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Become a specialist in education. Deepen your knowledge with a highly specific postgraduate degree. Expand your career options in a wide range of educational contexts.
Our MA Education degree is ideal for teachers or other educational professionals who want to develop their careers with a highly specific postgraduate degree. When you join the course, you'll join a community of practice that includes professionals from a wide range of educational contexts, from primary and secondary through to Higher and Further Education, to workers in prisons and charitable organisations.
We aim to deepen your knowledge and expand your career options as the course offers you the opportunity to engage critically with theory and gain a clear understanding of how this relates to your own practice, background, and experiences in the field of education.
The MA Education course is a flexible degree which opens alternative career paths and allows progression into new professional avenues. Depending on the modules you choose, you'll graduate with one of two MA degree titles:
This MA Education course is taught via seminars, workshops, support sessions, collaborative group work and discussion, tutorials, presentations, interactive practical sessions, and directed private study. On-campus sessions take place in the evening to fit around those working during the day.
Your progress will be assessed both through written assignments, including a dissertation, and a variety of carefully designed oral and written tasks, including presentations and the production of educational leaflets, among others.
Throughout the MA Education degree, you'll have one-to-one support from academic staff. For our international applicants, we will provide the support you need as you embrace a new culture and will try our very best to understand and learn from yours. Compared to an undergraduate course, you'll find that a master's degree requires a higher level of independent working.
If you've studied modules at master's level previously, e.g. through a PGCE or PCET award, you may be able to transfer some of these credits to the MA Education course. The credits must be less than five years old and must demonstrate that you've met a range of learning outcomes in relation to our programme in order to be transferred.
This degree is also available part-time over two years or via distance learning.
Studying for a master's 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? Find out more about the MA Education courses we offer, as well as discover what jobs you can go into and how you can progress within your current role in education.
Find out more about MA Education degrees
Are you thinking about postgraduate study but not sure where to begin? To help you get started, here are our top reasons to study a postgraduate degree.
Here's why you should study a postgraduate degree
Our typical offer is:
| Qualification | Minimum grade |
|---|---|
| a Canadian bachelor's degree | GPA 2.40 |
| a USA bachelor's degree | GPA 2.5 |
If you already hold a postgraduate qualification, please see our Applying for additional postgraduate degrees Help and Advice article.
If you don't meet our standard entry requirements, you can take one of the foundation pathways at our partners ONCAMPUS Sunderland. Find out more information and whether your course is eligible on our ONCAMPUS page.
If your qualification is not listed above, please contact the Student Administration team at studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk for further advice.
We usually require applicants to hold at least a second-class honours degree (usually a 2:1) or equivalent.
You should also 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 an advantage, but not an essential requirement for this course. If you've previously studied a PGCE with us, you can transfer 60 credits over to this master's course.
If your first language isn't English, you must achieve a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 or equivalent before your application is assessed for the next stage of the selection process and an offer letter is issued.
2024/25 fees:
Part-time fees are £445 per 10 credits. Please note, part-time study is not available to international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK.
If you're 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're likely to be ineligible for SLC funding.
Take a look at the scholarships and bursaries that may be available to you.
This information was correct at the time of publication.
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 Early Years Teaching. If you select this route, you'll study modules that will allow you to examine the context of young children's learning and development. You'll explore how to critically construct an Early Years Curriculum and identify skills that will enhance your ability to transfer learning to further study and to the workplace.
The knowledge and skills you develop undertaking a master's in education will also transfer to many other sectors, particularly education policy and government. If you're already working in a relevant field, you'll graduate with enhanced potential for progression professionally.
Please note that this course doesn't qualify you as a teacher. Read more about possible career opportunities with an MA Education degree.
The University of Sunderland’s Centre for Pedagogy has three research themes, including 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.
It's been a transformative experience that's specifically enriched our critical thinking skills.
I'll always remember the support I received; my Programme Leader is the kindest person I've met.
My time here has been a total roller coaster and life-changing in the most positive way imaginable.
I wouldn’t be in the role I’m in today without the University.
The lecturers were willing to go above and beyond to help you achieve your goals and offer support.
The staff cannot do enough for you and they are always there whenever you need support and guidance.
The degree has enhanced my confidence and competence – I’ve secured a promotion to senior lecturer.
