Dissertation through Flexible Study MA (Ed)

This programme is aimed at professionals with a specific area of research interest. As the title implies it is not a traditional taught programme and does not adopt a traditional classroom model of delivery. It is suited for those whom traditional patterns of attendance are not feasible, sought or required. It will appeal to those who wish to study for a higher degree but are not able to attend regular campus based taught sessions. It recognises that is increasingly possible for research to be carried out from a variety of places. Study on this programme provides access to libraries and you will have opportunities to communicate with supervisors, academics and fellow students.

As a student following the MA(Ed) by Dissertation through Flexible study (the ‘Flex’), you will have contact with your supervisor throughout the programme. Your specialist supervisor who will assist you on a one-to-one basis. Tutorials which can take place remotely, will, where possible be reasonably tailored to your own requirements and can be arranged outside normal University hours, including holiday periods.

As a guide, part-time students will probably require around four to six tutorials per year. Supervision will be maintained by email, mail and telephone, and if practical, face to face tutorials.

Specialist study is available through a wide range of areas. Currently these include:

• Biography and Education
• Curriculum Studies
• Educational Evaluation
• eLearning
• Gender, Sexuality and Education
• Health Studies
• Historiography and the Study of History
• Language in Education
• Educational Management Studies
• Modern British History
• Moral and Ethical Education
• OfSTED Studies (Primary)
• Physical Education
• Post Compulsory Education
• Science Education
• Special Educational Needs
• Sports History
• The Family and Education
• Work, Training and Lifelong Learning

Different areas of study can be combined, depending on your interests. If you have an area of interest which is not listed, please contact us to establish if there are supervision tutors available.

Subject to sufficient uptake, we would like to hear from professionals who are keen to explore their own practice or that of their organisation, within a supportive community of fellow professionals. If you want to be involved in such a pathway, you and the group would undertake related projects following an action research approach. This pathway combines a small taught component with group seminars and individual tutorials, emphasising collaboration and the role of constructive dialogue between peers as co-investigators. It remains highly flexible and workplace-based. This pathway is suitable for individuals, but also has value for groups of colleagues working together with a single school/organisation or across a number of local schools/organisations. The intention is to base this work on issues directly relevant to the needs of your organisation.

Adrian C Halnan

Dr Jenny Byrne
Doreen Challen
Dr Gill Clarke
Dr Marcus Grace
Mr Keith Jones
Professor Mary Ratcliffe
Dr John Woollard
Professor Anthony Kelly
Dr Martin Dyke
Dr Jane Seale
Dr Martin Polley
Dr Ros Foskett
Dr Tim Cain

The programme may be followed full time for one year or part time for two. Given the nature of the MA(Ed) Flex, not all learning experiences for students will be the same. Nonetheless, all students will have equivalent access to their supervisors, all of which are committed and here to support you in independent learning.

The formative and summative assessment procedures for the programme are designed to meet the learning outcomes of the programme and are as follows:

• Three assignments (equivalent to one of 4000 words, one of 8,000 words and one of 12,000) relating to the topic of the dissertation will be completed during the period of study. The titles and content of assignments will be arrived at through student/tutor discussion.
  While the assignments will be on the same topic as the dissertation they must be distinctive and it is not permitted that they be replicated in the dissertation. Formative assessment will consist of regular communication and tutorials (face to face /webcast/or by telephone) comprising advice and feedback on work in progress. Assignments will be summatively assessed using the marking criteria listed in the Advanced Programmes Student Handbook
• A dissertation (16,000 words) will be presented at the end of the study period. It will be marked and summatively assessed again, using the marking criteria listed in the Advanced Programmes Student Handbook

Entry will normally be a first degree and/or teaching or professional experience and standard University language requirements if applicable. Students will need to demonstrate a disposition consistent with an ability to work independently in their chosen area of study.

Potential students will be required to provide a dissertation project proposal of about 500 words. Ideally, it should reflect the question(s) to be addressed, why these are important issues for such an investigation and it should identify a few key sources of information. What we are looking for is clear evidence that you have thought through the main issues. Specific guidance about your project proposal is available on request. The outline will be reviewed in detail with a potential specialist supervisor and/or the Programme Tutor.

Please contact us directly to discuss your proposal so that we can assess in more depth which programme would best suit your individual circumstances.

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