How an MA Education degree can help your career

What is an MA Education and who is it suitable for?

A master's 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 recent graduates who already have some experience of working in the sector. Many of our students who have studied for an undergraduate teacher training course or PGCE have gone onto enrol onto one of our master's courses, often choosing to study part-time alongside their full-time teaching role. You can even carry forward 60 credits from your PGCE over to our MA Education degrees, so you're benefitting both academically and financially!

Having a recognised teaching qualification can certainly be an advantage when you apply, but studying for a master's degree in education can be useful for roles outside of teaching too. Please note, these courses do not qualify you as a teacher.

Our MA Education courses

We offer the following postgraduate courses which will allow you to qualify with a master's in education:

• MA Education

The 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'll 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. We also offer a specialist Early Years Teaching route as part of the MA Education, and a distance learning version of the course which allows you to study from anywhere in the world with internet access.

• MA International Education (DL)

The MA International Education course is 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 (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities)

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. It's also available to study via distance learning.

"I completed a PGCE and my thirst for more knowledge and a desire to keep learning led me to the MA Education, a course which is opening my mind to more ways of thinking. Sunderland holds an amazing reputation for producing some of the best teachers and I wouldn't be in the role I'm in today without the University." Kendel Gilbert, MA Education graduate.

What skills will I learn on an MA Education course?

Having a master's 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 improve your personal development and increase your confidence as an education professional.

If you’re studying the MA SEND course, you’ll gain additional 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 master's 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'll learn.

Once you can show that you have a wider skillset, you'll be better prepared to apply for more demanding or leadership roles within education, as you'll be able to show that you can effectively manage change and ultimately make learning better. If you’re a teacher, a master's 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 master's 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 master's 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(opens in new tab) also shows that those holding a postgraduate degree tend to earn more on average than those who only possess an undergraduate qualification.

If you want to take your education even further once you graduate, you'll have broadened your knowledge considerably if you wish to pursue doctoral research.

Sound interesting? Find out more about Education and Teacher Training. If you’re thinking about coming to study with us on campus, book onto one of our postgraduate open days.