School of Education

MA Education

MA Full-time 12 months, Part-time 2 years

This course offers a strong foundation for careers in a range of educational settings, both public and private, in the UK or abroad.

This course offers a strong foundation for careers in a range of educational settings, both public and private, in the UK or abroad.

Award
MA
Start date(s)
16 September 2024,13 January 2025
UCAS Code
Course specifications
Course length
Full-time (12 months),Part-time (2 years)
Campus location
Walsall Campus
School
School of Education
UCAS points calculator

Why choose this course?

The MA in Education offers a strong foundation for careers in a range of educational settings, both public and private, in the UK or abroad. The course is designed for ‘Highly skilled Education Professionals’ such as teachers, lecturers, educational managers, and leaders in a variety of educational contexts including schools, colleges, universities, the military, and nursing. For those seeking new roles, promotion, or are in the early stages of their career, the MA in Education offers relevant career progression through the development of an extensive knowledge base and advanced transferable skills. Through the development of critical enquiry, reflection, and research informed practice, the MA in Education provides high-quality learning experiences that can lead to a greater understanding, expertise and knowledge within an educational context and add professional credibility to any resume. This course also offers the first step for those interested in extending their research focus and leads directly to a pathway for doctoral or PhD studies. For more information please see the University of Wolverhampton’s doctoral programmes

What happens on the course?

The course consists of 180 credits which can be studied full-time or part-time. For international students only the full-time route is available. Compulsory components related to research methods and small-scale research project form 80 credits, while the final 100 credits can be chosen from a range of optional modules. For international students you have an additional core module, 7ED059, Education in a Global Context, to help you with your transition onto the course.

Apart from the core modules all learners can choose to study a broad MA in Education or choose one of our specialist pathways that include:

Special Educational Needs and Inclusion Studies

Leadership, Mentoring and Coaching

Professional lifelong learning

Early Childhood Education and Care 

Our taught MA modules are usually delivered in either semester 1 or semester 2, in daytime or evening sessions. We offer a hybrid model of delivery with a mixture of online and campus taught modules. We have a range of optional modules you can study and for students on all routes, this means a more flexible choice of modules over each semester. As a MA student you will first need to complete the core module 7ED007 Educational Research and Development. You can then start your small-scale research project, for the module 7ED026 Professional Enquiry, where you will be supported by a dissertation tutor as well as your dissertation supervisor, and invited to engage in online research workshops until your project is ready to hand in.

MA Education 180 Credits

Core modules 80 credits

Optional modules 100 credits

 

Fulltime: *7ED026 can take 12 months to complete

 

60 credits applied previous study

Part-time: *7ED026 can take 12 months to complete

 

First Semester

Core 7ED007

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

 

Core 7ED007

Option 1

Option 2

 

First Semester

Core 7ED007

Option 1

 

Second Semester

Option 4

Option 5

Core 7ED026 *

 

 

     
         
         

 

Related modules are listed here for guidance only. Please note the award when completed will be MA Education

1: Personal, professional development

2: Pedagogical development (ECT’s)

3: Early years and Inclusion

4: Leadership and change management (NPQ’s and mentors)

7ED001: Critical reflection and reflexivity in professional learning

 

7ED001: Critical reflection and reflexivity in professional learning

 

7ED002: Critical approaches to diversity, equality and Social Justice in education

 

7ED034: Leading change in pedagogy

 

7ED002: Critical approaches to diversity, equality and social justice in education

 

7ED017: Learners in a digital age

 

7ED040: Representations of childhood and youth

 

7ED002: Critical approaches to diversity, equality and Social Justice in education

 

7ED041:

Multi-agency working in context

7ED055: The virtual teacher

 

7ED042:

Theories in early childhood education and development

7ED017: Learners in a digital age

 

7ED040: Representations of childhood and youth

 

7ED019: Assessment and learning

7ED041: Multi-agency working in context

7ED043: Understanding governance and developing system wide change (Sem 2 only)

 

7ED017: Learners in a digital age

 

7ED034: Leading change in pedagogy

 

7Ed001: Critical reflection and reflexivity in professional learning

 

7SE012: Leading practice in mentoring (Sem 2 only)

 

 1: Personal, professional development - Suitable for overseas students and those not in educational settings but who are interested in development of scholarship.

2: Pedagogical development (ECT’s) - Suitable for early careers teachers, educational trainers, lecturers, and tutors (FE, HE) who wish to develop their teaching skills and knowledge including digital delivery.

3:Early years and Inclusion - Suitable for those interested in inclusion, social justice, and early years delivery, or those working in advisory services.

4:Leadership and change management (NPQ’s and mentors) - Suitable for experienced teachers, middle leaders, and mentors, and those senior leaders and heads that have completed their NPQ awards or who are interested in career or research progression.

For students wishing to pursue doctoral study we recommend choosing modules that support the specific area you wish to research. Core modules 7ED007 and 7ED026 will support your entry to the University of Wolverhampton’s doctoral programmes.

Inclusive assessments

We pride ourselves on a range of inclusive assessment opportunities available across our modules. Assessments include:

  • Individual essays
  • Seminar presentations
  • Reports
  • Patchwork portfolios
  • Investigative research
  • Group work

Most of our taught MA modules are delivered once each semester, with alternate daytime or evening sessions. For students on all routes, this means a more flexible choice of modules over each semester. As an MA student you will first need to complete the core module 7ED007 Educational Research and Development in your first semester, before starting your small-scale research project.

The core module 7ED007 must be passed before 7ED026 Professional Enquiry can be started. Upon completion of the optional modules you will not need to attend on campus, you will however be supported by a dissertation tutor and invited to engage in research workshops where appropriate, until your project is ready to hand in.

We aim for all modules to be delivered through face-to-face and online interactions, and taught delivery is at our Walsall campus.

The course consists of 180 credits which can be studied full-time or part-time. For international students only the full-time route is available. Compulsory components related to research methods and small-scale research project form 80 credits, while the final 100 credits can be chosen from a range of optional modules. For international students you have an additional core module, 7ED059, Education in a Global Context, to help you with your transition onto the course.

Apart from the core modules all learners can choose to study a broad MA in Education or choose one of our specialist pathways that include:

  • Special Educational Needs and Inclusion Studies
  • Leadership, Mentoring and Coaching
  • Professional lifelong learning
  • Early Childhood Education and Care 

Our taught MA modules are usually delivered in either semester 1 or semester 2, in daytime or evening sessions. We offer a hybrid model of delivery with a mixture of online and campus taught modules. We have a range of optional modules you can study and for students on all routes, this means a more flexible choice of modules over each semester. As a MA student you will first need to complete the core module 7ED007 Educational Research and Development. You can then start your small-scale research project, for the module 7ED026 Professional Enquiry, where you will be supported by a dissertation tutor as well as your dissertation supervisor, and invited to engage in online research workshops until your project is ready to hand in.

Open Pathway Full time September Start (Home Students Only) 

Semester 1 - Choose 2 (40 credits) 

Options

Semester 2 Choose 3 (60 credits) 

Options

 

Core Module 

7ED007 

Educational Research and Development 

20 

 

Option 

 

 

20 

 

Option 

 

 

20 

 

Option 

 

 

20 

 

Option  

 

 

20 

 

Option 

 

 

20 

 

Started in Semester 2 and completed in 12 months  

Core  

7ED026  

Professional Enquiry 

60 

 

Open Pathway Full time January Start (Home students Only) 

Semester 2 - Choose 2 (40 credits) Options

Semester 1 Choose 3 (60 credits) 

from Option Group 1-2 

 

Core Module 

7ED007 

Educational Research and Development 

20 

 

Option 

 

 

20 

 

Option

 

 

20 

 

Option  

 

 

20 

 

Option  

 

 

20 

 

Option  

 

 

20 

 

Started in Semester 1 and completed in 12 months 

Core  

7ED026  

Professional Enquiry 

60 

 

Open Pathway Part-time (can be started in either September or January) (Home Students Only) 

Your first Semester Choose 2 (40 credit) Options 

Your second Semester (Core 20 + Option 20 credits) 

 

Option  

 

 

20 

 

Core

Module

7ED007 

Educational Research and Development 

20 

 

Option  

 

 

20 

 

Option 

 

 

20 

 

Your third Semester (40 credits) 

7ED026 Started and completed in 12 months 

Your final Semester 

 

Pathway: Course Structure full time September Start (Overseas International Students Only). (This route does not have a part-time option).

Semester 1 - Choose 1 (20 credits) 

Option  

Semester 2 Choose 3 (60 credits) 

Options

 

 

Core

Module

7ED007 

Educational Research and Development 

20 

 

Option   

 

  

20 

 

Core

Module  

7ED059 

Education in a global context 

20 

 

Option 

 

 

20 

 

Option  

  

 

20 

 

Option  

 

 

20 

 

Started in Semester 2 and completed in 12 months 

 Core 7ED026  

Professional Enquiry 

60 

 

Pathway: Course Structure full time January Start (Overseas International Students Only). (This route does not have a part-time option).

Semester 2 - Choose 1 (20 credits) 

Option  

Semester 1 Choose 3 (60 credits) 

Options

 

 

Core

Module  

7ED007 

Educational Research and Development 

20 

 

Option   

 

  

20 

 

Core

Module  

7ED059 

Education in a global context 

20 

 

Option 

 

 

20 

 

Option  

  

 

20 

 

Option  

 

 

20 

 

Started in Semester 1 and completed in 12 months 

 Core 7ED026  

Professional Enquiry 

60 

 

Optional Modules: These are subject to availability and may not run in every semester. 

 

Code 

Title  

Credits 

7ED001  

Critical Reflection and Reflexivity in Professional Learning 

20 

7ED002 

Critical Approaches to Diversity, Equality and Social Justice in Education  

20 

7ED005 

Mentoring: Critical Dialogue and Professional Practice 

20 

7ED006 

Mentoring: A Collaborative and Reflective Relationship 

20 

7ED017  

Learners in a Digital Age 

20 

7ED019 

Assessment and Learning 

20 

7ED034 

Leading Change in Pedagogy 

20 

7ED040 

Representations in Childhood and Youth 

20 

7ED041 

Multi-Agency Working in Context  

20 

7ED042 

Theories in Early Childhood Education and Development 

20 

7ED055 

The Virtual Teacher  

20 

7ED059

Education in a Global Context (International Students only)

 

7ED061 

Systems Thinking and Leadership in Education 

20 

7ED062 

Critical Outlooks on Pedagogy and Inclusion 

 

20 

7ED063 

The Statutory Assessment of Special Educational Needs - A comparative exploration 

 

20 

 

We recognise that you will have a unique learning journey and at the University of Wolverhampton there are a range of teaching, learning and assessment activities to help you achieve successfully on your course. We pride ourselves on a range of inclusive assessment opportunities available across our modules. Assessments include:

  • Individual Essays
  • Seminar presentations
  • Reports
  • Patchwork Portfolios
  • Investigative Research
  • Group Work

Your sessions will have formative learning opportunities and formative feedback from your tutors which will help you prepare for your final marked assessment (summative assessment). You will also be provided with feed forward written and/or oral feedback on your summative assessments that will help you develop your academic skills as you progress through your course.

All your modules will offer opportunities for you to interact, and to demonstrate practice, application, exploration, critique, dialogue, and analysis of theory.   In each of your modules you will be provided with a structure of scheduled learning and teaching activities to enable you to fully engage to achieve specified learning outcomes. These include:

  • Active contribution in lectures, reading and group activities, including critical debate and dialogue in online discussions.
  • Individual and group tutorials
  • Individual and group research activities using a range of sources that relate to issues raised in lectures and through independent research.
  • Additional online consolidation activities
  • Guided reading tasks
  • Asynchronous discussion forums 
  • Preparation for scheduled learning and teaching activities
  • Preparation/completion of assessment tasks
  • Revision tasks
  • Non-synchronous webinars 
  • Problem solving activities.

Course Modules

Potential Career Paths

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

The University of Wolverhampton has a long and proud history of working with teachers and practitioners at all levels of education both nationally and internationally. All our departments are highly rated for their provision, and proud to be known for their hugely employable graduates with excellent long-term prospects. The MA in Education, at the University of Wolverhampton, is therefore designed to provide an excellent opportunity to develop career and employability skills.

Within the School of Education, we deliver in partnership with schools, the Early Career Framework and National Professional Qualifications and have aligned our MA modules to meet the needs of early career teachers, established teachers, and mentors. We provide high-quality learning experiences in a supportive and inclusive environment, allowing you to customise your learning experience through flexible and varied assessment approaches and module options. Our MA in Education programme has been designed to provide you with the opportunity to develop your skills, knowledge and understanding, applying what you learn to your current or future role, responsibilities, or career aspirations.

A key aspect of this course is flexibility to suit your needs, with a hybrid model of online modules and modules that are taught on campus.  

Education is an ever-changing area of study. At the University of Wolverhampton, your teaching team are well qualified and experienced tutors with practitioner expertise and research in the field of Education. They are constantly developing different approaches to learning and teaching, with varied and challenging assessment methods and ongoing curriculum development and innovation. Your teaching staff at the University of Wolverhampton are active researchers and these interests contribute to high quality teaching and learning that you will experience.

We welcome international students from a range of countries such as Nigeria, Sri Lanka, India, and China. We offer an extended induction programme, the opportunity to engage with UK educational processes, and enable critical thinking through supportive writing workshops.  As an international student, you will also have an academic coach who will support your transition into university and meet with you regularly to support your studies, as well as academic mentoring and coaching support. As the university of opportunity, we reflect the diversity and cultural backgrounds of our students, and the MA in Education offers a globally diverse curriculum. For international students, you can find out more information about studying at the University of Wolverhampton here - https://www.wlv.ac.uk/international/

For those students with previous study at Level 7, such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), Post Graduate Certificate (PGCert), or CPD at level 7, there is the opportunity to apply for recognition of prior certificated learning that can contribute up to 100 credits towards your MA.

The Library will provide you with academic skills support via the Skills for Learning programme . You can attend workshops online or ask for one-to-one help on a range of skills such as academic writing and referencing. 1:1 online Skills appointments are also available.

The University Student Support website offers advice on a variety of matters (careers, counselling, mental health and well-being and student union (SU) advice) You can also access these services by booking appointment with the SU, careers, counselling services, etc.

Course Specific Support

  • You will be allocated a Personal Tutor, academic mentor, or academic coach for International Students
  • Specific assessment support will be factored into each module.
  • Transitional Workshops for International Students
  • If you have disabilities and/or specific learning difficulties, you can gain a wide range of support from Student Support and Well Being team at the university.

Higher Education level 7 academic skills are embedded throughout the curriculum.

  • Identify the significance of relevant professional, institutional, sector and societal factors shaping education, policy, and practice. 
  • Have a systematic understanding and critical awareness of issues of diversity and social justice related to education policy and practice.
  • Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of major educational theories, concepts and rivalries based upon seminal, recent, and contemporary educational research where both national and global contexts are interwoven.   
  • Evaluate critically current research and advanced scholarship through the use of critical reflection to explore the relationship between theory and practice in complex situations. 
  • Have a recognition of your own value positions related to education and associated claims to knowledge in education. 
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyse, judge and critique complex or contradictory areas of knowledge and practice and think creatively and flexibly to synthesise and transform these ideas. 

Location Mode Fee Year
Home Full-time £7995 per year 2022-23
Home Full-time £8395 per year 2023-24
Home Full-time £8395 per year 2023-24
Home Full-time £8815 per year 2024-25
Home Part-time £3998 per year 2022-23
Home Part-time £4198 per year 2023-24
Home Part-time £4198 per year 2023-24
Home Part-time £4408 per year 2024-25
International Full-time £14450 per year 2022-23
International Full-time £15450 per year 2023-24
International Full-time £15450 per year 2023-24
International Full-time £15950 per year 2024-25

These fees relate to new entrants only for the academic year indicated for entry onto the course, any subsequent years study may be subject to an annual increase, usually in line with inflation.

Academic Pathway:

  • A degree in the area of Advanced Practice with Children and Families, Early Years, Childcare, Education Management or Studies, Leadership, Learning, Special Educational Needs or an international equivalent.

Work Experience Pathways:

  • Any degree subject area and 12 – 24 months of supervisory work experience in a related educational setting, demonstrating knowledge of the subject matter you are interested in pursuing.

Or

  • 3 – 5 five years of relevant managerial work experience, demonstrating in-depth knowledge of the sector for the subject matter you are interested in pursuing.

All work experience-based applicants will be required to provide a reference detailing your role(s) and responsibilities from your line manager this would be requested after you have successfully applied.

EU and International Applicants:

We have specific entry requirement information for EU and International applicants. Please also check the UK requirements above as these will also showcase if there are any additional subject requirements needed for entry.  

Academic Requirement:

Our country specific entry criteria are related to the curriculum you have studied. Please click here to find the correct information for the country you have studied in.

English Requirement:

All International Applicants are required to have a sufficient level of English to satisfy student visa requirements, here is a list of acceptable English qualifications.

Our country specific entry criteria will also provide clear guidance on whether your high school English qualification is accepted as an equivalence to the above. 

Personal Statement Requirement:

All international applicants are required to showcase their reasons for applying to study in the UK please use our personal statement template to support your application.

Study Gap Information:

International applicants also provide education information and work experience information. It’s important that when you complete your application you cover all of this information on your application to ensure we can satisfy this admissions assessment.

‘I have learned such a lot this semester. It challenged me and made me stop and think about my teaching’ – Full-time student

‘Teaching is different in the UK, Representations of childhood let me think about other cultures and share my own experiences’ – Full-time international student

Postgraduate Loan (Home Fee Status):

You may be able to get a postgraduate student loan from Student Finance England of up to £12,167 to help pay for a Master’s degree. Applications are made through Student Finance England and more information on the regulations and eligibility criteria can be found at Masters Loans gov.uk.

* Any RPL will invalidate your eligibility as you must study a minimum of 180 credits


Changes for EU students:

The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as Overseas (International) students for fee purposes. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) click here.


Postgraduate Loyalty Discount:

You can get 20% discount on a taught on-site postgraduate course if you’re a University of Wolverhampton Graduate.

The University offers a generous 20% Loyalty Discount to students progressing from an undergraduate programme to a taught postgraduate programme, where both courses are University of Wolverhampton Awards.

There is no time limit on how long ago you completed your degree as long as this is your first Masters level qualification.

The discount applies to the first year of enrolment only. Students who receive a loyalty discount are not entitled to any further tuition discount or bursary. For full terms and conditions click here.


Self-funded:

If you are paying for the fees yourself then the fees can be paid in 3 instalments: November, January and April. More information can be found by clicking here.


Sponsored - Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

Your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


Financial Hardship:

Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


Charitable Funding:

You might also want to explore the possibility of funding from charitable trusts; please see the following websites Association of Charitable Foundations, Directory of Social Change or Family Action. Most charities and trust funds offer limited bursaries targeted to specific groups of students so you will need to research whether any of them are relevant to your situation.


You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

Telephone

01902 32 22 22

Email

enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

Online

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