Postgraduate course
Education: Early Childhood MA
Delve deeper into the big questions in education, from the local to the global, with a particular focus on early childhood.
Our Education: Early Childhood MA is a flexible programme offering you the opportunity to explore the links between theory, policy and practice in education at local, national and global levels. It is designed to support professionals working in a range of education settings but will have most relevant if you have a particular interest early childhood.
- Location – York campus
- Duration – 1 years full-time | 2 years part-time
- Start date – September 2020
- School – Education
Tuition Fees
UK and EU 2020-21 £6,500
International 2020-21 £12,750
Course overview
You will engage with current issues and debates in education which will enable you to build your understanding and develop new insights. By engaging in research and advanced scholarship you'll develop as a self-directed, independent learner and be able to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively.
Innovative approaches to teaching, learning and assessment are supported by a team of tutors who are also active researchers. You'll study alongside people who have wide-ranging educational interests, including people working in mentor roles and those in primary, secondary, post-compulsory or higher education settings. You'll also gain insights from library and archive professionals, those in museum education, early years teachers, playworkers and children’s centre managers.
Studying with us offers you the opportunity to become absorbed in a student-centred environment. You’ll have the chance to apply your current expertise and shape the course to complement your professional practice and academic interests in early childhood.
The Education: Early Childhood MA can be studied full-time (typically over three academic terms, one year) or part-time (typically two years).
Course structure
Level 1
Modules
Credits: 30
Compulsory module
This module will introduce you to postgraduate study. You will review contemporary academic writing to develop your critical thinking skills. Applying this skill, you will assess global, national and local educational issues. This allows you to develop a deeper understanding of your area of study or professional practice. Apply your knowledge to make original and creative arguments in your assessments. These could include journal articles, videos, blogs and more.
Credits: 30
Compulsory module
Develop your understanding of approaches to research in education. Engage with educational research and explore the methods you can use to investigate education. This will allow you to develop a critical understanding of the connection between research, policy and practice. At the end of the module, you will complete a project assessment which will allow you to apply what you have learnt.
Credits: 30
Compulsory module
Develop a critical understanding of contemporary issues in education at a global level. You will identify possible societal and educational changes around the world. Investigate the possible effects globalisation has had on education systems and processes. We will support you to progress your specialism by focusing on areas which interest you.
Credits: 30
Compulsory module
Develop a critical understanding of contemporary issues in British education. You will analyse socio-political factors including legislation, educational policy and ideological shifts. You will apply these to situational factors like gender, socio-economic background or disability. We encourage you to assess the impact of these on current debates and trends in education.
Credits: 30 or 60
Optional module
You will choose an area of interest which relates to local issues in education. Independent study may be empirical, theoretical, hypothetical or a combination of these. A supervisor will support you through your project with one-to-one tutorials.
Credits: 60
Optional module (You must choose one of the two options)
This module allows you to engage in a substantial piece of research. You will be able to choose a topic related to education that interests you. An initial proposal will allow you to outline your research and the methods you will use. If you choose the dissertation option then the module will culminate in a 15,000 word written piece. If you choose a Major Project then you will be assessed through a 8,000 word written piece along with up to three written, aural or visual pieces. An academic supervisor will support you throughout this module. They will meet with you to help with your research proposal and ethical approval. You will then continue to meet with them as your research develops in one-to-one tutorials.
Teaching and assessment
The learning and teaching strategies include lectures, masterclasses given by visiting professors and speakers, tutorials, seminars, workshops and e-learning activities via our virtual learning environment (VLE). There will be particular emphasis on engagement in individual and group enquiry to develop skills in critical questioning, creative thinking and problem-solving.
Delivery
Delivery is structured to include two weekends each semester and some evening teaching for full-time students.
Self-study time
Outside of taught sessions, you are encouraged to undertake further study which may include reading journal articles, engaging in online discussions, and preparing for assessments.
Assessment methods
Our assessments have been externally commended for being innovative yet rigorous, and we’ve received very positive feedback from our students.
On some modules you will be able to negotiate the assessment type so that it aligns to your interests and needs. For example, you could choose to write a funding bid, a proposal for a small-scale investigation, a report or another agreed assessment type.
Your final study is your dissertation or major project. This offers you the chance to further study a topic of particular interest and importance to you.
Entry requirements
Qualifications
Entry onto this postgraduate course requires a minimum of a 2:1 undergraduate degree in Education or another related subject.
If your degree is not in Education or a related discipline but you can demonstrate extensive work experience in the field, your application may be considered.
If you have a PGCE which you gained within the last five years then we can recognise up to 60 relevant M level credits for this to provide exemption from two of the modules normally studied in the second year of part-time study. This means that you would complete and pass the first year modules and then proceed straight to your dissertation study.
International students
If you're an international student, you'll need to demonstrate experience, or qualifications equivalent to those above.
If your first language is not English you must show evidence of English Language competence at IELTS level 6.0 or equivalent (with no skill below 5.5).
Interview
Entry onto this postgraduate course will require you to attend an interview.
We are happy to arrange interviews via Skype for overseas students.
APEL policy
If you can't meet these minimum requirements it may be possible to take into account evidence of Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) as an alternative method of meeting the programme’s entry requirements. In such a case, appropriate references and records of employment might be presented to support the applicant’s case for admission.
Fees and funding
UK & EU 2020 - 21
The tuition fee for 2020 entry to this postgraduate course is £6,500 for full-time UK/EU, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students.
For UK/EU, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man students studying part time, the tuition fee for 2020 entry to this postgraduate course is £3,250 per year.
Postgraduate loans are available to help you pay for your master’s course. Find out more about postgraduate funding opportunities.
International (non-EU) 2020 - 21
The tuition fee for 2020 entry to this postgraduate course is £12,750 for international students.
Due to immigration laws, international students on a Tier 4 visa must be studying full-time. For more information about visa requirements and short-term study visas, please visit the International Visa and Immigration pages.
More information about funding your studies is available on our International Fees and Funding page.
Tuition Fees
UK and EU 2020-21 £6,500
International 2020-21 £12,750
Alumni Scholarships
If you are continuing to postgraduate study directly after studying at undergraduate level with us, we offer a reduction in fees depending on the classification of degree you achieve.
If you are graduating from an undergraduate degree at York St John University this year you could be entitled to:
- a 50% reduction in course fees if you achieve a 1st
- a 35% reduction if you achieve a 2:1
- a 20% reduction if you achieve a 2:2
These reductions apply to all York and London-based taught MA, MBA, MSc and MRes courses, except for Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) MSc, Occupational Therapy (Pre-registration) MSc and all PCGE courses.
All York St John University alumni are eligible for a 10% reduction on their postgraduate course fees regardless of when you graduated. The 10% alumni discount will not be added on top of these reductions.
Additional costs and financial support
COURSE-RELATED COSTS
Whilst 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
Our Education: Early Childhood MA gives you the skills and insight necessary to pursue many careers.
Jobs directly related to your degree include:
Jobs where your degree would be useful:
Apply for this course
You can apply directly to the course via our Apply Now links. Please select the variant of the course that you intend to undertake (e.g. full-time or part-time) as the link will take you to a customised form for the specific course. You will need to create a login and password and complete the online form. Please contact two referees in advance of submitting your application as an automated request will go out as soon as you submit, and your application will not be reviewed until both references are in place.
Why choose Postgraduate study?
More than a degree
Present your work at our Postgraduate Research Conference, help organise events within your school and join our thriving research community. We help take your learning to the next level.
Be at the cutting edge
We are the people looking to the future and innovating for a changing world. Join our Postgraduate community, you too can be part of this.
Build a professional network
Engage with our academics, visiting speakers and fellow students to build connections in your industry or academic discipline.
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