Education (Special Educational Needs) MA
Place yourself at the cutting edge of supporting learners with special educational needs, while developing as a forward-thinking education professional on a programme delivered full-time, part-time and online.
Overview
| Course length: | 1 year full-time 2 years part-time 2 years part-time |
|---|---|
| Start dates: | September 2025 |
| Location: | Edge Hill University |
| Subject(s): | Education and Teaching |
| Faculty: | Education |
| Department: | Secondary and Further Education |
The MA Education (Special Educational Needs) has been designed to meet the interests and development needs of a diverse range of professionals and those who aspire to work within the field of special educational needs, in education and related settings, such as health and social care and social services. The programme enables you to gain in- depth knowledge and understanding of barriers to learning. You will identify, analyse and evaluate policies and their implementation, in relation to inclusion and learners with SEND. You will also reflect on inclusive practice for learners with a range of Special Educational Needs, considering the effectiveness of strategies implemented to support learners. You will engage in meaningful and impactful research and enhance your understanding of the nature of educational enquiry and the analytical processes that support research-informed practice. The overall focus of the course is on equipping you with comprehensive, theoretical, research-informed knowledge and an understanding of differing educational perspectives and diverse contexts. This course will support your personal professional development and enhance your research skills, preparing you for the completion of an independent research report on a relevant topic of your choice. If you are seeking to develop your practice and gain expertise in the field of special educational needs, then this is the programme for you.
We offer a range of MA Education pathways covering different age phases and learning needs as part of our professional development portfolio:
MA Education (Children and Young People’s Mental Health)
MA Education (Cognitive Science and Learning)
MA Education (Curriculum Design)
What you'll study
Key themes include the nature and effectiveness of policy, research related to the identification and assessment of SEND; the role of families and caregivers within inclusive education; and different approaches and organisational structures within schools and other social systems which impact upon inclusivity for learners with SEND. Barriers to learning and inspiring practices will be critiqued alongside theoretical frameworks and reflection from practice.
You will benefit from exceptional personalised support, tailored to your individual professional interests, and needs, and a flexible delivery model, consisting of twilight on campus sessions enhanced by activities on our VLE. The blend of students from different backgrounds will enable discussion, debate, and the sharing of experiences in a supportive and welcoming environment, facilitated by staff who are experts in education theory and practice and special educational needs. You will also develop essential transferable skills, from purposeful and effective communication to utilising a range of media, making justifiable decisions in complex and unpredictable situations.
How you'll study
The MA Education (SEN) pathway is available in a variety of modes of study for example part-time and full-time face-to-face, and online. Online study will only be available in the part-time mode.
Taught sessions are built around dialogue, discussion and collaborative learning, with tutor support and expertise immediately at hand. Teaching is interactive, experiential and innovative, using a variety of technologies to enhance your learning, from presentation tools and virtual classrooms to mixed media, social media and mobile technologies. The programme will be tailored to enable you to focus your learning on your individual interests and professional requirements.
Each 30-credit module may typically involve a weekly session of 3 hours (during the day for full-time and twilight for part-time – for example at Holy Cross (Bury)) and a significant amount of private study, as well as reading and independent research.
How you'll be assessed
You will be assessed through a combination of 5,000-word written assignments, project work, portfolios and presentations, as well as a 10,000 word research report and summary. Opportunities to receive formative feedback are embedded into each module.
Who will be teaching you
The programme is delivered by a team of research-active academic staff who have extensive expertise in education and its related disciplines.
The work of the programme team has national and international impact, contributing to and informing education curricula and learning techniques, both in the UK and overseas.
Their research interests include inclusion and special educational needs, dyscalculia, dyslexia, educational policy and practice, educational leadership, educational philosophy as well as research methods and methodologies.
Entry criteria
Entry requirements
An undergraduate degree (normally a 2.2 or above) in a field related to education or an equivalent qualification acceptable to Edge Hill University. Applicants, who come from a different academic background, which is equivalent to degree level, or have 2 or more years of relevant work experience, are welcome to apply. Or a Masters degree or equivalent in a relevant field.
English language requirements
You are expected to have English language proficiency minimally equivalent to overall 6.5 with no element below 6.0.
How to apply
Please note, this course is now closed for 2024 applications.
There is an online application process for this course. Please choose the application form for your preferred mode of study.
Apply for September 2025 Full-Time (Edge Hill University)
Should you accept an offer of a place to study with us and formally enrol as a student, you will be subject to the provisions of the regulations, rules, codes, conditions and policies which apply to our students. These are available at www.edgehill.ac.uk/studentterms.
There’s plenty of opportunities to come take a look around campus. Attend one of our open days to see what life at Edge Hill University is all about.
Book an open day
Facilities
The Faculty of Education enjoys the enviable position of being one of the country’s leading providers of transformative education, training and research for the teaching and education workforce. Housed in a state-of-the-art £9m building, the Faculty of Education enjoys a stunning setting from both its lakeside and piazza buildings.
Facilities in the lakeside building include a 300-seat lecture theatre, five well-equipped ICT suites, and 18 teaching rooms complete with the latest technology.
Our nearby piazza building houses our Research Hub and our Secondary and Further Education department including a lecture theatre and a number of seminar rooms.
If you choose to study at Holy Cross College and University Centre in Bury. You’ll be taught by Edge Hill lecturers and staff, and have access to a range of modern facilities, including recent building upgrades and refurbishments. There’s a range of study spaces and a coffee shop where you can relax before lectures. Holy Cross is especially proud of their library, IT facilities, modern classrooms and meeting rooms in the Mary Kelly building where the face-to-face sessions will take place.
Where you'll study
Faculty of Education
Finance
Tuition fees
UK Full-Time
£9,250
for the course
UK Part-Time
£51 per credit
for 180 credits
International
£17,000
for the course
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, as well as Irish nationals, may be eligible for the UK tuition fee rate.
Financial support
Please view the relevant Money Matters guide for comprehensive information about the financial support available to eligible UK students joining postgraduate courses at Edge Hill University.
EU/EEA and Swiss students who have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme may be eligible to apply for financial support. Irish nationals can ordinarily apply to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please see our EU student finance page for further details.
Your future career
Preparing you for a wide variety of roles across the education workforce in the UK and internationally, this MA can enhance your professional career opportunities and employability.
On successful completion of the programme, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills required to make a significant and positive contribution to a range of education settings and education-related contexts.
You will graduate well placed to apply for more senior positions both within your current workplace and with other providers. The skills and experience acquired through this MA will also provide you with essential preparation for progressing onto research qualifications, such as a PhD or Professional Doctorate.
Course changes
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, however our courses are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may necessitate alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses.
Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of professional bodies, revisions to subject benchmarks statements, to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.
