MSc in Education (Higher Education)

at University of Oxford

During this full-time course, students will have the opportunity to consider a wide range of issues that higher education systems around the world are facing today, including the social and economic contributions of HE, internationalisation, graduate employment and employability, access, equity and social justice, student fees, and rankings. Teaching sessions will combine tutor input, class discussion, and working in small groups in order to examine these key issues and the discourses that shape them.

Course members study three core papers which consider policy issues across higher education systems and the role higher education plays in the economy and society from theoretical, historical and empirical perspectives. Lecturers will also present their own recent research findings, ensuring that the course content reflects live debates and emerging understandings within the field of higher education studies.

In addition to these three pathway-specific core papers, two core papers in research methods develop students’ understanding of key concepts and principles of educational research design and methodology, using quantitative and qualitative methods and data. Students benefit from the expertise available through the Qualitative Methods Hub and the Quantitative Methods Hub at the Department of Education. MSc Education students also choose one assessed option paper from a selection offered by academic staff across the department.

Proven and potential academic excellence

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:
 

• a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a relevant subject, preferably in the social sciences.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.6 out of 4.0.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience

Publications are not expected.

English language proficiency

Minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level requirement

IELTS Academic

 7.5  

TOEFL iBT, including the 'Home Edition'

110

Home    
£15,270

Overseas    
£30,910

Past master's and doctoral students from the Department of Education have gone on to academic and research careers at a range of universities in the UK and across the world, or are employed across a wide range of other sectors. Some recent student destinations include working for governments as policy makers and analysts, NGOs, or international organisations such as OECD, for think tanks and in University administration and management at local and national levels. The department’s ‘Conversations with Alumni’ feature includes interviews with two DPhil alumni on their career paths after Oxford. The MSc Education (Higher Education) provides students with the knowledge and skills to take in a wide range of career pathways and many of our graduates continue on to complete doctorates and enter academia, enter management positions in the field of higher education, or work in higher education policy at government level or in different think tanks or NGOs.