University College London (UCL)
Education (Science) MA
London, United Kingdom
MA
DURATION
5 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
The Education (Science) MA program is designed for those interested in exploring how scientific subjects are taught and learned in educational settings. It covers key themes like curriculum development, pedagogical strategies, and the role of science in education. Students will examine how scientific concepts can be communicated effectively and how learning environments impact student understanding. The program emphasizes both theoretical foundations and practical applications, helping students develop skills they can use in teaching, policy making, or further research.
Students will engage with a variety of teaching methods, research techniques, and educational theories tailored to science education. The course also encourages critical thinking about current challenges in science teaching, including diversity, technology integration, and curriculum changes. Throughout the program, you'll have opportunities to carry out independent research and reflect on your own practice, preparing you for roles in schools, educational organizations, or further academic study. The curriculum is structured to support that transition from theory to real-world impact, making it a solid choice for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of science education.
UCL Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships available to postgraduate students, including our UCL Masters Bursary for UK students and our UCL Global Masters Scholarship for international students. You can click the link below to search via the scholarships finder for awards that you might be eligible for. Your academic department will also be able to provide you with more information about funding.
External Scholarships
Online aggregators like Postgraduate Studentships, Scholarship Search, Postgraduate Funding and International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search contain information on a variety of external schemes.
If you have specific circumstances or ethnic or religious background it is worth searching for scholarships/bursaries/grants that relate to those things. Some schemes are very specific.
Funding for disabled students
Master's students who have a disability may be able to get extra funding for additional costs they incur to study.
Teaching and learning
The compulsory modules include a range of teaching pedagogies including lectures, seminars, tutorials, group work, presentations and online engagement.
Students will have a dissertation supervisor to support them through the development, execution, and writing of their dissertation project. The module includes workshops, lectures, and seminars that provide a foundation in research skills and methods.
The modules are often assessed through written assessments (not examinations), and/or presentations that often involve critically engaging with literature from a specific area of education chosen by the student.
Please note that the dissertation module listed below will change its name to 'Dissertation in Education with Integrated Research Methods' starting in 2025/26. This module supports students in undertaking an original, independent scholarly investigation in the field of education. Students often choose a dissertation topic relevant to their personal and professional interests, typically involving some fieldwork or empirical data collection.
Each 30 Master's level credit module has 300 nominal learning hours. This is made up of formal learning and teaching events such as lectures, seminars, tutorials, as well as independent study.
During term time students are expected to study between 15-20 hours per module, per week, preparing for and participating in seminars/lectures, and engaged in independent study and research. Learning hours continue outside term and full time study on the MA would amount to 40 hours a week over 45 weeks.
Modules
Full-time
The programme consists of two compulsory modules (30 credits each), and two optional modules (30 credits each) and a dissertation (60 credits). The modules that make up the Education (Science) MA are:
- Foundations of Science Education (compulsory, studied in Term 1)
- What is Education? (compulsory, studied in Term 1)
- Dissertation in Education with Integrated Research Methods (compulsory, studied all year)
- Optional module 1
- Optional module 2
If you complete the programme full-time, you will usually take two modules in the Autumn term and two in the Spring term, although there are option modules that also run in the Summer term should you prefer.
Your attendance will depend on the module(s) you are taking for the term. Most modules run once a week for 10 weeks. This may be face-to-face or online depending on the module.
Part-time
The programme consists of two compulsory modules (30 credits each), and two optional modules (30 credits each) and a dissertation (60 credits). The modules that make up the Education (Science) MA are:
- Foundations of Science Education (compulsory, studied in Term 1)
- What is Education? (compulsory, studied in Term 1)
- Dissertation in Education with Integrated Research Methods (compulsory, studied all year)
- Optional module 1
- Optional module 2
If you complete the programme part-time, you will usually take a total of 90 credits in the first year and 90 credits in the second year. We recommend completing the compulsory modules FSE and WIE in the first year. You will need to complete your dissertation in the second year.
Your attendance will depend on the module(s) you are taking for the term. Most modules run once a week for 10 weeks. This may be face-to-face or online depending on the module.
If you are a part-time student working alongside your masters, both face-to-face and online modules run in the early evening to allow for this.
Flexible
The programme consists of two compulsory modules (30 credits each), and two optional modules (30 credits each) and a dissertation (60 credits). The modules that make up the Education (Science) MA are:
- Foundations of Science Education (compulsory, studied in Term 1)
- What is Education? (compulsory, studied in Term 1)
- Dissertation in Education with Integrated Research Methods (compulsory, studied all year)
- Optional module 1
- Optional module 2
If you complete the programme in flexible mode, you can take up to 90 credits per year, or a minimum of 30 credits per year. Students are encouraged to take Foundations of science Education (FSE) as their first compulsory module (studied in Term 1).
Your attendance will depend on the module(s) you are taking for the term. Most modules run once a week for 10 weeks. This may be face to face or online depending on the module.
If you are a flexible student working alongside your masters, both face-to-face and online modules run in the early evening to allow for this.
Compulsory modules
- Foundations of Science Education
- Dissertation on Education
- What is Education?
Optional modules
- Curriculum Development: Issues and Principles
- Assessment for Learning
- Assessment: Issues and Practice
- Curriculum, Policy and Practice
- Critical Perspectives on Learning and Teaching
- International Perspectives on Education Reform: Curriculum and Assessment
- Feminist approaches to knowledge and pedagogy
- Independent Study
- Teaching Controversial Issues
- Education for Sustainable Development: Perspectives from Policy and Practice
- Professional agency and teacher activism
- Multilingual Perspectives on Education (MPE)
- East Asian Philosophies of Education (EAPE)
- The Future of Education
- Communicating Knowledge: Possibilities and Opportunities
- Guiding Effective Learning and Teaching
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Education (Science).
What this course will give you
By studying this programme you will:
- improve your understanding of the academic theory of education and science education
- critically evaluate research and development in the education and science education field,
- apply scientific ideas to the practice of science teaching and learning in formal and/or informal educational contexts
- provide insights into the contemporary developments in science education, including critically engaging with science education through a social justice lens
With this programme, it may be possible to reduce the cost of studying to two-thirds of the total if you already have PGCE Master’s credits. This is valid for up to 5 years after the completion of your PGCE.
The foundation of your career
Graduates of this programme work across a broad range of areas. They are science teachers or specialists in all phases of formal education: primary, secondary and higher education; researchers; as well as educators who work in the informal sector, such as museums and science centres.
- Recent career destinations for this degree:
- Secondary School Teacher (Deputy Curriculum Leader for Science, Waltham Forest School and Sports College)
- PhD in Education, York University
- Head of Science, Secondary school (Singapore)
Employability
If you are a practicing teacher or educator, you will develop your practice by linking theory to practice and engaging in a range of different perspectives related to science education. You will develop your research skills over the duration of the course and learn how to critically evaluate research.
Networking
As an Education (Science) MA student, you will become part of the Science special interest group (SIG) community. The Science SIG meet every other week and is formed by our science educator community. It is a space where academics, PGT students, doctoral students and teachers can collaborate, converse and debate about current issues within science education. Guest speakers are invited to these events and include national and international world-experts.