Approved by the Department of Education and designed to fit around busy working lives, this is a blended learning programme that enable qualified teachers (QTS or QTLS) to gain specialist skills and knowledge that make a difference to children and young people in the classroom Learn from top experts, integrate your experiences, and explore research and policy to enhance inclusive education practices.
Start shaping the future of sensory education with us by developing your expertise to lead and innovate in supporting children with vision impairments. With tailored guidance from top experts, you’ll be prepared to confidently take on impactful roles and advanced career opportunities in this field.
This course will run in a part-time mode online, for either 24 or 36 months depending on which award you enrolled for.
In your first year of the course, you will complete three 20-credit core modules that focus on assessing visual needs, ensuring curriculum access, and understanding professional identity. Students will develop expertise in vision processing, educational frameworks, and collaborative practices, concentrating on the creation, implementation, and evaluation of tailored educational programmes that support learning and transitions for children and young people with sensory impairments. Assessments will include essays, presentations, and lesson plans.
Our Department of Disability, Inclusion and Special Needs (DISN) blends global expertise with practical insights to drive inclusion and social justice through innovative research and tailored education. Study our Mandatory Qualification for Teachers of Children and Young People with Vision Impairments and enjoy a distinctive, flexible learning experience, taught by leading experts. This part-time, distance course allows you to tailor your studies through diverse modules and a 60-credit dissertation.
Gain Qualified Teacher of Children and Young People with Vision Impairments (QTVI) status from the Department for Education
A leading centre of excellence in vision impairment teaching and research
Students will benefit from association with members of the Vision Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research (VICTAR) and personalised career guidance. Ideal for professionals in various settings, this course equips you to drive meaningful change and advance in your career, potentially leading to further qualifications such as a PhD or EdD.
Teaching will utilise a range of learning methods, including online classes, discussions and group activities.
Those completing the MA (Mandatory Qualification) will need to complete all the modules below (worth 20 credits each) and a dissertation (worth 60 credits). Those completing the MA Education of Children and Young People with Vision Impairments will study the same modules as in the MA mandatory qualification programme, but will not undertake the 'Effective Teaching of Learners with Sensory Impairment' module, and will instead take the 'Inclusion: Universal and Specialist Approaches' module.
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.
Those completing the MA (Mandatory Qualification) will need to complete all the modules below (worth 20 credits each) and a dissertation (worth 60 credits).
Those completing the MA Education of Children and Young People with Vision Impairments will study the same modules as in the MA Mandatory Qualification programme, but will not undertake the Effective Teaching of Learners with Sensory Impairment module which includes the teaching placement. Instead, in the summer term of the second year you will take the 'Inclusion: Universal and Specialist Approaches' module.
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Year: 1 The following must be taken:
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The following modules must be taken in Year 2:
| Module Title | Code | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| LM Effective Teaching of Learners with Sensory Impairment | 11 39462 | 20 | |
| LM Social and Emotional Development in Children and Young People with Vision Impairments | 11 27464 | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LM Special Studies in Special Education and Educational Psychology (Distance Education) | 11 05473 | 20 | Full Term |
The following module must be taken in Year 3:
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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 should 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).
As well as those requirements already listed, you will be expected to have:
Programme staff will discuss the course with all suitable candidates.
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.
Select whether you are a UK student or an international student for relevant application deadlines.
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.
This course is ideal for teachers who are already qualified to teach school-aged children in England but require the mandatory qualification to achieve Qualified Teacher of Children and Young People with Vision Impairments (QTVI) status from the Department for Education.
The PGDip/MA Education of Children and Young People with Vision Impairments qualifications are suitable for professionals who do not wish, or are not eligible, to obtain QTVI status – for example, lecturers of students with vision impairments, and educational psychologists.
There is the opportunity to work towards a further professional qualification in the field of Education both within schools and in other settings, including progression to a PhD or EdD. The excellent careers advice provided by personal tutors has encouraged many of our graduates to successfully apply for leadership roles working with children and young people with vision impairments.
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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.
