Available for September start
Online course details
Study options
Part-time: 2-3 years
International fee
£7,875 (2021/22)/EU ‡
Start dates
January, September, May
Online course description
If your career involves educating other people and you'd like to improve your professional expertise or progress into a more senior role, our MA Education online degree is designed to help you.
DELTA recognition
If you have the full DELTA (Cambridge Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)) qualification you may be eligible for 60 credits at level 7 against our MA Education - contact us for more information.
Specialist pathways aligned with your professional interests
You can tailor this course to your professional interests by studying specific modules, giving you a specialist pathway award. You can choose from:
Enriching your career
Our online MA Education degree is not a teaching qualification but previous students have benefited from this postgraduate degree, helping them to gain more senior roles, enriching their teaching, challenging their preconceptions and boosting their confidence.
This flexible course now offers two exit routes. If you are unable to commit to a full Masters but want to update your skills to complement your career aspirations, you can complete our 60 credit Postgraduate Certificate within a year in your preferred choice of specialist pathway. Once you've successfully completed the Postgraduate Certificate, you may wish to continue to the full Masters.
Be inspired by others
Students frequently tell us that they most enjoy hearing the diverse mix of experiences, ideas and opinions brought by others taking the course, especially when that challenges their own thinking. Online discussion forums make this possible, and with such a wide variety of people on the course, from the UK and overseas, that’s not surprising. Our tutors have many years’ experience in the education sector themselves, so they understand your profession and are sympathetic to the pressures of balancing study with a busy teaching job.
You are in control
Studying online gives you the flexibility to study at the most convenient time and place for you. The course is divided into modules which are scheduled over fixed trimesters so there will be deadlines to meet; however you can organise your study time around your work and personal commitments in order to complete each module within the set time parameters.
Online class discussions are largely focused on contextualisation of theory to practice, so it’s stimulating, engaging and highly relevant to your day-to-day, professional life.
We will advise you of your study plan - the running order and availability of the modules - when you are invited to enrol.
If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this may not be offered. In addition, where demand is high, some modules may be subject to a cap.
To complete the MA Education you will need to complete a total of 180 credits (the equivalent of nine 20 credit modules), which must include:
- Crafting Your Masters Study
- Evidence Based Practice
- Independent Study (60 credit module)
You can then choose four of the optional 20 credit modules - please contact us to discuss your options.
(NB: Pathways and modules run subject to scheduling and student numbers)
Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.
Pace of study
We recommend about 20 hours of study per week to complete one 20-credit module over a 10-week trimester. If you aim to study two modules in one trimester, we recommend 40 hours of study per week.
Assessment method
This course is assessed through 100% coursework with a range of methods, such as essays, research reports, presentations, group work and practical reports.
How you will learn online
Our Education MA course taster will give you an idea of how online learning works. It includes a selection of content from a course module so you can see what some of our learning material looks like.
You will need to complete a short form to access the course taster.
Try our course tasterTry our course taster
You will usually need to be currently working within the education arena and have either:
- a good undergraduate degree (2:2 or above)
- an equivalent level 6 qualification (equivalent overseas qualifications which will be verified by NARIC)
- a level 5 teaching qualification plus evidence of five years’ teaching experience within an institution may be considered
You will be asked to provide a CV/resume detailing your academic and work experience. The Admissions Tutor reserves the right to interview an individual to ascertain the relevance of their work and life experiences as an acceptable entry for the programme.
In addition, we recognise the following qualifications:
Full DELTA (Cambridge Diploma in TESOL) modules 1, 2 and 3 are normally eligible for 60 credits at level 7 against our MA Education.
English language qualifications
You will normally need one of the following English Language qualifications:
- GCE O level English Language: Grade C
- GCSE English: Grade C
If English is not your first language, or you have not successfully completed your highest level of qualification in English, you will need an English language qualification. For this course you will need at least one of the following:*
- IELTS 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 in any areas)
- TOEFL 550 (paper based) 213 (computer based) or 80 (internet based)
- Pearson Test of Academic English: 51
- Cambridge Advanced Certificate: Pass
- London Tests of English: we accept level 5 for postgraduate courses
- International GCE O Level English Language: Grade C
- International GCSE English/English as a Second Language: Grade C*
*If you have a minimum of IELTS level 4.5 you can study our Certificate of Credit in English for Academic Purposes which we will accept as evidence that you are able to perform at a suitable level of IELTS 6.0. We will also accept the Certificate of Credit as evidence that you can perform at GCSE level.
If you are unable to take an English Language Test locally, you may wish to consider our Derby English Language Test (DELT), which is an online test in two parts: reading and writing, and listening and speaking. Take a look at our Derby English Language test (DELT) page for full course details, online exam dates and how to book.
‡2021/22 Fees for new entrants
Starting between September 2021 and August 2022.
| | Per 20 credits | Modules | Cost |
|---|
| UK/EU/International |
£875 |
7 (six 20 credit modules and one 60 credit module) |
£7,875 |
About your fees
This figure would be the total cost of this course in the current academic year. However, please note that fees normally increase in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees, which is reviewed on an annual basis. The total fee you pay may therefore increase if your course lasts longer than one year.
However, please also note that you can receive a 5% discount if you either:
- Pay your full course fees upfront, or
- When enrolling in September, pay for all of your modules to be studied in that academic year upfront
Flexible payment plans available
Choose from three payment plan options:
-
Pay monthly and only for the modules you are studying
-
Pay your full course fees upfront, receive 5% discount and avoid annual increases
-
Pay for all modules studied in the year and receive a 5% discount (September enrolment only)
Masters funding options
Depending on where you are from in the UK or EU, and on your pace of study, you may be eligible for a postgraduate student loan. Accessible through Student Finance, this is a non-income based loan to help with living costs and tuition fees whilst studying your masters programme.
Alumni discount for Derby graduates
We offer a discount on postgraduate course fees for all Derby alumni.
Find out more about the Alumni discount
Students should apply directly to the University.
Apply now
For support with completing your application, view our guide to the application process.
Documents to support your application
You'll need to provide:
- Photo ID – this could be your passport or driving licence
- Current CV
- Written reference supplied on headed paper from either a manager, supervisor, tutor or teacher
- Copies of certificates and transcripts or a letter of testimony for previous qualifications*
*Documents not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation by a professional translator/translation company. Each translation must contain:
- Confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document
- The date of the translation
- The full name and signature of the translator, or an authorised official of the company
- The translator’s contact details
A list of approved translators can be found on the UK Government website.
Application deadlines
All of our online courses have set start dates throughout the year. We require time to review your application and get back to you with a response before your course starts. Take a look at information regarding applying for an online course to see full details of deadlines and term dates.
This course can open doors for you in your career. It might make your CV stand out enough to get you an interview for that more senior role you’ve been looking for, or just give you the confidence to apply for positions you normally wouldn’t have considered.
Previous students have also said that they have performed better at work as a result of this course - bringing greater recognition and respect from peers.
To give you an idea of the range of careers this MA relates to, some of our graduates have gone on to become advanced skills teachers, nursery managers, assistant head teachers, disability coordinators within universities and national trainers for charitable organisations.
You may also wish to go on to further study such as an MPhil, EdD or PhD.
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