Why choose the School of Education and English
A flexible, part-time course that can work with your other commitments.
Designed for practising professionals in special educational needs and disability (SEND) or those interested in research in the field.
Supported by a very experienced team of highly skilled educators who are focused on helping you achieve your aims.
About the course
This Master’s programme is ideal for inspirational educators who want to transform the prospects of others. The course makes use of the latest policy and research to support you in making meaningful connections between your studies and your own experiences. You will have the opportunity to learn with leading educators in the field and will explore the complexities of inclusion. The course has a choice of optional units so you can create a programme that meets your needs.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- Multimedia space for webinars and podcasting
- Forest School for training in outdoor learning
- Specialist sensory building for teaching SEND
- Extensive library with physical learning spaces and online resources to support your studies
Industry links
We have well-established partnerships with more than 500 schools and other associated organisations across our region. This network is extended nationally and internationally through research activity, putting us in a strong position when it comes to understanding national priorities, issues and key developments in SEND.
Your student experience
The course covers a wide range of theoretical and practical aspects of working in SEND and is informed by recent research.
Through activities and assessments, you develop analytical and practical skills that support you to progress successfully along your chosen career path.
The course team have extensive experience, are all professionals who understand the sector and contribute to wider knowledge through cutting-edge research.
The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½â€™s Bedford campus is a small, thriving academic community where staff get to know you well and provide individualised support.
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.
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 can also choose from 11 optional modules:
Introduction to special education needs coordination in schools – Preparing SENCOs to promote involvement and raise achievement for pupils with SEN and/or disabilities.
Further development of special education needs coordination in schools – Build on your existing SENCO skills and knowledge.
Exploring coaching and mentoring – Different models of coaching and mentoring and the skills that make them effective.
Understanding pupil behaviour in schools – Ways to understand and respond to pupils with special educational needs in relation to learning and behaviour.
Understanding difficulties in literacy and dyslexia – Strategies to raise the achievement of pupils who have literacy difficulties, including those with dyslexia.
Analysing policy: children’s voice – Consider children’s lived experience of family, school and community in contemporary Britain.
Early years education and care – Examine children’s development and learning in the early years from different theoretical perspectives.
Educational leadership in context – Analyse leadership and management theory and apply it to your practice in an educational setting.
Enhancing practice in educational settings – Reflect on your professional skills and ability and identify ways you can develop them in practice.
Leading change in education – Gain the knowledge and skills to lead improvements and achieve better outcomes in your workplace setting.
Applied research methods and project – An opportunity for sustained, supported, in-depth research in an area of relevant professional interest.
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 tutor and the student within the parameters of the unit in order to ensure that the assignment meets the personal and professional needs of the student.
The course provides you with a carefully planned and coherent sequence of learning opportunities that facilitate your development through formative and summative assessments. At this level the expectations in terms of the quality of work produced are high and you will need to take active control of your learning. At Master's level the expectation is that you are an autonomous and confident learner particularly when you are undertaking distance learning units that you will undertake assessments that are challenging and require mature argument developed from sustained research and that you will demonstrate fluent and cogent presentation.
You are encouraged in your 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 in a range of contexts. You are required to demonstrate an appropriate level of research of independent argument and to reference in an appropriate and accurate manner.
Through the assessments designed for individual units you will 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 assessment 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
This Master’s qualification will enhance your chances for promotion and for employment in other contexts. Master’s study supports promotion to senior positions in the field of education.
As a Master’s graduate, therefore, 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 also gone on to undertake PhD/EdD study.
Entry Requirements
2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area
Entry Requirements
2.2 honours degree or equivalent in related area
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]
