The MA offers students the opportunity to extend and deepen their understanding of concepts, theories and issues related to international development, education and sustainable ways of promoting health, wellbeing and social justice.

About this degree

Students will:

• build on their existing knowledge to develop new understandings of key concepts and issues in education, health promotion and international development
• appraise and evaluate current policy and practice through evidence-informed analysis
• draw connections between distinct academic disciplines with regard to the promotion of wellbeing and social justice
• investigate and propose sustainable ways of working and
• through conducting a small-scale research study, apply what they have learned to create personally and professionally relevant new knowledge of the field.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is not a compulsory part of the programme. However, students are encouraged to draw from their professional or voluntary experience as well as the ideas encountered during the programme to write critically and cogently for different audiences. The small-scale research study usually takes the form of a combination of desk-based research (a literature review) and fieldwork.

Teaching and learning

The programme is taught through a combination of lectures, participatory and interactive groupwork, online learning and individual tutorials. Assessment is through coursework, taking the form of 5,000 word assignments or equivalent, such as a 3,500-word project proposal + 1,500 word conceptual framework. The small-scale research study is assessed by way of a 19,000 word dissertation.

Careers

Graduates of this Master's degree have been engaged:

• as policy-makers and advisers in government ministries and departments
• as policy advocates and programme managers in international NGOs and development agencies
• as social research consultants
• as teachers and lecturers in schools, colleges and universities
• as international development consultants
• in doctoral study (either on PhD or EdD programmes).

For each 30 credit module you are expected to contribute 300 learning hours (a little over 37 days at 8 hours per day). Direct teaching accounts for 30 hours, assignment tutorial(s) 1 hour, and the remaining hours consist of your own self-directed study such as, preparation for classes and online learning activities, reading (individual and with other students), searching for new literature related to your area of interest, assignment preparation and completion.

Employability

Graduates of this Master's degree have used the academic and professional expertise gained through the programme to:

• set up and manage an NGO or consultancy
• prepare successful project and research proposals
• develop new reporting procedures adopted throughout their organisation
• gain employment as consultants
• take on new roles and responsibilities within an organisation
• transfer their expertise into international development
• engage policymakers, practitioners and members of the public through research-informed practice.