Deaf Education (Teacher of the Deaf Qualification) MA

Course overview

The MA Deaf Education is a two-year course leading to the Mandatory Qualification for Teacher of the Deaf (QToD).

This course is taught part-time using blended learning, providing the opportunity to study both online and face-to-face. This flexibility allows you to balance your studies alongside your existing work and other commitments.

The dissertation provides an opportunity to extensively explore an aspect of deaf education that you are particularly interested in. You’ll apply the knowledge and skills you’ve developed during the course to address an issue or question you have about your own practice or experience.

We also offer a Postgraduate Diploma in this subject leading to the QToD, which does not require a dissertation. See PGDip Deaf Education (Teacher of the Deaf) for more information.

Our expertise

The School of Education has a national reputation in the field of deaf education, drawing students from all over the UK with a variety of experiences and knowledge. The course is led by national and international leaders, as well as senior practitioners in the field.

Course highlights

• Work closely with peers and build a strong network of colleagues throughout the UK across a wide range of settings.

• Approved by the Department for Education (DfE), you'll benefit from a course that integrates cutting-edge research knowledge with practitioner expertise, to become a skilled, knowledgeable and critical practitioner.

• Explore your own interests in deaf education as part of your dissertation, which will be supervised by experts in the field.

• Assessments are varied and designed to help you develop the skills you need in the field, and have recently been updated in response to student feedback.

• We welcome suitably qualified deaf and hearing applicants and provide appropriate access and support arrangements for all students. All University-based sessions are supported by BSL interpreters and notetakers. Assessed presentations may be delivered in British Sign Language (BSL).

• A partial-fee scholarship is available to UK Deaf Education schools or services funding two or more students in a single year, see the Funding section for details.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Department for Education (DfE), this course meets the requirements of the Mandatory Qualification for Teacher of the Deaf, for England and Wales.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree (hons) or non-UK equivalent.

You will also need:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) (required for Teacher of the Deaf award)
• one year of teaching experience or experience of working with deaf children in educational settings
• contact with a school or service that will enable you to work with deaf children to meet the requirements of the Mandatory qualification
• British (or local) Sign Language CACDP/ Signature/ iBSL Level 1 (required for Teacher of the Deaf award) or equivalent
• access to local sign language tuition
• access to internet facilities for e-learning.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Career opportunities

MA Deaf Education equips Teachers of the Deaf with the specialist knowledge and skills needed to work across a range of settings in deaf education, providing the mandatory qualification for Teachers of the Deaf in England and Wales.

Graduates from the course have taken up a range of positions in specialist support services and schools. Many have subsequently progressed to management and leadership roles.

The course also provides a route to further research and study at postgraduate level via an EdD or PhD route.