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Develop the expertise to design and deliver high-quality online and blended learning with this MA in Online Teaching. You’ll combine theory and practice to become a confident, research-informed online educator. You’ll also explore how new media, innovative pedagogies and cutting-edge educational technologies can be used effectively and equitably across multiple sectors, engaging diverse learners and meeting their needs. This qualification has been created by specialists from The Open University’s Institute of Educational Technology, a pioneer in digital teaching, learning, and assessment. It is delivered fully online and is available to students worldwide.
To gain this qualification, you need 180 credits. You'll study one compulsory 60-credit module, choose 60 credits from a range of microcredentials or postgraduate modules and complete your degree with a 60-credit research module.

ModulesCreditsNext start
You'll study the following:
Technology-enhanced learning: foundations and futures (H880)
This module will develop your ability to engage creatively and effectively with the broad field of technology-enhanced learning (TEL), teaching and training.
Next start date: 06 Feb 2027
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6006 Feb 2027
You’ll choose 60 credits from:
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
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6003 Oct 2026
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
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6003 Oct 2026
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
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6003 Oct 2026
Online teaching: accessibility and inclusive learning (HZVM884)
Make your online teaching accessible and learn how to plan, design, and deliver inclusive learning and teaching online.
Next start date: 12 Oct 2026
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1512 Oct 2026
Online teaching: embedding social, race and gender-related equity (HZVM885)
Develop expertise in embedding equity in your online teaching and supporting equitable participation for all.
Next start date: 12 Oct 2026
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1512 Oct 2026
Online teaching: evaluating and improving courses (HZVM882)
Develop the skills you need to evaluate the success of your online teaching and enhance your students’ remote learning experience.
Next start date: 08 Jun 2026
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1508 Jun 2026
Teacher development: embedding mental health in the curriculum (HZVM883)
Develop skills to design inclusive teaching, learning, and assessment activities that enhance student mental health and wellbeing.
Next start date: 22 Jun 2026
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1522 Jun 2026
Subject to regulations, if you’ve passed the discontinued module EE811 or EE814, you may count one of these instead.
You'll study the following:
Research and scholarship in digital education (H890)
Develop your research and scholarship skills by investigating online, blended and technology-enhanced teaching, learning and assessment, in diverse global contexts.
Next start date: 03 Oct 2026
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6003 Oct 2026

By studying the MA in Online Teaching, you’ll:
You’ll learn through expert tutor support and multimedia resources.
You’ll be awarded a Master of Arts in Online Teaching upon successful completion. You’ll be entitled to use the letters MAOT (Open) after your name.
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 MA in Online Teaching part-time, completing 60 credits a year over three years. Typically, this translates to 18 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 can also complete this qualification in 17 months by studying modules concurrently.

You must complete the MA in Online Teaching 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.
You must be prepared for study at postgraduate level. This usually means holding a bachelors degree – whether from a UK university or from one outside the UK – or its equivalent. However, if you have successfully completed two-thirds of a bachelors degree (an HND in the UK, for example) and have professional experience in technology-enabled learning, you may still be eligible for the programme. You will be asked to provide further information and evidence of your eligibility as part of the registration process for the programme.
All teaching is in English, and your proficiency in the language needs to be adequate for postgraduate study and for contributing to online discussions by text and voice. If English is not your first language, we strongly recommend that you make sure you can achieve a score of at least seven in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). To assess your English Language skills in relation to your proposed studies, you can visit the IELTS website. Although experience of distance education may be an advantage, it is not essential.
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. Since module fees can vary, the total cost of the qualification will depend on the modules you choose. The fee for each module is listed in its description.

£9,350–£9,500*
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:
The MA in Online Teaching is closely focused on developing knowledge and skills that can immediately be applied to professional practice. You will explore the implications of learning design and educational technology choices made across a wide range of contexts and organisations, both formal and informal, and for diverse learners. You will advance your skills in selecting and designing educational technologies, as well as your understanding of how these technologies can be evaluated.
This qualification is relevant for professionals, including teachers, trainers, lecturers, educational technologists, learning designers, librarians, project managers, entrepreneurs and practice educators in nursing and other subjects.
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, website, interview simulation, 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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