Higher Education MA

Course content

How will you study the MA Higher Education?

You can are enrol on this course with at least a good undergraduate degree of any discipline and a passion for learning more about Higher Education. If you have a Postgraduate Certificate of Higher Education or equivalent, you can join the second year with 60 credits recognised towards your Masters.

If you wish to step off the programme after you complete 60 credits or 120 credits you will be awarded a certificate or post graduate diploma in higher education.

Depending on your choice of modules and experience you gain HEA Senior fellowship status (D3) upon successful completion of the diploma level of the programme.

This module aims to ground the study of higher education in a philosophical perspective. You will then be able to consider the importance of philosophical thought to contemporary higher education, practice and theory.

This module explores the key debates in national and international higher education policy. You will examine contemporary policy frameworks in higher education, critically engaging with the different concepts that underlie policy creation, including historical, socio-cultural, political and legislative developments that have shaped policy agendas.

This module is designed to explore various psychological theories and practical applications relevant to enhancing the experience of higher education. Different psychological perspectives and research on thinking, learning (including collaborative learning), cognitive and learning styles, motivation, positive psychology, emotional intelligence, resilience and development of self-identity and self-efficacy, and the role of social support and connectedness will be critically appraised in relation to applicability and impact on student retention, engagement and achievement.

This module will introduce you to theories that underpin learning and teaching in higher education. You will be able to reflect on how to effectively facilitate learning in the context of modern higher education and within various subject disciplines.

This module will provide a critical overview of research methods and approaches used for researching various aspects of modern higher education. You will be able to evaluate the strengths and limitations of various methodologies in a range of higher education contexts.

This module explores ways of integrating various learning technologies into the curriculum in order to promote student engagement and enhance the learning experience. Throughout the module a collaborative learning environment will be created in order to allow students to successfully design the implementation and evaluation of a technology enhanced learning solution/ project within their own professional context.

This module aims to identify key themes relating to language and literacy in English-dominant and EMI (English Medium of Instruction) universities which impact on both staff and students, including multilingualism, widening participation and global Englishes. This will be especially relevant for students with a particular interest in, or responsibility for, language and literacy.

This module aims to identify critical issues that drive higher education policy and practice. You will develop an understanding of contemporary higher education practice and critical evaluate specific aspects, as well as how societal and economic factors shape the core issues facing higher education.

This module is designed to critically investigate and broadly explore issues relating to the concept of globalisation and internationalisation. It will provide you with opportunities to consider the impact of developments that are changing the perspectives and realities of globalisation in higher education.

This module is designed to provide an overview of the methods used in professional educational contexts to supervisor and mentor students and colleagues. The module will give you opportunities to appraise the strengths and weaknesses of published work in this area.

This module is designed to provide a critical overview of the advanced methods and approaches used for research into topics areas related to education. You will be equipped to apply this advanced knowledge in the planning of a research proposal.

The dissertation is a compulsory model for those seeking to achieve the MA Higher education. It aims to enable you to display your ability to plan and conduct an ethical research project displaying mastery of complex and specialised area in reference to your own field of criticism and enquiry.

Please note that modules may become unavailable if there are low numbers.

You can find more information about this course in the programme specification. Optional modules are not offered on every course. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.