MA Education: Learning, Pedagogy and Assessment (Part Time)
Course
options
Key Details
- Attendance
- Part Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Course Overview
Are you fascinated by the way people learn? Do you wonder how different people’s backgrounds can influence their learning?
On this Master’s in Education: Learning, Pedagogy and Assessment (Part Time), you’ll delve deep into the processes, theories and practices of teaching, learning and assessment. This two-year part-time course is ideal for anyone with some experience in education, or anyone with an interest in education.
Here at UEA, you'll develop a critical, reflective, and practical understanding of the current issues and debates surrounding teaching and learning. You'll study key educational trends and policies both in the UK and internationally. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to delve into educational research and develop your own exciting research project in an area of your choice. You'll be taught by expert leaders in their field, who are active scholars contributing to national and international debates.
The School of Education and Lifelong Learning is on a beautiful campus within walking distance of Norwich, a UNESCO City of Literature. We offer outstanding facilities and excellent resources to nurture your knowledge and aptitude for educational research.
You'll gain the skills and knowledge needed to boost your career in education, or a similar field. We have established links with many educational and other organisations regionally, nationally, and internationally to support your development.
Study and Modules
Structure
In your first year, you’ll be invited to ask questions, such as: What does it mean to be a ‘critical’ reader? Why is critical reading important? How can you develop your criticality, both as a reader and a writer?
In addition, you’ll be introduced to key concepts and ideas about learning and teaching in compulsory and post-compulsory education. You’ll explore how diverse approaches to learning and teaching offered by psychologists, sociologists, educational researchers and policymakers influence everyday educational practice.
You’ll also be introduced to key ideas and concepts that underpin assessment philosophies, purposes and design in schools and universities. We’ll look at the history and functions of assessment and explore the different roles and types of assessment and problems and challenges. Against this backdrop we’ll then consider assessment design in relation to curricula and/or pedagogy.
You’ll be able to select an optional module from a list of relevant modules available.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Teaching
You’ll be taught by leading education experts who conduct cutting-edge research, which informs their teaching.
You’ll experience a wide range of teaching and learning methods throughout the course. These include lectures, seminars, tutorials, group discussions, practical workshops, group visits to key educational settings, student-led presentations, team-working and writing exercises.
You’ll be given guided reading before and during each session. You’ll be expected to undertake preparatory reading or other work ahead of classroom sessions, as well as in relation to your coursework. While some coursework will be completed individually, some might involve close collaboration and co-operation with members of your peer group.
Independent study
Guided, self-directed independent study is essential and will be supported by a range of resources, including a dedicated online portal. You’ll need to read extensively between taught sessions and contribute your thoughts and ideas to group discussion boards and blogs associated with some of your modules.
Enrichment activities
We organise various events and activities that extend and enrich your learning experience. They include museum visits, Norwich guided tours, movie evenings and various social engagement activities where you have the opportunity to interact with members of staff and students from your own and other courses.
Academic support
You’ll be able to seek support with your academic writing from the Learning Enhancement Team who offer a range of services, including help with your dissertation writing and specialised support with how to use statistics in your coursework.
You’ll also have access to your academic adviser, who will be a member of staff in the School of Education and Lifelong Learning. Finally, your module organisers will be there for you for anything that relates to your modules and your Course Director will be able to address any issues that relate to your course.
Assessment
We use a combination of formative and summative assessment methods in order to support your learning and offer you timely and constructive feedback that can help you improve. You’ll benefit from one-to-one or group tutorials on all of your modules.
The summative assessment methods we use include assignments, student-led presentations and small-scale research projects. There are no exams on this course.
Structure
You’ll be introduced to key research techniques and crucial aspects of qualitative inquiry. You’ll be equipped with the skills and knowledge to design and conduct your own research.
You’ll engage with alternative ways of learning and teaching, as well as enhancing pedagogic relations and interactions. We’ll also explore the effect of information technology on learning and thinking, the meaning and significance of critical pedagogy, the idea of deschooling society and the ideas and knowledge that are generated in contemporary social movements.
Towards the end of the course, you’ll design and develop a research project in an area of your own interest. This project will be either desk-based or research-led. As part of this, you’ll work with an individual supervisor to design, research and write up this project.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning
Teaching
In your second year, you’ll continue to be taught by leading experts in the field of education who are engaged in cutting-edge research.
Throughout the course, you’ll experience a wide variety of teaching and learning methods, including lectures, seminars, tutorials, group discussions, practical workshops, visits to key educational settings, student-led presentations, team projects, and writing exercises.
You’ll be provided with guided reading materials before and during each session. You’re expected to complete preparatory reading or other work ahead of classroom sessions and for your coursework. While some coursework will be completed individually, other assignments will require close collaboration and cooperation with your peers.
Independent study
Guided, self-directed independent study is essential and will be supported by many resources, including a dedicated online portal. You’ll need to read extensively between taught sessions and contribute your thoughts and ideas to group discussion boards and blogs that will be associated with some of your modules.
Enrichment activities
Various events and activities are organised throughout the programme to enrich your study experience. They may include museum visits, Norwich guided tours, movie evenings and various social engagement activities where you’ll have the chance to interact with staff members and students from your own and other courses.
Academic support
You’ll be able to seek support for your academic writing from the Learning Enhancement Team, which offers a variety of services, including assistance with dissertation writing and specialised help with using statistics in your coursework.
Additionally, you’ll have access to your academic adviser, who will be a member of the School of Education and Lifelong Learning staff. For module-specific concerns, your module organisers will be available, and any course-related issues can be addressed by your Course Director.
Assessment
In year two, we’ll continue to use a combination of formative and summative assessment methods to support your learning and provide timely, constructive feedback to help you improve your work. You’ll benefit from one-to-one or group tutorials for all your course modules.
Our summative assessment methods include assignments, student-led presentations, and small-scale research projects. Additionally, you’ll be required to complete and submit a 15,000-word dissertation.
There are no exams for this course.
Employability
After the Course
Our graduates continue developing their careers in a wide range of professional and academic destinations.
Many choose to work in education as teachers, managers or leaders, while others opt for further study at a research degree level. Other paths include working as a consultant in the private sector or for a charity in the third sector.
Careers
Example of careers that you could enter, include:
Teachers and lecturers
- Educational leaders
- Educational advisers and consultants
- Inspectors
- Officers in educational organisations
- Social sciences researchers
- NGOs and charity organisations
Discover more on our Careers webpages.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Social Science (E.g. Education, Sociology, International Development, Philosophy, Psychology, Modern Languages, Classics). Any subject for applicants with a track record of relevant experience.
- Additional Entry Requirements
Teaching experience is welcome but not essential.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Social Science (E.g. Education, Sociology, International Development, Philosophy, Psychology, Modern Languages, Classics). Any subject for applicants with a track record of relevant experience.
- Additional Entry Requirements
Teaching experience is welcome but not essential.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in all components).
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are:
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UK Students: £10,675
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International Students: £22,700
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,136 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of additional course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.