how to conduct ethical and robust educational enquiry, developing your research skills to prepare you for the next steps in your career.
A tailored, student-centred approach
The course takes a student-centred approach, ensuring you'll reflect on your own practice and develop expertise based on your academic interests and specific professional context. Build a critical, reflective and enquiring mindset that you'll be able to apply to any educational workplace.
Study remotely through our online learning community, where you'll benefit from online discussion boards and group forums with your peers and tutors. You'll have the opportunity to share experiences, provide mutual support and gain expertise from other education professionals working in the field.
A flexible course delivery
Thanks to its part-time delivery, you'll have the opportunity to work through your online course materials at your own pace. Our delivery is designed to support career progression for all practising education professions, including those working overseas in international contexts. Many of the modules can also be taken separately as standalone modules, offering you opportunities in continual professional development.
Is MA Education suitable for me?
This course is suitable for students coming from a wide range of backgrounds. You could be a recently qualified teacher, or a recent graduate looking to expand and deepen your educational knowledge and skills. You may already be established in your education career and are now keen to engage in further evidence-based study and research in education. Alternatively, you may have recently started a role in education, or work in a setting where education is key.
What can I gain from this course?
The MA Education offers you the chance to extend and refine your evidence-base for your work and follow your own interests in education. Your goal may be to consolidate your understanding of theory and policy, or to gain insights into your decision making and practice. You will be supported to develop your knowledge and skills in educational research and undertake your own in-depth research study based on an area of professional interest. The MA Education will connect you with an engage cohort of fellow-educators and help take your education career to the next level.
Choose MA Education for Postgraduate Study
Structure
Content
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
At the start of this MA Education course, you'll complete an initial 15 credit module, designed to support your professional and academic development. You'll then choose your optional modules, depending on your prior experience, qualifications and current working context. On successful completion, you'll go on to study your final two compulsory modules. Throughout your studies, the course team will offer guidance and support on module choices, timings and pathways.
You'll study:
- Academic and Professional Journeys (15 credits).
Plus, optional modules to the value of 30 credits from:
- Education Leadership, Management and Change (30 credits)
- Policy and Practice (30 credits)
- Introduction to Race, Social Justice and Sustainability (30 Credits)
- Independent Study (10 credits)*.
*only for students such as PG Cert LTHE graduates needing additional credits.
You'll then move on to study:
- Researching Education (45 credits). This module is offered in two formats: a standard online module and a face to face version. The content, assessment and cost of each version of the module is exactly the same, but the face to face version offers students the opportunity to work alongside peers and staff, on campus at UWE for one week in July.
Plus, optional modules to the value of 30 credits (apart from those you've already studied) from:
- Education Leadership, Management and Change (30 credits)
- Policy and Practice (30 credits)
- Introduction to Race, Social Justice and Sustainability (30 Credits)
- Independent Study (10 credits)*.
*only for students such as PG Cert LTHE graduates needing additional credits.
You'll then move on to study:
- Project (60 credits)
Plus, optional modules to value of 30 credits from:
- Education Leadership, Management and Change (30 credits)
- Policy and Practice (30 credits)
- Introduction to Race, Social Justice and Sustainability (30 Credits)
- Independent Study (10 credits)*.
*only for students such as PG Cert LTHE graduates needing additional credits.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.
Learning and Teaching
Your teaching will be delivered using a range of methods, including online lectures, project work, group work and tutorials. Throughout this part-time course, you'll work remotely using online platforms, allowing you to progress through the materials at a pace chosen by you.
Our student-centred approach enables you to follow your interests by selecting the focus of your work, feeding into the specific context of your professional practice. All course activity will be context-based, involving reflective practices and practical research relevant to a variety of educational fields.
To supplement your learning, you'll complete self-directed study, such as independent reading and assignment preparation, as well as directed tasks, such as examining case studies and reviewing literature. Engage with our supportive virtual learning community and collaborate with your peers using online group forums, discussion boards, conferences and newsletters.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Assessment
You'll be assessed using a variety of methods to enhance the inclusivity of the learning experience. These methods include essays, reports, reflective diaries and logs, professional portfolios, oral presentations and dissemination activities. Each assignment will provide evidence of your professional learning and demonstrate the skills you've gained, including academic writing, communication and presentation skills.
You'll also complete a final compulsory assessment in the form of a research project, with built-in formal and informal dissemination to your tutors and peers. After each assignment you'll receive formative and summative feedback which will encourage you to build a reflective approach towards your practice.
Throughout the part-time MA Education course you'll develop a personal educational ethos, which you'll learn to analyse in relation to your own professional context. Your assignments will critically explore wider contextual factors, such as ethical, political and social implications of educational practice and research, while underpinning this with academic theory.
Learn more about assessments.
Features
Study facilities
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Life
Postgraduate support
Our support includes access to fantastic facilities, study tools and career consultants, plus practical help to access everything from funding to childcare.
Bristol
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Health and Wellbeing
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Campus and facilities
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Careers
Careers / Further study
As a practice-focused course, our MA Education awards offer you a tailored learning experience, applying theoretical models to contextualised practice. When you graduate, you'll be equipped to drive change in educational practice, making a contribution to workplace developments while progressing your career as an education professional.
Develop skills in critical thinking, leadership, independent research and reflection, building your confidence in your ability to become an ethical education practitioner. You'll also boost your professional development by honing your communication skills, ensuring you're able to influence key audiences with your research.
Throughout your learning journey, you'll shape your own personal educational ethos, values and ethics within your specific professional context. You'll develop an enquiry-based approach as you learn to reflect on your professional practice. This enables you to become a self-reliant leader, preparing you for the next steps in your career.
Broaden your learning as you critically explore the wider contextual factors impacting education policy and practice, such as ethical, political and social implications. You'll also appreciate the impact of globalisation on education, ideal for those interested in international perspectives or working in educational settings abroad.
Whether your career is focused on working as an educational professional in the UK or overseas, we'll support your career progression within this field. We welcome applicants from a variety of backgrounds who require a postgraduate level qualification to progress to more senior roles.
Graduates from this course will go on to employment in the education sectors, from the development of their teaching and educational leadership roles to wider routes into training and development and academia, with some progressing to take further degrees in educational psychology or PhDs in education related subjects.
Our award-winning Careers Service helps you develop your employability through career coaching, a vacancy service for internships, placements, jobs, global opportunities, volunteering and community activity plus support for entrepreneurial activity, and access to employer events.
Fees
Entry
Entry requirements
Usually applicants will be required to hold an undergraduate degree (or equivalent). Applicants without a degree will be required to demonstrate suitability for study at master's level.
Accredited Learning will be available up to a maximum of 90 credits for relevant qualification, eg PGCE, Cert Ed, Dip Ed. Accredited Experiential Learning may be available for attaching academic credit to recognised professional training/CPD courses, eg NPQH/SL/ML, MAST.
We welcome international students onto this programme.
For country specific entry requirements, please find your country on the country information pages.
English Language Requirement
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with no component below 5.5 (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International qualifications in place of IELTS. To find details of acceptable tests and the required grades, please visit our English Language Requirements pages.
How to apply
Applicants apply direct to the University by completing the formal application form.
Applicants linked to Council of British International Schools (COBIS) are eligible for a 5% discount on tuition fees. To apply with the discount, in your application please answer "Yes" when asked "Are you making an application through a partner institution which has an agreement with UWE Bristol?" and then select "Council of British International Schools" as a partner.
Check if your school is a COBIS member.
Read more about postgraduate applications.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
For further information
- Email: Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 83333