Higher and Professional Education

The Higher and Professional Education MA will give students critical insight into the changing field of higher and professional education; reflecting on important debates in the field. It will develop their understanding of conceptual and analytical frameworks in professional practices and processes, increasing their knowledge, skills and confidence to operate effectively and creatively in diverse institutions.

This programme provides students with the opportunity to study for an interdisciplinary, interprofessional qualification, examining higher and professional education policies and practices in relation to their own personal and professional experience.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of two core modules (60 credits), two optional modules (60 credits), a dissertation (60 credits), or a report (30 credits) plus a further module (30 credits).

Core modules

• Innovation and Change in Higher and Professional Education
• Higher Education: Comparative and International Perspectives

Optional modules

• Learning and Teaching for Adults
• Understanding Education Policy
• Vocational Learning: Policy and Practice
• Understanding Education Research
• Understanding Research

Dissertation/report

All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a 20,000-word dissertation or 10,000-word report.

Teaching and learning

Teaching is delivered through interactive lectures, seminars, group discussions, case study analysis and the use of simulations. In many modules there are opportunities for all students to participate on a variety of ways, including giving short presentations or seminar papers or leading group discussions. 
Assessment is through coursework assignments of up to 5,000 words and a 20,000-word dissertation or 10,000-word report.

A minimum of a relevant second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard and relevant professional experience of higher and professional education.