The MEd programme offers a flexible course of study open to both full-time and part-time students. Students may pace their study as best suits them. Full-time study for 50 weeks (October to mid-September), part-time students can complete their studies over a period of up to five academic years, though most complete over two or three years.
The MEd is organised into a number of programmes and you will normally register with one of these. For a majority of students their programme will consist of these four elements:
- Taught Core units within a specialist programme (normally 60 credit points)
- Taught Optional units (normally 40 credit points) chosen from the programme or from any of the Masters units offered in the School
- Taught Research training (normally the 20 credit point unit: Introduction to Educational Inquiry)
- Dissertation (60 credit points)
The programme system offers students both choice and coherence, and is suitable for most people. Students whose interests do not fit into these programmes may be able to register for an Individually Constructed Programme. Each student is allocated a personal tutor who will provide them with advice and support during their studies.
he MEd degree consists of 180 credit points: 120 credit points of coursework and a further 60 credit points arising from writing a dissertation. If a student chooses to exit the programme with a Postgraduate Diploma, then it is possible for them to re-register within five years of receiving their award, in order to progress to the dissertation stage of the MEd degree. Students who successfully complete 60 credit points on the programme may exit with a Postgraduate Certificate. Re-registration in order to progress to a Postgraduate Diploma or a full Masters degree is permitted, based on the criteria outlined above.
A taught unit of 20 credit points normally has these components:
- 20 hours contact time
- 180 hours (minimum) of associated study time (reading, individual tutorials, assignment preparation)
- The submission of a coursework assignment (usually in written form – up to 4,000 words)
The Dissertation contributes the final 60 credit points to the degree and provides an opportunity for you to work on a one to one basis with a tutor/adviser exploring a topic of professional relevance in some depth. It will normally involve research, and students are expected to make use of the courses, workshops and other opportunities for developing their research skills that the Graduate School offers.