MA Education

Qualifications and durations

This programme has a variety of ways to study.

The full-time study option is not available for 2013/14. You may still apply for the part-time route.

• Part-time MA (90 credits - 2-5 years)
• Part-time Postgraduate Diploma (60 credits)
• Part-time Postgraduate Certificate (30 credits)

It is possible to study the International Baccalaureate Teacher Awards 1 and 2 as part of this programme.

Some units can be taken independently as part of our Continuing Professional Development programme.

Overview

The MA in Education programme will give you an unparalleled opportunity to study education at a Masters level. You will be provided with the tools and resources to undertake and use educational research, and will be supported in researching and reflecting on your own practice.

The programme aims to:

• Improve your skills of critical thinking and analysis
• Enhance your professional practice through greater theoretical understanding of current educational issues.

The programme will give you an unparalleled opportunity to study education at an advanced level. You will work independently within a challenging but supportive environment.

The MA in Education is designed for teachers, lecturers, trainers, educational leaders, managers and administrators, and those aspiring to a career in education.

Programme features

• Choose from one of four Study Pathways to focus your learning where you want to develop.
• Flexible study options for part-time students, include Summer Schools, Study Centres and distance learning.
• Opportunity to undertake research in the context of your own or your institution's policy and practice.
• Tutors are national and international experts in their field.

View a video about this programme »

Study Pathways

You can choose one of the following Study Pathways as part of this programme:

MA Education

The MA in Education is our most popular degree and allows you the greatest flexibility in choice of units and dissertation topic (with the exception of those opting to take the International Baccalaureate Teacher Awards who are required to take specific units).

MA Education (International Education)

This pathway is designed for those who wish to develop knowledge and an understanding of issues relating to education beyond the national context. Depending upon your interests, you can focus on issues relating to educational practices in different national systems, on international schools and/or on other issues cutting across national contexts.

MA Education (Learning and Teaching)

If you wish to develop the practice and your understanding of Learning and Teaching then this is the pathway for you. Core units draw on theory of learning and teaching processes (with children and adults) and the role of technology.

MA Education (Educational Leadership and Management) (part-time study only)

This pathway is designed to meet the needs of experienced educational professionals who wish to inform their work as leaders and managers through an in-depth understanding of current educational management practice, theory, research and policy.

Ways of studying

If you are taking this programme part-time, you can choose from a variety of ways to study.

• Sessions taught on campus
• Summer School
• Study Centres
• Distance Learning

Programme structure

For the 90 credits required for the MA in Education, you acquire 60 credits through taught units and 30 credits by satisfactorily completing a dissertation. Typically, you complete five 12 credit taught units (there are six and three credit units available part-time). One of the taught units must be the Research Methods in Education which is worth 12 credits.

Full-time study commences in September, and lasts for one year. Three units are taught in Semester 1 (October - December), and the remaining two units will be taught in Semester Two (February - April). You are allocated a dissertation supervisor in Semester Two and must complete the Dissertation by late September.

Part-time study commences at two fixed points in the year. You can study units in any order, but you must complete each unit within six months (you can study up to two units at any one time).

The following units are available:

• Assessment (on campus for full-time and part-time / Distance Learning for part-time)
• Curriculum Studies (on campus for full-time and part time / Distance Learning for part-time)
• Education & Society (on campus for full-time and part-time / Distance Learning for part-time)
• Education in an International Context (on campus for full-time and part-time / Distance Learning for part-time)
• Leading and Managing Educational Innovation (Distance Learning for part-time only)
• Leading and Managing Schools and Colleges (Distance Learning for part-time only)
• Research Methods in Education (on campus for full-time and part-time / Distance Learning for part-time)
• Technologies for Learning (on campus for full-time and part-time / Distance Learning for part-time)
• Understanding Learners and Learning (on campus for full-time and part-time / Distance Learning for part-time)
• Second Language Acquisition (full-time only)
• Education, Globalisation and Change (full-time only)
• Language Teaching Methodology and Curriculum (full-time only)

You will also complete a 15,000-word Dissertation (this must be grounded in your Study Pathway).

View summary table or Programme & Unit Catalogue for further information.

Please note:

• The programme catalogue and units listed above are applicable for the 2012/13 academic year only and should be treated as an example of the programme content. Students beginning or continuing their studies in 2013/14 and beyond should not assume that later years of a programme will be in the format displayed here.
• Programmes and Units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
• Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.

Learning and teaching

Our programmes are modular, consisting of self-contained units, taught and assessed by assignment and dissertation. As you progress through the units and successfully pass the assignments, you will receive feedback and grades, thus providing you with a clear indication of your academic progress.

Teaching methods on campus and at Study Centres include; lectures, student-led seminars, workshops, group work, tutorials, Moodle (virtual learning environment), and other electronic communications.

If there are less than six students enrolled on a unit scheduled during University Semesters or at Summer School, the unit will still run, but it may be taught on a Directed Tutorial basis. You will be provided with resources to help your study and individual or group tutorials will be timetabled in order to make sure your learning needs are fully met.

Distance Learning takes place online; enabling part-time students to study independently with the support of a tutor. The Wiki environment offers you a number of alternatives for working flexibly with your learning materials. In addition, there are opportunities to link up with other students and leave feedback about your experience.

Core teaching staff

• Elisabeth Barratt Hacking (Director of Studies / Learning and Teaching - Pathway Coordinator)
• Dr John Lowe (Senior Personal Tutor)
• Dr Mary Hayden (International Education - Pathway Coordinator))
• Professor Chris James (Leadership and Management - Pathway Coordinator))

Methods of assessment

Assessment consists of a written assignment for each unit of study, together with a Dissertation.

Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)

If you have studied, but not completed or received an award, for postgraduate Masters level units in education from another institution, you may be eligible to transfer credit for this prior learning.

Depending on the programme of study, you may transfer up to 40% of the total credits required for the MA/Postgraduate Certificate/Postgraduate Diploma in Education. Credit must have been obtained recently (less than 8 years ago at the time of the award of the qualification to which it contributes). Claims for APL will be considered on a case by case basis.

To apply, complete the Application for Accreditation of Prior Learning or contact us.

Careers

This degree is ideal for those wishing to progress their career within an educational organisation.

Many of our graduates have gone on to be leaders and managers within educational settings; while others started their educational careers in teaching, lecturing or administration.

This degree will also prepare you for further study at PhD or Doctor of Education (EdD) level.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

• A good undergraduate degree (first or 2:1 Honours degree, or equivalent) in an appropriate subject, from a recognised university.

The minimum non-graduate qualifications acceptable for admission are:

• an advanced diploma in education and at least two years of relevant experience, or
• a teaching qualification (gained after at least the equivalent of two satisfactory years of higher education) and at least two years of relevant experience, or
• be a graduate of an approved university, or hold a degree awarded by the CNAA (or of certain other approved graduate equivalent qualifications) and at least two years of relevant experience.

English Language requirements

Certificates must be dated to within two years of the start of the programme of study.

• IELTS 6.5 (with not less than 6.0 in each of the four components)
• TOEFL 580 (paper-based test) or 237 (computer-based test) with a score of not less than 4 in TWE or 92 (internet-based test) not less than 21 Writing, Listening 21, Reading 22 and Speaking 23.
• Cambridge Proficiency English (CPE) grade B
• Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) grade A

If you wish to improve your English proficiency before commencing your studies, pre-sessional language training can be arranged through the English Language Centre.

References

• One academic reference is required.

Read details for how to apply to study.

Financial information

Costs

• Tuition Fees

Potential sources of funding

• Studentships and Scholarships

Deadlines

• Funding deadlines for Studentships and Scholarships

For part-time application to study via Distance Learning:

• 17 May 2013 (to commence study 1 July 2013)
• 19 July 2013 (to commence study 2 September 2013)
• 1 November 2013 (to commence study 2 December 2013)

Contact

Admissions Officer
Email: education-pgt-admissions@bath.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1225 38 6634 | Current student enquiries: 01225 386602

Related links

• Ways of studying
• Department of Education
• Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Graduate School