To study for this masters degree course you must hold a bachelors degree from a UK university or other recognised degree-awarding body, or a qualification at equivalent level.
The multi-disciplinary dissertation at Stage 3 – Masters multi-disciplinary dissertation: education, childhood and youth (E822) – provides optionality (as do other modules in the qualification in which you are required to engage with research activity), to either undertake a small-scale investigation or an extended literature review and research proposal.
Please note: It is a legal requirement in the UK, rather than an Open University requirement, that you must obtain Enhanced DBS clearance (or equivalent in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) in order to work with children on the module, Masters multi-disciplinary dissertation: education, childhood and youth (E822). This is the responsibility of you and your employer and not The Open University. If you are in doubt about your eligibility, or to find out more, you should contact the relevant agency in the country in which you are proposing to conduct your study for more information.
Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum score of 7 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see their website for details.
In order to study this qualification you do not need to be employed in an educational setting. However, it is important that you have some experience of engaging or working with learners, children or young people as our pathway disciplines (Learning & Teaching, Inclusive Practice, Applied Linguistics and Leadership and Management) are all explored through the lens of education. Therefore you will need to be able to apply your learning to a relevant context or learning environment.
This can be through employment or other means such as volunteering and/or special arrangements undertaken for the purposes of your study. Apart from schools and colleges, other organisations providing educational services – such as health and care education environments, youth, play, or early years work, armed forces, business and commercial environments – all could provide suitable settings to apply your learning and later carry out your dissertation. The various activities embedded in the study guide and supporting examples and literature will help you develop skills of independent study and enquiry.
How long it takes
The minimum time to complete is 3 years, the maximum time to complete is 6 years.
Applied linguistics route
2023/24 is the last time you will be able to start to study the Applied linguistics route of the Masters degree in Education (F70).
If you would like to study this Applied linguistics route, you will need to start studying Stage 1 in October 2023 to be able to complete this qualification before it is withdrawn.
If you have applicable credit transfer or have completed EE806 to count towards Stage 1, the last time you will be able to start studying at Stage 2 to complete this qualification before it is withdrawn will be October 2024.
We plan to launch a new linguistics qualification in 2024, the MA in Linguistics (Applied) / MA in Linguistics (Artificial Intelligence) (F97).