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Education MA

Learn about the course below
Code
PGX30X
Start
September 2023
Duration
1,2 or 3 years part-time, dependant on previous experience and qualifications
Attendance
Part-time
(Distance Education)
Fees
£59 per taught credit (UK/EU/INT) *
Course leader
Ronald Sergejev

What constitutes good education and how can it be delivered most effectively? This flexible course, taught by tutors possessing extensive experience in educational settings, explores how education defines and contributes to the world around us. In understanding that education is much more than simply teaching and learning, you will begin to question many of the assumptions that lie beneath both policy and practice.

Why study MA Education at Middlesex University?

The core focus of this innovative MA is exceptional education. Our part-time course meets the needs of those who wish to further their knowledge of the theory and processes of education, but cannot commit to full-time studies. The course may be undertaken on an individual or collective basis, with groups of teachers and education professionals both eligible to enrol.

Structured so that assignments can be built into your working practice, the course will maximise the effectiveness of your teaching, leadership and management. We encourage participants to evaluate existing practices, develop new approaches and become immersed in action enquiry based research.

Middlesex's extensive history of delivering leading education courses ensures that you will benefit from the guidance of outstanding tutors who bring a wealth of professional experience to their teaching. As research-leaders, our academics are widely published across disciplines such as multilingualism, diversity and childhood development.

Specialist Pathway: MA Education (Drama)

This focused pathway of the Education MA programme is delivered in conjunction with Trestle Theatre Company and is specifically designed for teachers and lecturers of drama, theatre studies and performing arts. The course explores a variety of theatre practices relating to education and creative learning, as well as sharing years of specialist mask and physical theatre expertise developed through Trestle’s work. Professionals who are interested in this award title should apply for the MA Education programme, clearly stating they wish to work towards the MA Education (Drama) exit award and select the below modules:

  • Developing Professional Practice
  • Action Enquiry for improvement
  • Dissertation

Course highlights

  • Our education department is at the cutting edge of teaching and learning practice in the UK
  • Thought-leaders in their field, our tutors are able to contribute the very latest research findings to the course
  • For those registering in groups, the course pathway is developed by the University in partnership with schools or other agencies, who may offer module delivery at a convenient location
  • Accreditation of Prior Learning and Accreditation of Prior Experiential learning  is available in all but the dissertation module, allowing you to gain credit for prior study and experience therefore shorten your overall study period. Accreditation of Experiential learning will be through the production of a portfolio of evidence mapped against the learning objectives of the module that you wish to have accredited. There will be an extra fee for assessment of this portfolio.
  • As a participant of this course you'll receive a free electronic textbook for every module.

Find out more

Sign up now to receive more information about studying at Middlesex University London.

What you will study on the MA Education?

Participants undertaking the module as online learners will engage in supported study delivered through the Middlesex University virtual learning environment (VLE) and online interaction with tutors. The teaching will consist of online materials and activities that mirror the activities undertaken in the on-campus mode of the module, but are tailored to allow participants to engage with both the content and the discussions around the key topics of the module at their own pace. Participants will undertake independent study and workplace learning guided by forum discussions, independent activities, support sessions for developing academic skills and the guided use of scholarly materials.

Assessment includes assignments, portfolios of evidence and action research projects. The learning process involves a combination of selective inputs, workshop activities, school based work, self-directed enquiries and research, and online learning. The modules can be undertaken at a distance from the University.

We understand that our students work in very busy environments, therefore we look to provide support wherever possible. Our principle aim is to tailor assignments to your institutional and personal needs, then use practitioner action enquiry and reflective practice as a learning model. All students will be enrolled on the MA course but may opt out at the Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma stage.

Modules

The course title can be negotiated with the Programme Leader within the agreed pathways - that is, the student may wish to choose what appears in brackets beside the award title 'MA Education' on their academic transcript.

For students undertaking the course as an individual student, (not part of a group), you must choose one of the following modules below.

School-led modules are led by schools and focus upon their priorities. These will take place at the school. It may be possible to have other teachers from other schools join the group as a hub for the delivery of the programme

  • Core Modules

    • Developing Effective Teaching and Learning

      This innovative module looks at student learning and ways to improve classroom practice. There are regular portfolio tasks plus an action enquiry. The module is delivered via blended learning via web resources and materials and learning conversations. There are also optional face-to-face sessions. You will explore the pedagogy, systems an structures of learning in the classroom, and investigate current research into learning in order to improve practice. You'll reflect on your own practice and develop innovative approaches to learning.

      This is the step off point for the Postgraduate Certificate.

    • Developing Effective Leadership and Management

      The module is suitable for teachers and those working in educational organisations that have a formal or informal leadership role. You'll develop effective leadership and management, and apply the leadership and management strategies you learn to an improvement project.

      This is the step off point for the Postgraduate Certificate.

    • Developing Professional Practice in Education

      This module is suitable for anyone in education interested in developing practice. It provides high quality support, recognition and acknowledgement for teachers for you as your seek professional development and encourages you as a reflective practitioner and skilled self-managed learner.

      This is the step off point for the Postgraduate Certificate.

  • PGDip and MA Students additionally take

    • Action Enquiry for Improvement

      You will choose an additional module from above or this one.

      The main aim of this module is to help you enhance your research competencies and encourage you to critically explore areas of interest in your practice prior to starting your dissertation module for the MA. You will not be required to carry out a full research project but you will be required to explore why particular research methodologies and methods would be appropriate to investigating a particular issue or finding the answer to a specific question. The module will also increase your awareness of the kinds of practical research and development issues you may encounter in your professional work e.g. school settings, universities.

      This is the step off point for the Postgraduate Diploma.

  • MA Students additionally complete

    • Dissertation (60 Credits)

      The Dissertation is the culmination of the students work on the MA Programme. Supported by their tutors it is an individual undertaking and the final responsibility to display their ability to plan and conduct an ethical research displaying mastery of complex and specialised area of knowledge.

See the course specification for more information:

Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.

Teaching and learning from 2022

We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we have learnt during the pandemic and enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning.

We are currently reviewing our approach to teaching and learning for 2023 entry and beyond. We've learned a lot about how to give you a quality education - we aim to combine the best of our pre-pandemic teaching and learning with access to online learning and digital resources which put you more in charge of when and how you study. We will keep you updated on this throughout the application process.

Your timetable will be built around on campus sessions using our professional facilities, with online sessions for some activities where we know being virtual will add value. We’ll use technology to enhance all of your learning and give you access to online resources to use in your own time.

The table below gives you an idea of what learning looks like across a typical week. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on campus sessions.

This information is likely to change slightly for 2023 entry as our plans evolve. You'll receive full information on your teaching before you start your course.

Learning structure: typical hourly breakdown in 2021/22

Live in-person on campus learning

Contact hours per week, per level:

N/A

Live online learning

Average hours per week, per level:

6 hours

Tutor set learning activities

Average hours per week, per level:

N/A

This information is likely to change slightly for 2023 entry as our plans evolve. You'll receive full information on your teaching before you start your course.

Definitions of terms

  • Live in-person on campus learning – This will focus on active and experiential sessions that are both:
    • Led by your tutors including seminars, lab sessions and demonstrations We'll schedule all of this for you
    • Student-led by you and other students, like small group work and presentations.
  • Live online learning – This will include lectures, tutorials and supervision sessions led by your tutor and timetabled by us. It also includes student-led group work that takes place online.
  • Tutor set learning activities – This covers activities which will be set for you by your tutor, but which you will undertake in your own time. Examples of this include watching online materials, participating in an online discussion forum, completing a virtual laboratory or reading specific texts. You may be doing this by yourself of with your course mates depending on your course and assignments. Outside of these hours, you’ll also be expected to do further independent study where you’ll be expected to learn, prepare, revise and reflect in your own time.

Support

You have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.

Our support services will be delivered online and on campus and you have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.

You have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice, and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.

  1. Standard entry requirements
  2. International (inc. EU)
  3. How to apply
  1. UK, EU & International
  2. Additional costs
  3. Scholarships and bursaries

We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.

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