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King's College London
You are viewing a course in < Education management and policy
Postgraduate degree

Education, Policy & Society MA

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Our Education, Policy & Society MA is an interdisciplinary course which draws on sociology, political science, economics and history to address the challenges of education policy and provision. It will give you a deep understanding of educational policy and processes in relation to issues of race, social class, gender and changes such as globalisation and new managerialism.

Key benefits

  • Cutting edge policy analysis drawing on contemporary research.
  • Interdisciplinary and critical approach towards contemporary policy provision.
  • Explores models, skills and approaches in critical policy analysis and their relevance to practice.
  • Enables students to follow their particular interests and passion in relation to education policy and social justice.
  • Focuses on education in its widest sense, including schools, higher education, and informal and community education.
  • Located in the heart of London.

This course provides an opportunity for policy text analysis and comparative policy study. The course will be suitable for you no matter the level at which you teach, lecture or organise educational provision. You will learn about significant current developments in contemporary pedagogical policy and practice, enabling you to reflect on your own practice and extend your knowledge.

Base campus

waterloo-banner
Waterloo Campus

Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

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Teaching methods - what to expect

Classes
Self-Study
Workshops
Lectures
Group Work

Curious to find out more? Access on-demand content including taster lectures and talks, and meet our current staff and students on our subject hub page.

We teach our modules through lectures, teacher led class discussions and group work, typically for 20 hours of contact per module. We provide 10.5 hours of academic study skills workshops. In addition to this you will be required to complete 280 hours of independent study for each 30-credit taught module. For your dissertation, we will provide 9 hours of one-to-one supervision and 24 hours of lectures on research methods to complement your 567 hours of independent study.

  Lectures, seminars & feedback Self-study
Each 30-credit taught module Typically, 20 hours of class time. The sessions include lecturing, teacher-led class discussions and student-led group work. Each 30-credit taught module has 280 hours of self guided learning time.
Academic Study Skills Workshops 10.5 hours of contact time  
Dissertation module Student receive 9 hours of one-to-one dissertation supervision and attend research methods, lectures, which involve an additional 24 hours of contact time 567 hours.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

Assessment

  • Assignments
  • Essays
  • Dissertation
  • Word Blog
  • Policy Briefing

The 30 credit taught modules are normally assessed by a 6,000 word assignment. However, assessment methods may vary, depending on the optional modules you select, and for the required module you will be asked to complete a 5,000 word essay and 1,000 word blog or policy briefing.

The 60-credit dissertation is assessed by an extended piece of writing of 16,000 words.

You are permitted to take up to 40 of your optional credits from outside of the course, at the discretion of the Programme Director. The contact time and assessment methods for those modules may vary.

The study time and assessment methods are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect.

Structure

Required modules

You are required to take the following modules:

Education, Policy & the City (30 credits)
Research Methods and Dissertation (60 credits)

Optional modules

In addition, you are required to take 90-100 credits from a range of optional modules that may typically include:

Education & International Development (30 credits)
The Social Context of Education (30 credits)
Social Justice & Education Policy (30 credits)
International & Comparative Education (30 credits)
Gender, Power and Inequality in Educational Leadership (30 credits)
The Political Economy of Education in a Globalised World (30 credits)
Critical Perspectives on Education (30 credits)
Educational Leadership (30 credits)
Psychology & Learning (30 credits)
Language And Power
Recent Developments in Education Management (30 credits)
Recent Developments in Digital Technologies in Education (30 credits)
School Effectiveness & Improvement (30 credits)
Teacher Development (30 credits)
Children's Rights (30 credits)
Global Childhoods (30 credits)
Child Protection (30 credits)
Environmental Education: Sustainability and Society (30 credits)
Quantitative methods in the context of STEM education research (30 credits)

Please note: students who are transferring in Master’s level credits (e.g. from a PGCE, if taken within 10 years of your completion date of this MA course) will be exempt from the corresponding number of optional module credits, but must take the 60 credit required dissertation research module, as well as the compulsory taught module.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

Over the duration of this course you will develop skills that will enhance your career and prospects of promotion. Our graduates have gone into a range of teaching, leadership, administrative and research roles in schools, higher education, government departments and non-governmental organisations, including becoming headteachers, university lecturers and education advisors. Some have set up their own social enterprises and many have continued their studies, completing doctorates or professional qualifications.

Tuition Fees

UK:

Full time: £9,870 per year (2022/23)

Part time: £4,935 per year (2022/23)

International:

Full time: £19,740 per year (2022/23)

Part time: £9,870 per year (2022/23)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions. Please note: you may transfer across PGCE Master’s level credits if taken within 10 years of your completion date of this MA course. If you do, you will only need to take the number of credits required to bring your total for the course to 180, including transferred credits. Fees will be proportionally reduced by the number of credits accepted for transfer e.g a student transferring 60 credits into the 180 credit MA will pay 2/3 fees. If you work for a School accepting teacher training students from King’s College London you may be entitled to a fee reduction.

Deposit

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment.

The UK deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000.

  • If you receive an offer on or before 31 March, payment is due by 25 April 2022.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 April and 30 June, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 July and 31 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 August and 21 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer from 22 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
  • Library fees and fines 
  • Personal photocopies
  • Printing course handouts
  • Society membership fees
  • Stationery
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
  • Graduation costs

Funding

This course provides an opportunity for policy text analysis and comparative policy study. The course will be suitable for you no matter the level at which you teach, lecture or organise educational provision. You will learn about significant current developments in contemporary pedagogical policy and practice, enabling you to reflect on your own practice and extend your knowledge.

Base campus

waterloo-banner
Waterloo Campus

Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties

Regulating bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Loading...

Teaching methods - what to expect

Classes
Self-Study
Workshops
Lectures
Group Work

Curious to find out more? Access on-demand content including taster lectures and talks, and meet our current staff and students on our subject hub page.

We teach our modules through lectures, teacher led class discussions and group work, typically for 20 hours of contact per module. We provide 10.5 hours of academic study skills workshops. In addition to this you will be required to complete 280 hours of independent study for each 30-credit taught module. For your dissertation, we will provide 9 hours of one-to-one supervision and 24 hours of lectures on research methods to complement your 567 hours of independent study.

  Lectures, seminars & feedback Self-study
Each 30-credit taught module Typically, 20 hours of class time. The sessions include lecturing, teacher-led class discussions and student-led group work. Each 30-credit taught module has 280 hours of self guided learning time.
Academic Study Skills Workshops 10.5 hours of contact time  
Dissertation module Student receive 9 hours of one-to-one dissertation supervision and attend research methods, lectures, which involve an additional 24 hours of contact time 567 hours.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face to face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

Assessment

  • Assignments
  • Essays
  • Dissertation
  • Word Blog
  • Policy Briefing

The 30 credit taught modules are normally assessed by a 6,000 word assignment. However, assessment methods may vary, depending on the optional modules you select, and for the required module you will be asked to complete a 5,000 word essay and 1,000 word blog or policy briefing.

The 60-credit dissertation is assessed by an extended piece of writing of 16,000 words.

You are permitted to take up to 40 of your optional credits from outside of the course, at the discretion of the Programme Director. The contact time and assessment methods for those modules may vary.

The study time and assessment methods are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect.

Structure

Required modules

You are required to take the following modules:

Education, Policy & the City (30 credits)
Research Methods and Dissertation (60 credits)

Optional modules

In addition, you are required to take 90-100 credits from a range of optional modules that may typically include:

Education & International Development (30 credits)
The Social Context of Education (30 credits)
Social Justice & Education Policy (30 credits)
International & Comparative Education (30 credits)
Gender, Power and Inequality in Educational Leadership (30 credits)
The Political Economy of Education in a Globalised World (30 credits)
Critical Perspectives on Education (30 credits)
Educational Leadership (30 credits)
Psychology & Learning (30 credits)
Language And Power
Recent Developments in Education Management (30 credits)
Recent Developments in Digital Technologies in Education (30 credits)
School Effectiveness & Improvement (30 credits)
Teacher Development (30 credits)
Children's Rights (30 credits)
Global Childhoods (30 credits)
Child Protection (30 credits)
Environmental Education: Sustainability and Society (30 credits)
Quantitative methods in the context of STEM education research (30 credits)

Please note: students who are transferring in Master’s level credits (e.g. from a PGCE, if taken within 10 years of your completion date of this MA course) will be exempt from the corresponding number of optional module credits, but must take the 60 credit required dissertation research module, as well as the compulsory taught module.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Employability

Over the duration of this course you will develop skills that will enhance your career and prospects of promotion. Our graduates have gone into a range of teaching, leadership, administrative and research roles in schools, higher education, government departments and non-governmental organisations, including becoming headteachers, university lecturers and education advisors. Some have set up their own social enterprises and many have continued their studies, completing doctorates or professional qualifications.

Tuition Fees

UK:

Full time: £9,870 per year (2022/23)

Part time: £4,935 per year (2022/23)

International:

Full time: £19,740 per year (2022/23)

Part time: £9,870 per year (2022/23)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions. Please note: you may transfer across PGCE Master’s level credits if taken within 10 years of your completion date of this MA course. If you do, you will only need to take the number of credits required to bring your total for the course to 180, including transferred credits. Fees will be proportionally reduced by the number of credits accepted for transfer e.g a student transferring 60 credits into the 180 credit MA will pay 2/3 fees. If you work for a School accepting teacher training students from King’s College London you may be entitled to a fee reduction.

Deposit

When you receive an offer for this course you will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure your place. The deposit will be credited towards your total fee payment.

The UK deposit is £500.

The INTERNATIONAL deposit is £2,000.

  • If you receive an offer on or before 31 March, payment is due by 25 April 2022.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 April and 30 June, payment is due within one month of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 July and 31 July, payment is due within two weeks of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer between 1 August and 21 August, payment is due within one week of receiving the offer.
  • If you receive an offer from 22 August onwards, payment is due within three days of receiving the offer.

If you are a current King’s student in receipt of the King's Living Bursary you are not required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the programme. Please note, this will not change the total fees payable for your chosen programme.

Please visit our web pages on fees and funding for more information.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

  • Books if you choose to buy your own copies
  • Clothing for optional course related events and competitions
  • Library fees and fines 
  • Personal photocopies
  • Printing course handouts
  • Society membership fees
  • Stationery
  • Travel costs for travel around London and between campuses
  • Graduation costs

Funding

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