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MA Education

MA (NFQ Level 9)

This course is available through the following application route(s)

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The MA in Education was developed for education professionals, teachers, or those with a personal interest in education who would like to develop their strengths and interests to an advanced level.

The course is a one-year, full-time, taught masters degree that includes a supervised dissertation. Students choose optional courses from two separate strands – professional development and educational sciences – as well as undertaking advanced courses in research methods. Students develop an understanding of the core academic disciplines informing the study of education, and of key issues, policies and debates within the field. Students are exposed to a range of research skills and techniques that enable them to engage with, and produce, high-quality educational research.

  • The programme offers a number of elective modules in Educational Sciences and Professional Development.
  • Students are exposed to a range of research skills and techniques which enable them to engage with, and produce, high quality educational research
  • (*Please note this is not a professional training programme, applicants who intend to train as secondary school teachers should apply for the Professional Masters in Education)

About This Course

This programme is designed for students who wish to deepen their understanding of educational issues, practices and research in order to pursue or develop a career in education or related disciplines. Criticality, academic capability and reflective professionalism are at the heart of the programme. The learning environment facilitated and structured by the programme is designed to develop constructive engagement with ideas and issue from the  world of education, and to offer engagement with distinctive strands in educational sciences, professional development theory, and social research methods. Workshops, symposia, seminars and lectures characterise the programme approach to student engagement and include multi- and trans-disciplinary perspectives which we feel are of value to the contemporary professional.  Individual, small-group and full-class activities provide this. Assessment practices reflect this also and are designed in order to offer appropriate modalities to demonstrate learning across key issues, policies and debates within the field of education and education research. It will also help students to develop skills that will enable them to engage with, and produce, educational research. plinary perspectives which we feel are of value to the contemporary professional. 

  • Design and implement evidence-based research relevant to educational settings and requirements.
  • Choose between a range of media in order to select appropriate means and modes to communicate critical study, small-scale research and systemic issue and material review.
  • Lead debate and discussion confidently in relation to education systems, arrangements, and practices.
  • Understand the affordances of learning technologies in relation to enhancing learning and research contexts and equally be aware of its drawbacks.
  • Contribute capably to team-based learning.
  • On successful completion of the programme, the student will - Engage meaningfully with concepts, principles, and values from a range of academic genre and disciplines.

Graduates who have graduated with an MA in Education work in a diverse range of careers in education in roles such as: teachers, policy advisors, education professionals, education leaders, education outreach officers, and education and training officers.

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
 EDUC42890 Research Methods (Blended) Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 EDUC43870 Global Development Education Spring  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 EDUC43260 Internship: Work Experience and Career Development Summer  30
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 4 of:
MIN1OF: (MA Education Option)
 EDUC40310 Education Sciences: Psychology Applied to Schools Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 4 of:
MIN1OF: (MA Education Option)
 EDUC41500 Critical Policy Analysis Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 4 of:
MIN1OF: (MA Education Option)
 EDUC41520 Children's Rights & Participation Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 4 of:
MIN1OF: (MA Education Option)
 EDUC43270 School Effectiveness Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 4 of:
MIN1OF: (MA Education Option)
 EDUC44150 Education for the 21st century Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 4 of:
MIN1OF: (MA Education Option)
 EDUC50190 Key Issues in Second Language Development Autumn  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 4 of:
MIN1OF: (MA Education Option)
 EDUC40420 Inclusive Education for Pupils with Additional support Needs Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 4 of:
MIN1OF: (MA Education Option)
 EDUC42590 Equalities, Social Justice and Children's Learning Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 4 of:
MIN1OF: (MA Education Option)
 EDUC42980 History of Childhood&Learning Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 4 of:
MIN1OF: (MA Education Option)
 EDUC43250 Wellbeing of Children and Youth Spring  10

Aoife Keogh, Graduate

Given my academic and professional background as a primary school teacher, I approached the MA Education programme with much of my experience founded within pedagogy and educational praxis. This programme provided me with the opportunity to both further engage with these areas, in addition to developing a deep understanding of educational theory and policy. This programme has broadened both my understanding of education, as well as my career opportunities. My experience on this programme has been
unparalleled with regards to academic rigour, support, and expertise on the part of all staff members I have had the opportunity to work with. My autonomy as a student and a researcher, has been fostered through the programme’s taught modules and research component. The MA Education programme caters to the individual interests of its diverse cohort, providing flexibility and scope to focus on specific areas of interest. Each student is fully supported in acquiring the required knowledge and skills to conduct high-quality research as a critical and reflective practitioner. This programme has undoubtedly equipped me with the academic competencies required to progress to further study at doctoral level within the UCD School of Education.

Graduate Profile
Lincoln Mungaila,Zambia,
Graduate
Seeking a masters that focused both on Teaching Technologies and Technology- Enhanced Learning, I had to explore several European universities before choosing University College Dublin for the Professional Masters in Education. The University is among Ireland’s highest ranking and largest universities with a diverse student population. The University’s approach to teaching and learning matched my interests. The amount of research and experience demonstrated by the faculty was motivating. The campus is conveniently located within Dublin which made my life even easier. I hope to help improve the initial teacher training programmes in Zambia using the knowledge and skills I have acquired from UCD.

MA Education (W027) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 9330
nonEU    fee per year - € 22600

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.

This programme is intended for applicants with an upper second class honours, or international equivalent in their primary degree and who demonstrate evidence of interest in educational issues.

  • Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.
  • These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes 
You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information.

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: Yes


Applicants are expected to hold a with an upper second class honours (2.1), or international equivalent in their primary degree and who demonstrate evidence of interest in educational issues.


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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to MA Education:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W027
MA Education
Master of Arts
Full-Time
Commencing September 2024
 Graduate Taught Closed
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt W027
MA Education
Master of Arts
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
 Graduate Taught Apply
* you can change options at the top of the page
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