About This Course
This is the Welsh-medium course. See the English-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 from September 2023:
- 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.
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 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) (Welsh-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 from September 2023.
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:
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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.
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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
Candidates must hold Qualified Teacher Status and be currently employed in the compulsory education sector in the UK. Candidates with existing level 7 qualifications (such as a PGCE) may be approved to use up to 60 credits of this prior learning towards the Masters degree and complete the Masters over a shorter time period. Please contact Kaydee Owen for more details.
As this is a 3 year part-time only programme it is not open to international students and while it is open to applicants from non-teaching in Wales backgrounds those applicants wouldn’t be eligible for funding from the Welsh Government. 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.
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.
For more information, view our Admissions FAQ document.
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.
For more information, view our Admissions FAQ document.
