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Education Practice MA/PG Dip/PG Cert

Develop your passion for teaching, learning and education by gaining in-depth knowledge of the education sector’s contemporary challenges, including managing educational change, educational technology, assessing learning and policy developments.

Block teaching designed around you

You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive community. That’s why most of our postgraduate taught students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You will benefit from more regular assessments and feedback, a better study-life balance, and a simplified timetable that provides more time for work, professional development, caring responsibilities, and everything else that's important to you. Our block-taught courses are informed by industry practice, often accredited by professional bodies, and are delivered by passionate and talented academics, who will help you develop the skills to achieve your goals.

Read more about block teaching

Overview

Watch: Lecturer in Education Gisela Oliveira talk more about how the programme explores education from a practical perspective exploring the links between theory and practice, research and policies and schools and communities.

This course is designed for those wishing to pursue or develop their career in the education sector, specifically in relation to teaching, leadership and educational management.  

Aimed at teachers working in primary, secondary, further and higher education institutions, as well as graduates interested in pursuing teaching careers or other roles in the education sector, this programme helps to further develop any initial teacher training and is ideal for those looking to work and conduct research in the field of education studies.

By choosing this course, you can benefit from tutoring delivered by our practice and research-based academic team, which is recognised for excellence in teaching and curriculum design. You will benefit from working with colleagues who have developed professional partnerships with International Council on Education for Teaching and educational charities. Through access to our industry connections, you can also enhance your employability with placement and volunteering opportunities in local educational settings.

The course allows you to reflect upon the latest trends and developments in the field and consider how these apply to your own place of work, so we strongly recommend that all students undertake some paid or voluntary work experience in an education setting during their time on this course.

Key features

  • Designed for those wishing to pursue or develop their career in the education sector, specifically in relation to teaching, leadership and educational management 
  • Explore education from a practical perspective exploring the links between theory and practice, research and policies and schools and communities
  • Our practice and research-based academic team is recognised for excellence in teaching, curriculum design and innovation
  • Tailor your learning through a range of optional modules including Leading and Managing Educational Change, Current and Emergent Issues in Education Policy and Technology Enhanced Practice
  • Benefit from our industry connections, allowing you to enhance your employability with placement and volunteering opportunities in local educational settings

“ The course has opened up my mind to new theories and pedagogical practices. In comparison to other MAs in education, this course offered more choice. It allowed me to make the MA my own, furthering my knowledge in areas that interested me and, most importantly, applied to my vocation as a teacher. ”
Leanne Holmes, graduate 

Scholarships

DMU offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships and bursaries to help you realise your academic ambitions.

International student scholarships

Find out about available international scholarships or visit our fees and funding page for more information.

 

 

DMU has been shortlisted for the Postgraduate Award in the 2024 Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs), as voted for by students.

  • UK
  • EU/International

Course code: X10075

Start date: September

Duration: One year full-time or two years part-time

Attendance: Full-time is two taught sessions, twice a week. Part-time is one taught session a week

Location of study: De Montfort University Leicester UK

Fees and funding:

2025/26 full-time tuition fees for UK students: £8,500

Additional costs: Here at DMU we provide excellent learning resources, including the Kimberlin Library and specialist workshops and studios. However, you should be aware that sometimes you may incur additional costs for this programme.

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

Course code: X10075

Start date: September

Duration: One year full-time or two years part-time

Attendance:
Full-time is two taught sessions, twice a week. Part-time is one taught session a week

Location of study: De Montfort University Leicester UK

Fees and funding:
2024/25 full-time tuition fees for EU and international students: £16,800

Find out more about postgraduate course fees and available funding.

Find out more about additional costs and optional extras associated with this course.

Please visit dmu.ac.uk/international for more information or call us on +44 (0)116 2 50 60 70.

 

How to apply

Application guidance document

Submit a study-related enquiry

Entry criteria

  • 2:1 Hons in a relevant degree, not necessarily in education, but a good practical knowledge of education is required. applicants with a 2:2 and considerable experience in education will be considered on a case by case basis.  
  • Evidence of prior practical experience of working directly with learners in an educational setting in either a paid or voluntary capacity
  • Clear interest in the course demonstrated with explanation and evidence in the personal statement
  • Strong commitment to working in the broad field of education throughout the duration of the course and in the future
  • The course can offer accreditation of prior learning (APL) of up to 60 credits to candidates with appropriate experience and qualifications such as a PGCE
English language requirements

If English is not your first language an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.

English Language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it. 

 

Work experience:

Course assessments require students to reflect on their experiences of working directly with learners within an education or learning environment.

It is therefore expected that students will join the course having already gained at least 200 hours of relevant work experience.

Also, it is compulsory for all students to obtain work – paid or voluntary – in a learning environment for at least one day per week for the duration of the course.

Structure and assessment

 

Course modules

Teaching and assessment

Academic expertise

 

Course modules

  • Researching Education (30 credits) - Introduces research methodologies and their implications to in forma research proposal for the dissertation element
  • Major project/dissertation (60 credits) - In consultation with the course leader, you will be encouraged to undertake research in an area that speaks to your own interests/experience. Assessment may include a continuing professional development event with your employer.

You will select from the following 30 credit optional modules:

 

  • Current and Emergent Issues in Education Policy - Reflects upon the latest developments in education and examines the policy trends underpinning these. You will explore policy issues in the context of your own educational setting and develop an informed critique of how policy links with practice
  • Technology Enhanced Practice - Considers the pitfalls and potentials of new technologies (e-safety, interactive whiteboards, virtual learning environments, Twitter, social networking, etc) for schooling, learning and teaching. You will also explore how such technology can be used effectively and what future education spaces/ possibilities are opened up
  • Negotiated Study - Provides students with the opportunity to pursue topics that are of direct and immediate relevance to their professional context. You will conduct an independent and individually negotiated study in an area of personal interest to you and your role in education.
  • Leading and Managing Educational Change - Enables students to critically engage with research on educational leadership and the management of change, with a view to applying their theoretical understanding to their practice. You will also critically reflect on your own position and opportunities as a leader within your educational workplace

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Teaching and assessment

The Education Practice course uses a variety of teaching methods including lectures, tutorials and group work during evening teaching sessions. You will also be expected to undertake self-directed study.

If you study full-time, you will attend taught sessions for two evenings per week and complete the course in one academic year. If you study part-time, you will attend taught sessions for one evening per week and complete the course in two academic years.

Academic expertise

Our experienced practice and research-based course team are all qualified teachers and lecturers, and have been recognised for excellence in teaching, curriculum design and innovation.

Members of the team are currently involved in active research, which shapes and informs our teaching.

Areas of research include;
  • Academic practice
  • Arts education
  • Assessment
  • Change management
  • Communities of practice
  • Excellence and good practice
  • Inclusion and equality
  • Leadership
  • Learning, including online learning
  • Pedagogy
  • Philosophy of education
  • Psychology of education
  • Policy implementation
  • Professional development
  • Research methods
  • Technology

Facilities and features

 
Placements
Placements
Placements
Placements
 

Health and Life Sciences facilities

Substantial investment in Health and Life Sciences has developed our teaching and learning facilities to help you develop your practical experience and theoretical knowledge beyond the classroom.

The 19th century Hawthorn Building has facilities designed to replicate current practice in health and life sciences, including contemporary analytical chemistry and formulation laboratories, audiology booths and nursing and midwifery clinical skills suites.

Purpose-built clinical skills areas allow you to apply theory to practice in a safe environment. You will receive guidance and support from staff, to ensure that your practical ability in the clinical skills suites is accurate.

Library services

On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available. 

As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our Library website, e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose. 

We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including Learning Zone, Collaborate Ultra, DMU Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub. 

The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live LibChat, online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our Learning Services, and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.

Learning zones

Our Learning Zones and The Greenhouse also provide space for group or individual work and study.

There are 1,600 study places across all library locations, more than 700 computer stations, laptops to borrow, free wi-fi and desktop power outlets.

You can also book rooms with plasma screens, laptops and DVD facilities for group work and presentations, secure an individual study room with adjustable lighting or make use of our assistive technology.

Opportunities and careers

Find the people who will open doors for you

DMU's award-winning careers service provides guaranteed work experience opportunities DMU Careers Team
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Graduate careers

This course is ideal if you wish to further your career in teaching, leadership and school management, and other careers related to the education system. This will also help prepare and build on the demands of National Professional Qualification for Headship.

The course is also an ideal vehicle for those wishing to work and research in the academic discipline of Education Studies.

 

 

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