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An image to illustrate the Masters degree in Education
This flexible masters degree is for education professionals who wish to deepen their expertise and acquire transferable skills highly prized by employers. You'll tailor your studies by choosing from three specialist routes: learning and teaching, leadership and management, or inclusive practice. You can switch specialisms after your first module, allowing you to explore two different areas within one qualification. You'll complete your masters with a dissertation module. This gives you the option of conducting a small-scale inquiry on a topic of your choice, or completing an extended literature review and research proposal relevant to your professional interests and practice.
Please note this qualification provides a strong foundation in education but does not confer Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which requires further study to meet professional teaching requirements.
To gain this qualification, you need 180 credits. You’ll choose one of three routes:
You’ll study three 60-credit modules in the order shown below. You’ll begin by exploring key ideas and current issues in education, then deepen your knowledge in a specialist area, with the option to change specialisms after your first module. Your second module will shape the focus of your final dissertation, where you’ll investigate a topic connected to your professional interests and practice.
We strongly recommend you start with EE844, though you may substitute this with EE830 or EE841.
ModulesCreditsNext start
You'll study the following:
Equity, inclusion and social justice in educational practice (EE844)
Explore contemporary issues in equity, inclusion, and social justice in educational practice, including disability, gender, poverty, and race, in this OU postgraduate module.
Next start date: 03 Oct 2026
See full description
6003 Oct 2026
Social justice, equity and equality: inclusive practice for all (EE845)
This module explores social justice issues from different perspectives and how inclusive practices can be fostered to effect change in education settings across a wide range of contexts.
Next start date: 03 Oct 2026
See full description
6003 Oct 2026
Masters multidisciplinary dissertation: education, childhood and youth (E822)
Complete your masters with a dissertation tailored to your qualification, offering hands-on research or a literature-based proposal in education, childhood or youth studies.
Next start date: 03 Oct 2026
See full description
6003 Oct 2026
Subject to regulations, if you've passed the discontinued module EE814 or the module EE806, you may count one of these instead of EE844.

We strongly recommend you start with EE841, though you may substitute this with EE844 or EE830.
ModulesCreditsNext start
You'll study the following:
Educational leadership: concepts, change and challenges (EE841)
Explore educational leadership and management concepts, change, and challenges in local and global contexts.
Next start date: 03 Oct 2026
See full description
6003 Oct 2026
Exploring educational leadership: values, context and strategy (EE842)
Explore strategic, contextual and values-based educational leadership for the 21st century.
Next start date: 03 Oct 2026
See full description
6003 Oct 2026
Masters multidisciplinary dissertation: education, childhood and youth (E822)
Complete your masters with a dissertation tailored to your qualification, offering hands-on research or a literature-based proposal in education, childhood or youth studies.
Next start date: 03 Oct 2026
See full description
6003 Oct 2026
Subject to regulations, if you’ve passed the discontinued module EE811 or the module EE806, you may count one of these instead of EE841.

We strongly recommend you start with EE830, though you may substitute this with EE844 or EE841.
ModulesCreditsNext start
You'll study the following:
Learning and teaching: educating the next generation (EE830)
This masters module will challenge you to think about what purposes of education could have and how education can be made fit for the future.
Next start date: 03 Oct 2026
See full description
6003 Oct 2026
Learning and teaching: understanding your educational practice (EE831)
This module focuses on the fundamental concepts of learning, pedagogy, and assessment and explores them from the perspectives of learners, teachers, and whole-school issues.
Next start date: 03 Oct 2026
See full description
6003 Oct 2026
Masters multidisciplinary dissertation: education, childhood and youth (E822)
Complete your masters with a dissertation tailored to your qualification, offering hands-on research or a literature-based proposal in education, childhood or youth studies.
Next start date: 03 Oct 2026
See full description
6003 Oct 2026
Subject to regulations, if you’ve passed the module EE806, you may count this instead of EE830.

By studying the Masters degree in Education, you’ll:
You’ll study through supported online learning with guidance from expert tutors.
You’ll be awarded a Master of Arts in Education or Master of Education upon successful completion. You’ll be entitled to use the letters MAEd (Open) or MEd (Open) after your name.
If you complete a specialist route, your degree title will show that in brackets:
Your masters degree may be awarded with a distinction or a merit. The qualification regulations explain the criteria you’ll need to meet to earn one of these classifications.
You’ll have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.
If you plan to work or study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether this qualification meets local requirements. Find out more about the international recognition of Open University qualifications.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
We regularly review our curriculum to keep it up to date. This means the structure, availability, and content of the course or modules may change. We’ll update this page as soon as possible if there are any changes. If you have already registered for this qualification, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes where practicable. For more details, see our Academic Regulations or contact us.
You’ll study the Masters degree in Education part-time, completing 60 credits a year over three years. Typically, this translates to 13–19 study hours each week.

The recommended hours include time to work through that week’s online study planner, complete recommended reading, and attend tutorials.

You must complete the Masters degree in Education within six years.
At the OU, flexibility and support go hand in hand. You’ll be in control of when and where you study, with clear deadlines to guide your progress. Whether you’re balancing work, family or other commitments, our approach helps you fit learning into your life. Students consistently praise the support we provide, and from the very start, you’ll be part of a vibrant OU learning community.
As you progress through your qualification, you’ll have access to a dedicated online study space, expert tutor guidance, optional live tutorials, and a wide range of resources to help you succeed. The sections below outline what you can expect.
Your module website will be a central hub for your learning, giving you easy access to:
Discover how the OU’s module websites, course materials, and support tools help you study online with confidence.
Each module has a dedicated tutor who will guide you through your studies. They’ll provide feedback, help you find resources, mark your assignments and support your learning journey.
For extra support, you can attend optional live tutorials with your tutor. These are usually conducted online, and most are recorded so you can review them later.
See how OU tutors and tutorials help you build confidence, connect with others, and get the support you need to succeed in your studies.
Our assessments reinforce what you’ve learned and show your understanding. Assessment types vary by module and may include:
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to a wide range of support services and be part of a vibrant learning community. Our subject-specific Student Support Teams can help with general queries and any updates to your OU account. You’ll also benefit from:
Discover the support network and learning tools you'll have access to throughout your studies.
To study for this masters degree, you must hold a bachelors degree from a UK university or other recognised degree-awarding body, or a qualification at an equivalent level.
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 engaging with or working with learners, children, or young people, as our pathway disciplines (Learning and Teaching, Inclusive Practice, 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.
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.
Study order
Before starting a second module within your chosen specialism (Inclusive Practice, Leadership and Management, or Learning and Teaching), you must have:
Before starting the final dissertation module, Masters multidisciplinary dissertation: education, childhood and youth (E822), you must:
For the final module, E822, please note that Enhanced DBS clearance (or the equivalent in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland) is a UK legal requirement for working with children. Securing this clearance is the responsibility of you and your employer, not The Open University. If you are unsure about your eligibility or need further information, you should contact the relevant national agency in the country where you intend to undertake your work with children.
If you are not sure whether your qualifications and experience are suitable, please contact us for advice.
If you’ve studied at university level before, you may be able to transfer the academic credit you've been awarded towards an OU qualification. This could save you time and money by reducing the modules you need to study.
You should apply to transfer credit before registering, at least four weeks before the registration closing date. We will need to know what you studied, where, and when, and you will need to provide evidence of your previous study.
For more details and to download an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.
You’ll pay for your qualification one module at a time, rather than the full cost upfront. The fee for each module is listed in its description.

£8,850*
Your module materials, tuition, assessment and exams are all included in our module fees.
There are some additional costs that aren’t included.
Further information is available in the module descriptions.
*The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2027. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
Learn more about postgraduate loans and our other funding options below.
Repay in monthly instalments while you study.
Pay for each module with a debit or credit card in one quick, simple payment.
More than 1 in 10 OU students are sponsored by their employer.
We’ll show you how you can pay by bank transfer or combine payment methods.
You may be eligible for:
Throughout the world, there is an increasing demand for creative and innovative education professionals who possess highly developed skills and a deep understanding of learning. In many countries, a masters degree is becoming essential for career advancement in education, training and professional development settings.
This qualification is designed to enrich your knowledge and improve your professional practice. On completing your studies, you should be able to:
You will also acquire qualities and transferable skills that are highly prized by employers within education and related fields, such as:
You will be guided through the materials on how you can recognise and acknowledge these additional skills.
Please note that this masters degree does not qualify you for teacher registration in any country.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you'll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice, including: online forums, a website, interview simulation and vacancy service, as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.
Select the module you will study first, read the full description, and follow the instructions to register.
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Select the module you will study first, read the full description, and follow the instructions to register.
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