MA in Education

at University of Reading

Year 1

Compulsory modules include:

• Investigating Education
• MA Education dissertation
• Analysing Research Data in Education

Due to the popularity of this programme and the importance of teaching at the start of term, applications must be received by 1 August 2022 for entry in September 2022. Applications received after this date will only be considered for the following year.

You may be offered a place on an MA Education programme provided you meet all of the requirements listed. If you are in the process of completing or achieving these requirements, then a conditional offer may be made pending satisfactory completion of the offer requirements.

1. You hold, or are predicted to achieve, a 2.1 UK honours degree or equivalent non-UK qualification normally in Education Studies, or Education Studies with another subject. Other subjects will be accepted if you can demonstrate in your professional experience and personal statement that you have an active interest in education and an appropriate level of professional experience.

2. You present appropriate evidence of a minimum of one year, full-time equivalent, of professional experience working as an educator. This may include teaching and/or training in any subject or age phase or setting, coaching and/or mentoring in an educational setting, or working in education management or policy. You must have professional experience in the practical application of education, and have led and delivered educational activity. You must supply one reference from a suitable person in authority who can confirm the extent, range and quality of your professional experience to the satisfaction of the Admissions Team.

3. You present a personal statement that details your rationale for applying for the MA Education programme. It should explain your motivations for taking the programme, and present evidence from your professional experience that indicates how this makes you a suitable candidate for the programme. Evidence must be realistic and believable, so should identify the educational setting, the dates the professional experience occurred, the nature of the professional experience and what kind of roles and responsibilities you held during this professional experience.

4. International applicants must hold IELTS 6.5 overall with no element less than 6.0 (or equivalent). 

Pre-sessional English language programme

If you need to improve your English language score, you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250 per year

New international students: £18,650 per year

Our master’s programme is the ideal qualification for educators at all points in their careers. Where students choose to pursue a specialism, they may wish to use this to further develop their professional expertise in education and teaching.

Our graduates use their master's degrees to progress to higher levels in a variety of educational and education-related settings, such as:

• management in schools and colleges, including headship qualifications
• leadership positions in government and charitable trusts
• policy and curriculum design at national and international levels.

Other graduates have gone on to work in educational consultancy, using their education research skills to develop careers as specialist advisors in their chosen area of expertise in education.

The MA Education provides you with the knowledge and skills to carry out quantitative and qualitative education research and projects in education and related areas of educational philosophy and sociology, policy and government, leadership and management, and educational psychology. It is also the ideal foundation for doctoral study on the EdD and PhD programmes at the University of Reading.