Master in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
Malmö, Sweden
Master degree
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
18 Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
SEK 220,000 **
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* this is the deadline for national round. Non-EU/EEA students who require a residence permit should apply during international admissions round opening mid-October 2026.
** for 2-year option: 220,000 SEK | for 1-year option: 110,000 SEK
Key Summary
About: Master in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education at Malmö University deepens educational research and teaching competence through a scholarly approach. You’ll learn to investigate teaching critically, analyze learning environments, and develop organizations strategically. Study at 50 percent pace to work while studying. Suitable for higher education staff or applicants with 60 credits in education.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can advance in teaching or move into managerial roles such as Director of Studies, Head of Department, Deputy Vice‑Chancellor, or Dean. They can work in public or private adult pedagogical development or pursue doctoral studies in didactics, pedagogy, or learning environments.
If you want to deepen your understanding of educational research and increase your teaching competence with a scholarly approach, the Teaching and Learning in Higher Education master’s programme is a good option. In the programme, you will get a more scholarly approach to your teaching profession. This includes the ability to critically investigate and analyse teaching and strategically develop an organisation. This competence leap will qualify you for more skilled professional assignments and expand your opportunities to participate in academic dialogue.
Studying at a 50 per cent pace allows you to work alongside your studies. This programme offers you a path to career development within higher education or adult education in related fields. The programme is suitable for people who are already working in higher education or a related field or have at least 60 credits of coursework in educational or behavioural sciences.
To be eligible, you need to have a bachelor’s degree and at least three years of experience, either from teaching in higher education or from working with competence or skills development in academia. You are also eligible if you have at least 60 credits of coursework in either educational or behavioural sciences.
Eligible Swedish applicants can also include professionals working with adult education in public sector organisations, such as the police, defence, customs, vocational schools, and Komvux.
Flexibility for the needs of professionals
The programme is developed to be suitable for its professional students. The study pace is half speed (50 per cent).
The programme (120 credits) includes advanced courses (at least 60 credits) as well as a master’s thesis (30 credits) in the pedagogy of higher education. The programme also includes developmental projects based on your current professional role.
Two-year programme Curriculum
Autumn 2025 - Semester 1
- Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Knowledge Field and Research (HP701E), 7.5 credits
- Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Scientific Theoretical Traditions and Methodologies (HP702E), 7.5 credits
Autumn 2026 - Semester 2
- Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Educating for Widening Participation and Inclusion (HP703E), 7.5 credits
- Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Theoretical Perspectives on Research (HP704E), 7.5 credits
One-year programme Curriculum
Autumn 2025 - Semester 1
- Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Knowledge Field and Research (HP701E), 7.5 credits
- Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Scientific Theoretical Traditions and Methodologies (HP702E), 7.5 credits
Autumn 2026 - Semester 2
- Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Educating for Widening Participation and Inclusion (HP703E), 7.5 credits
- Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Theoretical Perspectives on Research (HP704E), 7.5 credits
Spring 2027 - Semester 3
- Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Thesis I (HP705E), 15 credits
The programme is designed to provide students with the teaching skills necessary to meet future challenges in higher education. It is the first English-taught master’s programme in Sweden with a focus on teaching for higher education. The programme is part of an active research environment at Malmö University focusing on higher education.
The curriculum reflects the multidisciplinary nature of the pedagogy of higher education, and this focus shapes the courses and reading lists. The courses address themes such as student-centred teaching, the teaching of heterogeneous student groups, challenge-based learning, and the digitalisation and internationalisation of higher education.
The programme provides you with in-depth knowledge of learning theories, teaching methods, and adult learning. This also includes the ability to critically analyse learning environments and engage in strategic organisational development efforts. You will learn about central concepts within the field of higher education and related research.
The programme is also closely tied to practice and profession. As a student, you will use your own work experiences as a starting point to investigate and examine differences in teaching environments.
Networking and post-graduation opportunities
During the programme, you will have opportunities to network with and explore employment opportunities with representatives from different professions and organisations within and outside of academia.
Employment opportunities open for graduates who wish to continue in academia primarily include advancing in their teaching careers or moving into managerial positions, such as Director of Studies, Head of Department, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, or Dean. However, a master’s degree in teaching and learning for higher education also opens up employment in other public and private organisations focused on adult pedagogical development.
A path to your PhD
The programme also allows you to pursue doctoral studies in research fields related to learning and personal development in higher education, such as didactics, pedagogy, and pedagogical practice. The programme is offered by the Malmö University Centre for Teaching and Learning at the Faculty of Learning and Society but is taught by researchers from several different departments and faculties. Examples of ongoing research areas within this field are challenge-based learning, learning environments, academic literacy, academic and professional development, teacher and supervisor roles in higher education, and inclusive pedagogy.