September 2025

MA Education On Campus

Postgraduate, Master's Degree, September 2025

This programme is taught through face-to-face seminars, on campus. If you are looking for our online MA Education, please click here.

Our MA Education (on-campus) degree provides a fresh take on what a masters in education can look like. You will study for your masters degree by examining education through three different lenses; psychology, sociology, and philosophy. Each of the three disciplines of education intersect with contemporary educational issues, practice, and policy. You will look at global influences on education and will develop your skills to leave you equipped to pursue further opportunities such as research or leadership in educational settings both in the UK and internationally. Email ma-education@newman.ac.uk for more information.

The on-campus MA Education comprises of induction sessions, followed by four compulsory taught modules and a dissertation or research project.

Pre-course and induction sessions focus on writing at level 7 for UK qualifications including masters’ level academic expectations and what writing ‘critically’ means. The sessions will also cover what academic integrity means including plagiarism, use of artificial intelligence, and collusion.

The Philosophy of Education module will explore the philosophical underpinnings of education from a global perspective, examining how educational philosophy has changed during the past century. Key thinkers who have shaped educational philosophy will form the backbone of the reading and teaching for this module.

The Sociology of Education module will explore contemporary theories and concepts in education, located in the wider political, social, cultural, and global contexts of education. Social justice will feature as a strong component in this module which will examine critical theory throughout the learning.

The Psychology of Education module will take you on an examination of how psychology and education are interconnected. The module will focus mainly on social psychology of education, treating educational environments as social contexts, exploring the importance of relationships and professional identities.

The Research Methods in Education module will equip you with the skills and knowledge relating to methodologies, methods of data gathering, and ethical research practices. You will gain an understanding in the importance of having a robust and ethical research design.

The Dissertation/Research Project is where you will undertake a piece of research. This is likely to be a piece of empirical research, but other valid approaches, such as a systematic literature review will also be possible.

 

 

The MA Education is delivered on campus. If you are looking for our online offer, please click here.

The table below describes the structure of the degree and the various routes.

 

Each module is assessed in a different way, to allow you to develop different skills and demonstrate your understanding in a variety of ways. For all assessments, you can choose your focus within the subject area. The assessments for each module are outlined below:

Philosophy of Education

1. Individual presentation

2. A critical event line with reflective narrative

 

Sociology of Education

1. Individual poster presentation

2. Essay

 

Psychology of Education

1. A critical literature review in your chosen field

 

Research Methods in Education

1. Research proposal

2. Detailed ethical protocol

 

Dissertation/Research Project

1. You will be assessed through the production of a research report or through a 50% research re-port (7,500 words) and 50% research-informed resource.

You will have access to all facilities at Birmingham Newman including the library, which stocks a wide range of books, journals and e-books. Previous level 7 masters credits may be transferred (free-of-charge) through the accreditation of prior certificated learning (RPCL). Also, you can gain credits for other sustained CPD programmes you have undertaken, such as NPQs, through the recognition of prior experiential learning (RPeL) route.

For further information regarding a Postgraduate Loan (PGL) for Master’s study click here

Newman University is located in Britain’s second city – Birmingham. With one of the youngest city populations in Europe, it is a vibrant and dynamic place to study.

Studying at Newman University, you have the advantage of being near to the city, but living in, or commuting to peaceful and comfortable surroundings on campus.

Dining out

Birmingham has lots of wonderful places to dine out with a range of different cuisines. Places where you can dine out include; Brindley Place, Mailbox and Hagley Road (just 10 minutes’ from Newman).

Entertainment

Whether you like to go to; the theatre, gigs or clubs, or enjoy: sports, shopping visiting art galleries or exhibitions – Birmingham will not disappoint and you will be spoilt for choice!

Location

Getting around Birmingham is easy via train, bus or by car. Birmingham has excellent transport links to the rest of Britain, making it easy for those weekend getaways!

Why not explore the city for yourself by visiting one of our Open Days?

Want to find out more about Birmingham? Then take a look at some Birmingham City Secrets.

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Entry Requirements

UK Home students

  • An honours degree of a British University of equivalent institution (minimum of 2.2)
  • Consideration will be given to UK students with lower-level qualifications (e.g. a 3rd class degree or non-honours degree) who have a relevant range of professional experience. Professional experience will be considered by the programme leader in conjunction with the quality office.

International Applicants

  • An equivalent graduate level qualification from an overseas University of Equivalent institution (minimum 2.2).
  • Secure English Language Test (SELT) equivalent to IELTS 6.5 with no component below 6.0

Course Fees

UK home students

The full-time and part-time course fee, for UK home students, for 2024/2025 is £7,800. All part-time masters courses are payable in the first two years of study, unless otherwise stated.

  • 1 year full time route = 1 full payment
  • 2 year part-time route = payable in first two years of study, 50% in year 2 and 50 % year 2
  • 3 year part-time route = payable in first two years of study, 50% in year 2 and 50 % year 2

Any additional year e.g., for dissertation, is charged at half of a module rate for that year

Alumni discounts are available to students who have completed a full UG or PGCE with Birmingham Newman. For non-Newman graduates, a 10% discount is offered to those enrolling onto a full masters’ degree programme and who are currently employed by a Birmingham Newman University partnership school.

International students

The course fee for international students is as follows:

Academic year 2024/2025
  • Postgraduate Taught: £13,500 tuition fee
  • International Excellence Scholarship: £2,500

All International Students who apply in 2024/25 will be eligible for the International Excellence Scholarship which will be automatically applied to their offer as a tuition fee reduction.

Academic year 2025/2026
  • Postgraduate Taught: £16,000 tuition fee
  • Undergraduate Taught: £14,000 tuition fee
  • Scholarships: TBC

International students must pay fees and deposit amounts as instructed within their offer letter.

Postgraduate Loans

You can apply for a postgraduate loan when enrolling on a full masters’ degree (180 credits), to use as a contribution to the cost of studying and living expenses. For further information visit the postgraduate loans website.

Modules

If you choose two of the three modules in the same academic discipline, your MA qualification will have the named award matching that field of study. If you do not wish to follow a named award pathway, your qualification will be MA Education. 

Some modules are compulsory, depending on the named award you choose. Your lecturer will advise you about this when you apply.

Please be aware that, as with any course, there may be changes to the modules delivered, for information view our Changes to Programmes of Module Changes page.

Timetables: find out when information is available to students

Below is an example of modules you could choose from during your studies.

  1. This module will provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate a critical understanding of the principles underpinning effective research designs in education and the social sciences at master’s level. Beginning with a reflective approach to their own ontological and epistemological positioning in relation to both their research design and established research paradigms, students will explore issues of research methodology, ethics and understanding in relation to a chosen field, to enhance and inform professional and/ or academic practice. Students will relate their chosen issue critically to current literature and need to critically analyse the validity, reliability and appropriateness of their research processes. Students will design a research project, which will include a framework for the collection and analysis/interpretation of primary data.
  2. The Dissertation module provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate a systematic understanding of research, and a critical awareness of current problems in professional practices, by designing and undertaking a small-scale research study.  Following ethical approval and justification of research methodology and methods, students will normally collect, analyse and interpret primary data and reflect on the ethical implications of their research. However, alternatively, students may develop a. systematic understanding of knowledge by undertaking a non-empirical study in consultation with their supervisor.