MA Education

When you study our MA in Education, you will focus on contemporary educational issues, theory, practice and policy - as viewed through economic, social, political and professional lenses.

Studying education at Keele is shaped by our strong focus – in both teaching and research – on the broader role of education in enhancing human development, its relationship to the economy, society and people’s lives, their opportunities and identities.

Drawing inspiration from the latest research, you’ll study critical perspectives on education policy, professional identity and a variety of global education issues. For example, you will explore how educational inequalities are associated with race, gender, class and culture and how those associations affect students' experiences of schooling and their educational outcomes.

The course is likely to be of interest to a wide range of students and professionals in for-profit and non-profit settings: teachers, trainers and lecturers; education advisors, consultants and specialists; youth workers, counsellors and mentors; educational administrators, managers and leaders.

It can help you improve your professional practice, develop your speciality, transition into educational administration or leadership roles, either here in the UK or internationally. The course can also broader your career opportunities in international non-governmental organisations (INGOs), NGOs, arts sector, the civil service, educational policy, corporate training and development.

You have the freedom to choose to undertake an educational placement or opt for a more traditional dissertation on a topic of your choice depending on your interests or career aspirations. This can help to establish your authority in specific teaching practices or disciplines, for instance, achieving better student outcomes in special education or to understand how factors to do with characteristics of students and the contexts of their school impact on experiences of schooling.

Given the focus on research, the MA also provides an excellent foundation for further research or to pursue a PhD or a Professional Doctorate.