MPhil in Education (Education Policy, Leadership and Improvement) full-time

This route provides a comprehensive overview of critical issues in education policy, leadership and improvement, through the in-depth study of theoretical perspectives and their applications to educational contexts and settings. The course combines UK and international perspectives and engages with evidence from a range of national and educational contexts. The teaching team draw on their research expertise and encourage course participants to share their experiences and reflect on the course content, relating new knowledge and insights to their own contexts.

This route focuses on critical issues in education in the context of institutional and system improvement and with reference to practice, policy and theory. The course engages students in theoretical debates around each of the key concepts of policy, leadership, and improvement, problematising these and considering a range of perspectives. The course encourages students to engage with empirical evidence from a range of national contexts around these key topics and related issues, including accountability in education, professional learning, leading for change, evidence-based practices, amongst others.

The educational aims of the route are to:

• examine the theoretical frameworks used in the study of education, specifically around concepts of policy, leadership, and improvement;
• provide training in research methods appropriate to education and the study of educational change;
• advance the capacity of students for research-informed professional reflection and judgment;
• cater for a range of specialists interested within the field of education or one of its constituent disciplines.

The route content is structured in interrelated modules. These may include:

1. Educational policy and policy-making
2. Approaches to educational improvement
3. Educational effectiveness and evidence-based practice
4. Education Evaluation
5. Professional learning and development
6. Teachers/Educators as agents of change
7. Critical approaches to educational leadership
8. Leading professional and organisational change

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Continuing

Students wishing to continue from the MPhil in Education to the PhD in Education in the Faculty of Education are required to achieve a Pass in their course. Admission to the PhD in Education is not automatic and requires a separate full application be made by the appropriate deadlines.

Open Days

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the beginning of November. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the Postgraduate Open Day page for more details.

Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Good II.i Honours Degree. If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.

The route is aimed at a wide UK and international audience, including educational practitioners studying part-time as well as full-time students. The course is of relevance and interest to individuals with an interest in theoretical, empirical, and practical issues around policy, leadership, and improvement in education. This may include teachers and educators in a range of education settings, middle and senior education leaders, heads/principals, specialist and system leaders, governors and administrators. The course encourages all participants to reflect on their wide range of experiences. Students pursue their particular interest by undertaking an individual research project which culminates with the submission of a dissertation.

The course is open to full-time (1 year) and part-time (2 years) applicants.

This course is not open to applicants via the Faculty of Education’s practitioner professional development (PPD) routes.

Listening: 7.0, Writing: 7.0, Reading: 7.0, Speaking: 7.0, Total: 7.5, Listening: 25, Writing: 25, Reading: 25, Speaking: 25, Total: 110