Teaching & modules
Modules
Assesment
Your performance will be assessed through a combination of coursework and written examinations. Forms of assessment may typically include essays, reports, blog posts, presentations, forum posts, and case studies. All students complete a 60-credit dissertation, which is assessed by an extended piece of writing based on independent research on a topic of your choice, related to the course. This dissertation will be supported by a programme of research methods and study skills classes, as well as individual and/or group supervision.
You are permitted to take up to 30 of your optional credits from outside of the course, at the discretion of the Programme Director. The assessment methods for those modules may vary.
Course Structure
Courses are divided into modules. You will take modules totalling 180 credits.
Required Modules
- Critical Perspectives on Education (30 credits)
- Research Methods and Dissertation (60 credits)
Optional Modules
In addition, you are required to take 90 credits of optional modules, which may typically include:
- Education Leadership and Change in Context (30 credits)
- International & Comparative Education (30 credits)
- Language & Power (30 credits)
- Psychology & Learning (30 credits)
- Recent Developments in Digital Technologies in Education (30 credits)
- Gender, Power, and Inequality in Educational Leadership (30 credits)
- The Political Economy of Education in a Globalised World (30 credits)
- Education & International Development (30 credits)
- Education and Change: The Challenges of School Improvement (30 credits)
- Social Justice & Education Policy (30 credits)
- Teacher Development (30 credits)
- The Social Context of Education (30 credits)
- Principles and Policy of STEM Education (30 credits)
- Leading Practices in STEM Education (30 credits)
- Quantitative Methods in the Context of Education Research (30 credits)
- Environment, Sustainability and the Role of Education (30 credits)
- Child Health and Development (30 credits)
- Child Protection (15 credits)
- Global Childhoods (30 credits)
- Race, Racisms, and Education (30 credits)
Please note: students who are transferring in Master’s level credits (e.g. from a PGCE) will be exempt from the corresponding number of optional module credits, but must take the 60-credit dissertation module, as well as the compulsory taught module. If your credit transfer is approved, you will also be eligible for a proportional fee reduction, which will be processed following your enrolment into the programme. Please get in touch with us if you would like some information about eligibility criteria for credit transfer.
Part-time students will take the required taught module in Year 1 and the dissertation in Year 2. They must take 90 credits of optional modules across the two years, typically taking one optional 30-credit module in Year 1 and two optional 30-credits modules in Year 2.
With the approval of the Programme Director students may take 30 of their optional credits from level 7 modules offered across the College. Please note that the contact hours and assessment methods for these modules may vary.
Teaching methods - what to expect
Teaching
We teach our modules through lectures, teacher- led class discussions and group work, typically for 20 hours of contact per 30-credit module.
|
Module |
Lectures, seminars & feedback |
Self-study |
|
Per 30 credit module |
Typically, 20 hours of teaching |
280 hours |
|
Dissertation module |
Contact time for the dissertation will typically include a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and 1:1 and /or group supervision |
Approximately 567 hours |
Typically, 1 credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Application closing date guidance
Key Information
Course type:
Master's
Delivery mode:
In person
Study mode:
Full time / Part time
Duration:
One year full-time, two years part-time, September to September
Application status:
Open
Start date:
September 2026