The MA has genuinely changed both the direction of my career and my confidence and knowledge as a practitioner. The opportunity to reflect on, and study in depth, areas of education that are of most interest to me, has allowed me to develop a professional expertise that I might otherwise not have pursued in any detail.
Joanna
Duration:
1 yearLocation(s):
CanterburyOur MA Early Childhood Education is aimed at graduates (nationally and internationally) from a variety of backgrounds who wish to expand and deepen their knowledge of young children and their learning from birth to eight years.
Supported by a small team of academics, you will have the opportunity to research and develop specialist areas of expertise within the field. During the programme you will also be encouraged to reflect on the ways this learning supports your professional and career development.
Each year we are reminded of the transformational potential of education as our students move onto a PhD, are promoted, set up their own business, gain a new role or reignite their passion for an existing one. Come and join us to find out the difference it could make to you.
The core modules (common across all routes) give you the opportunity to gain insights into the critical educational issues of the day and to develop key postgraduate academic skills. Our specialist modules reflect and incorporate the expertise of the teaching team in early childhood research and scholarship. From the first module (Developing Criticality) through to the last (Dissertation) our aim is to support you in developing your knowledge and skills in relation to your professional and/or personal interests.
A good undergraduate degree (2:2 or above) and two supporting academic/professional references. If English is not the first language an IELTS overall score of 6.0 is required, with no element below 5.5.
We recognise that some applicants may not meet these standard requirements, yet may be desirable candidates with other and appropriate skills and knowledge. In this case they may be offered the opportunity to complete an orientation module or a portfolio to demonstrate their ability to work at level 7. Applicants may be asked to attend an interview.
The University accepts non-UK qualifications equivalent to those outlined above and confirmed through NARIC. For IELTS and other English Language requirements, please visit our dedicated web page.
Full-time (1 year)
|
Trimester 1 |
Trimester 2 |
Trimester 3 |
|
Core module: Developing Criticality |
Core module: Research in Context |
Core Module: Dissertation |
|
Specialist module: Curricular & Pedagogical Approaches in Early Childhood Education |
Specialist module: Critical Issues in Early Childhood Education |
|
|
Specialist module: Learning Outdoors in Early Childhood Education |
Either Negotiated Project OR Professional & Career Development |
Part-time (2 years)
|
|
Trimester 1 |
Trimester 2 |
Trimester 3 |
|
Year 1 |
Core module: Developing Criticality
|
Core module: Research in Context
Specialist module: Critical Issues in Early Childhood Education |
Either Negotiated Project OR Professional & Career Development |
|
Year 2 |
Specialist module: Curricular & Pedagogical Approaches in Early Childhood Education
Specialist module: Learning Outdoors in Early Childhood Education |
Core Module: Dissertation |
|
*Modules subject to validation
To maximise flexibility, we offer a blended learning experience combining face to face teaching with online provision. You will study using a variety of strategies involving you as an active participant in the process of learning. All learning is supported through our Virtual Learning Environment (Blackboard) as well as other digital media. You will be encouraged to work closely with your peers. As you study, you will have the opportunity to develop your own research and specialist areas of expertise, based on personal interests and professional experiences. Individual and group tutorials are offered to support this. You will also be encouraged to reflect on the ways your learning supports your professional and career development. Individual supervision forms an essential part of work on the dissertation module.
All our tutors are experienced and research-active academics recognised as experts in their field.
Typically, per 20 credit module you can expect approximately 20 hours of teaching (Live in-person on campus learning and/or asynchronous online learning), 10 hours of guided independent learning and 170 hours of self-study. Typically, 1 credit equates to 10 hours of work.
From the first module (developing criticality) through to the last (dissertation) our aim is to encourage you to develop your knowledge and skills in relation to your professional and/or personal interests. We are a small team and have developed a distinctive programme that reflects our collective professional and research expertise. Each year we are reminded of the transformational potential of education as our students move onto a PhD, are promoted, set up their own business, gain a new role or reignite their passion for an existing one. Come and join us to find out the difference the MA ECE could make to you.
You will study six 20-credit modules and a 60-credit dissertation. You will be assessed via a range of assessment types including reflective commentaries, literature reviews, presentations, critical analysis, portfolios and research reports. There are no exams.
The MA Early Childhood Education opens-up a wide range of career opportunities. Our graduates have been successful in pursuing careers in a variety of early childhood policy, practice and research contexts. On completion of your MA, you could undertake further study at CCCU by pursuing one of our research degrees (MPhil, EdD or PhD).
The rules around course eligibility mean that in some cases it may depend on how you are studying (full-time or part-time) as to whether you can apply for a postgraduate loan. To check whether your course is eligible, you can email the Student Fees Team or call 01227 923 948.
| UK | Overseas | |
| Full-time | £8,250 | £14,500 |
| Part-time | £4,125 | N/A |
We offer alumni discounts on CCCU Postgraduate Taught, PGCE Primary and Secondary, and Masters by Research courses for eligible students.
Find out if you're eligible for the discount.
Tuition fees for all courses which last more than one academic year are payable on an annual basis, except where stated.
There will be an annual inflationary increase in tuition fees for this course where the course lasts more than one academic year. For further information read the 2022/23 Tuition fee statements and continuing fee information.
