
Overview
- Degree awarded
- Master of Arts (MA)
- Duration
- 1 year (FT); 24 months (PT); 2 or 3 years (DL)
- Entry requirements
-
We require a UK bachelor's degree with a First or Upper Second classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.
When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved, your academic references and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.
- How to apply
-
The deadline for applications is 31 August 2021. Later applications will be processed at our discretion.
Applications for this course are very competitive. Due to the high demand we may not be able to offer places to all applicants who have the entry qualifications that we require. If you meet our entry requirements but we are unable to make you an offer you may be placed on a waiting list. Candidates on a waiting list will receive an offer only if places become available.
Course options
Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
---|---|---|---|---|
MA | Y | Y | N | Y |
Course overview
- Join an award-winning course that brings together distance and on-campus learners.
- Use in-class ICT, social media, mobile devices, video, and satellite broadcasting.
- Learn by doing, using sponsor or employer-led projects to gain course credits.
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2021, the tuition fees are as follows:
-
MA (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £10,000
International, including EU, students (per annum): £21,000 -
MA (part-time)
UK students (per annum): £5,000
International, including EU, students (per annum): £10,500 -
MA (part-time distance learning)
UK students (per annum): £833 per 15 credits £3,334 dissertation
International, including EU, students (per annum): £833 per 15 credits £3,334 dissertation
Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.
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/EU students (fees are typically fixed for international students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit postgraduate fees
Self-funded international 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.
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
We offer a number of postgraduate taught scholarships and merit awards to outstanding applicants and international students.
In addition, the Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme offers a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees to University of Manchester alumni who achieved a first-class Bachelors degree and are progressing to a postgraduate taught masters course.
For more information, see Fees and funding or search the University's postgraduate funding database
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Environment, Education and Development
- Contact name
- School of Environment, Education and Development +44 (0) 161 543 4028
- MIE.admissions@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- http://www.seed.manchester.ac.uk/subjects/education/postgraduatetaught/
- School/Faculty
-
See: The School .
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
We require a UK bachelor's degree with a First or Upper Second classification or the overseas equivalent, in any discipline.
When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved, your academic references and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.
English language
Applicants whose first language is not English should meet the following language requirements:
- IELTS (Academic) test score of 6.5 or more overall, with a minimum writing score of 6.5 and no other subsection below 6.0
- TOEFL internet-based test score of 90 or more overall, with a minimum writing score of 22 and no other subsection below 20
- Pearson Test of English score of 59 or more overall, with a minimum writing score of 59 and no other subsection below 51
- Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) overall score of 176 or above, with 176 in writing and no sub-section below 169 -OR- Grade C if taken before January 2015(Please note that the Cambridge First Certificate in English is not acceptable)
You are not required to submit an English language certificate at the time of application, however if you are eligible for an offer it will be subject to meeting our English language requirements.
Pre-sessional courses
We will consider applicants who do not meet these scores but you may be required to complete a pre-sessional English language course at the University of Manchester prior to the start of the course.
To be considered for a pre-sessional English language course for this programme we require the following minimum IELTS (Academic) scores:
10 week pre-sessional course : Minimum 5.5 overall with minimum 5.5 in each subskill
6 Week Pre-Sessional Course: Minimum 6.0 overall with minimum 6.0 in writing, no more than one subskill of 5.5 and no subskill below 5.5
If you have not yet completed your current academic study and are interested in studying a pre-sessional course, you must hold an IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test certificate
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.
Applicants from Majority English-speaking countries
If you are a national of a majority English-speaking country (or have studied for a full bachelor's degree or higher from one of these countries) you may be exempt from submitting further evidence of English language proficiency.
Other international entry requirements
Professional entry qualification
Application and selection
How to apply
The deadline for applications is 31 August 2021. Later applications will be processed at our discretion.
Applications for this course are very competitive. Due to the high demand we may not be able to offer places to all applicants who have the entry qualifications that we require. If you meet our entry requirements but we are unable to make you an offer you may be placed on a waiting list. Candidates on a waiting list will receive an offer only if places become available.
Advice to applicants
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;
- two written academic references on official institution letterhead, signed, dated, stamped and containing the official university email address of your referees. Alternatively, your referees can send us the reference letters directly from their official university email address. If you have had a substantial period away from any formal learning, professional references may be considered. Professional references should be written on official company letterhead, signed, dated, stamped and containing the professional email address of your referees. Alternatively, your referees can send us the reference letters directly from their professional email address.
- a personal statement (maximum 500 words) detailing why you wish to study the course, your experiences, what you can bring to the course and any other information that you see as relevant to your application;
- your CV;
- copies of English Language Certification, eg IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson test score report.
Ensure that you enclose all the necessary documents, as the delay caused in having to seek any missing documents from you might adversely prejudice your application.
How your application is considered
Applications for MA Digital Technologies, Communication and Education are very competitive. Due to the high demand for the programme we may not be able to offer places to all applicants who have the entry qualifications that we require. If we are unable to consider you for an offer you may be placed on a waiting list. Candidates on a waiting list will only be considered for an offer if places become available.
Once your application has been received, our admissions team will contact you. We may ask you to submit additional information, if necessary.
If you decide to accept your offer, when you arrive in Manchester you will be required to show to us the original documents which demonstrate your academic qualifications and your English language ability.
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
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.
It 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.
Aims
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.
Special features
- 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).
Teaching and learning
Formalised lectures are rare. 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.
As most of our participants are themselves experienced teachers, we appreciate the wealth of 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.
Coursework and assessment
The form of the assessment varies from unit to unit, including:
- practical project work (ie creation of a web site or other educational software);
- a written literature review or other essay of approximately 3,500 words;
- criticism of existing software, websites, etc;
- 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 15,000-20,000 words long. The length of Mode B work can be negotiated, but the overall workload is expected to be equivalent to that of a Mode A.
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.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Research Methods II | EDUC60452 | 15 | Mandatory |
Educational Technology and Communication | EDUC70141 | 30 | Mandatory |
Educational Research Methods (Distance) | EDUC77012 | 15 | Mandatory |
Engaging with Education Research (Distance) | EDUC77201 | 15 | Mandatory |
Educational Technology and Communication (Distance) | EDUC77301 | 30 | Mandatory |
Theories of Teaching and Learning | EDUC60491 | 15 | Optional |
Intro to Educational Video Production | EDUC61632 | 15 | Optional |
Digital Media and Information Literacy | EDUC61712 | 15 | Optional |
Blended Learning in a Digital Age | EDUC70032 | 15 | Optional |
Teaching and Learning Online | EDUC70050 | 15 | Optional |
Displaying 10 of 29 course units | |||
Display all course units |
Scholarships and bursaries
We offer a number of postgraduate taught scholarships and merit awards to outstanding applicants and international students.
In addition, the Manchester Alumni Scholarship Scheme offers a £3,000 reduction in tuition fees to University of Manchester alumni who achieved a first-class Bachelors degree and are progressing to a postgraduate taught masters course.
For more information, see Fees and funding or search the University's postgraduate funding database
Facilities
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.
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
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.
You can view the alumni networks already operating across the globe, here .