MA Mathematics Education

Key Details

Attendance: Full Time
Award: Degree of Master of Arts
Course Length: 1 year
Course Start Date: September 2024

Other Start Dates

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Course Overview

Mathematics is integral to so much in life. However, many people see themselves as lacking in mathematical ability and have little confidence in engaging with mathematics. The challenges to the teaching and learning of mathematics are therefore many – but so are the ways to explore and tackle them!

Our MA Mathematics Education course is designed for graduates in mathematics – or in Mathematics-related disciplines – with an interest in the teaching and learning of mathematics. We also welcome applications from mathematics teachers at all educational levels.

You’ll learn about key Mathematics Education theories, about key findings from international studies that explore its improvement, and about the latest digital resources used in mathematics and science teaching. You will be trained in educational research methods, and you will complete a research project on a mathematics education topic, with the support of specialists from UEA’s Research in Mathematics Education Group.

About

You’ll gain a thorough understanding of mathematics education, whether you are a recent mathematics or other graduate, a mathematics teacher at any educational level, or an education professional with an interest in the teaching and learning of mathematics. You’ll discover the latest research and thinking in a field that is strongly influenced by a range of disciplines such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, philosophy and history.

Perhaps you’re intrigued by how we can foster greater appreciation, competence and confidence in mathematics in all classrooms – and for all learners.

You might wish to explore the foundations of mathematics that we typically encounter in primary school.

Your interest could lie in the social and emotional barriers to mathematical learning for secondary pupils going through adolescence.

Or, maybe, you want to learn about how digital resources can enhance the teaching and learningpedagogy of mathematics and science, from the primary classroom all the way through to the university lecture.

The course includes mathematics education modules, dedicated to key theories, main findings and applications of mathematics education research as well as foremost digital resources for mathematics and science teaching.

Finally, you’ll work on a dissertation project on a mathematics education topic of your own choosing under the supervision of a member of the Research in Mathematics Education (RME) Group, the vibrant community of mathematics educators at UEA that will welcome you to its activities throughout your studies.

Applicants with teaching experience are welcome on the course as is anyone considering a career in mathematics education. Our course is designed to allow a useful interchange of ideas between students with different – and often excitingly complementary – backgrounds.

Study and Modules

Structure

The course is designed to welcome you into the field of Mathematics Education as a research discipline in the Social Sciences that can inform and change practice and policy on the teaching and learning of mathematics.

To this aim, you’ll first learn about key theories that underpin research in the field of Mathematics Education. We cover a range of theories that originate in developmental psychology, sociology, discourse analysis, anthropology and neuroscience and allow insights into the many facets of mathematics and its pedagogy. To learn how to use these theories in order to prepare for your own Mathematics Education research project, you’ll trial their application in data samples from mathematics classrooms across educational levels and from your own prior experiences.

In tandem, you’ll be introduced to how these theories have been used in milestone studies in Mathematics Education. Crucially, you learn about key findings and applications that have emerged from these studies. The selected studies are from around the world and concern primary, secondary and university mathematics as well as uses of mathematics in the workplace and everyday life.

You’ll also learn about critical reading of academic and other works, and you’ll explore techniques of criticality that you can apply in your own reading and writing.

As your studies progress, you’ll continue learning about milestone works in Mathematics Education, particularly those with a focus on the use of digital resources in the pedagogy of mathematics and science. Again, the focus will span educational levels, contexts and mathematical topics.

You’ll also continue to build your research skills through learning about educational research methods: you will be introduced to key research techniques that you need in order to design, execute and write up your dissertation research project. To assist you further in this direction, you’ll also select one optional module from a range on offer.

Finally, for your Mathematics Education dissertation, you’ll design and work on a research project under the supervision of a member of the Research in Mathematics Education (RME) Group. While the topic can be of your own choosing, you’ll be welcome to consider topics aligned with the current projects of the RME Group.

Compulsory Modules

Optional A Modules

(Credits: 20)

Important Information

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

You’ll engage with key elements of theory and practice in mathematics education, as well as the current methods of educational research at large. You will also get to grips with reading, writing and presentation skills, with a particular focus on academic texts as well as other sources relevant to mathematics education, including online resources.

The UEA library has an impressive range of online and hard copy resources, and engaging with them will be an essential element of your learning experience. Apart from key academic texts, the library also holds extensive mathematics teaching resources and materials that you’ll be invited to explore, especially when looking for examples and applications of mathematics teaching. You’ll also become familiar with a wide array of media and other electronic resources pertinent to mathematics education.

You’ll have opportunities to interact with the teaching team throughout the period of your studies. This will include group and individual tutorials, in which you’ll discuss the work you are doing in preparation for your assignments and dissertation.

You’ll also be welcome to the events and activities of the RME Group including group meetings and informal exchanges with the post-graduate researchers and academic visitors of the group. You will also be invited to the School’s regular research seminars.

Assessment

You will be assessed through written assignments and a dissertation.

Your assignments will involve reading and reviewing key texts in mathematics education as well as writing research-informed accounts of your experiences of learning and teaching mathematics. You will also review texts on educational research methods.

For your dissertation, you’ll design a small-scale study in mathematics education for which you will collect and analyse data in the light of the key mathematics education theories and research findings that you learned about in the core modules.

Entry Requirements

Degree Classification

Bachelor degree - 2.1 or equivalent

Degree Subject

Mathematics / Mathematics Education

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: 6.5 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:  

Pre-sessional English at INTO UEA  
Academic English at INTO UEA

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 in Mathematics 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:

UK Students: £9,975 (full time)
International Students: £21,200 (full time)

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

You’ll have the opportunity to consider further studies at UEA, for example towards a doctorate in mathematics education (full-time or part-time). Opportunities to be involved in one of the research and development projects of the RME Group also arise regularly. Furthermore, you will be very welcome to return to UEA and the RME Group’s research projects later in your career!

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:

Further studies in Mathematics Education (e.g. PhD)
Mathematics teaching in schools (secondary, primary)
Positions in the Education sector with a Mathematics specialism such as: Ministries of Education; Education policy organisations (governmental or NGOs); Inspectorates (such as OFSTED)
Private sector positions where mathematics and / or its teaching are relevant (e.g. private schools and colleges, banking, accountancy, engineering)

Discover more on our Careers webpages.