Belfast, United Kingdom
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
30 Jun 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 21,500 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
Blended
* international fee
Key Summary
Introduction
This programme offers teachers and educational professionals opportunities to learn across a range of areas within the broad field of education.
Education professionals in the twenty-first century are expected to have strong knowledge and skills in core areas as well as an ability to move flexibly in and out of a variety of specialist areas. This Educational Studies programme is designed to meet these diverse needs by offering students the opportunity to select modules from a wide range of topics including learning and teaching, assessment, educational leadership, inclusion and special educational needs.
The programme offers students an opportunity to familiarise themselves with current research on these topics. In addition, students are encouraged to consider and reflect on the practical implications of theoretical perspectives and research findings.
The MEd in Educational Studies is open to teachers in primary-, secondary- and tertiary-level institutions as well as to professionals in other fields of education.
Closing date for applications: Thursday 30th June 2022 at 4 pm.
Educational Studies Highlights
Our educational research has been ranked 4th within the UK in relation to research intensity with 87% assessed as ‘internationally excellent or world leading’ (REF, 2014).
Internationally Renowned Experts
- The core discipline of Education at Queen’s is one of the leading areas for educational research in the UK and Ireland.
Student Experience
- The diversity of topics is particularly appreciated by students who want to learn across a range of topics, rather than focusing on one specialist subject.
- Credit transfer students who have completed other master's-level awards, eg PGCE, within the last 10 years are eligible to credit transfer. The credit transfer application must be submitted at the same time as the online programme application as retrospective applications are not accepted.
- Flexibility This programme is delivered via blended learning (a mixture of face-to-face and online learning).
- Flexible exit qualifications (PgCert, PgDip) are available and individual course modules can also be taken as short courses.
Program Outcome
On completion of the modules students will be able to:
- demonstrate a broad-based knowledge and understanding of educational research, policy, practice and theory covered by the modules of their choice
- analyse and critically apply examples of the research literature in the chosen modules (and, where appropriate, skills)
- reflect critically on their own personal practice.
Career Opportunities
Graduates from this degree have found the skills and knowledge learned to be beneficial in their workplace by improving their professional practice. In the case of teachers, this has meant the development of research-informed practice and the ability to lead professional development within their schools.
Furthermore, a higher degree can enhance employment prospects to help secure future promotions. Having deepened their knowledge in a specific area, other students have chosen to continue academic study to the doctoral level.
Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programs help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.
Additional Awards Gained
There are no specific additional course costs associated with this program.
Prizes and Awards
The Northern Ireland Centre for Educational Research (NICER) offers two awards to support teacher researchers working on classroom-based projects aimed at improving teaching and learning (eligibility criteria apply).
Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills
In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports, and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognized by a world-leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.
Gallery
Curriculum
Course Structure
Students may enrol on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (3 years) basis. Individual modules may be studied as a short course. Part-time students typically complete one or two modules per semester. Full-time students typically complete three modules per semester.
The MEd is awarded to students who successfully complete six taught modules (120 CATS points) and a 15,000 - 20,000 word research dissertation (60 CATS points).
Exit qualifications are available: students may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma by successfully completing 120 CATS points from taught modules or a Postgraduate Certificate by successfully completing 60 CATS points from taught modules.
We've made it easy to study for a master's module as a short course. If you would like to apply for a short course, please contact the Education Secretary for advice.
Modules
Core Modules
- An Introduction to Research Methods: Children, Young People and Education (20 credits)
- Dissertation (60 credits)
Optional Modules
- Fundamental elements of behaviour change (20 credits)
- Curriculum: Theory, Policy and Practice (20 credits)
- Education Policy & Society: Analysing Reform and Ideology (20 credits)
- Social Justice in Special Needs Education and Inclusion: A Capability Approach (20 credits)
- Behaviour Change in Education and Supervising Others (20 credits)
- Understanding Adults with ASD (20 credits)
- Transforming Higher Education (20 credits)
- Epistemic Injustice: The Ethics of Knowing in Special Educational Needs/ Inclusion (20 credits)
- The Role of Education in Ethnically Plural Societies (20 credits)
- Deconstructing Special Needs Education and Inclusion (20 credits)
- Bilingualism, Literacy and Disciplinary Literacy Development (20 credits)
- Contemporary Perspectives on Learning and Teaching (20 credits)
- Behaviour Analysis for Effective Teaching (20 credits)
- E-learning: Concepts and Pract (20 credits)
- Digital Literacy and Communication (20 credits)
- Understanding Children with ASD (20 credits)
- Leadership: Theoretical Perspectives (20 credits)
- Reflective Practice and Action Research (10 credits)
- The engaging difference in divided & multicultural societies: concepts & practices for educational content (20 credits)
- Leadership in Practice (20 credits)
- Leadership for School Improvement and Change (20 credits)
Learning and Teaching
Learning opportunities available in this course are outlined below:
- Evening and Weekends
The majority of sessions are in the evenings. Attendance at weekend workshops is occasionally required. In some modules, there is an online taught element.
Assessment
Assessments associated with this course are outlined below:
There are no written examinations. Modules are assessed by coursework. Modules with an online element use a variety of assessment methods, eg multiple-choice tests and contributions to an online forum.
Prizes and Awards
- The Northern Ireland Centre for Educational Research (NICER) offers two awards to support teacher-researchers working on classroom-based projects aimed at improving teaching and learning (eligibility criteria apply).
Admissions
Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
How do I fund my study?
The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study.
A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Master's courses in all subject areas. Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are available on the UK government website.
International Scholarships