Master of Education MEd, PGDip, PGCert, by flexible learning
2-3 years, part-time
This is for you if... you are a qualified teacher or educational professional looking to develop your teaching practice and the skills to support career progression.
Course description
Course description
The MEd is designed for qualified teachers and other educational professionals working in a range of contexts and age phases. This degree will enable you to:
- Enhance your opportunities for career progression and make a difference with a deeper understanding of effective pedagogy
- Critically examine your pedagogic practice and expertise in teaching
- Choose an option module of interest or to advance a specialism
- Develop your ability to design and carry out small-scale research projects.
The modules on offer will enable practitioners working in educational contexts to engage in pedagogically-focused study and research on a range of key cross-curricular topics that reflect and explore the issues and challenges that they face in their work across the 5-19 age range. These topics are: inclusive practices; mentoring, coaching and development of effective leadership skills; mental health and wellbeing. The course has been developed following consultation with University of Leicester Partnership schools and PGCE alumni.
Alongside these modules, this course will provide an introduction to reflective practice (for those experienced teachers without Masters credits) and a solid grounding in practitioner research methods for all those who enrol. The Practitioner Research Methods module will prepare you for researching and writing a dissertation on a topic of your choice which is relevant to the educational context in which you work.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
An honours degree (minimum 2:2 classification). Applicants do not need a teaching qualification; however, you must be working or engaged in an educational context.
All graduate teachers with a minimum of a 2:2 will be eligible.
All students will be required to meet the standard language requirement with an A-C GCSE grade/level 4 in English.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
Fees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in October 2025
- £9,555 for students taking the full three-year course
- £6,370 for PGCE graduates taking the two-year course
University of Leicester alumni are entitled to a 20% discount
*alumni discount already applied to fee quoted
Please note: Only the three-year course (180 taught credits) falls under the government’s Student Finance scheme. If you study on the two-year or 18-month course you will not be eligible for a Masters loan from Student Finance.
International Students
This course is not available to students from outside the UK.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
The MEd should provide qualified teachers and other education professionals with further opportunities for career enhancement either in their existing workplace or beyond.
Many of our former Masters students in the School of Education have also progressed to doctoral work on completion of their degree. Opportunities for PhD research will be discussed with you during the final year of your course.
Our Career Development Service is here to support you, with advice on interviews, CVs, job applications and more. From Freshers’ Week to Graduation and beyond, they are here to help you reach your professional goals.
Course structure
18-month course
18-month course
The 18-month course is only for students who already have 90 credits of relevant learning from a University of Leicester PGCE awarded in 2019 or later.
Core modules
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Two-year course
Two-year course
The two-year course is for students who already have 60 credits of relevant learning from a PGCE or equivalent (taken within the past five years).
Core modules
Option modules
Choose one option module from:
- Developing Effective and Inclusive Practice
- Mental Health and Well-Being
- Mentoring, Coaching and Leadership
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Three-year course
Three-year course
Core modules
Option modules
Choose two option modules from:
- Developing Effective and Inclusive Practice
- Mental Health and Well-Being
- Mentoring, Coaching and Leadership
If you already have 30 credits of relevant learning, you will not need to study the 'Reflective Practice' module.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Teaching and learning
Teaching and learning will be through face-to-face seminars, small study groups and tutorials with materials and additional structured support provided via Blackboard and email. All students will be expected to participate fully in course sessions and to develop their skills as critical friends during specific module activities.
The taught modules will be assessed by 5,000-word assignments, some of which will be in two parts (for example: a research journal and a research paper; a reflective practice report and a supporting portfolio of evidence; an oral presentation and a research dissertation). Your dissertation will consist of a research diary and a small-scale professional enquiry.
Key dates
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | Start Dates | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Master of Education | Qualification MEd | Duration 18 months-3 years part-time | Start Dates October each year | Availability Apply Now |
| Course Master of Education | Qualification PGDip | Duration 1-2 years part-time | Start Dates October each year | Availability Apply Now |
| Course Master of Education | Qualification PGCert | Duration 1 year part-time | Start Dates October each year | Availability Apply Now |
