MA Education (Learning and Teaching)

Dubai Campus

Start date
January 2025
Duration
2 years Part Time
Campus
Dubai
Course Type
Postgraduate, Taught
Fees

Fee for January 2025 entry
Annual fee is AED 36,631.

Scholarships are available

The MA Education (Learning and Teaching) is a part time route, designed for those with an existing teacher certification, currently employed in an educational context and who want to study themes relevant to Learning and Teaching at Masters Level.

This programme has been accredited by the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education

University sponsorships are not available for part-time applicants. If you are a part-time applicant who requires visa sponsorship, please refer to our visa categories for further information.

The knowledge and experience you will gain from this course will place you in an ideal position to inform the development of Learning and Teaching within international educational contexts and support further improvement. It will enhance your ability to lead research and practice in areas of curriculum development, Learning and Teaching.

  • On the MA Education (Teaching and Learning) programme you will:

  • Engage with leading academics;
  • Be part of a research-informed community which harnesses cutting-edge and seminal research literature; conducting research and enquiry to review and reflect on professional practice including aspects of pedagogy, assessment, Learning and Teaching;
  • Develop capacity for rigorous and critical analysis of evidence from research and evidence from practice in international educational contexts;
  • Develop your own specialist areas of expertise through research, enquiry and other practice-focused assignments.

In your first year, the following modules will be covered:

  • Learning, Teaching and Research (20 credits)
  • Curriculum Development and Research (20 credits)
  • Team work and Mentoring (20 credits). This is a recommended module for all students on this programme, however you may choose to select from a range of alternative optional modules.

In your final year of study you undertake a Master’s Dissertation (60 credits) in an area related to your practice.  

The MA Education (Learning and Teaching) is for those who already hold or will have completed 60 credits towards a Masters level qualification.  This may be in the form of a teaching certification (e.g. PGCE/PGCEi) or a PGCert. The programme consists of 120 credits of study over two years on a part-time basis.

 

Prospect Q&A

Find out more about our Education programmes every Wednesday afternoon from 4-5 PM. Learn about how to enter the teaching profession, how to move into leadership or inclusion through our Masters' and Postgraduate Certificates. Just join online to speak to our faculty.

 

As Dubai International Academic City celebrates a decade of excellence, we are honoured to welcome one of the world’s top 100 universities, University of Birmingham, to our vibrant and diverse higher education community. University of Birmingham’s commitment to knowledge transfer through cutting-edge research makes it an ideal partner of choice, contributing to the enhancement of the UAE’s vision of creating innovative and enduring solutions that meet the demands of key sectors of development such as STEM and Education.

Mohammad Abdullah, Managing Director of Dubai International Academic City

Modules

In your first year, the following modules will be covered*:

Learning, Teaching and Research (20 credits)

This module allows you to identify and investigate an aspect of your professional practice as a qualified teacher with the aim of improving that practice. By adopting a critical approach to the review of evidence and literature around Learning and Teaching, you will be encouraged to reflect on activities which bring about real and lasting improvements to practice and, therefore, to the quality of learning for our pupils.

Curriculum Development and Research (20 credits)

This module will enable you to identify and investigate an aspect of your professional practice as a qualified teacher with the aim of improving that practice. The focus for this module will normally be based around your area of specialism and how you create lessons and other opportunities for your learners to engage with the subject most effectively. 

The following is a recommended module for all students on this programme, however you may choose to select from a range of alternative optional modules.

*The following is a recommended module for all students on this programme, however you may choose to select from a range of alternative optional modules.

Team work and Mentoring (20 credits)

On this module you will focus on the theory of coaching and mentoring in schools, as well as practical experience in implementation. You will use this knowledge to develop you own coaching and mentoring practice through practical experience. You will develop the ability to choose coaching and mentoring stances based on context, apply cognitive coaching skills and enhance you own reflective practices.

Dissertation (60 credits) 

In your final year of study you undertake a Master’s Dissertation (60 credits) in an area related to your practice.  We will provide you with the research methods training that will allow you to conduct a piece of critical research and to develop an in-depth understanding of an educational topic of personal and/or professional interest. You will receive individualised supervisory support as you undertake your dissertation

Fees

Fee for January 2025 entry

The annual fee is AED 36,631.

The total fee for the 2 year programme will be AED 73,262.

There is no bursary for these courses but there is an opportunity to apply for a scholarship. Find out more about the scholarships

How To Apply

To find out more information about our application process please visit our 'How to apply page' before starting your application.

Our Standard Requirements

All applicants must be working in an educational setting for the duration of the programme. To be considered by the University of Birmingham you will also need to meet our general entry requirements: 

  • A degree (equivalent to a UK Bachelors Degree of at least 2:2 or above) or a recognised equivalent qualification and this will be a condition of any offer where the degree has not already been awarded.
  • 60 postgraduate credits of prior learning or certification (Please see APL guidance below)
  • Two references, of which one must be academic (e.g. previous university tutor) and one professional, that confirms your current role in an educational setting and evidences your motivation and ability to study.   
  • A Personal Statement (minimum 500 - 700 words) on your motivation for and commitment to wanting to complete this programme of study as well as information about your educational context. You should refer to any professional development programmes you have attended, any Master’s level credits already awarded, any mentoring experience you have gained and/or your involvement in school projects that demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of learning and teaching in your educational context.
  • If English is not your first language you may need to demonstrate proficiency in English through the completion of an academic level IELTS or equivalent. You should achieve a score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6 in each area of reading, writing, listening and speaking.

APL Guidance 

Our MA (Education) suite of programmes are 180 credit M-level professional and academic development programmes; of which 60 credits of Accredited Prior Learning (APL) are an entry requirement. The PGCE, PGCEi and PGCert ISEN are all 60 credit Postgraduate certificate level programmes at the University of Birmingham Dubai and are all possible routes into the MA (Education).

APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning)

If you do not have a certified qualification but feel you have the knowledge, skills and experience, you must submit evidence of this within your personal statement. For further details, get in touch via our contact form.

APCL (Accreditation of Prior Certified Learning)

If you have not previously studied these 60 credit programmes with us but have postgraduate qualifications/master's level units in education from another institution, please submit evidence of certification as part of your application to be considered for Accredited Prior Certified Learning (APCL). To apply for APCL consideration, you must be able to demonstrate evidence of a certified qualification in one of the following:

  • PGCE
  • PGCEi
  • PGDip Education Studies
  • Alternative equivalent Post Graduate Diploma in Education
  • Nationally recognised Post Graduate Teaching Qualification/Diploma with a minimum duration of 1 year, which also aligns with the learning outcomes 1-5 above.  
  • NPQSL/NPQML/Equivalent Leadership Qualification or Accreditation 

Following a review of your application by our admissions tutors, you may be requested to meet for a short interview to further clarify your experiences and suitability for the programme.

If you are unsure about the equivalences of your qualifications please do not worry, simply contact our team and we will do this for you. You can get in touch via our contact form.

International Requirements



As part of the admissions process you will need to provide the following information on your application form. 

  • Name and address
  • Date of birth
  • Country of residence
  • A personal statement
  • Evidence of your qualifications
  • References 

Course delivery

We offer a combination of evening classes and once-a-month meeting on Saturdays, designed to accommodate working professionals.

Our draft timetable for part-time students is designed to deliver teaching on one or two evenings from 17:30-20:30 and one Saturday a month from 10:00-16:00 (timings vary per module). 

Please note that the example timetable is to be used as a guide and is subject to change. Our term dates are also available online. For further information, please contact the Programme Director, Philip Anderson at p.j.anderson@bham.ac.uk

Example timetable for the MA Education programme (PDF)

Your University of Birmingham MA Education (Learning and Teaching) qualification is evidence of your ability to succeed in a demanding academic environment. Employers target Birmingham students for their drive, diversity, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness, and our graduate employment statistics have continued to climb at a rate well above national trends. 

With a strong focus on connecting research to practice, and using and analysing evidence, this programme also provides a firm basis for students wishing to pursue further study on a PhD programme.