Education (Part-time) MA

Become a specialist in Education. Deepen your knowledge. Expand your career options.

Learning, teaching and assessment in 2021/22

Overview

Our MA Education is a highly flexible degree. Depending on the modules you choose, you will graduate with one of two MA degree titles:

MA Education
MA Education (Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion)

This degree is ideal for teachers or other educational professionals who want to develop their careers with a highly specific postgraduate degree.

Why us?

‘World-leading’ research in Education, according to the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF)
Tailor the degree content to your interests

Carry out research which is specific to your own workplace
Opportunity to study a Special Education Needs and Disabilities route

Course structure

Your progress will be assessed through written assignments, including a dissertation, and oral and written presentations. Throughout the degree, you will have one-to-one support from academic staff, including the appointment of a supervisor during your thesis year.

Compared to an undergraduate course, you will find that a Master's degree requires a higher level of independent working.

When you complete a part-time Masters in Education, your optional modules may be taught on-campus (one evening per week) or via distance learning. Where modules run as taught modules, you would study on-campus one evening per week.

This degree is also available as a full-time Education MA and a distance learning Education MA.

You will need to complete 180 credits to achieve the full MA award as follows:

Year 1

Core modules:

An Introduction to Criticality (30 credits)

Optional:

Optional module (30 credits)
Optional module (30 credits)

Year 2

Research Methods (30 credits)
Thesis (60 credits)

If you have studied modules at Masters level previously, eg: through a PGCE, NPQH or NASENCO award, then you may be able to transfer some of these credits to the MA Education course. The credits must be less than 5 years old and mirror some of the learning criteria associated with the MA Education modules.

If you chose to leave the course before completing all 180 credits, then you may be awarded the following:

60 option module credits – Postgraduate Certificate
60 option module credits and completion of the Research Methods core module – Postgraduate Diploma

To gain an award in a the Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion route, you need to study both of the SEND-focused optional modules on offer at the time of your study and have your thesis focus on an aspect of SEND-related theory, research and/or practice.

Optional modules may include:

Mentoring and Coaching (30 credits)

Explore mentoring and coaching of colleagues, students or other staff in educational establishments.

Inclusive Education From Policy to Practice (30 credits)

Understand the concepts behind inclusive policies in the UK and other countries, and examine and contrast how these policies translate into practice.

The Nature of Teaching and Learning (30 credits)

Study current educational policy and practice, grounded in a range of ideologies that suggest improvements within teaching, learning and assessment.

Supporting Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs (EPDM102)

Explore the impact of supporting and working with children, young people, families and stakeholders in the area of social, emotional and mental health. Undertake a critical examination of the rights and needs of children with SEMH difficulties, including childhood adversity, and the impact of school policies and procedures in supporting participation and learning and preventing school exclusion.

Some modules have prerequisites. Read more about what this means in our Help and Advice article.

Facilities

You'll be primarily based at The David Goldman Informatics Centre, on the Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s. It’s a modern building with great views of the River Wear, and just a few minutes walk from the coast.

Entry requirements

We don’t currently display entry requirements for United States. Please contact the Student Admin team on studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 3154.

We usually require applicants to hold at least a second class honours degree (usually a 2:1) or equivalent.

We also expect you to have experience of working in education; this may be as a teacher or in another capacity in the field of education. A recognised teaching qualification is desirable but not essential.

Applicants whose first language is not English must achieve a minimum IELTS band score of 6.5, with 6.5 in writing, and no less than 6 in Reading, Speaking and Listening.

After 6 April 2015 you must take your IELTS exams at one of the test centres listed on the UKVI website. If you took your IELTS exam before 6 April 2015 this does not apply, and your qualification is still valid regardless of which test centre you used.

Fees and finance

2021/22 fees:

£389 per 10 credits if you are from the UK/Ireland/EU settled/pre-settled.

This part-time course is not available to international students. International students wishing to study a part-time MA Education programme may be interested in MA Education (Distance Learning) or MA International Education (Distance Learning).

Please note, if you are a UK home student or EU student residing in the UK, you can apply for SLC funding if you choose to study the part-time course, on campus, over two years or the full-time course over one year. If you elect to take longer to complete the course or bring any Level 7 credits from prior study with you, you are likely to be ineligible for SLC funding.

Learn more about settled status, pre-settled status, special discounts, visa requirements and Common Travel Area (CTA) agreements for the Republic of Ireland applicants in our Help and Advice article.

Take a look at the Your Finances section to find out about the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.

Use our scholarships calculator to see what you may be entitled to.

Scholarships calculator

This information was correct at the time of publication.

The Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's by night

Career ready

This degree is ideal for teachers and people working in educational management who want to quickly progress their careers. The ability to specialise the content of the course offers opportunities in particular fields of education, such as Special Educational Needs.

The knowledge and skills you develop will also transfer to many other sectors, particularly education policy and government. Please note that this course does not qualify you as a teacher.

Centre for Pedagogy

The University of Sunderland’s Centre for Pedagogy has three research themes: Affective Issues in Learning and Teaching, Pedagogy and Critical Thinking in Specific Subject Areas, and Professional Education and Development. The Centre unifies the University’s research, influences policy, and organises conferences and professorial lectures.

Meet the team

Related courses

Contact

Contact the Student Helpline for further information about studying at the University of Sunderland:

0191 515 3000

student.helpline@sunderland.ac.uk

View Programme Specifications for the Faculty of Education and Society.

Page last updated: 02 March 2021

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