MA Education (Wales) (Part-time) (MA)
A truly transformative and sector-leading programme
The educational landscape in Wales is changing rapidly. Teaching not only requires the mastery of a complex set of skills to guide, motivate, and facilitate student learning but also the ability to enquire into professional practice in order to improve it.
The National MA Education (Wales) has been collaboratively developed by seven universities in Wales through direct engagement with a variety of key stakeholders, including the Welsh Government. This course will ensure that all education professionals in Wales have the same high-quality opportunity to enhance their professional knowledge, engage with research and improve their professional practice.
The course is flexible in response to your needs, offering the opportunity to specialise in Additional Learning Needs or in Leadership, or to take modules from both areas. More information about the pathways is available in the Course Overview below.
Course details
- On-campus
- Part-time
- English
- Welsh
Why choose this course?
What you will learn
The course is three years part-time. There is no full-time option.
Students can enter year 2 of the programme if they can evidence completion of 60 level 7 credits as part of their PGCE qualification, OR successfully apply for recognition of prior learning (RPL) equivalent to 60 credits. See the MA Education (Wales) RPL Application Form for details including time limits. Students will be supported to complete this process.
Compulsory
(20 credits)
(60 credits)
Optional
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
Disclaimer
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We listen to student feedback and insights from industry and from professionals to ensure that course content is high-quality and up-to-date, and that it offers the best possible preparation for your future career or study goals.
For this reason, there might be modifications to the content of your course over time, to keep up to date with changes in the subject area or in the sector. If a module is no longer running, we’ll make sure to keep you informed, and work with you to choose a different suitable module.
Ratings and Rankings
Staff
Our People
You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for assessments and feedback (NSS 2023) meaning the comments you get back from your work will help you learn. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as Top 10 in the UK for Lecturers and Teaching Quality. Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses.
Accommodation
Swansea Accommodation
Swansea has a huge student population, and the variety of accommodation available will leave you feeling spoilt for choice. Various purpose-built student accommodation providers provide accommodation in Swansea, and the accommodation team can guide you through your options. It will offer ongoing support throughout your time as a UWTSD student.
Further information
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Eligibility Criteria – for funded places (Please note that not all these criteria apply to teachers who apply for an ITE partnership school funded place.) Please contact a.brychan@uwtsd.ac.uk directly for information on this route if you are an APLP lead or partner school applicant
All candidates must meet the university’s academic entry requirements. To be eligible you must be:-
- Resident in Wales
- Educated to degree level or equivalent;
- Holder of qualified teacher status (QTS) and registered with the EWC as a school teacher) which must be maintained throughout the course of the programme).
- Employed by a maintained school in Wales as a teacher
- Employed on a minimum of 0.4 FTE contracts, this can include supply teachers who are on long term contracts either with a Local Authority, school or an agency.
- In year 3 to year 6 of practice from the completion of induction, at the start of the course.
- Accepted /Enrolled on this specific MA Education offered by the 7 partnership HEIs.
- Candidates should have where possible the support of their Headteacher
- If you have already achieved a subject-specific Masters, you are still eligible to apply for the funding towards this programme
- No other Masters in Education qualifications offered by the university are eligible for this funding
Eligibility for self-funded places
Candidates who do not quality for Welsh Government funding (i.e NOT in years 3-6 of teaching practice) must hold a PGCE, normally achieved within the last 5 years. Such candidates will therefore be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning and enter year two of the programme. The programme fee for these students is £9,750.
Specific conditions of funding — all years
All prospective candidates for support must be acknowledged and agree to the following condition of funding:
- In accepting this grant offer teachers are required to continue to work in Wales, within the maintained education system for a minimum of 2 years after completing the programme.
- Candidates in receipt of this funding must not make an application for further post graduate finance support through the SLC.
Specific conditions of funding — ALN / Leadership - all years
All prospective candidates for support must acknowledge and agree to the following conditions of funding.
In accepting this grant offer, practitioners are required to work as a teacher or a lecturer, within one of the following settings for a minimum of two years after completing the programme.
- A maintained school/PRU in Wales
- A further education institution in the FE sector in Wales
- A registered independent school
- A specialist college
Candidates in receipt of this funding must not make an application for further post graduate finance support through the Student Loans Company.
Process to access funding
The grant will be established between the Welsh Government and the participating HEIs. Individuals will not apply to the Welsh Government or the Student Loans Company for support.
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Assessments are all coursework assignments and will be submitted at the end of each module. There will be one assessment per module.
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Funding FAQs:
The funding eligibility criteria states that I must be in year 3 to 6 of practice at the start of the course, what does this mean?
This means you must be in years 3-6 of teaching following successful completion of your NQT induction when the course is due to start (not when you apply)
Do I need to be registered with the EWC?
Yes, to be eligible for funding you must be registered with the EWC in the category of school teacher. This must be maintained for the duration of the course.
Why is the funding only available for teachers in years 3-6 of practice?
The funding for this programme is offered by the Welsh Government as part of the Early Career Teacher Package.
Following completion of my NQT induction, I spent a period of time working overseas / took a career break, does this count?
Time spent employed as a teacher outside of the UK or time taken as a career break will not be counted as years of practice.
Am I required to have a teaching contract for a minimum period of time, e.g. an academic term / year? What happens if my contract ends part way through the programme?
Eligibility will be conferred at the beginning of the programme. At that point you will need to hold a contract of at least one term.
I am employed as a teacher in a number of schools and my contracts total more than 0.4FTE. Am I eligible for funding?
Yes, as long as your contracts total 0.4FTE or higher, you are eligible to apply for funding.
I am a part time and/or supply teacher, can I apply for funding?
Yes, as long as your contracts total 0.4FTE or higher, you are eligible to apply for funding.
Do I need to commit to working in Wales after I have completed the MA Education?
In accepting this funding teachers are required to continue to work in Wales, within the maintained education system for a minimum of 2 years after completing the programme.
Is there a residency requirement before the course starts?
In order to be eligible for funding you must be resident in Wales for 3 years prior to start of course and remain so for the duration of the programme.
I would like to self-fund; how much are the fees?
£6,500
I have previously undertaken masters level study, am I eligible for funding for this programme?
If you have previously studied a subject specific masters programme, then you are still eligible to apply for funding (subject to meeting all other criteria). Please note that if you have previously undertaken a funded MEd then you will not be eligible to apply for funding for the National MA.
My application for funding was unsuccessful, what are my options?
If your application for funding is not successful, you may still be able to take up a place on the course as a self-funded student.
My application for funding was unsuccessful, how can I appeal against the decision?
Applicants who are not satisfied with the decision of the National MA Education (Wales) Funding Award Panel should contact the Chair of the Panel in the first instance.
Who decides on funding allocation?
Upon receipt of your application, the Admissions team at your chosen institution will ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria. The National MA Education (Wales) Funding Award Panel will then assess all eligible applications to determine the outcome and award funding to those who are successful. The Panel consists of representatives from each Partner University and reports to the National Management Board (which has membership from the Welsh Government), to ensure clear accountability and oversight.
How many funded places are available?
There are 500 funded places across the National MA Education (Wales) partnership.
Am I eligible for a student loan?
If you are awarded Welsh Government funding for the National MA Education (Wales) then you must not also apply for postgraduate finance support through the Student Loans Company (SLC). Students who are not in receipt of Welsh Government funding may apply to the SLC.
My application for funding was unsuccessful, what are my options?
If your application for funding is not successful, you may still be able to take up a place on the course as a self-funded student.
My application for funding was unsuccessful, how can I appeal against the decision?
Applicants who are not satisfied with the decision of the National MA Education (Wales) Funding Award Panel should contact the Chair of the Panel in the first instance.
Who decides on funding allocation?
Upon receipt of your application, the Admissions team at your chosen institution will ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria. The National MA Education (Wales) Funding Award Panel will then assess all eligible applications to determine the outcome and award funding to those who are successful. The Panel consists of representatives from each Partner University and reports to the National Management Board (which has membership from the Welsh Government), to ensure clear accountability and oversight.
How many funded places are available?
There are 500 funded places across the National MA Education (Wales) partnership.
Am I eligible for a student loan?
If you are awarded Welsh Government funding for the National MA Education (Wales) then you must not also apply for postgraduate finance support through the Student Loans Company (SLC). Students who are not in receipt of Welsh Government funding may apply to the SLC.
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Designed for qualified teachers at all career stages.