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Course type
Masters degree
Credits
180

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
How long it takes
3 years
Read more about how long it takes
Study method

Distance learning

Course cost
Postgraduate loan available
See Fees and funding
Entry requirements
Find out more about
Entry requirements

MA in Online Teaching

Course code: F98

This Masters in Online Teaching is available globally. It offers you the unique opportunity to study the theory and practice of online and blended teaching through modules created by experts from The Open University's Institute of Educational Technology who are pioneering in the design and delivery of digital teaching, learning and assessment. You’ll study ways in which new media, innovative pedagogies and cutting-edge educational technologies can be used effectively and equitably, across multiple sectors to engage diverse learners and meet their needs.

  • Deepens your understanding of online teaching, learning and assessment, and learning that blends face-to-face and distance education.
  • Explores cutting-edge technologies such as eXtended and mixed reality and the use of open pedagogy and practice.
  • Explores how online teaching can address equity, accessibility and inclusion related to disability, mental health, race, gender identity, gender and socio-economic status.
  • Flexible study pathways offer a choice of topics, course formats and study intensity.
Course type
Masters degree
Credits
180

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
How long it takes
3 years
Read more about how long it takes
Study method

Distance learning

Course cost
Postgraduate loan available
See Fees and funding
Entry requirements
Find out more about
Entry requirements

How to register

Select the module you will study first, read the full description, and follow the instructions to register.

Modules

To gain this qualification, you need 180 credits as follows:

Stage 1 (120 credits)

60 credits from:

Compulsory module Credits Next start
Technology-enhanced learning: foundations and futures (H880) 1

This module, presented on FutureLearn, will develop your ability to engage creatively and effectively with the broad field of technology-enhanced learning (TEL), teaching and training.

See full description

Register
 60 03 Feb 2025
1This module is presented on the FutureLearn platform.


Plus, 60 credits by completing either:

  • four postgraduate OU microcredentials

Microcredentials are 10–12 week professional development courses presented on FutureLearn. Learn more about each microcredential and explore how they can count towards OU qualifications, including the MA in Online Teaching (F98).

Microcredential Credits Next start
Online teaching: Accessibility and inclusive learning (HZFM884)
 15 To be confirmed
Online teaching: Embedding social, race and gender-related equity (HZFM885)
 15 To be confirmed
Online teaching: Evaluating and improving courses (HZFM882)
 15 To be confirmed
Teacher development: Embedding mental health in the curriculum (HZFM883)
 15 24 June 2024

or one postgraduate module:

Module Credits Next start
Educational leadership: concepts, change and challenges (EE841) NEW

Explore educational leadership and management concepts, change, and challenges in local and global contexts.

See full description

Register
 60 05 Oct 2024
Equity, inclusion and social justice in educational practice (EE844) NEW

This module introduces contemporary issues in equity, inclusion and social justice in educational practice, including disability, gender, poverty and race.

See full description

Register
 60 05 Oct 2024
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.

See full description

Register
 60 05 Oct 2024

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules EE811 and EE814.

Stage 2 (60 credits)

You'll complete your qualification with 60 credits from the below. This must be the final module studied.

Compulsory module Credits Next start
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.

See full description

Register
 60 05 Oct 2024

You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 60 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment

The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:

  • Knowledge and understanding
  • Cognitive skills
  • Practical and professional skills
  • Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes.

Credit transfer

If you’ve successfully completed some relevant postgraduate study elsewhere, you might be able to count it towards this qualification, reducing the number of modules you need to study.

You should apply for credit transfer as soon as possible, before you register for your first module. For more details and an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website. 

On completion

On successfully completing this course, we’ll award you our Master of Arts in Online Teaching. You’ll be entitled to use the letters MAOT (Open) after your name.

If your masters degree is awardable with a distinction or a merit, the qualification regulations explain how you can achieve these.

You’ll have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.

Regulations

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; therefore, the qualification described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available modules – may change over time. If we make changes to this qualification, we’ll update this page as soon as possible. Once you’ve registered or are studying this qualification, where practicable, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes. If you’d like to know more about the circumstances in which the University might make changes to the curriculum, see our Academic Regulations or contact us. This description was last updated on 19 March 2024.

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.

How long it takes

This qualification can be completed within 17 months. Most students will study this qualification part-time over three years, completing 60 credits each year. The maximum time to complete this qualification is 6 years.

Career relevance

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 with educational technologies and your understanding of how educational 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.

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