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Education (International Education) - MA

Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.

Do you want to expand your understanding of international education in a fast-changing world? Are you looking to form the foundation of a future career in many different educational or training settings? If so our MA Education (International Education) course will broaden your existing knowledge and set you on the right track.

  • Level Postgraduate Taught
  • Study mode Full Time

This course is:

Open to International Students

Overview

Do you want to expand your understanding of international education in a fast-changing world? Are you looking to form the foundation of a future career in many different educational or training settings? If so our MA Education (International Education) course will broaden your existing knowledge and set you on the right track.

This course is open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

You don’t need a teaching qualification for this course and you don’t have to intend become a teacher. We take a flexible approach and encourage you to explore educational issues within an international context, helped by working alongside the wide range of students from both the UK and overseas who study on this course.

You’ll explore how the English education system works by studying the quality of learning and teaching on offer to pupils today. You’ll also look at issues aimed at improving education, management of the sector and research opportunities. While the International Education pathway from the Education Master's framework draws on the English education system, you’ll also have the chance to compare this with the situation in a range of other international contexts.

Why Choose Us?

  • Birmingham International Airport is nearby and we have excellent connections to London (as quick as 80 minutes by train) and the rest of the UK. 

  • We are regularly praised by external examiners for our focus on giving people transferable skills.

OPEN DAY

Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.

Next Event: 24 November 2024

Book now

Entry Requirements

Essential requirements

UK students
Essential

Applicants should have a degree or equivalent qualification, or professional experience that equates to degree level.

All suitably-qualified candidates will normally be interviewed, though this can take place by phone if necessary.Selection will be based on ability to benefit from and contribute to the course of study.

Exemption from some modules may be granted for appropriate prior learning.

We welcome applications from mature students and from members of communities traditionally under-represented in higher education.

International students
Essential

If you are an international applicant you must provide us with a copy of your Good Conduct certificate as you may undertake supervised visits during the course.

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply
  • UK Student
  • International Student

UK students

Sorry, this course is not available to UK students.

International students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: MA

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Full Time
  • 1 year
  • £18,600 in 2025/26

Access to computer equipment

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms.

Printing

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment.

Field trips

All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees.

Access to Microsoft Office 365

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation.

Key Software

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research.

Key subscriptions

Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library.

Excess printing (optional)

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet.

Books (optional)

All module key texts will be in the University library, but in limited numbers. You may choose to purchase a copy.

Subscriptions (optional)

You may wish to purchase subscriptions to additional journals and websites.

Memberships (optional)

You may wish to join a union or professional body related to this course.

Accommodation and living costs

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

Personal statement

You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.

If you are applying for a stand alone module, please include the title of the module you want to study in your Personal Statement.

Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.

Course in Depth

PgCert and PgDip Stages

This pathway of the MA Education aims to address the learning needs of education professionals working in a variety of settings. It forms part of the School's Taught Master’s Framework so you may find it useful to familiarise yourself with the range of modules available within the framework first.

Taking the International Education pathway means you will undertake three core modules that all MA Education students take along with three specific option modules. You will then have a one module choice which you will negotiate with your Course Director and select from those available as part of the MA Education framework.

Master's Stage

Download course specification

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Course structure

The course aims to give you a postgraduate qualification, whether you’re interested in early years, primary, secondary further or higher education. You don’t need a degree to do it if you have the relevant experience.

Our MA Education (International Education) provides exit awards at Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits) or Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits).

You could use evidence from previous study, which relates to this subject, to claim Accreditation of Prior Experience and Learning (APEL). This process involves mapping evidence against the learning outcomes for specific modules. You’ll need to speak to the Course Director first if you’re considering this option.

We use a variety of teaching and learning methods on this course. You’ll attend regular lectures and seminars, where students can share their learning and develop an understanding of different international contexts.

You’ll attend some whole classes and small group sessions and benefit from one-to-one support and online collaboration – using our virtual learning system, Moodle.

Our course team has a wide experience of the educational system and also in teaching, leadership and research.  

We believe the development of transferable skills is a priority. It is a very important aspect when teaching at Masters level. We are regularly praised by external examiners for providing an excellent experience in this area.

Assessment methods

Assessment is by coursework only and participants need to demonstrate an ability to carry out in-depth critical analysis, effective research skills, critically evaluate research methodologies, have an enhanced knowledge and understanding of education and training in an international context and be able to critically evaluate their findings in relation to the academic literature.

Employability

Enhancing employability skills

This course will give you a foundation for a career in many different educational settings, both public and private, in the UK or abroad.

It's also suitable for people who wish to change career direction. This is because it provides a comprehensive international view of teaching, learning and educational systems – although it does not give you a teaching qualification.

You will develop important transferable skills in scholarly academic studies, plus research skills and practice. These will prove useful when you are working as part of a team and getting used to handling lots of data. 

International

Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.

The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.

Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:

Facilities & Staff

University House

Our Facilities

We are constantly investing in our estate and have spent £400 million on new learning facilities.

From January 2025, this course will be based at our City Centre Campus in a newly refurbished building.

Our staff

Dr Louise Lambert

Associate Professor

Dr Lou Lambert has a background in schools’ education, initial teacher education and postgraduate education leadership. She is currently an Associate Professor at BCU where she teaches, researches, and writes about pedagogical practices across educational sectors and the use of arts-based, participatory and creative methodologies for both research...

More about Louise

Hugh Johnson

Course Director

Hugh Johnson is Course Director for MA International Education and Senior Lecturer in CPD. His career in education began in 1989 working in schools and with previous appointments in higher education at Sheffield Hallam, Nottingham Trent Universities and The Open University.

More about Hugh