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Course overview
Level up your existing qualification with our MA Teaching Studies.
Already hold 120 Masters credits? Ready to deepen your understanding of teaching and learning in schools? Complete our fully online MA Teaching Studies course and enhance your qualifications to advance your career in education.
Course structure
This course will run over 12 months in a distance-learning, part-time mode.
Course highlights
The MA Teaching Studies at Birmingham is designed to help experienced education professionals complete their Masters qualification entirely online. With flexible learning options, the course allows you to refine your research skills and develop practical insights, supported by one-on-one tutorials, culminating in a 60-credit dissertation.
- Fully online, designed for flexible study around your teaching role.
- Tailored for academics and professionals in teaching, learning and assessment in the school sector.
- Refresh your research skills through focused, practical sessions.
- Personalised guidance from a dedicated dissertation supervisor.
- 3rd
in the UK for Education research (Research Excellence Framework 2021)
Course delivery
Gain research skills through three interactive Saturday sessions focused on design and methods, with flexible online supervisor meetings to guide your dissertation. Tailor your learning to fit around your teaching commitments and professional goals.
- Online Live classes: Classes with this format meet at a regularly scheduled time online. You can interact live with your instructor and classmates as you all work together at the same time and same days.
- 1:1 Supervision: Supervisors expected to support, encourage and guide those students who are their tutees’ so that they are supported in maximising their academic potential, personal development, and professional and employability skills acquisition throughout their time as a student at the University.
Module information
The programme comprises of a 60-credit research dissertation.
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.
2025/26 Session
Students will enter the programme with a minimum of 40 Masters Level credits from their Initial Teacher Education qualification.
Because some Universities award more than 40 Masters Level credits to an Initial Teacher Education PGCE, the following will apply: Students holding 40-60 Masters Level credits will be required to take all three modules. Students holding 61-80 Masters Level credits will be required to take two modules. Students holding between 81-119 Masters Level credits will be required to take one module. Students holding a Postgraduate Diploma in Education as an Initial teacher Education qualification with QTS will proceed directly to the Dissertation.
Students studying towards the Postgraduate Diploma will not need to complete the Dissertation module.
| Module Title | Credits | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| LM Curriculum development and research | 20 | Semester 2 |
| LM Dissertation | 60 | Full Term |
| LM Learning, teaching and research | 20 | Semester 1 |
| LM Team work and mentoring | 20 |
Entry requirements
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.
- You must hold 120 credits towards Masters Study
- You must hold 120 credits towards Masters Study.
- Where these credits are all from the University of Birmingham at least 90 credits must be at Level M and a maximum of 30 can be at Level H.
- Where these credits are all from another institution, if they are in the form of a single postgraduate award (a PGDipEd/ PGDE) where that award is deemed to be a Masters level award of 120 credits, at least 90 credits must be at Level M and a maximum of 30 can be at Level H.
- Where these credits are all or partly from another institution, if they are not in the form of a single postgraduate award (a PGDipEd/ PGDE) all 120 credits must be at Level M.
You must receive a satisfactory reference from an academic and/ or professional person who can comment on your academic learning and/or professional practice in learning and teaching.
You will need to provide a personal statement that clearly explains a rationale for wanting to complete an MA where learning and teaching is the focus. It is mandatory for applicants who have not completed 120 Credits of study at the University of Birmingham to include a personal statement in their application.
You will need to provide evidence (via your previous qualification(s), personal statement and/ or reference) that earlier study contributing the 120 credits (above) was in an area relevant to learning and teaching practice.
Students who have not studied in English must pass a recognised English test. For more information on what proof you will need, visit our International Postgraduate requirements page
English language requirements
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:
- TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 Listening, 22 Speaking and 21 in Writing
- Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
- Cambridge English: C1 Advanced - minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
- LanguageCert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 'Communicator' with no less than 33 in each skill
English Presessional Programmes
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.
Fees and scholarships
- £3,634
Part-time
Postgraduate Masters Loan
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.
Scholarships
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.
Birmingham Masters Scholarships
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.
Application process
To apply for a postgraduate programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online.
- 29 August 2025
Application deadline for UK and non visa requiring applicants. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full. Early applications are encouraged.
How to apply to our taught courses
Find out how to apply to our postgraduate taught programmes. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Career opportunities
The MA Teaching Studies equips you for leadership roles in education, enhancing your expertise in teaching and learning. Whether you're advancing in your current role or exploring new opportunities, the course provides valuable research skills to help boost your career prospects. This course also paves the way for future academic growth, including the possibility of pursuing a PhD.
Careers Network
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.