MA Education and Development
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 1 year
- Course Start Date
- September 2025
Course Overview
Are you ready to explore an exciting career in education and development? Our rewarding Master’s programme will prepare you for opportunities in a wide range of careers such as educational policy and programming in countries in the Global South, influential government departments, and prestigious national and international development agencies and NGOs.
On this one-year full-time MA Education and Development course, you’ll join a vibrant academic community dedicated to excellence and driven by a shared passion for making a difference.
You’ll explore how education can contribute to global development, examining diverse approaches including human rights, social justice, and human capital theory, as well as critical perspectives on the role of education in addressing inequalities. This course will enable you to understand current debates and global education goals, and their implications for policy, programming and practice at national, regional, and international levels.
You’ll delve into educational debates from a wider development perspective. You’ll also study current challenges and opportunities in education and international development, including: inclusive education, gender inequalities, school violence, pedagogical reform, teacher supply and quality education, non-formal models of education (including Islamic education), decolonising education, education for sustainable development, and the impact and mitigation of conflict, humanitarian, and public health emergencies.
Here at UEA, you’ll have the invaluable opportunity to attend the joint ‘Education and Development Public Seminar’ series hosted by the Schools of Global Development and Education and Lifelong Learning. This series showcases cutting-edge educational research from renowned international academics and leading research institutes. Additionally, our course lecturers are closely affiliated with UEA’s UNESCO Chair for Adult Literacy and Learning for Social Transformation. We’ll support you to become a catalyst for change and help shape the future of global education and development.
Study and Modules
Structure
In the Autumn semester, you'll delve into fundamental theoretical and practical perspectives on education and its role in global development, giving you a solid foundation for analysis and understanding of the key concepts.
In the Spring semester, you’ll apply this knowledge to understanding educational reform and practice, developing your skills in policy analysis to investigate a range of development challenges with a focus on low-income and fragile states. You’ll also be supported to prepare for your dissertation or work placement.
You’ll have the freedom to choose from a set of optional modules available across both semesters of your study, as well as choose from a variety of research methods modules to integrate into your MA programme. You’ll be able to choose from modules offered within the School of Global Development and from a selection offered by UEA’s School of Education and Lifelong Learning.
Alongside your taught studies, you’ll work towards completing a supervised dissertation or work placement report. A range of optional seminars and workshops are also offered, which will help to strengthen your academic and professional skills. Housekeeping sessions to support your learning – particularly essay and dissertation writing – occur throughout the year.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 40)Optional C Modules
(Credits: 40)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
Teaching
Teaching involves a combination of methods, including lectures, seminars, and workshops. We use a combination of formal lectures and participatory styles of learning. Seminars and workshops provide opportunities for collaborative work, student-led presentations and research skills. You’ll also read academic books and journals and international reports to access state-of-the-art theories and evidence.
Independent study
You’ll be expected to be a self-directed learner, working individually and in groups to study between module sessions. This gives you the chance to prepare for in-class activities and assignments, and to concentrate on the areas that interest you the most.
Assessment
The main form of assessment is written coursework assignments, which will enable you to demonstrate your learning in depth. In most cases, there is plenty of scope for you to focus on areas that you’re particularly interested in. Assessments in your compulsory modules also allow you to develop a range of transferable skills, such as writing for development stakeholders and policymakers. Further assessment methods will differ depending on the optional modules you choose.
You’ll receive oral feedback on your arguments and ideas during seminars and workshops, which will help you develop skills in articulating an argument verbally. Your compulsory modules include opportunities for peer-led presentations and review.
You’ll also be encouraged to prepare assignment outlines before coursework deadlines and receive feedback to support your writing of the main assignment.
You’ll undertake either an academic dissertation or an assessed work placement. The dissertation enables you to build research and information management skills as you use primary and/or secondary data to explore in-depth a specific topic of interest. Critical analysis, application of theory to real world problems and extended report writing skills are developed in both the dissertation and the assessed work placement. The latter also provides an opportunity for you to gain career-enhancing work experience.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Education or related fields.
- Additional Entry Requirements
Applicants should normally have a good undergraduate degree from a recognised higher education institution. The University will also take into account the employment experience of applicants where relevant.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent
Degree Subject
Education or related fields.
- Additional Entry Requirements
Applicants should normally have a good undergraduate degree from a recognised higher education institution. The University will also take into account the employment experience of applicants where relevant.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
-
IELTS: 6.0 overall (with minimum 6.0 in Writing & Speaking and 5.5 in Listening & Reading)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- INTO UEA
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study the International Pre-Masters programme offered by our partner INTO UEA. This programme guarantees progression to selected Master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details, please click here:
International Pre-Masters in Business, Economics and Social Sciences
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are:
-
UK Students: £10,850
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International Students: £22,700
We estimate living expenses at £1,136 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
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.
Employability
After the Course
Upon completing your MA, you can pursue a variety of potential careers both in and beyond global development.
Previous graduates from the School of Global Development have gone on to work for the British High Commission in Ghana, British Civil Service, CARE International, European Union, Overseas Development Institute, Oxfam, Save the Children International, UNITAR in Japan, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF and WaterAid.
Depending on your degree outcome, you'll also be well qualified to enter a PhD programme with a view to continuing to an academic career both in the UK and overseas.
Careers
Example of careers that you could enter include:
- International organisations and UN agencies,
- Governmental and non-governmental organisations
- Local government
- Charities
- Private sector
Discover more on our Careers webpages.