Make a difference in the classroom with our MA/PG Diploma in Deaf Education. Achieve the specialist skills and confidence to transform the lives of deaf children and unlock their potential.
Our course will provide you with the mandatory qualification to become a certified teacher of the deaf, opening doors to leadership roles such as specialist teachers, educational audiologists, and more. Taught by leading academics at our top-ranked School of Education, the programme is designed to fit around your schedule, combining flexible online learning with real-time opportunities to engage in group work and seminars, plus four mandatory 2-day study weekends for in-person cohort interaction.
Our MA course runs over 3 years, while the PGDip runs over 2 years. Both courses are delivered part-time in a distance-learning mode.
Our MA/PGDip Mandatory Qualification in Deaf Education is approved by the Department of Education and designed to fit around busy working lives, enabling qualified teachers (QTS or QTLS) to gain the specialist skills and knowledge they need to make a difference to the lives of children and young people in the classroom.
with strong links to mainstream and special education settings
Our MA/PGDip Character Education course is fully online, combining scheduled activities with flexible, self-paced weekly study units.
The MA programme comprises of 180 credits of taught material, including a 60-credit dissertation project.
The modules listed below are an indication only and may be subject to change. Occasionally, it may be necessary to make changes to modules, for example, to ensure they remain current and relevant.
As a research-intensive University, our teaching is informed by the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff. For more information on the circumstances in which the University may need to make changes to modules, please refer to the Terms and Conditions for applicants.
In Year 1, the following modules must be taken:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Audiological Management | 20 | |
| Communication and Language Development in Deaf Children and Young People | 20 | Semester 1 |
| Policy and SEND Professional Identity | 20 | Semester 2 |
In Year 2, students take the following modules:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum access for Deaf Learners | 20 | Semester 2 |
| Inclusion : Universal and Specialist Approaches | 20 | |
| The development of deaf children and young people | 20 | Semester 1 |
MA students complete one compulsory module in Year 3:
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Dissertation (Distance Education) | 60 | Full Term |
To gain a place at Birmingham you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.
or five years of relevant professional experience, training or other relevant qualifications
In addition to the general entry requirements, applicants must have:
Submission of evidence for QTS/QTLS is mandatory for admission, along with documentation clearly confirming your Teacher Reference Number (TRN).
Please note that for enrolment onto this course, Early Years Teaching Status does NOT count as qualified teacher status (QTS).
Entry to the programme will be subject to a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check (child and adult workforce, child barred list) carried out by the University of Birmingham. We may be able to consider an existing Enhanced DBS certificate provided this is registered with the DBS Update Service and is at this exact same level. If a new Enhanced DBS check is required applicants will be liable for the cost of this check.
If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification.
For this course we require IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band, which is equivalent to:
Improve your knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for studying at Birmingham with our pre-sessional English courses. If you have a conditional offer, you can take one of these courses as an alternative to retaking IELTS or other similar qualifications.
Fixed fee for each year of study
We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2025 entry are above.
The fees are fixed at this price for each year of study for the duration of the programme.
Tuition fees can either be paid in full or by instalments. You can check whether you are eligible for UK or international fees with our admissions team.
Learn more about postgraduate tuition fees and funding.
To help with the cost of studies, this loan is available to all UK students. You can use this loan towards fees, maintenance or other costs at your own discretion. It’s available for all full-time, part-time and distance learning Masters programmes, as long as you don’t already have a Masters qualification (or equivalent).If you’re a student from Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can apply for Masters loans from your country’s government.
To help you afford your studies, we’ve put more than £33 million into student support and scholarships. We also offer a range of advice on searching for funding and managing your finances.
We want to welcome the brightest talent to our postgraduate community. That’s why our Birmingham Masters Scholarships award £3,000 to more than 300 students each year.
To apply for a postgraduate programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online.
Application deadline for UK and non visa requiring applicants. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full. Early applications are encouraged.
Find out how to apply to our postgraduate taught programmes. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.
If you have a question about our admissions process, including how to apply, your offer and how to track your application, please visit our admissions portal.
Our MA/PGDip in Deaf Education will prepare you for a diverse range of careers in deaf education.
The course is ideal for teachers needing the mandatory Qualified Teacher of the Deaf status, and for education professionals, including lecturers and educational psychologists. Graduates often progress to PhD or EdD programmes, and into leadership roles, including as specialist teachers, educational audiologists, and BSL interpreters.
by leading graduate employers (High Fliers Research 2024)
Get ready for tomorrow, with advice, guidance and opportunities at every step of your studies. From developing new skills to preparing for a PhD, our Careers Network can help you gain an advantage in the job market or advance in your field.
Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offers a range of events and support services including networking opportunities, career coaching, one-to-one guidance, careers fairs and links with leading graduate recruiters. We also offer subject-specific careers consultants and a dedicated careers website for international students.
Find out why we are the most targeted UK university by top graduate employers (High Fliers report, The Graduate Market 2024) by meeting some of our successful alumni.
