Education | Bishop Grosseteste University

Ranked 1st in the UK for Teaching Quality (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025)

Why study this course

Gain a master’s degree from a UK university with a strong reputation in teacher education.

Learn from a team of education specialists with expertise in a wide range of disciplines.

The opportunity to study optional modules to follow your own interests in education.

Develop a deep understanding of education to enhance own practice and career prospects.

Course summary

The MA Education is an exciting two-year part-time blended programme that allows students to follow their own educational interests and passions. On completion of the MA, you will have developed your critical understanding of education, deepened your knowledge in your chosen areas of focus and enhanced your practice as well as career prospects in the workplace. For this reason, the MA Education is also perfect for preparing students wishing to undertake further studies, such as our EdD (Doctorate of Education) and PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) programmes.

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Key facts

Award	MA
Duration	2 years
Mode of study	Part-time blended
Start date	September 2025
Award	Bishop Grosseteste University
Institution code	B38

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About this course

The MA Education is aimed at in-service practitioners working in a variety of educational settings, including schools, colleges, universities and the third sector, who are seeking professional development that would help further their career. By undertaking the MA, students will get the opportunity to think deeply about educational issues that matter to them in their professional context, in turn helping to develop their expertise in their chosen field and enhance their practice.

The programme is designed around three core and two optional modules. In the first year of study, a core module will guide students to explore key issues within a specific educational context and two optional modules will allow them to develop their own expertise in areas such as learner support and leadership. In the second year of study, students will undertake a core module about educational research and then complete a research project focusing on an area of their own choice.

To help with the cost of course fees and living costs, students may be eligible for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan. Click here for more information about the Postgraduate Loan.

For 2024/25 entry, a 20% discount is also available for those with a 1st or 2:1 degree classification, and 30% discount is available for BGU alumni.

For 2025/26 entry, a 20% discount is available for BGU alumni.

What you will study

Students on this course will study some of the following modules:

Course modules

Compulsory modules

This module explores key elements of effective teaching and learning which are relevant to education in different contexts. You will consider contemporary challenges relating to planning and assessment, and how policy and curriculum can impact on these. The module will also explore innovative pedagogical approaches that can benefit a range of settings, linking theory and practice.

Optional modules

This optional module will guide you to reflect on your own professional practice to draw critical insight and engage with research to inform your professional development. You will explore your own pedagogical approach through a critical lens and consider how your impact can be maximised through effective teaching, reflective practice, and active engagement in research/ professional development activities.

This module explores the implementation of digital innovations in education. You will consider the associated potential benefits and challenges, as well as how impact can be maximised and sustained. By examining relevant theories, practice and research, you will apply your understanding to inform future developments in your own setting.

This module explores what it means to adopt a learner-centred approach to support in education. You will consider how this approach can be applied at various levels to potentially benefit learners as well as its limitations. Drawing from relevant theories and research, you will examine practice within your own setting and identify implications for enhancing support.

This module explores the management and leadership of change in education. You will consider a range of key concepts and approaches relating to change and leadership, before applying your understanding to examine a relevant change in your own context. Drawing from relevant theories and your own practice, you will identify implications for leadership within your setting.

This module explores a range of methodologies and methods frequently used in educational research, examining their potential strengths, limitations and the associated ethical considerations. During the module, you will develop your understanding in research concepts such as reliability, validity and generalisability, and will consider how to plan research using a suitable methodological approach, whilst taking into account the ethical issues you may encounter.

This module involves you undertaking an independent research project, in which you will apply the knowledge and understanding gained from previous modules, particularly MED706, to plan your research utilising a suitable methodological approach. Once ethical approval is granted for your data collection, you will carry out the research and produce a report in the form of a dissertation. Throughout the module, you will be supported by the module leader and also an individual research supervisor.

Entry requirements

Typically, you will need to have obtained, or be predicted to obtain, a good first degree (or equivalent). Due to the blended nature of the course, students must also have regular and reliable internet access.

All students are required to be working or volunteering in an educational setting for the duration of the course, typically for a minimum of 5 hours per week or equivalent.

For international students, English language requirements are IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6 in each component.

Some students may be eligible to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in accordance with the Code of Practice for Recognition of Prior Learning.

If you have any questions about the entry requirements, please contact our Enquiries team for advice on + 44 (0) 1522 583658 or email courseenquiries@bishopg.ac.uk

Further information

Click here for important information about this course including additional costs, resources and key policies.

In accordance with University conditions, students are entitled to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning, RP(C)L, based on relevant credit at another HE institution or credit Awarded for Experiential Learning, (RP(E)L).

How you will be taught

The MA Education is a blended course which features both in-person teaching and online learning. In addition to your induction, you will be required to attend three MA Weekends in person per year (Friday evening and Saturday). In between these weekends, you will be supported by a range of activities and events as well, such as tutorials, conferences and a variety of online tasks.

Academic staff

Assessment

We aim to make assessment an integral part of your learning. All the assignment tasks are designed to support your professional practice and the area of focus can be tailored to your own interests. During the MA, you will complete a variety of tasks, including an academic blog, a written proposal and a presentation.

Careers & Further study

Many graduates of this course have found their career progression enhanced as a direct or indirect result of following this course. More significantly, they have been directly in involved in research education and developed these skills professionally in an educational context. Through the building of systematic enquiry skills and incisive critical engagement with educational issues, graduates of the MA in Education have demonstrated that they have enhanced their practice and made a direct impact on their settings as learning communities.

Completing the MA Education can open the door to study for a PhD or professional doctorate such as the EdD, both of which can be studied here at BGU. Some graduates move onto teaching positions in higher education or to leadership positions within an educational organisation.

What Our Students Say

Discover what life is like at Bishop Grosseteste University from our students.

Support

Studying at BGU is a student-centred experience. Staff and students work together in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. You will know every member of the MA Education team and feel confident approaching them for help and advice. We will recognise you, not just by name, but as an individual with unique talents and professional interests.

You will be able to access academic support from the Library and our Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT), as well as other services provided by the Students’ Union, the Student Advice team and our Chaplaincy.

We will be there to support you, both personally and academically, from induction to graduation.

Fees & Funding

A lot of student finance information is available from numerous sources, but it is sometimes confusing and contradictory. That’s why at BGU we try to give you all the information and support we can to help to throughout the process. Our Student Advice team are experts in helping you sort out the funding arrangements for your studies, offering a range of services to guide you through all aspects of student finance step by step.

Click here to find information about fees, loans and support which will help to make the whole process a little easier to understand. For all applicants, there are full instructions at UCAS to make it as easy as possible for you to fill in your online application, plus help text where appropriate. Full details of all tuition fees can be found here.

For all applicants, there are full instructions here to make it as easy as possible for you to fill in your online application, plus help text where appropriate.