A workplace contract means that we will deliver our MA Education programme to a group of between 15 and 20 staff at your chosen venue. It enables you to tailor the focus of your programme of study directly to the needs of your organisation and your development priorities. Staff develop knowledge and skills that can be directly applied to their job role, enhancing their professional practice and creating a positive impact on teaching and student learning.
Using our MA Education programme structure as an overarching framework we will work in partnership with your organisation to develop content that meets your specific needs and objectives, creating a programme that aims to deliver both immediate and sustained impact.
Our wide range of modules mean you can select the subject areas that your organisation wishes to focus on. Learners will benefit personally and professionally, whilst also gaining a valuable postgraduate award.
You may be looking to:
- enrich student engagement
- improve achievement levels
- develop creative approaches to teaching and learning activities
- increase staff collaboration
- improve leadership skills and support succession planning.
Learners will qualify with either an MA Education, or in one of the following specialist pathways:
- MA Education: Early Childhood
- MA Education: Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
- MA Education: Leadership and Management
- MA Education: Inclusion and Special Educational Needs and Disability
Your bespoke programme is delivered through a contract between your institution and the College of Education which facilitates the programme on your site or at the University. The staff who study the programme become full students of the University and will have access to all of our resources and support.
As an educational institution, you can choose to follow the whole MA Education programme, or a combination of individual modules. We design the study programme to fit around your timetable; workshops and tutor sessions can be delivered in your institution or at the University. We also encourage your staff with appropriate qualifications to co-deliver with us to ensure a real fit with your context, policies and practice, offering additional professional development opportunities.
To achieve the full MA Education award requires 180 credits. Groups of modules can also be studied.
Each 20 credit module requires 24 hours of workshop and tutorial time. Institutions often choose to schedule study sessions after their teaching commitment and to suit their year planner. Learners are also encouraged to study in their own time, for example reading journals and articles.
Awards structure
| Credit | Modules | Award |
|---|
| 20 |
Any 20 credit module |
Certificate of Credit |
| 40 |
Any two 20 credit modules |
Certificate in Continuing Professional
Development in Postgraduate Education |
| 60 |
Crafting Your Masters Study (20 credits)
Plus two additional 20 credit modules* |
Postgraduate Certificate in MA Education or
Postgraduate Certificate in MA Education:
Specialist Pathway |
| 120 |
Evidence Based Practice (20 credits)
Plus two additional 20 credit modules* |
Postgraduate Diploma in MA Education or
Postgraduate Diploma in MA Education:
Specialist Pathway |
| 180 |
Independent Study (60 credits) |
MA Education or MA Education: Specialist Pathway |
*See list of optional modules
Each module is worth 20 credits, apart from the Independent Study module which is worth 60 credits.
Core modules
You will study modules such as:
- Designing Social Research
- Independent Study (Dissertation)
Optional modules (MA Education)
If you choose to study our broad-based MA Education, you will also study two optional modules such as:
- Comparative Education
- Curriculum Challenges
- Education for All
- Educational Policy and Practice
- Emotional Wellbeing
- Learning and Ability Theories in Action
- Measuring and Evaluating and Learning
- Negotiated: Applied Focus of Study
- Participation and Agency in Education
- Principles and Practices of Coaching and Mentoring
- Reel Education
- Thinking Theoretically about Education
Optional modules (specialist pathway)
If you choose to study an MA Education with a specialist pathway, you’ll study two specialist modules relating to your pathway. If you aren’t studying a pathway, you can study any pathway modules within your optional module choices.
Early Childhood
- Understanding Childhood
- Children’s Workforce Development
Inclusion and Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)
- The Lived Experience of SEND
- Inclusion, Disability and Special Education in the 21st Century
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- The Principles of English Language Teaching
- Language Learning: Theory and Practice
Leadership and Management
- Leadership and Management Strategies
- Developing Leadership Capacity
Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.
Assignments are contextualised to your educational practice and are directly relevant to your learners, for both their professional practice and their personal career development.
Learners will be assessed through a variety of coursework assignments including essays, presentations and portfolios.
Learners will usually need an undergraduate degree or an equivalent qualification.
2024/25 (August 2024 - July 2025)
| Type | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|
| UK | N/A | £670 per 20 credits |
| International | N/A | N/A |
Please note fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase after one year of study.
* UK full-time fees paid within one academic year are rounded down to the nearest £50 if applicable
About postgraduate awards
Please note at postgraduate level, you’ll need to gain the following number of credits in total to obtain the respective awards. If you have any questions please contact us.
| Award | Credits |
|---|
| Postgraduate Certificate | 60 Credits |
| Postgraduate Diploma | 120 Credits |
| MA or MSc | 180 Credits |
This means you will gain 180 credits in total to complete the full MA or MSc. If you are studying part time you will normally complete your studies over two or three years, depending on the course structure.
Funding your studies
Find out more about fees, postgraduate loans and support you may be entitled to.
Find out about funding your studiesFind out about funding your studies
Alumni discount for Derby graduates
We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all Derby alumni.
Find out about the Alumni discountFind out about the Alumni discount
How to apply
Please look at our before you apply.
Contact us to discuss the details of your Workplace Contract.
If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.
Contact us Contact us Flexible and agreed within the design of the Workplace Contract.
Download programme specification
Teaching hours
Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.
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