MA Digital Technologies, Communication and Education

Apply online

Please note, this course is now closed for applications from Overseas applicants as we reached capacity. Home applicants are still welcome to apply. 

 Please submit the following documents with your completed application form:

• copies of official degree certificates and transcripts of your previous study, showing the subjects taken and grades obtained.  If  these documents are in languages other than English, please provide official translations;
• your CV;
• copies of English Language Certification, eg IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson test score report.

 Ensure that you enclose all the necessary documents to avoid any delays.

Staged admissions process

As there is a high demand for our courses, we operate a staged admissions process with selection deadlines throughout the year.

Due to the competition for places and high quality of applications that we receive, we give preference to students from high-ranking institutions and with grades above our minimum entry requirements. 

Please ensure you submit all supporting documentation with your application before the application deadline to avoid a delay in processing. 

• Stage 1:  Application received by  3 December 2021 ; Application update by  10 February 2022
• Stage 2:  Application received by  14 January 2022 ; Application update by  10 March 2022
• Stage 3:  Application received by  18 March 2022 ; Application update by  12 May 2022
• Stage 4:  Application received by  29 April 2022 ; Application update by  16 June 2022
• Stage 5:  Application received by  1 July 2022 ; Application update by 28 July 2022
• Stage 6:  Application received by  19 August 2022 ; Application update by  31 August 2022

While we aim to give you a decision on your application by the deadline date, in some instances due to the competition for places and the volume of applications received, it may be necessary to roll your application forward to the next deadline date. 

Applications received after our final selection deadline will be considered at our discretion if places are still available. 

Please note, all places are subject to availability and if you apply at one of the later stages, some courses may already be reaching capacity or be closed to further applications. We, therefore, recommend that you apply early in the cycle to avoid disappointment. 

MA Digital Technologies, Communication and Education is an award-winning course that uses digital technologies, the broadcast media and/or interpersonal, group or organisational communications techniques to enhance practice, research and the professional and academic development of educators in technology- and information-rich environments. 

This MA is designed to help teachers, lecturers, administrators, managers, e-learning designers, trainers and anyone else with an interest in education to understand the impact of digital technologies and media on learning, whether in formal or informal settings.

You will:

• further your career by improving your skills and knowledge base in the area of digital technologies and communication, in order that these can be applied in any educational setting;
• enhance your interpersonal and group communications skills in order to learn independently and make effective decisions through self-reflection on your own practice;
• develop the ability to design your own educational materials using digital technologies and in particular to develop creative and innovative approaches to this work;
• build your confidence and ability to identify and critically evaluate the use of digital technologies, whether in formal educational settings or the informal educational processes of society, and with specific reference to your own needs and practice;
• develop your ability to systematically understand and critically evaluate research and research methodologies relevant to digital technologies in education, and apply this knowledge in actual research projects;
• develop an ability to manage and understand rapid technological change and its effect on educational processes, institutions and policies.

• Education has been a discipline of study at Manchester since 1890.
• Our students come from all over the globe, and our qualifications are recognised across the globe.
• Our research improves the quality of education across the world, with 78% of our activity defined as `world-leading' or `internationally excellent' (Research Excellence Framework 2014).

Formalised lectures are infrequent. Instead, classes tend to mix lecturer input with group work, computer and video activities, simulations, problem-based learning and class discussions. 

We make considerable use of enquiry-based learning (EBL), encouraging students' critical reflection on their own practice and beliefs: formed both by their professional experiences and intuitions, and theory and research. 

We encourage both individual and co-operative learning and research and hope to foster an ethos of life-long-learning. 

Some of our participants have professional experience in teaching, e-learning design, or as media professionals. 

We appreciate the knowledge and practical experience that they bring to the course, and we encourage all participants to use all sources of professional insights including their fellow participants. 

We provide training in the use of electronic databases, library resources, and computer-based statistics packages. Many other key skills will be developed during the course.

The form of the assessment varies from unit to unit, including: 

• practical project work (such as the creation of a website or other educational software);
• a written literature review or other essay of approximately 3,500 words;
• evaluations of existing software, websites;
• creation of a teaching portfolio;
• writing reports on schools or other educational settings;
• collaborative group work. 

For dissertations, you can choose between a Mode A (traditional-type) or a Mode B (portfolio-type) dissertation. 

Mode A dissertations report on a research project of your own design or, possibly, discuss or develop theoretical understanding relevant to the field and/or your professional development. 

Mode B dissertations are more practical, and involve you designing, testing and implementing a technological solution to an educational problem, for example, a website or piece of interactive multimedia, and then reporting on this process. 

Mode A dissertations are 15,000 words long. The length of Mode B work can be negotiated, but the overall workload is expected to be equivalent to that of Mode A.

The course is taught by the Manchester Institute of Education (MIE), which has its own Hub. Here you will find all of your teaching staff and support staff. It is also a place to relax with fellow students.

MIE is located in the University's Ellen Wilkinson building, which is centrally located on the University's Oxford Road campus, close to the Main Library, Alan Gilbert Learning Commons and the Students Union.

Manchester Institute of Education (MIE) graduates go on to shape education policy and practice through positions in NGOs and in the public and private sector. 

Potential careers include: 

• teaching;
• lecturing;
• research;
• teacher education;
• educational administration;
• leadership;
• consultancy;
• publishing;
• testing;
• assessment.

Careers support

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service  that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate. At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability . 

Careers support for international students  

The Careers Service provide specialist resources, advice and events for international students to help with career planning and making the most of your time while studying in Manchester. 

• Working in the UK after study
• Working during study
• Professional and alumni networks for international students  

Global networks  

The University of Manchester is proud to have the largest global alumni community  of any campus-based university in the UK. 

International alumni groups are a great way to keep in touch with fellow Manchester graduates in your country. It is an opportunity to build professional and social networks.