Education (International Education) - MA
Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.
Do you want to expand your understanding of international education in a fast-changing world? Are you looking to form the foundation of a future career in many different educational or training settings? If so our MA Education (International Education) course will broaden your existing knowledge and set you on the right track.
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Full Time
- Award MA
- Start date September 2025
- Fees View course fees
- Subject
- Location City Centre / City South
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
Do you want to expand your understanding of international education in a fast-changing world? Are you looking to form the foundation of a future career in many different educational or training settings? If so our MA Education (International Education) course will broaden your existing knowledge and set you on the right track.
What's covered in this course?
You don’t need a teaching qualification for this course and you don’t have to intend become a teacher. We take a flexible approach and encourage you to explore educational issues within an international context, helped by working alongside the wide range of students from both the UK and overseas who study on this course.
You’ll explore how the English education system works by studying the quality of learning and teaching on offer to pupils today. You’ll also look at issues aimed at improving education, management of the sector and research opportunities. While the International Education pathway from the Education Master's framework draws on the English education system, you’ll also have the chance to compare this with the situation in a range of other international contexts.
Why Choose Us?
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Birmingham International Airport is nearby and we have excellent connections to London (as quick as 80 minutes by train) and the rest of the UK.
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We are regularly praised by external examiners for our focus on giving people transferable skills.
OPEN DAY
Join us for a Virtual Open Event where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, meet our subject academics and learn more about postgraduate finance, all from the comfort of your own home.
Next Event: 5 February 2025
Entry Requirements
Essential requirements
Applicants should have a degree or equivalent qualification, or professional experience that equates to degree level.
Exemption from some modules may be granted for appropriate prior learning.
We welcome applications from mature students and from members of communities traditionally under-represented in higher education.
All suitably qualified candidates will normally be interviewed, though this can take place by phone if necessary. Selection will be based on ability to benefit from and contribute to the course of study.
Applying with international qualifications
See below for further information on applying as an international student.
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Sorry, this course is not available to UK students.
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MA
Starting: Sep 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £18,600 in 2025/26
Personal statement
You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.
If you are applying for a stand alone module, please include the title of the module you want to study in your Personal Statement.
Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.
Course in Depth
PgCert and PgDip Stages
This pathway of the MA Education aims to address the learning needs of education professionals working in a variety of settings. It forms part of the School's Taught Master’s Framework so you may find it useful to familiarise yourself with the range of modules available within the framework first.
Taking the International Education pathway means you will undertake three core modules that all MA Education students take along with three specific option modules. You will then have a one module choice which you will negotiate with your Course Director and select from those available as part of the MA Education framework.
Modules as follows:
This module focuses on your transition to level 7 work. The transition is important because although a typical taught Master’s programme can look very similar to its undergraduate equivalent there are a number of important differences, such as the greater emphasis on your ability to undertake independent, self-directed study. This is true for all taught units, not just the dissertation project that concludes a typical Master’s programme; we will expect you to prepare for assignments by independently researching your particular areas of interest and experience.
This module will enhance your awareness of education systems, traditions and issues in a number of countries, helping you to understand the relationships between education and other social phenomena by introducing the concepts and skills needed for systematic comparison. This programme will help you to gain a rigorous multidisciplinary grounding in the comparative analysis of education and society, deepening their understanding of contemporary issues in education in many parts of the world.
This module will consider leadership and management definitions, values, theories, strategies and styles and their impact on the performance of others and on teaching and learning; the relationships and differences between leadership and management.
It will examine the role of legislation, policy, guidance and local/national frameworks in relation to educational leadership across a range of setting.
It is very important that educational professionals are able to critique their practice in terms of the historical traditions of their subject and the curricula that support it. This module is designed to equip you with a critical perspective, informed by knowledge, understanding and skills to analyse critically the ways in which curricula is led and managed across educational settings.
You have a one module choice which you will negotiate with your Course Director and select from those available as part of the MA Education framework.
Doing a Master’s degree involves many skills, which will be familiar from an undergraduate programme of study; however, there are some crucial differences. This core module is designed to introduce you to the principles of educational research at Masters level encouraging you to build on your experiences of conducting independent research. The module covers everything you need to know in order to conduct research effectively.
Master's Stage
This is the culmination of your Master’s programme. It provides you with the opportunity to develop a systematic understanding of research in relation to your chosen area, and to develop your professional practice through the processes of educational research. You will be encouraged to use self-direction and originality in pursuing your development focus through this independent piece of independent research.
Download course specification
Download nowCourse structure
The course aims to give you a postgraduate qualification, whether you’re interested in early years, primary, secondary further or higher education. You don’t need a degree to do it if you have the relevant experience.
Our MA Education (International Education) provides exit awards at Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits) or Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits).
You could use evidence from previous study, which relates to this subject, to claim Accreditation of Prior Experience and Learning (APEL). This process involves mapping evidence against the learning outcomes for specific modules. You’ll need to speak to the Course Director first if you’re considering this option.
We use a variety of teaching and learning methods on this course. You’ll attend regular lectures and seminars, where students can share their learning and develop an understanding of different international contexts.
You’ll attend some whole classes and small group sessions and benefit from one-to-one support and online collaboration – using our virtual learning system, Moodle.
Our course team has a wide experience of the educational system and also in teaching, leadership and research.
We believe the development of transferable skills is a priority. It is a very important aspect when teaching at Masters level. We are regularly praised by external examiners for providing an excellent experience in this area.
Assessment methods
Assessment is by coursework only and participants need to demonstrate an ability to carry out in-depth critical analysis, effective research skills, critically evaluate research methodologies, have an enhanced knowledge and understanding of education and training in an international context and be able to critically evaluate their findings in relation to the academic literature.
Employability
Enhancing employability skills
This course will give you a foundation for a career in many different educational settings, both public and private, in the UK or abroad.
It's also suitable for people who wish to change career direction. This is because it provides a comprehensive international view of teaching, learning and educational systems – although it does not give you a teaching qualification.
You will develop important transferable skills in scholarly academic studies, plus research skills and practice. These will prove useful when you are working as part of a team and getting used to handling lots of data.
International
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Details of the entry requirements for our courses
- Some of the good reasons why you should study here
- How to improve your language skills before starting your studies
- Information relevant to applicants from your country
- Where to find financial support for your studies.
Facilities & Staff
Our facilities
This course is primarily based at our City Centre Campus, in the Benjamin Zephaniah Building (formerly University House), however, for some practical activities, such as sport, cookery or science lab sessions, you may be based at our City South Campus in Edgbaston, or the Alexander Stadium and Doug Ellis Sports Centre in Perry Barr.
About Benjamin Zephaniah Building
This freshly renovated building provides a dedicated teaching and learning space for our Education and Communities students and staff.
Spaces in the building include:
- Primary and secondary science labs
- Innovation and Lego teaching room
- Flexible space for Design and Technology
- Art room
As well as general teaching rooms.
Our staff
Dr Louise Lambert
Associate Professor
Dr Lou Lambert has a background in schools’ education, initial teacher education and postgraduate education leadership. She is currently an Associate Professor at BCU where she teaches, researches, and writes about pedagogical practices across educational sectors and the use of arts-based, participatory and creative methodologies for both research...
More about LouiseHugh Johnson
Course Director
Hugh Johnson is Course Director for MA International Education and Senior Lecturer in CPD. His career in education began in 1989 working in schools and with previous appointments in higher education at Sheffield Hallam, Nottingham Trent Universities and The Open University.
More about Hugh