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Education (International Education)

MA

Expected move to Headington Campus for the start of the 2025/26 academic year

Part time: Three years Distance Learning

Location: Distance learning

Department(s): School of Education, Humanities and Languages

Overview
Course details
Careers
Entry requirements
How to apply
Tuition fees

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Overview

Take your career to the next level with an MA Education: International Education. Develop your skills and expertise as a teaching professional and as an educational researcher. You’ll study to develop advanced practitioner skills, building specific expertise in international education. 

You’ll join a vibrant online learning community of experienced and passionate professionals. You'll discuss and share case studies, debating key topics in education. Also there are networking opportunities, to learn from each other, and share your own expertise. The course meets the needs of working professionals.

Throughout your course you'll grow as a leader and expert practitioner. You'll finish the course primed to influence change, or lead best practice in your workplace, or pursue further academic studies in the future. 

This course is for:

  • education practitioners working with learners in the age phases 3-7, 5-11 or 11-18
  • educational professionals with experience of teaching in a multilingual, English medium instruction setting
  • anyone looking to move into the International school sector.

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Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • Teaching expertise

    Your tutors have real world experience of the International teaching sector.

  • Online networking

    Opportunities to chat with and share expertise with fellow students and tutors.

  • Course flexibilty

    Designed for working professionals.

  • Online community

    Join an online community of supportive education professionals.

  • Skills and development

    Build your applicable skills and expertise for the International education sector.

Course details

Course structure

The MA Education (International Education) follows a detailed distance learning format. You'll build your expertise and skills in the field of international education. You'll be working with a dedicated and experienced teaching team who will support you with their knowledge of international educational practice and research and key specialisms in:

  • bi/multilingualism
  • translanguaging
  • EAL/ELL
  • leadership in international education.

In your first two semesters, you’ll study to build and expand your knowledge of the sector. Then you'll start preparing for your dissertation and choose two optional modules. Finally you'll complete your dissertation. This is a good opportunity to align your studies with professional or research interests.

Every module will usually require about 10 hours a week for reading and engaging with your online learning, as well as time spent on assessment.

Student looking at a laptop

Learning and teaching

By combining the different backgrounds, experiences and knowledge of students, the programme provides an effective learning experience that promotes the development of critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration skills.

As a distance learner, you’ll study the course online through our Moodle platform. You’ll be able to progress your learning at your own pace with a weekly schedule. Most distance learners complete the course over 3 years whilst working full time (two years may be possible with credit entry). We use online teaching methods, including:

  • online pre-recorded lectures
  • directed reading
  • online workshops
  • online discussion forums
  • online student and staff-led seminars
  • online assignment tutorials
  • project work.

Assessment

You will be assessed for each module separately. Assessment is coursework based, and also includes:

  • individual essays
  • online seminar presentations
  • reports
  • portfolios
  • investigative research
  • online group work.

You’ll be supported to achieve your best. You’ll get feedback from your tutors on formative tasks and you’ll have the chance to discuss your work in progress for peer evaluations and tutor feedback.

Start this course in January or September

You can start this course in January if a September start doesn't suit you or is not currently offered for this course.

If you start in January you will study a range of modules between January and May. During the summer months of June, July and August you will study further modules and begin work on your dissertation. Between September and December you will complete your final modules and focus on your dissertation.

Find out more about January entry

Study modules

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

  • Origins and Development of International Education

    This is your foundational module on the MA International Education. You'll build a deep understanding of the history and development of the field of international education from its beginnings to the present day. You'll gain an understanding of where we have come from in international education, and where we are going. Key themes you will examine include:

    • International Education in the 20th Century
    • Types of International School 
    • Development of approaches in international education, including leading bodies for accreditation and curriculum
    • Systems and structures in international education (management, leadership)
    • Profiles of international schools (students, teachers, parents, leadership)
    • International Education in the 21st century: opportunities and challenges.

  • Research Methods

    You’ll develop your knowledge of research approaches, methods and techniques for the study of children and childhood, education and language. You’ll explore the interdisciplinary nature of work in and across these areas. After taking this module, you’ll be well prepared for the methodological aspects of your dissertation.

  • Complexity in International Education

    You'll take a theoretical approach looking at areas of International Education. You'll focus on key areas such as:

    • curricula 
    • pedagogy  
    • and pastoral care requirements in international schools. 

    You will be able to explore current and future research relevant to the development of international education. This can include:

    • Ethical approaches to linguistic and cultural diversity
    • DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) 
    • Sustainable development goals 
    • Development of critical frameworks for transnational education and global citizenship. 

    You'll also reflect on international education as a force for good in a globalised world, which will include teacher development in the international education sector.

Optional modules

Choose two optional modules

Multilingual Learners

Drawing on current practice, research and case studies, you’ll focus on children who are studying in school in a language that is not their first language.

Your learning will include:

  • analysing the development of children in second languages settings
  • theories of bilingualism, translanguaging and dynamic multilingualism
  • the links between first and second language, identity and self-esteem
  • evaluating responses to the multilingual child from teachers, teacher assistants, parents and the whole school
  • evaluating, adapting and creating resources and materials for their fit with the needs of the EAL child.

Language Acquisition and Development

In this module, you’ll learn about selected theoretical and practical approaches to language acquisition. We don’t try to examine all language acquisition theories, but focus on those that are relevant to language learning and education. Key themes include:

  • linguistic variation
  • bi-lingualism
  • codeswitching
  • socio-politics and language policy
  • language teacher training.

Leading and Managing People in Education

You’ll examine a range of themes and concerns in the leadership and management of staff in a range of educational contexts. You’ll cover theoretical perspectives and practical concerns about staff leadership, management and development. We’ll look at such topics as:

  • leadership and management in education 
  • leading teams
  • inspiring motivation and improving morale
  • staff development and performance management 
  • social justice and managing diversity 
  • managing conflict.
     

Leading Change in Education

You’ll bring your own experience to this module, which examines the leadership of change in a range of educational contexts. You’ll engage with theoretical perspectives and practical concerns about organisational transformation in education. You’ll encounter topics like:

  • leading and managing change
  • effectiveness, improvement and accountability
  • organisational culture and structures in education
  • the influence of policy developments in transforming education
  • dealing with resistance: managing people in times of change
  • strategic planning and management of change.
     

Independent Study / Investigating Practice

You'll carry out an independent study/practice investigation related to international/ multilingual education. You’ll choose a topic, with approval from your module leader / subject coordinator. The topic will be relevant to your own practice. For example areas of investigation might include:

  • developing pedagogical approaches or curriculum materials 
  • evaluating learners’ achievement levels
  • reviewing the evidence base for changes to educational practice
  • appraising learning environments and learning opportunities.

Dissertation / final project

Compulsory modules

  • Dissertation/ Final Project

    You'll complete a dissertation or project. You'll choose an area for your educational research related to international/ multilingual education, giving you an opportunity to match it to your professional or research interests. 

    Through your analysis, you'll report your findings and you'll reference relevant theories and concepts to support and justify your findings. 
     

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Research

The School of Education, Humanities and Languages is a thriving centre for educational research and teacher professional development. Students on master's level programmes therefore join a large research community comprising researchers at all levels of higher education study.

We hold two major research conferences each year - the School of Education Research Conference and the EdD Colloquium. All students are invited to attend our annual Research Seminar Series (which attracts both internal and external speakers). We also organise a number of conferences, lectures, seminars and debates, some of which have an international reach.

The School's six research groups exist to encourage engagement in research, publication, conference presentations, seminars and workshops:

  • Inclusion and Wellbeing
  • Policy, Partnership and Leadership
  • STEAM pedagogy and learning
  • Humanistic Perspectives on Education
  • Early Years
  • Applied Linguistics.

View all staff profiles for School of Education, Humanities and Languages

Mature student reading

Careers

Completion of the course shows commitment to professional development and should lead to improved prospects for career progression in international and multilingual educational contexts.

Entry requirements

How to apply

Application process

This course is currently suspended from recruiting students.

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) distance learning
£980 per single module
International distance learning
£980 per single module
Home (UK) distance learning
£1,030 per single module
International distance learning
£1,030 per single module

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2024 / 25
Home (UK) distance learning
£980 per single module
International distance learning
£980 per single module
2025 / 26
Home (UK) distance learning
£1,030 per single module
International distance learning
£1,030 per single module

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

Dean's Postgraduate Scholarship Postgraduate Master's Loan - England

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.