Postgraduate Course
Education MA
Learn to critique and reflect on education practice, policy and inclusion alongside experienced researchers and professionals.
Investigate wide-ranging issues in education, from evaluating educational leadership to exploring critical approaches to inclusion. Study alongside peers from a broad spectrum of backgrounds and specialisms. When you study with us, you will join our inclusive, internationally respected learning community, exploring fundamental questions about the nature and purpose of education. Together, we will reflect critically on how social phenomena impact national and local educational policy and practice.
York campus
- Duration – 2 years part time, 16 months part time on the fast track route
- Start date – September 2025, September 2026
- School – School of Education, Language and Psychology
Minimum entry requirements
2:2 honours degree in a related subject
Tuition fees
UK 2025-26 £8,600 per year full time, part time
International 2025-26 £11,800 per year full time, part time
Discover Education
Charlotte Haines Lyon, Course Leader, introduces us to the Education MA at York St John University.
Course overview
There are multiple routes for studying this course, including part time and online. This offers you the opportunity to study alongside work and other commitments. There is also a fast-track route for those who have a recent PGCE or an older PGCE and national leadership qualification.
Explore the links between theory, policy and practice in education. On this course you also will gain experience in carrying out independent research and develop transferable skills. You will learn how to:
- Critically reflect upon your practice with a view to developing it
- Investigate various aspects of education from a local, national and international perspective
- Give critical responses in a professional environment
We will encourage you to apply what you are learning on the course to your job. This means you can positively influence your work as a direct result of the course. You will be able to carry out your dissertation or professional project in your workplace if appropriate, but the course is also designed to work for those who are not currently in a relevant workplace.
You will work alongside our team of academics who have expertise in social justice and education. Our research specialisms include:
- Critical pedagogies
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Autism
- Governance and leadership
- Education policy
- Early childhood
- Research methodologies
- Social justice and education
Course structure
1 year route
How you will study
If you choose the 1 year full time route you will study:
- 2 compulsory modules each semester (1 and 2)
- A dissertation or Professional Project module in semesters 2 and 3
2 year route
For part time study this course is split into 3 semesters.
How you will study
On the 2 year route you will study:
- 1 compulsory module each semester
- A Dissertation or Professional Project in year 2
You can find out which modules are available in each term in the Course Specifications.
Fast track route
How you will study
The fast-track route will take 16 months. You are eligible for this route if you have a recent PGCE or national leadership qualification. Please note that if you study on this route you will not be eligible for a government postgraduate loan.
On the fast track route you will study:
- 1 compulsory module in semesters 1 and 2 of year 1
- A Dissertation or Professional Project running from semester 3 in year 1 to semester 1 in year
You are eligible for this route if you have a recent PGCE or national leadership qualification. You will study 2 modules, after which you will submit a Dissertation to complete your master's qualification.
You can find out which modules are available in each term in the Course Specifications.
Modules
Credits: 30
Compulsory module
This module is an introduction to postgraduate study. You will review contemporary academic writing to develop your critical thinking skills, before applying these skills to assess global, national and local educational issues. By doing this, you will develop a deeper understanding of your area of study or professional practice. Your assessment on this module will be a creative artefact or reflective journal, designed as a thought-provoking introduction to the course.
Credits: 30
Compulsory module
This module focuses on the various approaches to research in education. Throughout the module you will engage with educational research and explore the methods you can use to investigate education. This will help you to develop your understanding of the connections between research, policy and practice.
Credits: 30
Compulsory module
Explore contemporary issues in education at a global, national and local level, considering the impact of globalisation on education systems and processes. On this module you will identify key trends and explore theories relating to education, including social justice and ecological sustainability and diversity.
Credits: 30
Optional module
Explore the concepts of leadership in education, and investigate the global and national trends surrounding it. On this module you will analyse a range of perspectives on leadership, including humility, managerialism, and governmentality.
Credits: 60
Compulsory module
You must choose either a dissertation or professional project. Engage in a substantial piece of research related to an educational topic that interests you. Your initial proposal will outline what research and methods you will use to complete the piece. Alongside the dissertation or professional project, you will also record a 3 minute video to explain your research and its relevance for the general public. An academic supervisor will support you throughout this module, meeting with you to help with your research proposal and ethical approval. You will then continue to meet with them for one-to-one tutorials as your research develops.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning
All of our face-to-face sessions are delivered on evenings, so you can study flexibly around work and other commitments. You can choose to study this course online or in person based on your own preferences. Please note that international students on student visas are required to study on campus and attend sessions in person.
Taught sessions will give you the opportunity to meet other students on the course and become part of a supportive and inspiring community of postgraduate scholars.
Our teaching draws on both our research and professional experience. This means your learning is informed by the most current thinking in the subject area. You can find out more about our research and backgrounds by visiting our staff pages.
Assessment
Throughout the course you will take part in assessments including group projects and presentations. You will receive verbal and written feedback on these, from your peers and your tutors, which will help you to develop your ideas as you progress through the course. Your more formal assessments will include:
- Written work, including your dissertation or professional project
- Presentations
- Producing a short video
These will help to develop your learning as well as giving you transferable skills to take forwards in your career.
Entry requirements
Qualifications
Minimum entry requirements
2:2 honours degree in a related subject
Fast track route
If you have either of the following you will be eligible to apply for the fast track route:
- A recent PGCE, gained within the last 5 years
- A PGCE and a recent national leadership qualification (NPQML, NPQSL, NPQHT) gained within the last 5 years
International students
International students on a student visa must study this course full time and in person.
If English is not your first language you will need to show that you have English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 (with no skill below 5.5) or equivalent.
Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL)
If you do not have traditional qualifications, you might be able to provide evidence of professional experience in the subject as an alternative way to meet the entry requirements. This is called Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL). Appropriate references and records of employment would need to be presented to support your case for admission.
Terms and conditions
Our terms and conditions, policies and procedures contain important information about studying at York St John University. You can read them on our Admissions page.
Fees and funding
UK 2025-2026 entry
The tuition fee for the 2025-2026 academic year is £8,600 for full time study.
For part time study the tuition fee for 2025 entry is £8,600 total:
- £4,300 for year 1
- £4,300 for year 2
The tuition fee for the fast track 16 months part time course has not yet been confirmed for 2025 .
These costs apply to all UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.
For the 2 year route postgraduate loans are available. This option is not available for the fast-track route. Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.
Tuition fees
UK 2025-26 £8,600 per year full time, part time
International 2025-26 £11,800 per year full time, part time
International 2025 entry
The tuition fee for the 2025-2026 academic year is £11,800 for full time study.
These costs apply to all students living outside the UK.
Due to immigration laws, if you are an international student on a student visa, you must study full time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.
Find out more about funding your postgraduate studies.
Alumni Scholarships
If you are alumni of York St John University we have scholarships available to help you continue your studies.
Additional costs and financial support
Course-related costs
While studying for your degree, there may be additional costs related to your course. This may include purchasing personal equipment and stationery, books and optional field trips.
Accommodation and living costs
View our accommodation pages for detailed information on accommodation and living costs.
Career outcomes
Where could Education MA take you?
This degree will give you the skills and insight to pursue a career in various fields within the Education sector. You will develop skills such as time and project management, data analysis, presenting information, and responding to feedback.
This will give you an advantage in careers such as:
- School and college teacher
- Early Years professional
- Community educator
- Museum educator
- Learning mentor
- Education manager
- Progression on to an EdD or PhD
Stand out from the crowd with postgraduate study.
Far fewer people have postgraduate degrees than undergraduate qualifications. This gives you something extra to set yourself apart in a competitive graduate job market. Those with a postgraduate qualification will earn an average of £6,500 a year more than those with only an undergraduate degree. (Department For Education Graduate Labour Market Report 2022).
Our careers service, LaunchPad, provides career support tailored to your ambitions. Through this service you can access:
- Employer events
- LinkedIn, CV and cover letter sessions
- Workshops on application writing and interview skills
- Work experience and volunteering opportunities
- Personalised career advice
This support does not end when you graduate. You can access our expert career advice for the rest of your life. We will help you gain the experience and confidence you need to succeed.
Katherine Education MA
As York St John has a long history of delivering education courses, I felt confident that it was the right place to continue my academic career and I was right - graduating in the Minster with a Distinction is my greatest achievement yet!