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):
Canterbury
Our MA Early Childhood Education course will give you the opportunity to develop postgraduate academic skills within the context of your own professional experience and/or personal interests.
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.
The MA Early Childhood Education is designed to appeal to a wide range of graduates (nationally and internationally) from a variety of backgrounds not necessarily early years related but those who wish to expand and deepen their knowledge of young children from birth to eight years.
A good undergraduate degree (2:2 or above) and two supporting academic/professional references.
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 normally accepts non-UK qualifications equivalent to those outlined above and confirmed through NARIC.
If English is not your first language you require an IELTS overall score of 6.0 with no element below 5.5 for most standard undergraduate and postgraduate courses. There are some exceptions and if the IELTS requirement differs it will be specified on the course page.
Full-time students can complete the MA in one year and study three modules in trimesters 1 and 2, and then work independently on their dissertation in trimester 3.
| Trimester 1 | Trimester 2 | Trimester 3 | |
| Module(s) | Core module 1 (20 credits) |
Optional module (20 credits) | Dissertation (60 credits) |
| Core module 2 (20 credits) | Optional module (20 credits) |
||
| Optional module (20 credits) | Optional module (20 credits) |
Part-time students complete the MA over two years typically taking 90 credits in each of the two years.
| Trimester 1 | Trimester 2 | Trimester 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 (90 credits) |
Core module 1 (20 credits) |
Optional module (20 credits) |
Optional module (20 credits) |
| Optional module (20 credits) to be taken in term 1 or 2 | Optional module (10 credits) |
||
| Year 2 (90 credits) |
Core module (20 credits) |
Dissertation (60 credits) | |
| Optional module (10 credits) |
|||
It is possible to exit the programme after completing 60 credits. You will be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education. If you choose to leave after completing 120 credits you will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education.
The final MA is awarded after the completion of 180 credits including a 15,000 word dissertation worth 60 credits.
*Modules subject to validation
You will study using a variety of strategies involving you as an active participant in the process of learning and teaching. All learning will be supported through the use of the University Virtual Learning Environment (Blackboard) as well as other digital media. You will be encouraged to work closely with your peer group, to provide support for you outside the teaching and learning sessions. Individual tutorials are offered to students in all modules and individual supervision forms an essential part of work on the dissertation.
You will be allocated a Personal Academic Tutor who will help you make module choices and plan your learning. Each module will be overseen by the module tutor who will offer you a one-to-one tutorial either in person, by phone, email or over the web, depending upon your preference.
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.
The programme uses a range of assessment types including presentations, action research reports, reflective commentaries, literature reviews and document analysis. You will also complete a 15,000 word dissertation based on your research interests.
The MA Early Childhood Education opens up a wide range of career opportunities. Graduates from the programme have been successful in pursuing careers in a variety of contexts with roles including Lecturer in Early Years, Nursery Manager, Children’s Centre Manager, and Creative Early Years Specialist. Some of our students have progressed on to taught doctoral programmes or undertaken PhDs based on their particular research interests whilst others have gone on to set up their own businesses.
Government loans of up to £11,222 are available for some postgraduate Master’s courses for students starting their course from 1 August 2020. Loans are subject to both personal and course eligibility criteria.
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 | £8,160 | £13,000 |
| Part-time | £4,080 | 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 2021/22 Tuition fee statements and continuing fee information.
