MA Education: Learning, Pedagogy and Assessment
Course options
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 1 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2023
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Course Overview
Study the way people learn, the importance of the interactions between teaching and learning, and how we can assess a person’s educational progress.
This full-time Master’s course is ideally suited to anyone with some experience in education, who wants to delve deeper into the processes, theories and practices at play in this fascinating field. Placing equal emphasis on theory and practice, it builds on your existing knowledge, interests and expertise, and help you apply the theoretical constructs to practice.
This course will give you an in-depth understanding of key educational issues, debates, trends and policies, both nationally and internationally. It will develop your knowledge of educational research, and help you in conducting your own research project.
As part of UEA’s renowned School of Education and Lifelong Learning, you will gain skills and knowledge that will prove invaluable in your career in education or one of the many associated fields.
The MA Education: Learning, Pedagogy and Assessment is a one-year, full-time course for anyone with an interest in education. Throughout your time with us we will help you achieve a critical, reflective and practical understanding of the current issues and debates surrounding teaching and learning, and familiarise you with some key educational trends and policies in the UK and internationally.
The course has a strong international dimension, which builds on its staff and students’ diverse interests, experiences and backgrounds.
It draws on a long-standing tradition within the School of Education and Lifelong Learning in innovative research and on our excellence in professional education. You will benefit from research-led teaching as our team members bring with them skills and expertise at the cutting-edge of research, pedagogy and theory-informed practice.
You’ll be taught by leaders in their field, who are active scholars and contribute to national and international debates.
What’s more, our academic environment and the resources available to you will help nurture your knowledge of and aptitude for educational research.
Study and Modules
Structure
During your time with us, you will be required to complete seven modules (180 credits). Of these, five are core taught and one is optional taught (each is worth 20 credits). Finally, you will complete a dissertation module (worth 60 credits).
You will take three specialist compulsory modules in the areas of learning, pedagogy and assessment, as follows:
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Autumn semester: An Introduction to Key Concepts and Ideas in Educational Practices
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Autumn semester: Pedagogies in Global Educational Contexts
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Spring semester: Assessment: Principles, Issues and Practice
You will also take two generalist compulsory modules, covering educational research methods and critical reading:
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Autumn semester: Critical reading
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Autumn semester: Educational Research Methods
Your generalist modules are designed to provide you with sufficient grounding in critical inquiry and the methodology of educational research.
‘Critical Reading’ will concentrate on the development of your critical skills.
‘Educational Research Methods’ will equip you with skills and knowledge to design and conduct your own research. It will also offer you an introduction to key research techniques and cover crucial aspects of qualitative inquiry.
Your final module will be your dissertation, which you will commence at the beginning of the Spring semester and submit at the end of the academic year. Either desk-based or research-led, you will choose a dissertation topic based on your interests and professional background, with guidance from our team. You will then work with an individual supervisor to design, research and write up your project.
Finally, you will select and complete one optional module (20 credits worth). Examples of the type of modules on offer include:
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Key Concepts and Approaches to Education Leadership, Management and Policy
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Leading Teaching, Improving Learning and Global Education Reform
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Public Policy, Strategic Management and Complexity
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Principles and Practice in Second Language Education
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Language Learning in Context
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Introducing Innovation and Change
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Literacy, Development and Adult Learning: An Introduction to the Concepts
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Educational Policy and Practice for Development
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Introduction to Education for Development
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Intercultural Communication in Practice
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
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 module. You will be expected to undertake preparatory reading 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 will need to read extensively between taught sessions and contribute your thoughts and ideas to the group discussion boards and blogs associated with many of the modules.
Assessment
We utilise a range of assessment and feedback methods throughout the course, including assignments, student-led projects and small-scale research projects. In addition, you will need to complete and submit a 15,000-word Master’s dissertation.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- Bachelor degree - 2.1 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.
- English Foreign Language
We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English. To ensure such students benefit from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:
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IELTS: 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in all components)
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PTE (Pearson): 67 (minimum 64 in all components)
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
Other tests, including Cambridge English exams and the Trinity Integrated Skills in English are also accepted by the university. The full list of accepted tests can be found here: Accepted English Language Tests
INTO UEA also run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk
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- Intakes
This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
Additional Information or Requirements
Teaching experience is welcome but not essential.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2023/24 are:
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UK Students: £9,500 (full time)
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International Students: £19,800 (full time)
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 £1,023 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
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.
If you have any academic queries about this Master's, please contact Dr Spyros Themelis, the MA Education, Learning, Pedagogy and Assessment Course Director.
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
A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.
Examples of careers you could enter include:
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Teachers and lecturers
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Educational leaders
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Educational advisers and consultants
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Inspectors
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Officers in educational organisations
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Social sciences researchers