MSc/PGDip Deaf Education

Year of entry: 2024

Overview

Degree awarded
MSc/PGDip
Duration
MSc: 1 yr FT, 2-3 yrs PT; PGDip: 1 yr FT, 2 yrs PT
Entry requirements

You must hold qualified teacher status (QTS). The course is also available to those who are qualified to work in further education who have evidence of Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS). Applicants should have at least one year'€™s teaching experience. However other relevant experience may be considered in discussion with the programme team.

For those applicants with teaching qualifications outside of the UK, applicants must evidence that their teaching qualifications are recognised in their home country.

Applicants who have teaching qualifications from outside of the UK also need to apply for equivalency of their qualifications in order to gain QTS. Routes to gaining QTS as an international applicant are explained here in our information for international deaf education applicants.

You must also hold a relevant honours degree from an approved higher education institution or evidence of previous advanced study, research or professional experience that the University accepts as qualifying you for entry. This is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

PGDip Deaf Education holders wishing to take the additional research unit to gain an MSc should have undertaken the PGDip at Manchester within the last three years. For students joining the course on this basis, the duration will be one-year part-time.

Full entry requirements

Number of places/applicants
15 places (MSc), 50 places (PGDip).
How to apply

Please apply via our online application form.

We recommend that you apply as early as possible to secure your place. We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.

Course options

Full-time Part-time Full-time distance learning Part-time distance learning
MSc Y Y N Y
PGDip Y Y N Y

Course overview

  • Train as a Specilaist Teacher of deaf children and young people if you are already a qualified teacher (QTS or QTLS qualified).
  • Study on the most pioneering Deaf Education course in the UK at a university that has been developing expertise in this area for over 100 years.
  • Our Department for Education (DfE) accredited PDGip in Deaf Education provides the national mandatory qualification to become a teacher of deaf children and young people (0-25 years).
  • Our teaching is driven by up-to-date research, equipping you with the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to meet the needs of deaf children, young people and their families.
  • We use state-of-the-art equipment, to develop your audiological management skills to ensure that deaf children maximise the benefit gained from technology.
  • Scholarships and bursaries available (details below).
  • All PGDip home students will receive a £400 programme bursary to be discounted from the fee. Please see full details below.
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MSc/PGDip Deaf Education at Manchester

Open days

Attending an open day is a great way to find out what studying at Manchester is like. Find out about our upcoming open days.

Fees

September 2024 entry tuition fees, per annum:

MSc (full-time) UK: £11,000, International including EU: £23,500

MSc (part-time) UK: £5,500, International including EU: £11,750

MSc (part-time distance learning) UK: Year 1 £4,400; Year 2 £4,400; Year 3 £2,200, International including EU: Year 1 £9,400; Year 2 £9,400; Year 3 £4,700

PGDip (full-time) UK: £8,800, International including EU: £18,800

PGDip (part-time) UK: £4400 per year, International including EU: £9,400

PGDip (part-time distance learning) UK: £4400 per year, International including EU: £9,400

See more information for EU students .

Bursary

All PGDip home students will receive a £400 bursary, discounted from the fee.

After the bursary is applied, the PGDip fees will be:

Full-time £8,400

Part-time Year 1: £4,000, Year 2: £4,400

The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.

All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK students (fees are typically fixed for International/EU students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information visit: postgraduate fees. Always contact the department if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification.

Self-funded international/EU applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.

Additional expenses

You will be required to cover any travel expenses and accommodation costs incurred during the programme.

These may include travel to teaching placements, or to the University for inductions and on-campus study days.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

There are bursaries specific to Postgraduate Diploma Deaf Education and MSc Deaf Education courses, which you may be eligible for. Visit the deaf education funding page for to see if you are eligible and for the latest information on deadlines and how to apply.

All PGDip home students will receive a £400 programme bursary to be discounted from the fee. This impacts on the fees as follows:

  • PGDip full-time: £8400 after application of the bursary.
  • PGDip part-time: £4000 Year 1, £4400 in Year 2 after application of the bursary.

For the latest university wide scholarship and bursary information please visit the fees and funding page.

Contact details

School/Faculty
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
Telephone
+44 (0)161 529 4563
Email
School/Faculty
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

Courses in related subject areas

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

Entry requirements

Academic entry qualification overview

You must hold qualified teacher status (QTS). The course is also available to those who are qualified to work in further education who have evidence of Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS). Applicants should have at least one year'€™s teaching experience. However other relevant experience may be considered in discussion with the programme team.

For those applicants with teaching qualifications outside of the UK, applicants must evidence that their teaching qualifications are recognised in their home country.

Applicants who have teaching qualifications from outside of the UK also need to apply for equivalency of their qualifications in order to gain QTS. Routes to gaining QTS as an international applicant are explained here in our information for international deaf education applicants.

You must also hold a relevant honours degree from an approved higher education institution or evidence of previous advanced study, research or professional experience that the University accepts as qualifying you for entry. This is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

PGDip Deaf Education holders wishing to take the additional research unit to gain an MSc should have undertaken the PGDip at Manchester within the last three years. For students joining the course on this basis, the duration will be one-year part-time.

English language

International students must demonstrate English proficiency through a secure and approved testing system.

We ask for English language proof if you are from non-majority English speaking countries (a list of majority English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Home Office, can be found on the GOV.uk website ).

Specifically, we require a minimum of:

  • IELTS: 7.0, including 7.0 in the written section
  • TOEFL 100, including 25 in the written section
See further information about requirements for your country.

English language test validity

Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the course.

Professional entry qualification

Applicants are required to complete an enhanced DBS check upon entry to the programme.

Applicants are required to complete a Criminal Record and Code of Conduct Self-Declaration before registering for the programme. Upon joining the course, you are required to complete an Enhanced Level search by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We will assist you in the completion of these forms in Semester 1. The Criminal Record and Code of conduct Self-Declaration is repeated upon entry to Year 2 of the programme (for part-time learners).

Health questionnaire and screening

The University of Manchester is mindful of the health of both its students and of the public, with whom students come into contact on placement.

Teacher of the Deaf training requires all applicants to complete a pre-acceptance health questionnaire which is returned to the University's Occupational Health Service having been checked and countersigned by your GP. The University of Manchester is committed to providing equality of opportunity for disabled students and where possible all reasonable support will be provided to enable you to complete the course, however, we need to ensure that you will be able to fulfil the competency standards of the course. For this programme, the core competencies are defined by the Specification for Mandatory Qualifications for specialist teachers of children and young people with hearing impairments (Department for Education, 2023). The Education (Health Standards) (England) Regulations 2003 also requires teachers to have the health and physical capacity to carry out certain activities required of their role.

Fitness to Study/Practice

The Deaf Education course is covered under the Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health Fitness to Study and Fitness to Practice Procedures.

Application and selection

How to apply

Please apply via our online application form.

We recommend that you apply as early as possible to secure your place. We reserve the right to close applications if the course is full.

How your application is considered

We consider your application via the online application form, supporting documentation relevant to your previous academic studies, your teaching experience, and appropriate professional references.

All applications will be considered on a case by case basis.

Interview requirements

Programme staff will discuss the course with all candidates.

Deferrals

Deferrals will be accepted if appropriate medical or other evidence is provided in accordance with the University regulations.

Re-applications

If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry. In your new application you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.

Course details

Course description

Successful completion of our MSc/PGDip Deaf Education course will give you the mandatory qualification to work as a Specialist Teacher of deaf children and young people.

The MSc route, which encompasses all the mandatory components of the PGDip with the addition of a dissertation, supports the development of research skills that can be applied to this field.

Rapid developments in audiology and our understanding of language, communication and educational practice make Deaf Education an exciting area of study.

The course uses an evidence-based approach to meeting the diverse needs of deaf children and young people and places a strong emphasis on the translation of research to practice.

Our course has Department for Education (DfE) accrediation, meeting the requirements of the mandatory qualification.

Most graduating students go on to teach and support deaf children in specialist teaching roles both in the UK and overseas, although there are also opportunities to continue academic research in this area.

Both MSc and PGDip options are available. There is a range of full-time, part time, e-blended and on campus learning routes. If you already have the PGDip from The University of Manchester you return to us to complete the dissertation element to gain the MSc award.

If you are an international student, we also have a part-time international PGCert pathway. This is for international students who wish to study in their home nation and may not have QTS/QTLS. This course does not qualify students as specialist teachers of deaf children and young people.

Aims

This course aims to qualify you as a Teacher of the Deaf, providing you with the skills, knowledge and understanding to teach deaf children and  young people.

Special features

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Deaf Education: Teaching placements overview

High-quality teaching

You will learn from a multi-professional team within a highly specialised and internationally recognised department. Deaf Education at Manchester works alongside the associated disciplines of Speech and Language Therapy and Audiology, giving you a unique experience that fully equips you with the skills needed to teach deaf children and young people aged 0-25 years.

We have well-established, close links with services and service users. We ensure that our teaching is reflective of the range of perspectives and philosophies that are represented in the field.

Watch our video to find out about teaching placements on the course. Click through to YouTube to watch the video with subtitles.

Teaching and learning

We have a range of ways to complete the programme up to Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) level.

For example, the full-time option is two days a week and taught on campus.

The two years part-time on-campus option is taught on campus for one day a week.

The e-blended learning route is two years, part-time and provides the opportunity for you to learn at your own rate, at a time and place that suits you. The course is set within a framework of online support and workshops to ensure you have the chance to meet and share ideas. The e-blended course is an established and popular option for those at a distance and offers online and written materials with two face to face learning blocks on campus in the first year and two blocks on campus in the second year.

All students undertake two 20-day placements over the course of study. We have plans in place to ensure that learning takes place even if distancing rules prevent travel.

We recognise that some students are employed as Teachers of the Deaf and require the training to be able to continue in the role. For other learners working mainstream and trying to enter the field of deaf education we understand that flexible learning routes (on campus or e-blended) are important to transition into deaf education as a new profession.

In addition, all first-year students are required to attend an additional e-conference. This provides an opportunity to meet a range of professionals, to extend knowledge and understanding, to exchange ideas and to establish a strong group identity.

For the MSc module, the online research methods unit prepares you to undertake your dissertation. We also deliver online research and dissertation writing workshops as well as one-to-one tutorials and dissertation supervision. Your dissertation supervision will have research interest and experience in your topic of research.

You will be taught by academics who are an award-winning team for teaching excellence and who hold Honorary Fellowships in The University of Manchester’s Institution of Teaching and Learning.

Coursework and assessment

A variety of assessment methods are used within the PGDip, including written assignments, case reports, practical work, and presentations. We incoproprate, as part of our teaching and learning, opportunities for formative assessments that help to shape individual studies but do not contribute to the final marks.

The MSc dissertation may be in the form of a:

  • systematic review
  • educational policy review
  • data collection study (qualitative or quantitative)
  • grant proposal

Course unit details

Detailed unit information can be found by clicking on the links in the course unit list below.

PGDip students will study all units except the dissertation. Those who wish to top up to an MSc can take the additional 60-credit dissertation unit.

For the full MSc, the course consists of relevant theoretical and practical teaching experience and a dissertation. There are two placements over the duration of the course.

These are arranged in consultation with you and are fully supervised.

All PGDip students must attain BSL Level 1 as a minimum by the end of their course of study. This is completed independently and is not part of the course. Learners cannot qualify as a Teacher of the Deaf without evidence of Level 1 BSL.

Watch our unit overview videos

You can watch brief introductions to some of our units plus the teaching placements on YouTube.

Course unit list

The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

TitleCodeCredit ratingMandatory/optional
Language Acquisition PCHN60240 15 Mandatory
Language Assessment PCHN60250 15 Mandatory
Developing Deaf Child PCHN60260 15 Mandatory
Policy and Practice PCHN60270 15 Mandatory
Curricular Access PCHN60280 15 Mandatory
Teaching and Learning 2 PCHN60310 15 Mandatory
Dissertation PCHN60311 60 Mandatory
Audiological Management PCHN61230 15 Mandatory
Teaching and Learning 1 PCHN63020 15 Mandatory

What our students say

Read about our students' experiences of the MSc/PGDip Deaf Education course and our graduates' subsequent careers by reading their posts on the Biology, Medicine and Health Student blog.

Facilities

The group I was with were amazing, and supported each other through the ups and downs that are inevitable in any training that stretches and challenges.

It was also great to be able to hear of their experiences of deaf education in different areas and settings, which reflected the diversity of the role of Teacher of the Deaf.

Moira / Deaf Education graduate

You will be able to access a dedicated lab for audiology work, a student resource room, and the largest e-library and specialist deaf education resource in the UK.

You will also be able to access a range of facilities throughout the University.

Disability support

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Careers

Career opportunities

I had no idea 30 years ago that I would still be in deaf education,

and that it would be such a rewarding career choice. Family members and friends often accuse me of loving my job. They are not wrong.

Rory McDonnell / Deaf Education graduate

Most graduating students progress to a career in teaching deaf children and young people. This is a diverse remit and a teacher of the deaf may work in a school for the deaf, a unit or resourced provision, in primary or secondary school, or a specialist early years setting.

Many teachers of deaf children and young people work as a peripatetic teacher of the deaf working across provisions as well as in the homes of deaf children and their families.

Career opportunities can also include a move into academic research or further programmes of study in higher education.

Read a blog post from one of our graduates about what a typical working day as a Teacher of the Deaf involves.

Accrediting organisations

This course is recognised by the Department for Education (DfE) as meeting the remit of the mandatory qualification to become a Specialist Teacher of the deaf children and young people.

Associated organisations