MA Mathematics Education
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
Mathematics is integral to so much in life. However, many people see themselves as lacking in mathematical ability and have little confidence in engaging with mathematics. The challenges to the teaching and learning of mathematics are therefore many – but so are the ways to explore and tackle them!
Our MA Mathematics Education (One Year – Full-Time; Two Years – Part-Time) is designed for graduates in mathematics – or in Mathematics-related disciplines – with an interest in the teaching and learning of mathematics. We also welcome applications from mathematics teachers at all educational levels.
You will learn about key Mathematics Education theories, about key findings from international studies that explore its improvement, and about the latest digital resources used in mathematics teaching. You will be trained in educational research methods and you will complete a research project on a mathematics education topic, with the support of specialists from UEA’s Research in Mathematics Education Group.
You’ll gain a thorough understanding of mathematics education, whether you are a recent mathematics or other graduate, a mathematics teacher at any educational level, or an education professional with an interest in the teaching and learning of mathematics. You will discover the latest research and thinking in a field that is strongly influenced by a range of disciplines such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, philosophy and history.
Perhaps you are intrigued by how we can foster greater appreciation, competence and confidence in mathematics in all classrooms – and for all learners.
You might wish to explore the foundations of mathematics that we typically encounter in primary school.
Your interest could lie in the social and emotional barriers to mathematical learning for secondary pupils going through adolescence.
Or, maybe, you want to learn about how digital resources can enhance the teaching and learning of mathematics, from the primary classroom all the way through to the university lecture.
The course consists of three mathematics education modules, each dedicated to the key theories, main findings and foremost digital resources for mathematics teaching.
You will also complete one module on educational research methods and one on critical reading, plus one optional module (for example, on quantitative research methods).
Finally, you will work on a dissertation project on a mathematics education topic of your own choosing under the supervision of a member of the Research in Mathematics Education (RME) Group, the vibrant community of mathematics educators at UEA that will welcome you to its activities throughout your studies.
Applicants with teaching experience are welcome on the course as is anyone considering a career in mathematics education. Our course is designed to allow a useful interchange of ideas between students with different – and often excitingly complementary – backgrounds.
Study and Modules
Structure
The course is designed to welcome you into the field of Mathematics Education as a research discipline in the Social Sciences that can inform and change practice and policy on the teaching and learning of mathematics.
To this aim, you will first learn about key theories that underpin research in the field of Mathematics Education. We cover a range of theories that originate in developmental psychology, sociology, discourse analysis, anthropology and neuroscience and allow insights into the many facets of mathematics and its pedagogy. To learn how to use these theories in order to prepare for your own Mathematics Education research project, you will trial their application in data samples from mathematics classrooms across educational levels and from your own prior experiences.
In tandem, you will be introduced to how these theories have been used in milestone studies in Mathematics Education. Crucially, you learn about key findings and applications that have emerged from these studies. The selected studies are from around the world and concern primary, secondary and university mathematics as well as uses of mathematics in the workplace and everyday life.
You will also learn about critical reading of academic and other works and you will explore techniques of criticality that you can apply in your own reading and writing.
As your studies progress, you will continue learning about milestone works in Mathematics Education, particularly those with a focus on the use of digital resources in the teaching and learning of mathematics. Again, the focus will span educational levels, contexts and mathematical topics.
You will also continue to build your research skills through learning about educational research methods: you will be introduced to key research techniques that you need in order to design, execute and write up your dissertation research project. To assist you further in this direction, you will also select one optional module from a range on offer. Examples include Quantitative Research Methods In Educational Research and modules from on learning, pedagogy, assessment, educational leadership and management, adult literacy, developmental studies and language education.
Finally, for your Mathematics Education dissertation, you will design and work on a research project under the supervision of a member of the Research in Mathematics Education (RME) Group. While the topic can be of your own choosing, you will be welcome to consider topics aligned with the current projects of the RME Group.
Full-time studies:
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You will achieve the above within one year of studies.
Part-time studies:
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Your work on the above will be spread across two years.
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 engage with key elements of theory and practice in mathematics education, as well as the current methods of educational research at large. You will also get to grips with reading, writing and presentation skills, with a particular focus on academic texts as well as other sources relevant to mathematics education, including online resources.
For each taught module you will attend and participate in 20 hours of lectures, seminars, group discussions, individual tutorials, presentations and feedback sessions. You will also be expected to read and prepare a brief contribution for each session, such as a short piece of writing or a small presentation on the week’s theme. Your contribution will be based on the set reading for each session, as well as the reading of additional materials, which you will seek out and review.
The UEA library has an impressive range of online and hard copy resources, and engaging with them will be an essential element of your learning experience. Apart from key academic texts, the library also holds extensive mathematics teaching resources and materials that you will be invited to explore, especially when looking for examples and applications of mathematics teaching. You will also become familiar with a wide array of media and other electronic resources pertinent to mathematics education.
You will have opportunities to interact with the teaching team throughout the period of your studies. This will include group and individual tutorials, in which you will discuss the work you are doing in preparation for your assignments and dissertation.
You will also be welcome to the events and activities of the RME Group including group meetings and informal exchanges with the post-graduate researchers and academic visitors of the group. You will also be invited to the School’s regular research seminars.
Assessment
You will be assessed through written assignments of 3,000 words, and a dissertation of 15,000 words. Each module will include opportunities for formative assessment.
Your assignments will involve reading and reviewing key texts in mathematics education as well as writing research-informed accounts of your experiences of learning and teaching mathematics. You will also review texts on educational research methods.
For your dissertation, you will design a small-scale study in mathematics education for which you will collect and analyse data in the light of the key mathematics education theories and research findings that you learned about in the core modules.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- Bachelor degree - 2.1 or equivalent
- Degree Subject
- Mathematics or Social Sciences
- 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 in Mathematics 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 Professor Elena Nardi, the MA Mathematics Education Course Director.
Employability
After the Course
You will have the opportunity to consider further studies at UEA, for example towards a doctorate in mathematics education (full-time or part-time). Opportunities to be involved in one of the research and development projects of the RME Group also arise regularly. Furthermore, you will be very welcome to return to UEA and the RME Group’s research projects later in your career!
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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Further studies in Mathematics Education (e.g. PhD)
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Mathematics teaching in schools (secondary, primary)
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Positions in the Education sector with a Mathematics specialism such as: Ministries of Education; Education policy organisations (governmental or NGOs); Inspectorates (such as OFSTED)
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Private sector positions where mathematics and / or its teaching are relevant (e.g. private schools and colleges, banking, accountancy, engineering)