Course information
Department
Length
1 year full-time or 2-5 years part-time
Scholarship information
Course overview
For 2020–21, we have made some changes to how the teaching and assessment of this programme are delivered. Find out more
This programme will enhance your understanding of educational theory and practice by focusing on issues of culture, language and identity, and is taught by internationally-renowned experts.
Why study MA Education: Culture, Language & Identity at Goldsmiths?
This MA programme explores the significance of identity and culture in education contexts. While we draw on theories and research from other traditions, our focus is on how society and culture inform our understanding of who we are as teachers and learners, and how those identities impact on the teaching and learning process.
The programme is designed for educators at all levels, including those in informal learning contexts, and others interested more broadly in the field of education. It places a strong emphasis on student-centred and directed independent learning and research. Teaching sessions and personal tutorials focus on supporting you to bring together your reading and reflections on your own learning and teaching experiences, enabling you to develop a better informed, more critical, and more analytical approach to educational processes.
There are two pathways on the programme:
Pathway A begins in September and involves taught sessions at Goldsmiths in the evenings each term.
Pathway B begins in January and involves taught sessions at Goldsmiths and in a local school. The sessions are a mixture of evenings, and full days on Saturdays. Modules on this pathway are pre-selected for their particular relevance to practicing teachers.
Contact the department
If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Dr Sarah Pearce.
What you'll study
For 2020–21, we have made some changes to how the teaching and assessment of certain programmes are delivered. To check what changes affect this programme, please visit the Programme Changes page
Overview
You'll develop new perspectives on education through a process of reasoned critical reflection, and explore the significance of identity and culture in education contexts. You will be encouraged to apply your developing understanding of educational practices and issues in your own institution, and elsewhere.
The full MA requires you complete 180 worth of credits, split between compulsory and options, as listed below.
If you already have M level credits from your PGCE courses or elsewhere you can apply to have one or both of these included in your MA accreditation. In this case, only a further 120 credits are needed. Please note, however, that your final grade is calculated using only the credits obtained during the Masters itself.
You may be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate if you exit after completing two modules (one-third of the programme) or a Postgraduate Diploma if you complete four modules (two-thirds of the programme). This must include the first compulsory module, "Culture, Language, and Identity in Education".
Compulsory modules
You will take the following compulsory modules (90 credits).
Compulsory modules | Module title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Culture, Language and Identity in Education | 30 credits | |
Dissertation | 60 credits |
Option modules
You will take 90 credits of option modules, regardless of which pathway you choose.
Pathway A
You'll select options from a list that currently includes:
Pathway A options | Module title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Biculturalism and Bilingualism in Education | 30 credits | |
Children’s Literature, Culture and Diversity | 30 credits | |
Current developments and collaborative approaches in SEN and behaviour management | 30 credits | |
Early Childhood in a Diverse Society | 30 credits | |
Masculinities, Femininities, and Identities in Education | 30 credits | |
Education Policy into Practice | 30 credits | |
Progressive Leadership and Mentoring in Education | 30 credits | |
Race, Culture and Education | 30 credits | |
Teaching Languages in Multilingual Contexts | 30 credits |
Pathway B
You'll take the following modules, pre-selected for their relevance to practicing teachers.
Year 1 | Module title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Race, Culture and Education | 30 credits |
Year 2 | Module title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Education Policy into Practice | 30 credits | |
Progressive Leadership and Mentoring in Education | 30 credits |
Individual Modules
Some of these modules are also available to be taken as part of a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme.
Assessment
Assessment is normally via a 5,000-word essay.
The dissertation is a 15,000-word assignment on a subject of your choice.
Download the programme specification. If you would like an earlier version of the programme specification, please contact the Quality Office.
Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
Entry requirements
You should have (or expect to be awarded) an undergraduate degree of at least second class standard in education or a relevant/related subject plus appropriate voluntary or professional (paid) experience in education or community work.
You might also be considered for some programmes if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.
International qualifications
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.
If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study.
Fees, funding & scholarships
Annual tuition fees
These are the fees for students starting their programme in the 2021/2022 academic year.
- Home - full-time: £7320
- Home - part-time: £1200
- International - full-time: £15360
If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office, who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.
It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time if you require a Tier 4 student visa, however this is currently being reviewed and will be confirmed in the new year. Please read our visa guidance in the interim for more information. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.
If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment.
Additional costs
In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page.
There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. Please check the programme specification for more information.
Funding opportunities
Find out more about postgraduate fees and explore funding opportunities. If you're applying for funding, you may be subject to an application deadline.
Postgraduate students at Goldsmiths may also be eligible for over £10,000 in Postgraduate Government Loans.
Scholarships
There are a number of scholarships and funding opportunities available to student on this programme. For more information, please visit the postgraduate scholarships and bursaries page.
How to apply
You apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system.
Before submitting your application you’ll need to have:
- Details of your education history, including the dates of all exams/assessments
- The email address of your referee who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference
- A personal statement – this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online. You should include in this why you want to study for an MA in Education, and why you think the MA Education Culture Language and Identity is the right MA for you. Please be sure to make it clear in your statement whether you wish to take Pathway A or Pathway B.
Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement
- If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK, but isn’t mandatory)
You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.
When to apply
We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following academic year.
We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place that is conditional on you achieving a particular qualification.
Late applications will only be considered if there are spaces available.
If you're applying for funding you may be subject to an application deadline.
Find out more about applying.
Staff
- Dr Sarah Pearce (Programme convenor)
Find out more about staff in the Department of Educational Studies.
Careers
The programme will enable you to develop:
- enhanced understanding and critical awareness of educational theory and practice
- critical reflection skills
- research skills
Many students use their MA to help with promotion in schools and other education institutions, others go on to pursue further study. Our Careers Service is able to offer help with CVs, mock interviews and other advice both during your studies and after you graduate.
Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths.