MA Education: Learning, Pedagogy and Assessment (Part Time)
Key Details
- Attendance
- Part Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2024
Course Overview
Study the way people learn, the importance of the interactions between teaching and learning, and how we can assess a person’s educational progress.
This part-time Master’s course is ideally suited to anyone with some experience in education, who wants to delve deeper into the processes, theories and practices at play in this fascinating field. Placing equal emphasis on theory and practice, it builds on your existing knowledge, interests and expertise and helps you apply theory into practice.
This course will give you an in-depth understanding of key educational issues, debates, trends and policies, both nationally and internationally. It will develop your knowledge of educational research and help you in conducting your own research project.
As part of UEA’s renowned School of Education and Lifelong Learning, you’ll gain skills and knowledge that will prove invaluable in your career in education or one of the many associated fields.
The MA Education: Learning, Pedagogy and Assessment is a two-year, part-time course for anyone with an interest in education. Throughout your time with us, we will help you achieve a critical, reflective and practical understanding of the current issues and debates surrounding teaching and learning and you’ll familiarise yourself with some key educational trends and policies in the UK and internationally.
The course has a strong international dimension, which builds on its staff and students’ diverse interests, experiences and backgrounds.
It draws on a long-standing tradition within the School of Education and Lifelong Learning in innovative research and on our excellence in professional education. You’ll benefit from research-led teaching as our team members bring with them skills and expertise at the cutting-edge of research, pedagogy and theory-informed practice.
You’ll be taught by leaders in their field, who are active scholars and contribute to national and international debates.
What’s more, our academic environment and the resources available to you’ll help nurture your knowledge of and aptitude for educational research.
Study and Modules
Structure
In your first year, you’ll be invited to ask questions, such as: What does it mean to be a ‘critical’ reader? Why is critical reading important? How can you develop your criticality, both as a reader and a writer? What is the single question that reminds us to take a critical stance when reading a range of published ‘texts’?
In addition, you’ll be introduced to key concepts and ideas about learning and teaching in compulsory, post-compulsory and lifelong learning. The key concepts and ideas you’ll study include: ‘learning’; ‘cognition’ and ‘emotion’; learning and teaching as ‘social interaction’; ‘agency’, ‘structure’ and ‘culture’; ‘education leadership’ and ‘education policy’. You’ll also explore how diverse approaches to learning and teaching offered by psychologists, sociologists, educational researchers and policy-makers influence everyday educational practice.
You’ll also be introduced to key ideas and concepts that underpin assessment philosophies, purposes and design in schools and universities. We will look at the history and functions of assessment and explore the different roles and types of assessment and problems and challenges. Against this backdrop we will then consider assessment design in relation to curricula and/or pedagogy.
You’ll be able to select an optional module from a list of relevant modules available to you too.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)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
You’ll experience a wide range of teaching and learning methods throughout the course. These include lectures, seminars, tutorials, group discussions, practical workshops, group visits to key educational settings, student-led presentations, team-working and writing exercises.
You’ll be given guided reading before and during each module. You’ll be expected to undertake preparatory reading ahead of classroom sessions, as well as in relation to your coursework. While some coursework will be completed individually, some might involve close collaboration and co-operation with members of your peer group.
Independent study
Guided, self-directed independent study is essential and will be supported by a range of resources, including a dedicated online portal. You’ll need to read extensively between taught sessions and contribute your thoughts and ideas to the group discussion boards and blogs associated with many of the modules.
Assessment
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)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.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- Bachelor degree - 2.1 or equivalent
- Degree Subject
- Social Science (E.g. Education, Sociology, International Development, Philosophy, Psychology, Modern Languages, Classics). Any subject for applicants with a track record of relevant experience.
- 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):
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IELTS: 6.5 overall (minimum 6.0 in all components).
Test dates should be within 2 years of the course start date.
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
If you do not yet 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 English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
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- Intakes
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
Additional Information or Requirements
Additional Entry Requirements
Teaching experience is welcome but not essential.
Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2024/25 are:
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UK Students: £9,975 (full time)
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International Students: £21,200 (full time)
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,023 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
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
As a graduate of this course, you could continue to develop your career in a wide range of professional and academic destinations.
You could choose to work in education as a teacher, manager or leader, while you could also opt for further study at a research degree level. Other paths include working as a consultant in the private sector or for a charity in the third sector.
Careers
A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.
Example of careers that you could enter include:
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Teachers and lecturers
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Educational leaders
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Educational advisers and consultants
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Inspectors
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Officers in educational organisations
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Social sciences researchers
Discover more on our Careers webpages.