Do you want to specialise in an area of education and improve your effectiveness in the classroom?

If you've graduated within the last five years from a PGCE at Warwick then you can take the fast-track version of this course as you'll already have 90 CATs from your recent study.

We welcome full-time practitioners, but you don't have to currently be in practice. Maybe you've moved away from teaching to work in other sectors like social care? Perhaps you've had a career break with young children?

Whatever your goals, we'll equip you for your future career by giving you time to study appropriate research methods. You'll specialise in an area of education of your own choosing and learn how to use research to good effect. Our Foundation Research Methods module will train you in research methods in education, including data collection and analysis.

Your continuing professional development is deeply important to us. This continued professional development course can help prepare you for middle and/or senior leadership positions (depending on your prior experience) or embrace further study with a PhD or EdD. The course can also be taken entirely online.

• Develop an area of subject expertise in education
• Understand your subject's nature, significance, and impact on teaching
• Interrogate and question educational theory
• Use the latest research to improve your classroom effectiveness
• Demonstrate research and evidence-informed teaching
• Tailor your teaching to learning needs through your research
• Improve your professional confidence, critical thinking, writing, and collaboration skills

Watch our video to find out more

Currently we run a fast-track programme.

If you have completed your PGCE with us within five years of the course start date, you can upgrade your qualification and complete your master’s within around 20 months. You have up to five years to use your Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) but we recommend that you start it within a year or two of your PGCE, as this course is designed to sit alongside a full-time teaching role. If you take the fast-track programme, you'll take a Research Methods module online, then you'll spend 12 months writing a dissertation on a topic of your choice.

We run three Saturdays on campus (one per term) in the dissertation stage. We would strongly recommend attending these sessions where possible.

If you do not have a University of Warwick PGCE from within the last five years, we are currently developing an alternative option that may be suitable for you. Please complete our Expression of Interest form and we will update you as things develop.  

There are two modules which you'll need to pay for separately:

• MA Professional Education Professional Research Methods module (30 CATS):
  Home/EU students, £1,430 March 2019 and £1500 January 2020
• MA Professional Education Dissertation Module (60 CATS):
  Home/EU students, £3000 Sept 2019 and £3150 Sept 2020

Fees are listed at https://warwick.ac.uk/services/academicoffice/finance/fees/nonstandard/#CTE . As this is a modular-based course, fees for each module are due at the start of each module (within 21 days - exact payment due dates can be checked by logging into your Student Finance account on the Student Records System , once enrolled).

Should a sponsor, such as your school, be paying your fees, you would need to complete the sponsorship form https://warwick.ac.uk/services/academicoffice/finance/makingpayments/sponsored .

We are currently developing the course for the following 2021-2022 cohort, details will be updated once finalised.

If you're on the fast-track programme, you'll take Research Methods modules in the spring term; and then you'll start your Dissertation (worth 60 CATS).

“Initially I found it difficult to decide which topic to focus on, but my supervisor helped me choose an area which I am personally interested in, whilst considering whether it would be conducive to carrying out research. I like the fact that my research is advantageous to my classroom teaching, and I can continue to learn whilst working. The staff are very supportive and we can contact both our supervisor and the course leader. The termly University sessions provide us with the opportunity to see other students as well as talking face-to-face with staff, which helps you to remember that there are other people in the same boat as you!”

Emily - MA in Professional Education alumni

You’ll be taught by highly qualified and experienced teachers. Our staff are leaders in education.

You could complete this course online or with a mix of online and face-to-face sessions.

You'll be supervised by qualified Teacher Educators who are members of groups including The APPG for the Teaching Profession, CCoT, BELMAS, IPDA, BERA, #WomenEd, ResearchEd, CollaborativeEd, and more. The expertise of these organisations and the opportunity to attend conferences on campus and away from the University will help you develop your skills.

If you've gained a PGCE from Warwick within the last five years, you can take the 18-month route of this course.

If you do not have a University of Warwick PGCE from within the last five years, we are currently developing an alternative option that may be suitable for you. Please complete our Expression of Interest form and we will update you as things develop.  

You must also hold a UK Bachelors degree with Honours at 2:2 or above, or equivalent level. Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, you will need a minimum score of seven under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see their website for details.

Key facts:

• Programme name: MA in Professional Education
• Course duration: one semester, then 12 months (around 17 months in total)
• Cost: 
  Foundation Research Methods (Online) module (30 CATS):
  (This module has to be taken first)
  Home/EU/Overseas students, £1500 for 2019-20 (January 2020 start)
  Home/EU/Overseas students, £1580 for 2020-21 (January 2021 start)
  
  MA Professional Education Dissertation Module (60 CATS):
  (This module has to be taken after successful completion of the above module)
  Home/EU/Overseas students £3000 for 2019-20 (September 2019 start)
  Home/EU/Overseas students, £3150 for 2020-21 (September 2020 start)

How long does the Masters take and when can I start?
From Spring to August the following year. Around 20 months. The course begins with a Research in Professional Practice Module, followed by a Research Ethics module, then the thesis starts in September and has to be handed in by the end of the following August.

In 2020/21, we are able to offer an alternate start date of October 2020 for 2020/21 entrants only. The course will run October 2020 – August 2022. If you are interested in taking up the opportunity of an earlier start date please email cte.ma@warwick.ac.uk for further details.

How much does the MA cost?
There are two modules which you'll need to pay for separately:

• Research Methods module
  £1500 for 2019-20: Foundation Research Methods (30 CATS), January 2020 start
  TBC for 2020-21: Research in Professional Practice, Spring 2021 start
  
  MA Professional Education Dissertation Module (60 CATS): September start
  Home/EU students £3000 for 2019-20 (September 2019 start)
  Home/EU students, £3150 for 2020-21 (September 2020 start)

Please note: The Dissertation module will fall into the next academic year after your Research Methods module.

How does the first module work?
The only ‘taught’ module is the Research Methods, this is taught entirely Online. You are allocated to a tutor, who you can e-mail for tutorials for assignments.

Do I have to attend the University?
It is possible to complete the Research Methods module and the Dissertation module entirely online. Research Methods is delivered online, and you can choose to have your dissertation tutorials online, or face-to-face at the University of Warwick. We also have around 4 optional dissertation discussion sessions at the University throughout the year.

What is my PGCE worth?
Your University of Warwick PGCE is worth 90 CATS, so half a Masters, but you have to start your Masters within the five-year deadline of finishing your PGCE.

Who is this Masters suitable for?
Everyone who has a PGCE awarded from Warwick, in the last five years. We are also developing a programme for those without a Warwick PGCE, please register your interest to find out more.

What can I do for my dissertation?
Anything related to education, we currently have students researching many subjects.

What topics have other students done?
A wide range, from Assessment, Behaviour, Curriculum through to analysing the role of VLEs.

Do I still have to be in teaching?
No, we have students on the Masters programme who have moved away from compulsory phase teaching, and are in social work and Higher Education, and those who are taking career breaks with small children etc, so you can focus on any area that is related to education.

Who will supervise me?
Any of the Teacher Educators who have masters or doctorates from inside the Centre for Teacher Education. Many of our staff are currently undertaking doctoral study, and this is a really good time to supervise Masters students.

What are the advantages of doing a masters with CTE?
You can continue to develop the relationships you build during your PGCE, you are supervised by qualified Teacher Educators and you have opportunities to keep in touch with regional and national developments. Staff have usually previously taught and understand the pressures and are active members of a range of organisations, such as:

• The APPG for the Teaching Profession
• CCoT
• BELMAS
• IPDA
• BERA
• #WomenEd
• ResearchEd
• CollaborativeEd

The dissemination of information from these organisations, and the opportunity to attend conferences (both on campus and away from the University) from your masters research, helps to develop your academic skill set.

How does this help my teaching career?
Teachers find that doing a Masters gives them a better understanding of education policy, and this keeps them in the classroom for longer. You can specialise your dissertation on any educational area of your choosing, so it can also help prepare you for future or current roles, such as SEND and Leadership etc.

Who do I contact if I have any other questions?
The Programme Leader: Carol Wild Carol.Wild@warwick.ac.uk

Who deals with enrolment?

cte.admissions@warwick.ac.uk

If I have any problems once I am on the course, who do I contact?

ctecurrentstudents@warwick.ac.uk

What if I get promoted (or my circumstances change in any other way) during the Masters?

This is a standard MA programme so students have the right to temporarily withdraw, and defer, depending on what circumstances arise.

When can I apply?

If you are a current Warwick PGCE student (finishing the course in summer 2020) you can register for the course now.

If your PGCE is from another UK institution or if you are a Warwick PGCE graduate from the previous 5 years please apply via the Postgraduate Application form using course code 'X3AS'. If you are a new user, you will be able to set up an account. (Please note that there are no application fees for this course). (If you are a Warwick PGCE graduate please use your Warwick PGCE as a reference when it comes to apply.)

We are also currently developing an option for experienced teachers who completed their PGCE more than 5 years ago, expected to commence in Spring or Summer Term 2021. Should you be potentially interested in this programme, please complete the MA register your interest form.

Our Frequently Asked Questions above have more information and course fee detail. If you are not ready to apply at this stage, register your interest now and we'll keep in touch.