Why choose the School of Education and English
This course explores a range of contemporary issues in education, in the UK and globally.
Designed to support development across a range of educational professions.
Shape the course to your own career aspirations or interests with a range of optional units.
About the course
This MA fosters evidence-based practice, encouraging you to make direct and meaningful connections between the course and your own experiences and aspirations. It engages you with key and contemporary issues in education and broadens your knowledge of educational ideas and research findings, prompting you to identify and justify recommendations for further action. This places you in the best position to develop your work as a classroom practitioner or leader, usually in schools, the lifelong-learning sector and universities.
Intermediate qualifications available:
- Postgraduate certificate – 60 credits at Master’s level
- Postgraduate diploma – 120 credits at Master’s level
Facilities and specialist equipment
- Teacher Education Centre with realistic mock classrooms supported by advanced ICT resources
- Up-to-the-minute simulation technology
- Multimedia space for webinars and podcasting
Industry links
We have well-established partnerships with more than 500 schools and other associated organisations across the eastern region, a network that puts us ahead when it comes to national priorities, issues and developments in educational practice.
Your student experience
Explore the process of teaching, learning support and/or educational leadership, focusing on your personal, academic and vocational interests.
Engage with global perspectives on different aspects of education, drawing on theory, practice and case studies from a range of contexts.
Learn from academic staff who are either qualified teachers or have extensive experience in wider education; all are professionals who understand the sector.
Benefit from guest speakers, visits and placement opportunities, helping you contextualise your studies and gain experience of a range of settings.
The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½â€™s Bedford campus is a small, thriving academic community where staff get to know you well and provide individual academic support.
This course features four core modules:
Citizenship and welfare in the 21st century – Investigate issues in social justice related to education, citizenship and welfare including diversity and human rights.
Education and international development – The sociological, political and economic factors that influence and shape education systems in different countries.
Research methods in the workplace – Build advanced research skills, working through the process of conducting research in an educational workplace setting.
Dissertation – Conduct a substantial, independent piece of research, showing a deep understanding of issues in an area of professional interest.
You also choose from three optional modules:
Early years education and care – Examine children’s development and learning in the early years from different theoretical perspectives.
Meeting diverse needs – Understand the range of needs that students can present with, and how educational settings can respond to these needs.
Theories of learning for educators – Explore a wide range of theories of learning and how they have influenced policy and practice in education.
For an at-a-glance list of modules for this course, download the course specification.
Each unit in this course has its own assessment. Wherever possible the specific focus of assignments is negotiated individually between the unit co-ordinator and the student within the parameters of the unit in order to ensure that the assignment meets your personal and professional needs.
The course provides students with a carefully planned and coherent sequence of learning opportunities that facilitate their development through formative and summative assessments. At this level the expectations in terms of the quality of work produced are high and students will need to take active control of their learning. At Master's level the expectation is that students are autonomous and confident learners will undertake assessments that are challenging and require mature argument and sustained research and fluent and cogent presentation. You are encouraged in their assessments to draw upon an extensive range of sources to demonstrate a deep theoretical understanding and the ability to apply that to current issues and contexts.
The assessments test the ability to construct a reasoned sustained and coherent argument and to articulate it fluently. Students are required to demonstrate an appropriate level of research of independent argument and to reference in an appropriate way. Through the assessments designed for individual units students practise and reinforce skills in researching evaluating and synthesising materials with a critical eye; quantitative and qualitative data collection and handling together with skills associated with conventional academic tasks.
Unit assessment is based on specified learning outcomes and threshold criteria. The unit information forms state clearly the aims objectives and learning outcomes of the unit and delineate the criteria of assessment for each outcome. The unit assessment feedback offers detailed comment to the student on the assessment piece. The taught stage of the course (stage 1) requires you to pass 120 credits before progressing to stage 2 the 60 credit dissertation.
Careers
As a Master’s graduate of this course, you will have the confidence, knowledge and critical skills to prepare and present a strong application to senior posts in the field of education.
Previous graduates have gone on to take up enhanced roles within their organisation. Some have used the research skills they have gained to engage in future research and undertake PhD or EdD study.
Entry Requirements
2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area
Entry Requirements
2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £10,000 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email [email protected]
International
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £16,900
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email [email protected]
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £10,000 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email [email protected]
International
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2025/26 is £16,900
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email [email protected]
