Studying for a masters degree in Education will equip you with an abundance of valuable skills and knowledge relevant to the field, but how can gaining this postgraduate qualification help your career? Here, you can find out more about the MA Education courses we offer at the University of Sunderland, as well as discover what jobs you can go into and how you can progress within your current role in education.
What is an MA Education and who is it suitable for?
A Masters in Education is a highly specific qualification which can be beneficial to someone already in a career within the education sector, whether that be in the classroom or outside of it. It can be a valuable step from your current role towards other opportunities, such as more specialised teaching, leadership positions, or administrative roles.
The MA Education courses we offer at Sunderland are geared towards practising educators who want to gain more knowledge and enhance their job prospects, but they may also be suitable for undergraduates who already have some experience of working in the sector. Having a recognised teaching qualification can certainly be an advantage when you apply, but studying for a masters degree in Education can be useful for roles outside of teaching too. Please note, these courses do not qualify you as a teacher.
MA Education courses at the University of Sunderland
We offer four postgraduate courses here at Sunderland which will allow you to qualify with a Masters in Education:
- MA Education
The on-campus MA Education course is a highly flexible degree, tailored to teachers or other education professionals who want to develop their skillset and progress their careers. You will have the opportunity to tailor the course to your own interests and carry out research specific to your workplace, with a wide range of optional modules to choose from. The course can be studied full-time over one year or part-time over two years.
- MA Education (DL)
We also provide a distance learning version of the MA degree, allowing you to study from anywhere in the world with internet access. There are many advantages to studying a distance learning course, as they give you extra flexibility over your schedule, making them ideal for parents or those in employment who may not have the time to study in a traditional university setting. This is a part-time course studied over two years.
- MA International Education (DL)
The MA International Education course is also delivered via distance learning. This postgraduate degree has been designed to prepare those in roles linked to teaching or educational management in an international school setting for professional advancement. This is a part-time course studied over two years.
- MA SEND
The newest addition to our courses is the MA SEND, which is suitable for teachers and other educational professionals who wish to specialise in working with children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities. This flexible degree allows you to study the course in alignment with your own interests and follow a clear progression route within SEND. The course can be studied full-time over one year or part-time over two years.
- MA SEND (DL)
We've also recently launched a distance learning version of the MA SEND. The course covers many of the same topics as the on-campus version but is studied part-time over two years and there will never be a need for you to come to university as all teaching and course materials are delivered online.
“When I graduated from the BA (Hons) Primary Education, I wanted to further my skills and employability as a postgraduate student and so chose to study MA Education. The best aspect of the course was the choice of modules. They were all relevant to current educational issues and you're provided with tutors who have recent experience and knowledge in the field of education.”
Rebecca Pittman-Wood
MA Education
What skills will I learn on an MA Education course?
Having a Masters in Education will provide you with valuable skills and knowledge you wouldn’t necessarily acquire studying a different degree. An MA Education will allow you to develop your skills in critical thinking, research methods, reflective practice, effective leadership, and much more, in order to enhance your own professional practice. Both the on-campus and distance learning versions of the MA Education require the completion of a thesis where you can put your research skills into practice within your chosen field of study. As well as this, the courses will also improve your personal development and increase your confidence as an education professional.
If you’re studying the MA SEND course, you’ll gain even more skills as you learn about the approaches to these learners, focusing on issues facing those identified as having special needs. Having this specialism will make you a significant asset to your workplace, as diversity and inclusion are incredibly important concerns within the sector.
When studying for the MA International Education course, you’ll also gain a deeper understanding of the international school curriculum and how to lead and manage within an international school setting.
What can I do with a masters degree in Education?
Having an MA in Education will open up lots of new opportunities for graduates thanks to the skills and fundamental theoretical knowledge around education they will learn.
Once you can show that you have a wider skillset, you will be better prepared to apply for more demanding or leadership roles within education, as you will be able to show that you can effectively manage change and ultimately make learning better. If you’re a teacher, a Masters in Education will significantly boost your employability and prepare you for roles which may include head of year, head of department, headteacher, or SEND specialist.
An MA Education doesn’t just benefit teachers or those in a school environment. The world of education encompasses a wide range of job prospects, and the degree will equip you with transferable skills gained from exploring a variety of topics, for example, issues around policy and frameworks within the education system. Potential career opportunities with a masters in Education can include working within the government, working within education policy, educational consultancy, teacher training, administration, curriculum development, or becoming an Ofsted inspector.
Another career advantage to studying a Masters in Education is that it can be financially beneficial, as higher salaries are available in the UK for those who develop their professionalism. Official data also shows that those holding a postgraduate degree tend to earn more on average than those who only possess an undergraduate qualification.
Should you want to take your education even further once you graduate, you will have broadened your knowledge considerably if you wish to pursue doctoral research.
Sound interesting? Find out more about the Education courses we offer here at Sunderland. If you’re thinking about coming to study with us on campus, book yourself onto one of our postgraduate open days.
Published: 22 November 2022