January 2024

Research in Education - PG Cert

Postgraduate, Postgraduate Certificate, January 2024

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The Postgraduate Certificate comprises of two modules: Professional Enquiry and Research Design. This flexible award is designed to be a first step into postgraduate study. It gives you opportunities to develop your capabilities in research and the flexibility to research your own professional practices. By working with others, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate a critical understanding of the principles underpinning effective research design in education and the social sciences at Masters’ level.

Professional Enquiry enables you to reflect on research on professional practice by analysing and reviewing different forms of research on professional enquiry. You are also encouraged to relate research to your professional experiences and current roles.

Research Design will provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate a critical understanding of the principles underpinning effective research designs in education and the social sciences at Masters’ level.

Our Postgraduate provision will be run online, with some face to face tutorials where required. The on-campus elements will vary depending on each tutor and will be discussed with students beforehand.

The course is undergoing academic revalidation during this academic year.

Modules are based at Newman, usually delivered over six evenings for 3 hours per session, with additional tutorials to accommodate developing studentship. However, if there are significant numbers of staff in one institution wishing to undertake the programme we can deliver the programme on your site at times convenient to you.

Part-time students have a maximum period of study of 5 years to complete an MA. However, an MA is typically completed over 2-3 years and we recommend that part-time students take 60 credits per year (i.e. 2×30 credit modules across the year). Full-time students have a maximum period of study of 3 years to complete an MA, but typically complete an MA in 18 months.

You will experience a range of supportive and formative assessment during the two modules and these then feed into the two final assessments indicated below. The two modules will recognise your needs as a learner and develop independent capabilities in research that are transferable to a range of professional contexts.

Professional Enquiry (EDM744)

Submission of a 4,000 word assignment outlining the rationale for a small scale research project designed to review why a chosen research issue is relevant to your professional practice

Research Design (EDM720)

A 4,000 word written assignment exploring the suitability of a range of methodologies and methods in relation to both the research design

Sessions will be delivered by academics who are experienced practitioners in higher, further and other phases of education. They are published researchers and nationally and internationally recognised within the fields of Professional Enquiry, Research Design, and Education Studies.

Credit rating: 2 x 30 credits at Masters’ level = Postgraduate Certificate of 60 Master’s Level Credits

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Entry Requirements

An Honours degree in a relevant subject area from a UK university or an overseas university agreed by NARIC as equivalent and subject to ILET and EU requirements. Consideration will be given to students with lower level qualifications who have a relevant range of professional experience. Professional experience that equates to degree level will be considered by the Course Co-ordinator. If some non-graduates are to be considered pre entry tasks will be considered and used at the co-ordinator’s discretion.

The programme is open to graduates who are professionally engaged in an educational setting and/or graduates who have an interest in educational issues.

International Students
Newman University is not licenced by the UK Government to sponsor migrant students under the Student route and is therefore unable to accept applications from international students at present.

If you have any questions regarding entry onto this course please contact our friendly and helpful admissions team via our Admissions Enquiry Form

Course Fees

2023/24

Course fee UK students – £2,600

N.B. A minimum of 60 credits are required to complete the post graduate certificate

General Academic Regulations: Terms and Conditions for students attending our courses

Modules

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

  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. This module enables students to reflect on research on professional practice by analysing and reviewing different forms of research on professional enquiry. Students are also encouraged to relate research to their professional experiences and current roles. Experience provides the context for the development of professional enquiry and this, in turn, enables critical reflection and analysis related to working contexts and areas of interest. During the module students develop a rationale for a small-scale research project with reference to a particular area of interest as a basis for the following modules on Research Design and as preparation for their Dissertation.