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Arts and Education Practices - MA

Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.

Our pioneering MA Arts and Education Practices course focuses on the exploration of educational models at the intersection of practice, teaching and pedagogic theory. The only Arts Education MA in the UK based in a School of Art, we provide a unique platform for the art educator....

  • Level Postgraduate Taught
  • Study mode Full Time/Part Time

This course is:

Open to International Students

Overview

Our pioneering MA Arts and Education Practices course focuses on the exploration of educational models at the intersection of practice, teaching and pedagogic theory.

The only Arts Education MA in the UK based in a School of Art, we provide a unique platform for the art educator. This setting helps to facilitate an innovative community of experienced and aspiring art educators, welcoming those willing to critique current practices to ask not only how we should teach art, but also how art can teach us.

This course is open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

Our students come from diverse phases and sectors in the field of art and design education and the expanded fields of gallery, community and self organised educational practices. Through the course individual perspectives and experiences meet with those of your peers providing you with the stimulation and challenges that different perceptions can bring. We seek to evolve a dialogue through direct experience and engagement with the arts and their value as taught subjects, both within the institution and outside of it.

Our taught modules strengthen your subject knowledge and connect you with contemporary creative and educational practice. Taught sessions and tutorial contact are balanced with online content and assessment is spread throughout the year to ease workload. MA Arts and Education students follow a core modular structure that explores the past, current and future practice of arts education. You can personalise your learning through your choice of an optional module and pursue your interests within the expanded field of arts education through research and practice.

The structure of the course enables you to focus your research within the context of your own creative field and workplace. Through this study you build independent research leading to your major project that can be focused through educational models, workshops, creative practice and encounters that inform and are responsive to art educational contexts.

The course offers opportunities to connect with and expand your knowledge of your creative field through collaboration, live projects and visits that explore educational situations and projects.

Studying on MA Arts and Education Practices was a great privilege as the course allowed me time and space to reflect upon and revisit my art practice, as well as research my developing interest in faith schools and alternative arts education. Over the course of the year, I experimented with various materials and processes and felt the independence of the course was integral to achieving success.

Navi Kaur

Why Choose Us?

  • This is a unique professional development opportunity at the intersection between art practice and educational theory.
  • The MA Arts and Education Practices has a significant international reputation with alumni in over 20 countries worldwide, with strong educational profiles and working in a range of institutions and organisations.
  • We work with each individual student to develop a route through the course to match their aspirations.
  • Our students practice as artists, gain promotion within the field of education, pursue research or take a sideways step into another arts education related context.
  • You will be supported by a highly professional staff team, doctoral researchers, technical demonstrators and artists in residence in a innovative, creative and supportive environment.
  • Birmingham School of Art is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for art-based learning and research. We have a unique art education archive relating to the Arts and Crafts Movement, and Marion Richardson, amongst others.
  • The course is based at Birmingham School of Art (Margaret Street), a fine example of Venetian Gothic architecture and an impressive purpose built Grade I listed art school.

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

Essential Requirements

Normally a first degree or its equivalent in an appropriate subject, and/or previous or concurrent experience in the arts and/or education.

We also welcome applications from those mature applicants who may not satisfy the normal entry requirements.

Applicants will also need a good portfolio.

IELTS 6.0 overall with 5.5 minimum in all bands or its equivalent.

International Students

Entry requirements here

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

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
  • £9,190 in 2025/26
  • Full Time
  • 18 months (including Professional Placement - see below*)
  • £10,110 in 2025/26
  • £1022 per 20 credits
  • Year 1 - 100 credits
  • Year 2 - 80 credits

Fees for Part-time students

This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.

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
  • Full Time
  • 18 months (including Professional Placement - see below*)
  • £20,460 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.

Clothing and safety equipment (mandatory)

This course requires the purchase of safety equipment in order to use the workshop facilities.

Excess printing (optional)

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

Field trips (optional)

This course includes the option of additional trips that may enhance your experience, at extra cost.

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.

*Professional Placement option

The Professional Placement version of the course is optional and is offered as an alternative to the standard version of the course.

This will allow you to complete a credit bearing, 20 week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Master’s Degree. The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.

You will be responsible for finding and securing your own placement. The University, however, will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. You will also benefit from support sessions delivered by Careers+ as well as advice and guidance from your School.

Placements will only be confirmed following a competitive, employer-led selection process, therefore the University will not be able to guarantee placements for students who have registered for the ‘with Professional Placement’ course. All students who do not find a suitable placement or do not pass the competitive selection process will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course.

Portfolio guidance

If you receive an offer to study this course, you will be required to submit a portfolio. We ask that this is submitted within four weeks of receiving your offer.

Please see our portfolio guidance page for tips on putting your portfolio together.

Portfolio guidance

If you receive an offer to study this course, you will be required to submit a portfolio. We ask that this is submitted within four weeks of receiving your offer.

Please see our portfolio guidance page for tips on putting your portfolio together.

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

Modules

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 160 credits):

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following indicative list of OPTIONAL modules.

Professional Placement Year

In order to qualify for the award of MA Arts and Education Practices with Professional Placement, a student must successfully complete all of the Level 7 modules listed above as well as the following Level 6 module:

Download course specification

Download now

Course structure

For both the experienced or aspiring artists an/or educators the course ethos is one of facilitation, mentoring and collaboration. We seek to model a critical pedagogy where dialogue and mutual enquiry are emphasised.

The Arts and Education Practices course consists of two core modules (specialist and discipline specific); two common core modules and an option module which you chose to undertake one in Stage One. The first core modules- Narratives of Art & Design Education encourage students to develop related research ideas relevant to their particular interests and aspirations. The study on this course is interdisciplinary in nature and encompasses both theory-led and practice-led study. 

The second stage of the course is framed through the second core module- Global Innovations in Art and Design Education and this stage of the course sees a shift to more independent inquiry through the common core module Research in Practice. This is supported through briefing sessions, group seminars and tutorials. Our seminar series complements Research in Practice providing a balance of topics dealing with contemporary art practice and theory. Where possible they are conducted by both School of Art staff and visiting lecturers: artists, critics, curators, writers and other related professionals.

In the final stage of the course, for the Faculty wide Major Project, you will write either a dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words or you will develop work for exhibition at the end of year MA show supported by a smaller amount of text.  

Employability

Enhancing your employability skills

Studying an MA will help you to pursue or develop your career in a range of related professions across the educational sector and creative industries. This course will help to enhance your skillset and employability and either progress in your existing role or achieve your career ambitions in a new direction.

Many of our graduates have achieved regional, national and international recognition as professional artist educators and professionals in the creative industries sector.

Several modules on this course have been specifically designed to equip you with valuable transferable skills, for example Contemporary Curatorial Practice; Small Arts Business Set Up and Creative Publishing and Public Dissemination. These transferable skills include:

  • Thinking in a creative, imaginative and speculative manner
  • Demonstrating communication and presentation skills in practical, written and verbal forms
  • Demonstrating adaptability and flexibility in a range of contexts
  • Reflecting and communicating in an articulate, informed, confident and effective manner
  • Working independently while demonstrating initiative and self-reliance
  • Demonstrating motivation, organisation, planning and effective strategising skills
  • Showing a capacity for good time management
  • Actively linked with up-to-date local and regional opportunities.

We maintain excellent connections with major city centre institutions such as Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (BMAG), Selfridges, Birmingham City Council, New Art West Midlands and Digbeth First Friday to name but a few.

Placements

Placements are one of the possible ways of fulfilling your modules and many of our students have chosen this route. There is scope for placements with a number of organisations in the city and beyond, however it is your responsibility to plan and organise your placement with the organisation you wish to work with.

Placements are a great opportunity to gain insight into how an organisation works and your reflection on their activities can be useful to them as you develop your research. Placements also give you the chance to meet and network with people in the education sector and creative industries. Our tutors are available to guide you through this process. 


Navi Kaur
Artist and Teacher of Art at Nishkam High School

"Studying on the MA Arts and Education Practices programme was a great privilege as the course allowed me time and space to reflect upon and revisit my art practice, as well as research my developing interest in faith schools and alternative arts education, particularly within gallery settings and Punjabi schools situated in Gurdwaras (Sikh temples). Over the course of the year, I experimented with various materials and processes and felt the independence of the programme was integral to achieving success, as this encouraged me to approach galleries and organisations in the local arts community to share and experiment new works. This led to my first solo show at The GAP Arts Project and a number of student-led collaborative shows both at Margaret Street and an interim show at the CET Building in Coventry. The malleability of the course meant that I was able to balance my practice alongside my writing and was supported by my tutors to take up a research trip to Punjab - this developed into a short documentary film (Finding Space in Faith, 2018,), in which I explored my developing relationship with faith and family. This work was presented as my final project and exhibited as part of the end of year Masters degree show, Turn Out.

"After completing the course, I was fortunate enough to be supported by various arts organisations including Grand Union Gallery and Studios, with whom I am now a studio holder as part of their year-long BCU Graduate Residency Programme. 

"Finding Space in Faith was widely shared across various platforms including on The White Pube's website as their November web resident. This led onto a collaborative exhibition at Stryx Gallery with a small number of my fellow Masters graduates, my second solo show at Recent Activity and more recently, exhibiting work at the UK's first Asian Woman Festival and becoming a member of Black Hole Club's 2019 cohort. 

"Also after completing the course, I began my Initial Teacher Training and am currently working towards QTS with Staffordshire University on their PGCE Art and Design programme and am very privileged to be the newly appointed Teacher of Art at Nishkam High School from September 2019. I endeavour to be a positive role model for young people of colour in the community and create opportunities for them that were not accessible for me."


Laura Onions
Artist, Lecturer in Fine Art and Gallery Assistant at Grand Union.

"Having the space and time to identify how I wanted to practice as an artist through the contexts of education was important to me in selecting this MA. The expanded nature of the course enabled me to play within a critical framework that supported and challenged my practice and thinking. The most powerful aspect of this course was developing an educational ethos that has affected the way in which I interact and make decisions in my work with communities, galleries and teaching in Higher Education."


Melanie Woodhead
Course Leader of the Foundation Degree Fine Art & Contemporary Craft at Malvern School of Art.

"The MA Arts and Education Practices course was my ideal programme of study because it gave me fresh perspective on my position as an experienced Fine Art lecturer in Further and Higher Education, and in my role as a freelance art educator. As an artist it also challenged and shifted my creative identity towards unfamiliar territory. Since completing the course, I have started a new job as Course Leader of the Foundation Degree Fine Art and Contemporary Craft at Malvern School of Art, a role in which I constantly draw and reflect upon my experiences at BCU."


We offer part-time temporary positions within the University. This allows you to work while you study with us, fitting the job around your course commitments.

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:

Our international students

The Art Based Master’s Programme is an international community of aspiring researchers and professionals and the programme attracts candidates from all over the world including: Africa, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Italy, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Taiwan and the USA.

This diversity provides you with an opportunity to study with people from diverse social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and who bring a wealth of experience to the programme. This gives the ABM programme a dynamic energy that enriches everyone’s educational experience.

Facilities & Staff

Margaret Street exterior

Our Facilities

We are constantly investing in our estate and are currently in the process of spending over £400 million on new learning facilities.

Birmingham School of Art (an impressive purpose built Grade 1 listed example of Venetian Gothic architecture) was the first major renovation project undertaken by the university (£5.5m refurbishment). The School provides an incredible resource for the production of art and its associated fields of study. The building has a range of facilities available including studios, workshops, specialist art and design library, bookable spaces and lecture/seminar rooms.

Our staff

Cathy Wade

Course Leader MA Arts and Education Practices

Cathy is an artist, writer and academic whose work is concerned with how art can be created and distributed in collaborative partnerships and through the creation of commons. Her work seeks to understand the experience of contemporary conditions through social practice and is realised as digital video, print, installation, public art, publication,...

More about Cathy