Research Freedom
Choose your research approach. Shape your independently led dissertation around an empirical project or systematic appraisal, supported by a supervisor whose expertise aligns with your area.
Entry year
2027/28
Education MA
- Typical Annual Fee Scholarship & Discount eligibility may apply
- Modules
- Entry Requirements
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Mode of Study
24 months Part Time1 other option available
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Start Date
September 2027
Education at Northumbria
Education MA at Northumbria gives you the critical perspectives, research skills, and practical insight to lead meaningful change across the education sector. Whether you work in schools, colleges, universities, or training organisations, this flexible MA is designed around you - your context, your specialism, and your ambitions.
Choose from a wide range of modules spanning leadership and management, curriculum development, inclusion, technology-enhanced learning, and more, tailoring your studies to the career path you want to pursue. Collaborative seminars, work-based learning, and an independently led dissertation bring theory and practice together, equipping you to challenge assumptions, re-interpret policy, and make a confident impact in your professional environment.
Learning & Assessment
Learn through lectures, seminars, group discussions, and work-based tasks. Assessed via written assignments, presentations, and reports. An independently supervised dissertation rounds off your studies.
During your time at Northumbria, there are lots of opportunities to apply your knowledge in real-world settings. We call this experiential learning. Our Real-World Learning hub provides more information about how at Northumbria, learning goes beyond lectures.
During your time at Northumbria, there are lots of opportunities to apply your knowledge in real-world settings. We call this experiential learning. Our Real-World Learning hub provides more information about how at Northumbria, learning goes beyond lectures.
- School of Communities and Education
- City Campus, Northumbria University, Newcastle
Module Information
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
Year One Optional Modules
Optional modules may include:
- The Theory and Practice of Identification and Assessment
- Curriculum Development
- Understanding Autism
- Education System in England
- Negotiated Study
- Mentoring and Coaching in Education and Training Settings
- Academic Recognition for Continuing Professional Development
- Behaviour in Autism and Facilitation of Learning
- Understanding Educational Research and Methods
- The Role of Educational Assessment in Practice and Policy
- Educational Leadership and Management: Models and Processes
- Technology Enhanced Learning: Practice, Evidence and Debate
- Leading Learning and Managing Change
- Perspectives and Philosophies of Education
- Reflective Approaches to Teaching and Learning
- Inclusion and the Professions
- Contemporary Issues in Education
- Managing Inclusive Learning Environments
- Project Management and Change Leadership
Year Two Optional Modules
Optional modules may include:
- The Empirical Project
- Systematic Appraisal in Education and Training
- Understanding Autism
- Education System in England
- Negotiated Study
- Mentoring and Coaching in Education and Training Settings
- Academic Recognition for Continuing Professional Development
- The Role of Educational Assessment in Practice and Policy
- Educational Leadership and Management: Models and Processes
- Technology Enhanced Learning: Practice, Evidence and Debate
- Perspectives and Philosophies of Education
- Inclusion and the Professions
- Managing Inclusive Learning Environments
- Work Based Dissertation
Entry Requirements 2027/28
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
Fees and Funding 2027/28 Entry
Fees are set in line with the UK Government's tuition fee cap. The University may increase fees in subsequent years in line with any changes to the tuition fee cap. Increases will be linked to inflation. For example, increases may be linked to RPIX (Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments) Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect. Student fee loans rise in line with the tuition fees cap.
*if your course is longer than one year
This is the tuition fee for your first year of study. You should expect to pay tuition fees for every year of study. The University may increase fees in the second and subsequent years of your course at our discretion in line with any inflationary or other uplift. Students will be notified of any increase ahead of it taking effect.
There are no Additional Costs
Scholarships and Discounts
Apply Now
Start your application
To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.
WHY NORTHUMBRIA
Top 10 for Research Power
Social Policy at Northumbria is ranked 3rd in the UK for research power, out of 76 submissions (REF, 2021)
Tailored to Your Practice
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Taught by Dedicated Experts
Staff teaching on this course are qualified educators and active researchers, bringing current, practice-informed knowledge into every session and offering committed pastoral and academic support.
Flexible Study Options
Full-time and part-time routes mean this MA can fit around your existing commitments, making it possible to continue working whilst pursuing your postgraduate qualification.
This carousel contains 5 slides. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate.
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Research Freedom
Choose your research approach. Shape your independently led dissertation around an empirical project or systematic appraisal, supported by a supervisor whose expertise aligns with your area.
-
Top 10 for Research Power
Social Policy at Northumbria is ranked 3rd in the UK for research power, out of 76 submissions (REF, 2021)
-
Tailored to Your Practice
/sitecore/media library/Course Pages V4/Health and Wellbeing/Communities and Education/Yearly Overview and Boasting Points/Real World Experience 1280x1024
-
Taught by Dedicated Experts
Staff teaching on this course are qualified educators and active researchers, bringing current, practice-informed knowledge into every session and offering committed pastoral and academic support.
-
Flexible Study Options
Full-time and part-time routes mean this MA can fit around your existing commitments, making it possible to continue working whilst pursuing your postgraduate qualification.
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Career Prospects
The broad, bespoke nature of this course means the skills you build, such as critical reflection, independent research, communication, and collaborative practice are valued across the entire education sector.
Graduates of this course can aspire to advance into careers such as senior leadership and management, curriculum design, specialist education consultancy, SEND coordination, and policy development across schools, further education, higher education, and training organisations. The breadth of specialist modules available means your MA can be shaped around the career direction you want to pursue, whether that is moving into a leadership role, transitioning into a new area of education, or strengthening your expertise in your current field.
Graduates of this course can aspire to advance into careers such as senior leadership and management, curriculum design, specialist education consultancy, SEND coordination, and policy development across schools, further education, higher education, and training organisations. The breadth of specialist modules available means your MA can be shaped around the career direction you want to pursue, whether that is moving into a leadership role, transitioning into a new area of education, or strengthening your expertise in your current field.
Student Projects
The independently led dissertation is the centrepiece of your MA, giving you the freedom to pursue a research question directly relevant to your professional context. Student projects could span topics such as the impact of technology-enhanced learning in post-compulsory education, leadership strategies for managing change in schools, inclusive curriculum design for diverse learners, autism and facilitation of learning, or contemporary issues in SEND policy.
You choose your research approach such as an empirical project, or systematic appraisal, and are matched with a supervisor whose expertise aligns with your area, ensuring your dissertation is academically rigorous, professionally grounded, and meaningful to your practice.
You choose your research approach such as an empirical project, or systematic appraisal, and are matched with a supervisor whose expertise aligns with your area, ensuring your dissertation is academically rigorous, professionally grounded, and meaningful to your practice.
Facilities
Based at Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria's dedicated education environment offers modern teaching spaces designed to support collaborative and reflective learning. Each module has its own area within Blackboard Ultra, giving you flexible access to learning materials, recorded sessions, and peer discussion forums at any time. This technology-enhanced approach lets you revisit content at your own pace and stay connected with your learning community between sessions. Additional academic language support is available for international students through specialist sessions that run alongside your studies, helping you build confidence in academic writing and communication within an education context.
You can now experience Northumbria University from the comfort of your own home. Our immersive virtual tours and interactive 360 images allow you to explore our vibrant campus and dynamic learning spaces, all from anywhere in the world.
You can now experience Northumbria University from the comfort of your own home. Our immersive virtual tours and interactive 360 images allow you to explore our vibrant campus and dynamic learning spaces, all from anywhere in the world.
Teaching Staff
Learn from qualified teachers and active researchers with substantial experience across the education sector, from early years and schools to further, higher, and post-compulsory education. Staff research spans educational leadership, curriculum innovation, and inclusion, with a strong record of publication in education journals.
Any Questions?
Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help. They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901.
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