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Faculty of Arts, Cultures and Education

MA in Education and Early Childhood

Postgraduate - Taught MA

Open for admission in 2023/24

Start in September

Qualification Full time Part time
MA 1 year 2 years

About the course

This specialist education pathway focuses on policies, services, child development, early years pedagogy, and research in early childhood.

The emphasis is on the years from birth to five. You will be encouraged to draw on sociocultural perspectives on childhood, government policy, relevant research and curricular approaches - and on your own experience - in examining issues related to early childhood education.

A central aim is to help early years professionals to develop a clear understanding of, and a critical perspective on, issues around early childhood studies.

MA in Education and Early Childhood can be studied one year full-time, or two years part-time.

What you'll study

You have the option of leaving the programme at the end of stage 1 with a Postgraduate Certificate in Education or at the end of stage 2 with a Postgraduate Diploma in Education as long as you have earned sufficient credits.

Core modules

All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.


  • Contemporary and Critical Perspectives in Education

  • Research Design and Implementation

  • Early Childhood Education: Curricular and Pedagogical Debates

  • Dissertation

    You will make an original contribution to research by designing, carrying out and writing up a project on a topic of your choice, supported by your dissertation supervisor.

Choose one from

All modules are subject to availability and this list may change at any time.


  • Inclusive and Special Education: Debates, Theories and Implications for Practice

    Engage with literature about a contested issue within inclusive education. You'll develop your own argument, backed up with evidence, as to your position on this. Linking this argument to a particular context, you'll make recommendations for the development of inclusive practices.

  • Digital Technologies and Education: Key Issues and Challenges

    This module looks at the role of digital technologies for supporting teaching and learning. You will explore topics such as the history of educational technology, digital literacy and the imperatives underpinning the use of digital technologies in education.

  • International and Intercultural Perspectives on Education

    You will be introduced to topics such as international and intercultural education, teaching and learning in culturally diverse settings; international schooling and higher education; local and global inequalities in education; and global citizenship and human rights education.

  • Educational Leadership and Management

    This module draws upon leadership theory and applies it to the field of education. In so doing, it will enable you to explore basic, applied and specific theoretical concepts associated with leadership for education.

Where you'll study

The location below may not be the exact location of all modules on your timetable. The buildings you'll be taught in can vary each year and depend on the modules you study.

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Hull Campus

Click to view directions on Google Maps

Our teaching staff

“The quality of the training I’ve received at the University of Hull, together with my school experience, was outstanding and most enjoyable."

Simon Baldwin, PGCE (Chemistry)
Simon Baldwin UOH_3504

Fees and funding

  • Home £9,400
  • Home (part-time)£520 (10 credits), £1,045 (20 credits), 3,135 (60 credits), £4,700 (90 credits)

UK students can take out a Masters Loan to help with tuition fees and living costs. For 2023 entry, they provide up to £12,167 for full-time and part-time taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas. Find out more about Postgraduate Loans.

  • International £12,000 (2023/24 entry)

International applicants may need to pay a tuition fee deposit before the start of the course. Visit our tuition fee deposit page for more information.

Please see the terms and conditions for International fees 2022/23

Graduate PGT Scholarship

The University of Hull is pleased to offer graduates progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate taught study a £1,000 scholarship towards the cost of their tuition fees.

Find out if you’re eligible by visiting the University of Hull Graduate PGT Scholarship page.

International Scholarships and Bursaries

For a list of all scholarships and bursaries for international students, please visit the International Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Scholarships and Bursaries

The University offers a range of scholarships to help you with your studies.

For more information, please visit the Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Our postgraduate degrees give teachers and other professionals the skills, knowledge and leadership qualities to make a difference to the lives of children, young people and adults.

Strong partnerships with hundreds of schools, colleges, community organisations and early years settings.

Our range of programmes allow you to specialise in a particular age range or area.

We have strong partnerships for initial teacher training and offer a wide range of PGCE programmes at postgraduate level.

Entry requirements

Applicants should have a minimum of 2.2 Honours degree (or international equivalent). If your degree is not in a related subject area, we still welcome your application.

This degree is for anyone who is interested in Education in its widest sense; it will not qualify you to teach.


In order to ensure our students have a rich learning and student experience, most of our programmes have a mix of domestic and international students. We reserve the right to close applications early to either group, if application volumes suggest that this blend cannot be achieved. In addition, existing undergraduate students at the University of Hull have a guaranteed ‘Fast Track’ route to any postgraduate programme, subject to meeting the entry criteria (excluding Social Work).

International students

Language requirements

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you must provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

This course requires academic IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each skill. See other accepted English language proficiency qualifications.

If your English currently does not reach the required standard, you may be interested in our pre-sessional English Language programmes.

Visit your country page to find out more about entry requirements.

Future prospects

Our Masters students explore a range of current educational practice, looking at key issues and policy.

Graduates leave with reflective and practical skills and the knowledge they need to contribute to their chosen learning community.

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