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Childhood, Education and Professional Development Postgraduate Information Events

These information events are designed to help you find out more about the courses we have on offer and will highlight exactly how your course of choice will become a significant part of your life-long learning continuum, and support you to become a successful lifelong learner.

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Course Summary

This course is designed for educators who want to deepen their understanding of mathematics teaching and learning. You will explore key issues in education with our MA Education students through core modules, but will have the opportunity to engage in dedicated breakout sessions that apply these themes to mathematics education. These sessions provide opportunities to reflect on policy, curriculum design and classroom practice in mathematics.  Throughout the course, you will be supported by a tutor with expertise in mathematics education, who will guide you in developing a research project focused on a topic relevant to mathematics teaching and learning. This will ensure you gain both a broad understanding of educational research and specialist insights into mathematics education. 

Why Study This Course at the University of Chester?

This pathway is ideal for educators across different settings who are passionate about improving mathematics teaching and learning. The structure of the course allows you to benefit from interdisciplinary discussions, while also engaging with subject-specific applications of educational research. With expert academic support, the Mathematics Education pathway will equip you with the skills to critically evaluate research, reflect on practice and contribute to the development of mathematics education in your own context. 

If you do not wish to complete the full MA, you can choose to exit with a PGDip qualification instead.

Why You’ll Love It

What You'll Study

The MA Education (Mathematics Education) is designed to be highly relevant to professional practice, supporting the exploration and development of educational work across multiple settings. This course enables you to research key issues in mathematics education and apply educational theories to enhance teaching and learning in mathematics. Through a combination of core MA Education modules and dedicated breakout sessions, you will critically engage with research, policy and practice, while exploring innovative approaches to mathematics teaching.

Modules run on a two-year rolling cycle, meaning not all modules are available every year. If you're on the Mathematics Education pathway, you will study the same core modules as students on the MA Education course but with subject-specific breakout sessions.

Depending on your qualifications at the point of entry to the course, you will be required to complete up to four modules, plus a research project in an area related to mathematics education. Modules which may be available to choose from within this two-year cycle are:

ED7201 Contemporary Debates in Education
Examine key debates and emerging issues in education, exploring how policy, theory and practice shape learning environments, especially in mathematics education. 

ED7204 Promoting Wellbeing & Resilience in Education
Investigate strategies to support wellbeing and resilience in educational settings, enhancing the wellbeing of both learners and educators.

ED7206 Exploring Curriculum: Concepts, Contexts and Practice
Analyse curriculum design and implementation, considering historical, cultural and policy influences on educational frameworks.

ED7207 Education in the Digital Age: Engaging Today's Learners
Explore the impact of digital technologies on teaching and learning, developing innovative approaches to engage modern learners.

ED7203 Re-imagining Pedagogy & Practice
Critically examine traditional and emerging pedagogical approaches, rethinking educational practice to enhance student outcomes. You will engage in breakout sessions specifically exploring pedagogical approaches to teaching and learning in mathematics.

ED7208 Research Methods & Design
Develop essential research skills, exploring qualitative and quantitative methods to conduct robust educational research.

ED7302 Critical Approaches to Inclusive Education
Evaluate inclusive education practices, challenging barriers to learning and promoting equality in diverse educational settings.

E7210 Research Project
Undertake an independent research project, applying research skills to investigate a topic relevant to your professional context. Your project will focus on a topic related to mathematics teaching and learning, with guidance from a specialist tutor in mathematics education.

 

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

 

Who You’ll Learn From

Dr Heather Macdonald

Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for the MA in Education
Heather Macdonald

Sarah Collins

Senior Lecturer
Sarah Collins

Tracey Patterson

Senior Lecturer
Tracey Patterson

Christine Packer

Senior Lecturer
Christine Packer

Dr Sally Bamber

Senior Lecturer
Sally Bamber

How You'll Learn

Teaching methods

The course has been structured to integrate with the work patterns of busy professionals. You can choose to attend the taught sessions at the University of Chester's Exton Park in Chester, or to attend by distance learning where participants can join the classroom-based students virtually from anywhere in the world using Microsoft Teams.

As the majority of participants will be teachers or other educational professionals, the teaching is concentrated into six Saturdays each year, supplemented by six online evening seminars.

Assessment

We use a variety of assessment methods, including digital presentations, essays, projects, and critical reflections, which will enable you to apply the topics studied to your own area of interest and to the age phase or subject area in which you are working.

Entry Requirements

2:2 honours degree

Applicants should hold a Bachelor's degree, 2:2 or higher, plus either a Level 7 qualification related to mathematics education, such as a PGCE Mathematics or a PG Cert Educational Practice in Mathematics, or have completed an eligible course with the NCETM.

This course is exclusively available to UK students.

Using credits towards your MA

If you have completed a PGCE, you can use the 60 credits you have achieved from it towards your MA Education. To transfer your PGCE credits directly to the MA Education, you must have completed the PGCE within the last five years. If your PGCE is older than five years, you may still be able to use the credits but you will have to demonstrate the currency of the knowledge you gained from the PGCE and pay a fee of £220 to have your knowledge assessed.

In addition, if you have completed other Level 7 courses in the area of education, you may be able to use the credits achieved from these courses towards your MA Education, for example, the following Postgraduate Certificates awarded by the University of Chester can all be used as credit towards the MA Education: Postgraduate Certificate in Attachment, Trauma and Mental Health; Postgraduate Certificate in Coaching & Mentoring; Postgraduate Certificate in Leading SEND Provision and Practice; Postgraduate Certificate in Conservation and Sustainability Education; Postgraduate Certificate in Educational Practice in Mathematics. Level 7 courses from other universities may also be accepted. To transfer these credits directly to the MA Education, you must have completed them within the last five years.  If your credits are older than five years, you may still be able to use them, but you will have to demonstrate the currency of your knowledge and pay a fee of £220 to have this assessed.

If you have completed a National Professional Qualification (NPQ) then you can use this as credit towards your MA Education, up to a maximum of 60 credits.

National Professional Qualification

Maximum number of masters credits at Level 7

What your programme will look like.

 

National Professional Qualification for Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD)

40 Credits

Four taught 20-credit modules (from the list of available modules), plus the 60-credit Research Project

National Professional Qualification for Leading Teaching (NPQLT)

40 Credits

National Professional Qualification for Leading Behaviour and Culture (NPQLBC)

40 Credits

National Professional Qualification for Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL)

40 Credits

National Professional Qualification for Leading Literacy (NPQLL)

40 Credits

National Professional Qualification for SENCOs (NPQ for SENCOs)

60 Credits

Three taught 20-credit modules (from the list of available modules), plus the 60-credit Research Project

 

National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL)

60 Credits

National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH)

60 Credits

National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership (NPQEL)

60 Credits

If you wish to bring more than one NPQ into the MA Education, please contact the Programme Leader to discuss if this will be possible.

To bring your NPQ into the MA Education, you need to engage in a professional discussion with the programme leader for the MA Education.  This takes place once you are registered for the course. We cannot do this before your induction.

We will ask you to explain one or both of your projects (depending on the NPQ), what you did, the theories underpinning your project, the impact and the learning you have taken from it.

Where You'll Study Exton Park, Chester

Fees and Funding

£8,775for a full-time course (2025/26)

Guides to the fees for students who wish to commence postgraduate courses are available to view on our Postgraduate Taught Programmes Fees page. Here you will also find information about part-time fees and project/placement year fees.

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees. 

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships. 

Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees and Finance section of our website.

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

Students who successfully engage in the MA in Education will become reflective practitioners and critical thinkers who can articulate their views with confidence and conviction.

The course will enhance participants' knowledge and understanding, developing skills that will support career progression in educational settings. Graduates may go on to work with children and young people in a variety of contexts; take up leadership and management roles; take on roles in further and higher education such as lecturing and research; or engage in advisory roles with local authorities or private companies.

Careers Service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs .

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