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MA Education (campus-based)

Equip yourself with the skills and knowledge to become a future leader or changemaker within the field of education. You can choose from six pathways.

Attend our webinar about this course

This course aims to empower you to create and facilitate positive change in education. You’ll develop the knowledge needed to effectively challenge existing processes, contribute to the ongoing improvement of practices and policies, and create more sustainable approaches to learning.

Whether you aspire to work in education or are currently in the sector and looking to progress in your career, you’ll develop the skills and abilities needed to succeed in a range of contemporary roles.

Throughout the course, you’ll focus on education as a conscientious enterprise at all levels. You’ll delve into the factors that influence and impact people’s learning experiences at local, regional and national levels on a global scale.

All six pathways put a strong emphasis on global citizenship and its connection to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) in Education. Depending on your choice of pathway, you’ll also be able to explore a range of topics relevant across many aspects of education. These include:

  • AI and technology
  • wellbeing and inclusion
  • globalisation and policy
  • environmental justice
  • social change and responsibility

Gain key skills and learn from experts in their field

You will learn from experts in education policy and practice, as well as staff in the wider Department of Education. Their passion, knowledge and research shape their teaching to enhance your learning experience.

On successful completion of this course, you will have gained:

  • a greater appreciation of innovative approaches to education that transcend conventional social and geographical boundaries
  • a thorough understanding of key current educational issues to enhance your own professional practice
  • deep knowledge of research-informed practice, trends and the latest developments in education
  • improved research, analysis and critical thinking skills
  • the knowledge and skills to make an enhanced contribution to policy and practice in education

Bath also offers a skills for success programme to provide you with additional employability and academic skills support.

A teacher talking to studemnts in a classroom

Graduate prospects

You will develop a range of skills that are important in many educational roles. These will help you start, or advance, your career in areas such as:

  • teaching or teaching assistant (in public, private, international, and language schools)
  • lecturing at university level
  • professional training
  • educational leadership
  • educational management and administration

You will also be prepared for positions in national and international education organisations, including learning companies, awarding organisations and governmental departments.

As an MA Education student, you’ll also benefit from the Department of Education’s extensive global professional network and partnerships with schools and educational organisations. This will give you access to resources and collaborative opportunities to enhance your learning.

Two people talking to one another at a table while using a tablet.

Choose the right pathway for you

You can select one of six pathways to mould your learning around what interests you most. On each pathway, you’ll study a core of current and relevant education topics. You’ll then supplement these with pathway-specific units.

MA Education (Childhood and Youth)

Explore the multifaceted nature of education during childhood and youth.

You’ll focus on diverse conceptualisations of these stages of people’s development, and the challenges that influence learning in a range of social and geographical settings.

You’ll also study the methodological, ethical, and practical dimensions of researching with children. This will allow you to create responsible approaches and environments that respect children and young people’s agency within research.

MA Education (International Education)

Focus on the dynamic landscape of international education.

You’ll explore the trends, ideologies, and values that shape educational institutions globally to grow your understanding of this fast-evolving field.

Through examining key concepts like global citizenship education and sustainable development, you’ll learn about the complexities of educational practices in different national systems. You’ll also study crucial topics like the role of international agencies, the emergence of mass higher education, and the expansion of international education systems.

MA Education (Language in and for Education)

Critically examine language education curriculum and pedagogy. Through a systemic examination of language and its usage in context, you’ll explore linguistic diversity and analyse its implications for language teaching and learning.

You’ll consider the positive and negative impacts of the role of English as a global language for learning, as well as decolonisation approaches within international language education.

MA Education (Leadership and Management)

Enhance your knowledge of effective leadership and management in educational organisations.

By engaging deeply with policy, theory and practice, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of positive professional practice in educational settings across the globe.

You’ll study a range of critical issues – including culture, gender, accountability and power – to build your skills for middle and senior leadership roles in diverse educational contexts.

MA Education (Learning and Teaching)

Develop a comprehensive understanding of curriculum development and implementation.

You’ll explore various pedagogical traditions and theoretical frameworks across diverse educational contexts and levels. This will help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to deliver effective teaching methods in a range of contexts.

You’ll also investigate the transformative effects of emerging trends in digital media - such as AI - and how they impact learning and collaboration in both positive and negative ways.

MA Education

Become a well-rounded educational practitioner. To complement your core learning, you’ll be free to pick and choose a selection of the units from across our pathways.

This gives you the flexibility to cover topics suitable for a range of aspirational career paths.

Enhance your experience with a placement

All of our pathways give you the option to apply your skills and experience in real-world settings during a placement.

If you choose this, you will work with an organisation within the education sector, either in the UK or another country 1. Your role may be in an area such as:

  • Internationalisation or marketing within a university
  • administration in a public, private or international school, or a specialist language school
  • policy implementation in governmental or non-governmental organisations
  • data analysis or insight generation within an international education agency

In addition to gaining valuable employment experience, you’ll improve your understanding of how educational organisations function and the challenges and opportunities that exist.

Instead of a placement, you can complete a dissertation exploring a relevant aspect of educational policy or practice.

A teacher pointing at a scientific diagram on a white board while talking to a student in a classroom

Course structure

This course lasts 1 year (full-time) or two years (part-time). It starts in September 2025 and ends in 2026 or 2027 respectively. Welcome week starts on 22 September 2025.

Learning, assessment and contact hours

You’ll be taught and assessed by a variety of methods and it will vary between units. These methods are designed to promote in-depth learning and understanding of the subject. The below details apply to all pathways.

Learning

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops

You will work as an individual and as part of small groups.

Assessment

  • Dissertation
  • Essay(s)
  • Reflective assessment
  • Set exercises
  • Presentations
  • Projects
  • Reports

You will experience a balance of different forms of assessment designed to support your professional development. This will include essays, presentations, set exercises, a reflective assessment, and projects; as well as a dissertation or professional placement.

We can make reasonable adjustments to assessment procedures for students with disabilities. Read our Disability Service’s pages for information.

Contact hours

Full-time

You are expected to spend approximately 35-40 hours per week studying, with around 10-12 hours of this being structured classes.

This will be made up of a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops. You will work as an individual and as part of small groups. 10% of the teaching will be online interactive lessons.

Part-time

In each semester, part-time students typically study for approximately 50% of the full-time equivalent.

This will be made up of a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops.

Entry requirements

View entry requirements.

To apply for this course you may have an undergraduate degree in any subject.

British qualifications

You should have:

  • a bachelor’s honours degree or international equivalent, typically a 2:1 or above or
  • a degree that is not a 2:1 or above (or international equivalent) plus at least 2 years of relevant experience in a relevant field or sector, or
  • a teaching qualification (gained after at least the equivalent of 2 satisfactory years of higher education) plus at least 2 years of relevant experience in a relevant field or sector
  • successfully completed the 30 credit Postgraduate Certificate in International Education (PGCiE) at the University of Bath, enabling you to seek a direct transfer to the MA Education

Minimum non-graduate qualifications

  • an advanced diploma in education and at least 2 years of relevant experience, or
  • a teaching qualification (gained after at least the equivalent of 2 satisfactory years of higher education) and at least 2 years of relevant experience.

We may make an offer based on a lower grade if you can provide evidence of your suitability for the degree (for example, professional experience in education).

If your first language is not English, but within the last 2 years you completed your degree in the UK, you may be exempt from our English language requirements.

Requirements for your country

View entry requirements for your country.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in all components
  • The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): 62 with no less than 59 in any element
  • TOEFL IBT: 90 overall with a minimum 21 in all 4 components

Fees and funding

View fees and funding information for MA Education (campus-based).

Fees

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on whether you are a Home, EU, Island or Overseas student.

Learn how we decide fee status

Tuition fees

See the most recent fees for postgraduate courses:

Extra costs

Placement costs

If you choose to a Professional Placement, there may be additional placement costs:

During your professional placement you may need to pay travel and accommodation costs. This is dependent on where your professional placement is and the in-person working requirements of the organisation.

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Some Placement settings may require a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at your own expense. Currently, enhanced DBS checks cost around £55.

If you are an international student, you will need to obtain an equivalent background check from your home country.

IT requirements

To take full advantage of the online resources available to you, you will need regular access to a computer with a microphone and camera, along with a reliable internet connection. The University will make available to you the key software you need for your course, such as access to Microsoft Teams through your University account.

How to pay

You can pay your tuition fees by Direct Debit, debit card, credit card, or bank transfer.

Read more about your payment options

Budgeting

You will need to budget at least £100 for the cost of photocopying and printing. You will also need to budget for the cost of textbooks.

Teaching and qualifications

Information about teaching during the 2025/26 academic year and professional qualifications.

2025/26 Academic Year

Before you apply for a course, please check the website for the most recently published course detail. If you apply to the University of Bath, you will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

We understand that you will want to know more about the shape of the academic year. We work hard and plan for different scenarios, to be able to welcome you to the University of Bath at the start of each semester.

Recognition of professional qualifications

As well as being recognised as a higher academic qualification, a number of our degrees are also accredited by professional bodies in the United Kingdom. An accredited degree may entitle you to work in a specific profession within the UK, and abroad (where there are reciprocating arrangements with professional bodies in other countries).

The requirements to practise a profession vary from country to country. If you wish to practise your profession outside the United Kingdom, you are advised to confirm that the UK professional qualification you seek is valid in the country in which you are intending to work.

Apply for this course

You must apply for the specific pathway you intent to study.

Course pathways

MA Education (Childhood and Youth)

MA Education (International Education)

MA Education (Language in and for Education)

MA Education (Leadership and Management)

MA Education (Learning and Teaching)

MA Education

Application information

View application information.

Course title: Education

Final award: MA

Mode of study: Full-time/part-time, campus-based

Course code: Various

Department: Department of Education

Location: University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY

UK/EU application deadline: TBC

Overseas deadline: TBC

Application eligibility: UK and Overseas students are eligible to apply

Regulator: The Office for Students (OfS)

  1. We can’t guarantee specific roles or locations - it's your responsibility to find and secure your placement. However, you'll benefit from our global relationships and our placements team’s expertise and professional connections. Placements will take after Semester 2. ↩