About the course
Reasons to study
- Develop your expertise in vocational education and training to create impactful learning experiences that prepare individuals for career success.
- Tailor your studies to suit your current role or future career goals with a broad range of module options.
- 91.3% of our postgraduates are in work and/or further study fifteen months after graduating*
*HESA Graduate Outcomes 21/22, UK domiciled graduates from the School of Business, Education and Law.
In this course you will consider the practice of VET from an international perspective. You will explore different philosophical stances on VET and examine the social, political and economic contexts including globalisation. You will consider how these impact on contemporary VET policy at national and institutional levels. You’ll be able to explore different forms and cultures of VET so that you will develop the knowledge and skills to critically analyse and evaluate a VET development through consideration of its context and by applying appropriate theory.
Why Education (Vocational Education and Training)?
- You’ll have the opportunity to develop an understanding of critical reflection and how to employ independent learning strategies to enable you to evaluate and inform your professional practice.You’ll also develop and deepen your knowledge and understanding of educational research and be able be able to use these skills in researching an aspect of technology in education for your dissertation.
- The course is tailored around you.You can build on your current knowledge and skills and choose from a range of options to match your role, experience or organisation to help you progress as an informed, reflective and inspirational practitioner.
- You’ll be taught by an outstanding team of teachers, and will have access to our extensive professional and academic network which feeds directly into course design and delivery and to excellent facilities and specialist equipment.
Course detail
Current Practice in Vocational Education and Training
This module aims to consider the practice of VET from an international perspective and will encourage you to assess the impact of globalisation on national VET policy. You'll have the opportunity to explore philosophical stances on VET, including work-based learning, and how these shape policy.
Methods of Enquiry
Dissertation
In addition you choose two modules from the list below which may include –
Managing Learning and Development in Organisations
This module will help you to develop an understanding of the links between learning and development, organisation goals and broader human resource policies and practice in a variety of organisational contexts. You'll explore how the learning and development agenda can be promoted by examining learning & development policies, roles, functions, as well as strategies, methods and techniques for establishing learning and development needs.
Education, Society and Development
Comparative Approaches to Learning
Mentoring and Coaching
Exploring Teaching and Learning
Developing Effective Leadership
Critical Social Policy in Education and Public Services
Education, Extremism and Community Cohesion
Management in Professional Practice
Special Educational Needs and Disability: Evaluating Policy and Practice
Understanding Educational Statistics
Understanding E-Learning
E-Tutoring
Informal Education, Employability and Entrepreneurship
International Approaches to Early Childhood Education
Supporting and Assessing Students in Higher Education
Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
The Inspire Conference
On this course you’ll have the opportunity to develop an understanding of critical reflection and how to employ independent learning strategies to enable you to evaluate and inform your professional practice. You’ll also develop and deepen your knowledge and understanding of educational research.
Our full-time MA course takes 12 months to complete.
We offer two starting points each year; either September or January.
On the full-time course modules are normally taught in weekly seminars and workshops. Some modules may take place on Saturdays. You'll also use our Virtual Learning Environment and online library facilities which provide access to a wide range of high quality learning materials.
The course is assessed through course work; there are no timed tests or exams. The assessment on the course allows you to demonstrate your practical knowledge and skills alongside developing your critical and theoretical understanding of the subject. The assessment builds on your particular interests and context and is likely to have outcomes that will be of benefit to your professional life and to your employer. You’ll be provided with guidance to help you develop your assignment work by module tutors and specialist learning support staff. For international students, we provide a weekly academic study skills support workshop to help you get the most from the main modules.
Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback is available after the publication of results.
On average 13%* of the study time on this course is spent with your tutors (either face to face or online) in lectures, seminars, workshops etc. Study and assessments will be based on your choice of modules. Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.
*based on 22/23 programme specifications
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Triple proof of teaching excellence: our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2024). So, you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.
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We are joint first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 23 since 2008 (2024 data).
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We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).
Read more about academic staff at the University of Huddersfield
Entry requirements
You should have an honours degree at 2:2 or above, or a professional equivalent.
The University will determine whether a degree can be recognised as UK equivalent.
If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.
Facilities
Student support
At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.
Important information
Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons