Why Study a Master of Arts in Education and Professional Development?
What if your next qualification could change not only your career, but the experience of every learner you work with? How amazing would that be? You could really make a difference.
If you already work in education and you’re ready to deepen your expertise, challenge your thinking and make a bigger impact, the Master of Arts in Education and Professional Development at University Centre Rotherham could be your next step.
Master of Arts in Education and Professional Development
This two-year, part-time programme is designed specifically for educational practitioners who want to turn their experience into greater knowledge, influence and professional opportunity. Yes… you can do this course with a job AND enjoy time for life and family commitments.
Education is constantly changing. Technology is transforming classrooms. Learner expectations are evolving. Policy and practice continue to shift.
The challenges facing educators are becoming more complex. Standing still isn’t an option. So what are you waiting for?
This MA gives you the opportunity to step back from your day-to-day role, question existing approaches and explore what could be done differently – and better. After all, don’t you feel that your students would expect this? I know you will expect that of yourself. We all expect that of ourselves. And if you think about it, teaching is about passion and innovation. The MA can help you develop both of these!
You’ll develop your ability to critically reflect on your practice, explore educational policy and investigate real issues through research. Most importantly, you’ll be encouraged to apply your learning directly to your own professional context.
This isn’t simply about adding three letters after your name.
It’s about becoming the kind of education professional who can shape conversations, influence practice and create meaningful change.
The course focuses on three key areas:
- Critical reflection – Challenge your assumptions and develop deeper professional insight.
- Policy and practice – Understand the forces shaping education and consider how they affect your learners and organisation.
- Research and academic scholarship – Investigate real educational issues and develop evidence-based solutions.
And because your learning is connected to your professional experience, your assignments and research can have genuine relevance to the work you do every day.
Your experience has already brought you this far. A Master’s could help you take the next leap.
Advantages of this course
The programme is designed to support professional and personal development and can prepare graduates for roles with greater responsibility, new teaching areas such as higher education, or opportunities to improve teaching and learning within their existing setting.
Imagine moving from practitioner to leader.
From delivering education to shaping how education is delivered.
From having ideas about how things could improve to having the research, knowledge and confidence to make those ideas happen.
One of the biggest advantages of this programme is that you don’t have to put your career on hold. The MA is part-time over two years, with a blended learning model designed to provide flexibility alongside your professional and personal commitments. You’ll also have access to personal and academic tutorials, group seminars, IT facilities and library resources.
That means you can learn, apply, reflect and grow – all at the same time; your learning isn’t limited to textbooks and theory.
In Year 1, the programme includes:
Action Research in Education – Explore real challenges and investigate how practice can be improved.
Education in a Digital Society – Consider the impact of technology on education and the modern learner.
Critical Issues in Education – Engage with important debates and challenges affecting the sector.
In Year 2:
In Year 2, you’ll explore Mentoring and Coaching for Educational Professionals before undertaking your own Research Project.
This is your opportunity to explore something you’re genuinely passionate about and make it the focus of your postgraduate research.
Ultimately, this course is about more than qualifications.
It’s about people: the learners you support, the colleagues you mentor, the teams you lead, the educational environments you help shape.
Every improvement you make in your practice has the potential to create a ripple effect – reaching far beyond you.
That’s what makes postgraduate study in education so powerful.
Ready to become more than an educator?
If you’re already working in an educational organisation – whether as a classroom practitioner, programme leader, manager or in a voluntary role – and you have a recognised honours degree, this could be your opportunity to take your professional journey further. Relevant APL will also be considered.
Don’t just keep up with the future of education. Help shape it. Your experience got you here. A Master’s could take you further.
Master of Arts in Education and Professional Development
- University Centre Rotherham
- Starting Autumn 2026
- 2 years, part-time
Explore the MA and apply for 2026
To speak to someone and ask for advice, ring University Centre Rotherham on 01709 722806 Monday to Friday, or email ucr@rotherham.ac.uk.