MA Education (Teaching and Learning)
20 Months Full-Time | January Start
Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
International
Northumbria’s global footprint touches every continent across the world, through our global partnerships across 17 institutions in 10 countries, to our 277,000 strong alumni community and 150 recruitment partners – we prepare our students for the challenges of tomorrow. Discover more about how to join Northumbria’s global family or our partnerships.
View our Global FootprintBusiness
The world is changing faster than ever before. The future is there to be won by organisations who find ways to turn today's possibilities into tomorrows competitive edge. In a connected world, collaboration can be the key to success.
More on our Business ServicesResearch
Northumbria is a research-rich, business-focused, professional university with a global reputation for academic quality. We conduct ground-breaking research that is responsive to the science & technology, health & well being, economic and social and arts & cultural needs for the communities
Discover more about our ResearchAlumni
Northumbria University is renowned for the calibre of its business-ready graduates. Our alumni network has over 244,000 graduates based in 178 countries worldwide in a range of sectors, our alumni are making a real impact on the world.
Our AlumniIf you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
This full-time flexible, postgraduate Masters in Education is also available as part-time study. You will have the opportunity to continue your professional development by exploring a diverse range of educational modules.
This unique, bespoke learning programme means that you can tailor make your learning to your exact requirements, around other commitments such as a career or family life.
This stream of our MA Education suite is suited to those with an interest in working with learners in an educational setting, throughout the sector and educational contexts .
If you are interested in progressing with your career to more senior or specialist roles, then this the perfect way to build on your existing credentials and to offer something extra to employers.
Modules for teaching and learning will let learners choose from a range of specialist modules which cover topics such as: managing the learning environment in the 21st century; technology enhanced learning; mentoring an coaching; leading learning and managing change and reflective approaches to teaching an learning
We welcome applications from a broad range of academic backgrounds and will consider each individual application on its merit. We are most interested in individual reasons for you interest and we would encourage you to apply if you have transferable skills from less traditional academic backgrounds, such as industry or even personal experience.
You will be supported by a diverse and extremely well qualified range of research active staff. The accessibility and approachability of our staff is paramount to the MA Education suite and our unique and dedicated approach to student support truly sets us apart from other institutions, we will build your confidence and offer unwavering support.
All our staff are currently employed in education meaning that you are learning the most current knowledge which has been gained through hands on practical experience. You will enjoy the opportunity to collaborate with peers from the sector, to create a body of new and emerging knowledge.
If you have any queries then please do contact our programme leader who can answer any queries or questions on a personal basis, response may not be immediate but please be assured that you will receive a reply; irenie.lowry@northumbria.ac.uk
Be sure to check out our other similar courses: MA Education
This full-time flexible, postgraduate Masters in Education is also available as part-time study. You will have the opportunity to continue your professional development by exploring a diverse range of educational modules.
This unique, bespoke learning programme means that you can tailor make your learning to your exact requirements, around other commitments such as a career or family life.
This stream of our MA Education suite is suited to those with an interest in working with learners in an educational setting, throughout the sector and educational contexts .
If you are interested in progressing with your career to more senior or specialist roles, then this the perfect way to build on your existing credentials and to offer something extra to employers.
Modules for teaching and learning will let learners choose from a range of specialist modules which cover topics such as: managing the learning environment in the 21st century; technology enhanced learning; mentoring an coaching; leading learning and managing change and reflective approaches to teaching an learning
We welcome applications from a broad range of academic backgrounds and will consider each individual application on its merit. We are most interested in individual reasons for you interest and we would encourage you to apply if you have transferable skills from less traditional academic backgrounds, such as industry or even personal experience.
You will be supported by a diverse and extremely well qualified range of research active staff. The accessibility and approachability of our staff is paramount to the MA Education suite and our unique and dedicated approach to student support truly sets us apart from other institutions, we will build your confidence and offer unwavering support.
All our staff are currently employed in education meaning that you are learning the most current knowledge which has been gained through hands on practical experience. You will enjoy the opportunity to collaborate with peers from the sector, to create a body of new and emerging knowledge.
If you have any queries then please do contact our programme leader who can answer any queries or questions on a personal basis, response may not be immediate but please be assured that you will receive a reply; irenie.lowry@northumbria.ac.uk
Be sure to check out our other similar courses: MA Education
Level of Study
Postgraduate
Mode of Study
20 months Full Time
Department
Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing
Location
Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University
City
Newcastle
Start
January 2025
Fees
Fee Information
Modules
Module Information
You will study current educational issues and examine key features of practices in educational systems. We will encourage you to become an independent learner, able to critically reflect on your own experience and apply what you have learned to your own organisation.
You will learn through lectures, seminars and group discussion. You will develop a critical understanding of the relationships between research, policy and practice and how they are applied to different settings. You will use work-based learning to tailor the course to suit your own specialist area of practice.
You will be assessed through a variety of approaches including assignments, presentations, portfolios and reports. All tasks will be clearly explained in advance and assessment criteria, grade descriptors and marking schemes will be available for every assignment and thoroughly discussed in class. You will not sit any exams.
You will learn from our exceptional team of warm and supportive staff who use their active research to inform their theory, meaning that your studies remain current and informed by contemporary issues.
We are extremely proud of our team and consider that it is our unwavering student support which really sets us apart.
Throughout the course you will be supported by your guidance tutor, the programme leader, and each of your module tutors. You can rely upon constant and consistent mentoring from your tutor with both personal and professional issues.
We ensure that our support services are always accessible and offer strong pastoral support to every student that wants it.
You will receive support and supervision during your dissertation project, when we will match you with a tutor who specialises in your area of interest. This will allow you to draw on their relevant knowledge and expertise.
The education team are dedicated to developing their own learning and research, and are frequently published in education journals.
We also have an ITE (Initial teacher education) team who are able to offer guidance on employment within the education sector. This a team run by staff who are teacher educators, operating in roles such as training teachers to work in schools.
This environment gives you the opportunity to reflect on your learning and discuss your findings with your peers, many of whom are from similar work backgrounds and working towards the same career goals.
Technology-enhanced learning is used extensively across the course and each module will have its own e-learning area. This helps us to share learning materials with you in a flexible way and allows you to revisit learning materials in your own time. It also enables you to have online discussions with your fellow students to develop ideas.
You will be equipped with the ability to challenge your personal and professional development, applying planning tools and career advice through the UseMYAbility website.
If you are an international student you can also benefit from the support of our Academic Language Skills Programmes (ALS). The programmes will run alongside your studies to help you develop your academic language and communication skills within an Education context.
You will develop skills in collaborative working, discipline-specific creativity and project management. You will be encouraged to examine, compare and contrast different world views. You will examine key education theories and concepts, and enrich your understanding of these through critical discussion with your peers, colleagues and lecturers.
All of this will feed into your own independent research project towards the end of the course, during which you can draw on our lecturers’ wide-ranging expertise.
Our academic staff have extensive research experience in all areas of education, from early years and schools to post-compulsory and higher education. Our areas of research strength include school-to-school networking and collaboration, educational leadership, curriculum innovation, and the impact of educational initiatives on marginalised and vulnerable groups.
You will graduate with knowledge of the very latest in education research, policy and practice. You will gain a whole new perspective on data and evaluation, all of which will help to put you at the forefront of your field. You will also be able to reflect upon and challenge your own practice, which is a valuable skill to demonstrate to future employers.
You will leave the course confident in your knowledge and abilities, empowered to make change in your own organisation and ready to go to the next level in your career.
Applicants should normally have:
A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree or an equivalent qualification such as a Certificate in Education (Cert Ed). Other professional qualifications and relevant professional experience will also be considered.
International qualifications:
If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English language requirements:
International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 6 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
Full UK Fee: £9,250
Full International Fee: £18,250
Scholarships and Discounts
ADDITIONAL COSTS
There are no Additional Costs
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
RW7001 -
Academic Language Skills (ALS) for PG Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing Students (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.
The topics you will cover on the module include:
• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
• Discussing ethical issues in research, and analysing results.
• Describing bias and limitations of research.
TE7050 -
Negotiated Study (Optional,30 Credits)
In this module you will focus on the role of the practitioner as a research user and you will have the opportunity to articulate and negotiate a Master’s level enquiry relevant to you and your practice. You will have the opportunity to make effective and systematic use of published research to inform education practice and/or policy. You will learn how to interrogate electronic databases efficiently and effectively analyse qualitative data and write up your findings. Through this process, you will develop your critical appraisal skills. This module enables you to carry out a very small-scale piece of research which you undertake with the support of the module tutor.
More informationTE7052 -
Mentoring and Coaching in Education and Training Settings (Optional,30 Credits)
In this module you will have the opportunity to analyse and critically explore what is meant by the concept of mentoring and coaching in and education and training setting.
You will be required to develop a critical theory –practice interface in your own role as a mentor/coach and to explore key features of that role in promoting and enabling learning.
The module will also provide you with the opportunity to critically reflect on your own practice as a mentor/coach and develop your mentorship skills and knowledge, based upon sound evidenced based practice. You will also be expected to critically appraise relevant theory, literature and policy which will enable you to critically evaluate your own skills and knowledge and to subsequently act upon findings to advance knowledge, understanding and skills to a higher level.
TE7076 -
Understanding Educational Research and Methods (Optional,30 Credits)
This module provides the underpinning skills and knowledge necessary to undertake independent research in education and training at Level 7. It will give you the opportunity to develop practical and theoretical skills in the use and understanding of different research paradigms, methodological approaches and their associated research methods. You will also develop an in-depth understanding of related issues, including but not restricted to, ethical concerns, data management and analysis, the use conceptual frameworks and how to engage critically with the literature. The module has a strong focus on practice, and you will be encouraged to take this as your starting point, to question and problematize professional concerns, and to develop those as research problems and questions.
This will provide you with a framework to critique and question research, policy and practice and their impact on Education and Training. Drawing on this, you will be able to develop a research proposal which addresses a professional concern, drawing on contemporary and relevant research literature in order to analyse and justify your methodological approach. You will also be supported to explore subject based literature in order to support your identification and exploration of a research problem.
TE7079 -
Technology Enhanced Learning: Practice, Evidence and Debate (Optional,30 Credits)
Whether you are a professional working within education or are intending to work in education, this module is intended to provide you with an opportunity to develop your knowledge of technology enhanced learning (TEL) and the extent to which it enhances or inhibits learning and teaching. The module will take you on a journey through the relationship between computer science and TEL. It will enable you to explore and consider the impact of TEL pedagogy and consider it in relation to your own practice/experience. The focus is broad as you will be encouraged to consider all aspects of TEL in variety of teaching and learning contexts, i.e. in the statutory, further/higher and lifelong learning sectors.
More informationTE7080 -
Leading Learning and Managing Change (Optional,30 Credits)
In the ever-changing landscape of education, this module aims to explore the range of changes that can impact on educational institutions and at all levels. It is will provide the opportunity to consider and discuss effective ways of bringing about change and how to manage it. It will enable you to explore key theories and ideas and then apply them to real school challenges, bringing into this the experience of headteachers in changing their schools and local authority personnel responsible for bringing about school turn around.
More informationTE7082 -
Managing the Learning Environment in the 21st Century (Optional,30 Credits)
This module focusses on the various ways in which the learning environment might be managed, in a variety of educational contexts and how it can impact on teaching and learning. You will be able to explore, create, reflect upon and evaluate learning environments and consider how they can be managed to maximise their effectiveness in relation to effective educational delivery, facilitation of learning and assessment of the desired outcomes In addition, you will develop a critical understanding of how learning environments and their management can impact on student experience.
More informationTE7083 -
Reflective Approaches to Teaching and Learning (Optional,30 Credits)
This module is intended to give students who are either professionals working within education or those who are intending to work in education an opportunity to develop their knowledge of both pedagogy and andragogy. The module will take you on a journey through the ideology that shapes the way in which education is both defined and organised and the theoretical dissonance between theories of learning and formal education. The focus is broad as you are encouraged to consider all aspects of teaching and learning in the statutory, further/higher and lifelong learning sectors.
More informationWB0726 -
Project Management and Change Leadership (Optional,30 Credits)
This is a work based learning module that focuses your learning on the needs of your organisation and how they can be met through the initiation of change through a quality improvement project. It involves a tripartite relationship between you, your organisation and the university, facilitating your engagement with theory from the university and workplace activity concurrently. You will develop a comprehensive understanding of a range of models, concepts and theories that will help you to become engaged in well informed and meaningful work-based enquiry and project management. Through a combination of university seminar and inter-session activities in the workplace, the module will help you to develop a critical awareness of a range of appropriate approaches to project planning, implementation and evaluation appropriate to your own organisational and professional context. Learning from this module will enable you to develop a project based approach to complex issues in your practice using structured project management, change management, reflective models, leadership approaches while taking ethical, confidentiality, data protection and professional codes of practice into consideration. This module will develop a culture of project based approaches to complex issues in your practice. It will develop in you the confidence to initiate and lead change in your practice in response to challenges faced on a daily basis in organisations, effectively making you a lifelong change agent in your career. While it is a stand-alone module, taken before the 60 credit work based dissertation this module can be used to plan the major quality improvement dissertation.
More informationPP0724 -
The Empirical Project (Optional,60 Credits)
You will be encouraged to critically explore a range of approaches to research however emphasis will be placed on your understanding of the world view, design and meaning system that will drive your own research study. It is assumed that prior to the undertaking of this dissertation module you will have undertaken study that prepares you for engagement with a Masters dissertation process and that you will have constructed a robust research proposal that has gained or is in the process of gaining ethical approval from both the University and (if applicable) your employing organisation. In the module you will revisit and deepen your understandings of a range of key topic areas linked to the empirical research process, this will include discussion of world views and research paradigms, the research question, aim or hypothesis, research design, working with literature and theory, developing ethical codes, constructing the research sample, collecting robust research evidence, ensuring quality assurance within your research work, analysing both qualitative and quantitative evidence and writing and disseminating the research dissertation work. You will be invited to attend a series of research seminars during the module and you will have access to a named Higher Education supervisor for one to one tutorial work. Both the seminars and tutorials will encourage you to apply the key areas of learning within this module to your own professional context and field of expertise. This will enable you to critically examine how the empirical research process will work best for your research goals and design
More informationTE7039 -
Systematic Appraisal in Education and Training (Optional,60 Credits)
In this module you will focus on the role of the practitioner as a research user. You will have the opportunity to make effective and systematic use of published research to inform education practice and/or policy. Through the process of the systematic appraisal, you will develop enhanced critical appraisal skills. The systematic appraisal project will address research questions which arise from your specific practice/field of expertise. These questions may address:
• Effectiveness of single/definable interventions in order to state and recommend best practice/provide evidence based guidelines for practice.
• Evaluation of appropriateness/acceptability/process/outcomes of educational provision in order to improve/develop/inform practice.
• The service user experience of education services.
• Relationships between practitioners and service users.
• Theoretical and ideological issues of relevance to education practice and/or policy.
You will be supported to select published work to be included in the appraisal; this may be either entirely quantitative, entirely qualitative or mixed method. You will then have the opportunity to consider the philosophical perspective of both the research question and the appraisal methodology.
The focus of this module is a small scale systematic review which you will undertake with the support of an experienced academic research supervisor. Peer support is also encouraged through student led seminars.
WB0716 -
Work Based Dissertation (Optional,60 Credits)
This module comprising the implementation of a quality improvement project in your workplace is designed to promote your personal development, equipping you with a range of inter-personal, intellectual and practical (functional) skills. The real-time work-based dissertation will be of benefit to your employing organisation. It seeks to raise your awareness of the workplace as a learning environment, extend your capability and enhance your individual effectiveness, employability and business competitiveness. It will focus on organisational-based issues and seek to develop your skills in the diagnosis of problems, research and analysis. You will develop strategies to address complex problems in your organisation and practice, responding to internal and external factors that every organisation has to contend with. You will demonstrate that appropriate ethical, commercial, confidentiality and data protection issues are taken into consideration. The module will instil intellectual curiosity in you as a professional learner, and lay a foundation for a philosophy of lifelong learning. This will culminate in a dissertation report reflecting on the learning derived from implementing the project.
More informationOur Applicant Services team will be happy to help. They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
Northumbria University is committed to developing an inclusive, diverse and accessible campus and wider University community and are determined to ensure that opportunities we provide are open to all.
We are proud to work in partnership with AccessAble to provide Detailed Access Guides to our buildings and facilities across our City, Coach Lane and London Campuses. A Detailed Access Guide lets you know what access will be like when you visit somewhere. It looks at the route you will use getting in and what is available inside. All guides have Accessibility Symbols that give you a quick overview of what is available, and photographs to show you what to expect. The guides are produced by trained surveyors who visit our campuses annually to ensure you have trusted and accurate information.
You can use Northumbria’s AccessAble Guides anytime to check the accessibility of a building or facility and to plan your routes and journeys. Search by location, building or accessibility feature to find the information you need.
We are dedicated to helping students who may require additional support during their student journey and offer 1-1 advice and guidance appropriate to individual requirements. If you feel you may need additional support you can find out more about what we offer here where you can also contact us with any questions you may have:
If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
Open Days are a great way for you to get a feel of the University, the city of Newcastle upon Tyne and the course(s) you are interested in.
Information about all of our tuition fees, funding and scholarships.
Get an insight into life at Northumbria at the click of a button! Come and explore our videos and 360 panoramas to immerse yourself in our campuses and get a feel for what it is like studying here using our interactive virtual tour.
Back to top