About This Course
This is the English-medium course. See the Welsh-medium course here.
Are you an educational professional in Wales seeking to enhance your knowledge and improve your practice?
The National Education (Wales) MA is a transformative and sector-leading programme designed to support early career teachers to senior leaders in navigating the changing educational landscape in Wales. Through collaboration with seven universities in Wales and key stakeholders, including the Welsh Government, this programme offers you the opportunity to engage with research and enhance your professional knowledge.
By enquiring into your professional practice, you will be equipped with the skills needed to guide, motivate and facilitate student learning, thereby improving your professional practice. Join the National Education (Wales) MA to gain high-quality learning opportunities that will help you advance your career.
This is 3-year part-time blended programme involving local face-to-face teaching and online learning. The programme consists of 200 hours of study per 20 credit module – reflecting independent guided activities and 22 contact hours.
There are five different programme pathways available:
- MA Education (Wales)
- MA Education (Wales) Leadership
- MA Education (Wales) Additional Learning Needs
- MA Education (Wales) Equity in Education
- MA Education (Wales) Curriculum
Prospective students are encouraged to contact Kaydee Owen for any enquiries.
We have a limited number of Welsh-Government sponsored places available for educational practitioners in Wales. Please see the ‘funding’ tab for further details.
Please note: We are unable to accept applications from international students on this course.
Video - National MA Education English
Transcript for Kate Jones' experience as a student on the National MA Education (Wales)
[00:02] My name is Kate Jones.
[00:04] I'm 40 years old and I live in Llandudno.
[00:07] I'm currently in my final year of study of the National
[00:10] MA in Leadership and Education at Bangor University.
[00:18] I chose to study this course because, after almost two decades as a teacher,
[00:22] I felt that it was time to update myself on current theory,
[00:26] educational methods, and to develop myself as a teacher and a leader.
[00:31] I also wanted to progress in my career from
[00:33] head of department to senior leadership,
[00:36] and I felt that this course would offer the opportunity
[00:39] to develop professionally to enable me to do so.
[00:46] The best thing about the course has been the inspiration it's given me.
[00:50] I didn't expect to feel quite so inspired by studying again.
[00:55] The National Saturdays were engaging and motivating.
[00:59] The tutors have been supportive and have
[01:02] offered consistent advice and guidance on how to
[01:06] navigate your way through a full time job whilst
[01:09] also studying for the National MA.
[01:12] What I've really found to be the most positive aspect of studying this course
[01:17] is how it's reignited my passion for learning as well as teaching.
[01:25] I would recommend this course for anyone who is looking
[01:28] to improve their practice as a teacher and a leader.
[01:33] Whether that's somebody in the first couple of years of their
[01:35] career or a couple of decades or more into their career.
[01:40] I do feel like it's been an invaluable experience and it has contributed
[01:45] hugely to my practice as both a teacher and as a leader in the school.
Video - National Education (Wales) MA
Course Content
What will you study on this course?
Learning will be a blend of online and face-to-face. Activities will be a combination of lectures, seminars, group activities and individual activities.
In year 1 there are 3 compulsory modules for all students. It is possible to offset some or all the module credits via recognition of prior learning (RPL). If you wish to apply for this, please attach the relevant form upon application to the programme.
In year 2 students will need to attend National conference days which will fall on Saturdays. All Year 2 students will need to take the Advance Research and Enquiry Skills modules (running as a weekday twilight session), alongside two other modules (which run on Saturdays). The modules you have to choose vary by pathway. Those following the general programme can choose from the full range of modules on offer.
In year 3 you will work on completing a research dissertation. Those following a specialised pathway should focus their dissertation on a relevant topic. There will be several compulsory and drop-in sessions throughout the academic year to support your dissertation writing.
Modules for the current academic year
Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the National Education (Wales) (English-medium) MA Modules page.
Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.
Funding
For those who meet the programme entry requirements but are not eligible for a Welsh-Government (WG) sponsored place, tuition fees are currently £3,250 per year of study. It may be possible to use Level 7 qualifications (e.g. a PGCE) as prior learning for up to 60 credits of this masters enabling the course to be completed more quickly.
Applicants funding their studies via Student Finance Wales should be aware that they may not be eligible to apply to offset credits within year 1 of the programme.
This is a part-time programme only and is not available to international learners. Please note non-WG funded students are able to access the Masters programme but will not be able to access the special funding identified here.
The National Masters in Education Programmes are available to all practitioners however some students may be eligible for funding support.
To be eligible for funding you must:
1. Be an early career stage practitioner i.e., an individual in years 3-6 of practice as a teacher at the start of the programme, or
- ITE partner school staff;
- Teaching Assistants who meet the academic entry requirements for the programme;
- School Improvement Partners/regional consortia staff/Estyn staff/LA staff/Middle tier.;
- ALNCO (including FE);
- Applicants on the fringe of years 3-6 criteria but at the discretion of the university and in exceptional circumstances.
2. Meet the academic entry requirements of the HEI. There are limited Welsh Government funded places available.
3. Work in a Welsh maintained school (or in the case of ALN Pathway this could include a Welsh FE institution).
4. Be educated to degree level or equivalent.
5. Be registered with the EWC (which must be maintained throughout the course of the programme).
6. Be employed on a minimum of 0.4 FTE contract, this can include supply teachers who are on long term contracts either with a Local Authority, school or an agency.
7. Be accepted onto and subsequently enrolled on to this specific MA in Education
In addition:
- Candidates should have, where possible, the support of their Head teacher (or equivalent such as Principal, MD, CEO or Head of Service).
- Where someone has already achieved a subject specific Masters, they may still be eligible to apply for the funding towards this programme
- No other Masters in Education qualifications offered by the HEIs are eligible for this funding.
All prospective candidates for support must acknowledge and agree to the following conditions of funding:
-
In accepting this grant offer teachers are required to continue to work in Wales, either within the maintained education system or further education sector for a minimum of 2 years after completing the programme.
-
Candidates in receipt of this funding are unable to make an application for further post graduate finance support through the SLC, other than DSA support where applicable.
Process to access funding
The grant will be established between the WG and the participating Universities. Individuals will not apply to the WG or SLC for support.
For more information, view our Funding FAQs document.
View our Funding Eligibility, Allocation Process and Terms and Conditions.
Entry Requirements
To be eligible for this course, applicants must:
- hold an undergraduate degree, or equivalent (in any subject).
- be registered with the EWC before the start date of this programme. You can find the requirements for registration, here.
- be a current practitioner in education (e.g., a teacher, teaching assistant, ALNCo/SENCo, middle tier leader, school inspector).
Applications from candidates who hold Qualified Teacher Status and are currently employed in the compulsory education sector in the UK are welcomed.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): It is possible to offset some/all the module credits via recognition of prior learning (RPL). If you wish to apply for this, please attach the relevant form upon application to the programme. (Please note: those funding their studies via Student Finance Wales should be aware that they may not be eligible to apply to offset credits within year 1 of the programme.)
If you wish to make an application but do not have a PGCE with 60 master’s level credits or other Master’s level credits which can be transferred to this course, you may be able to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning using the RPL form.
View our Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.
Application
For this programme, you should apply directly to us using the online application form.
Application checklist: Before you submit your application, please make sure you have attached the following:
- a completed Supplementary Application Form (see below)
- a copy of your university degree and transcript
- a personal statement detailing how this programme will support your professional goals (approximately 1 page A4)
- a letter of support from your line manager (if possible)
Supplementary Application Form: Please ensure you complete all relevant parts of the Supplementary Application form and that your completed form is submitted with your application (your chosen University will provide guidance on how to do this). We are unable to consider applications without the Supplementary Application form.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): If you have recent and relevant experience to offset all/some of the Year 1 modules, please also attach:
- a completed recognition of prior learning (RPL) form
- a copy your CV
Further details about RPL can be found under the Entry Requirements tab.
Frequently Asked Questions
The National MA Education (Wales) is a truly transformative and sector leading programme for educational professionals in Wales, from early career teachers to senior leaders. 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), which has been collaboratively developed by seven universities in Wales, through direct engagement with a variety of key stakeholders including Welsh Government - will ensure that all education professionals in Wales have the same high-quality opportunity to enhance their professional knowledge, engage with research, and to improve their professional practice.
Yes, teachers who qualified via the GTP route are eligible to apply for the National MA Education (Wales). You will need to map your learning and/or experience against the Learning Outcomes in the Recognition of Prior Learning section of the Supplementary form above. Guidance on how to complete this is available in the Recognition of Prior Learning policy.
Recognition of Prior Learning signifies the process recognising learning achieved by an individual before entry to the MA. For the purpose of this programme, the term covers the following: a) Credit Transfer - Where the credits or qualification have been awarded by a UK higher education institution as part of a formal qualification ; b) Recognition of Prior experiential Learning (RPeL) – where learning gained through experience is assessed and recognised.
As a practicing teacher you will already have undergone checks via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and therefore will not need to complete this process again.
