Education

Programme Aims

St Mary’s provides teachers and education-related professionals with a stimulating, welcoming and supportive environment in which they have the opportunity to work alongside a strong community of fellow professionals.



The programme has the following aims:

- Embed a culture of self-evaluation by providing opportunity for critical reflection.



- Ensure that teachers receive targeted and supportive professional development, needed to strengthen leadership capacity and raise achievement in schools.



- Facilitate school improvement by encouraging and promoting professional collaboration and sharing of best practice.



- Inspire creativity, passion and optimism in the teaching profession.



- Make educational excellence and success accessible to all.



- Nurture the talent and ambition of teachers who are committed to their own professional development.



- Promote personal excellence, teamwork and leadership among educational professionals.



- Support career-long professional development



Awards

A pass with commendation will be awarded to those graduating with a Master of Education, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate who achieve an average mark of at least 60%.



A pass with distinction will be awarded to those graduating with a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate who achieve an average mark of at least 70%.



A pass with distinction will be awarded to Master of Education candidates only when the following three conditions have been satisfied: an overall programme mark of 70+ is achieved in the dissertation module and a weighted average of 65+ is achieved in the other modules.



Dissertation Students

Successful completion of the research methods module is a requirement before a student can proceed to dissertation study. Dissertation students must also have their dissertation proposal formally approved by the MEd Programme Team in St Mary’s. Students whose dissertation research merits dissemination to the rest of the profession will be invited to make an electronic version of their dissertation available to the College library catalogue.

LIST OF 30-POINT MEd MODULES



Approaches to Education in the Early Years

Principles into Practice in the Early Years

Current Issues in the Teaching of Language and Literacy

Behaviour Issues in the Context of Special Educational Needs

Contemporary Leadership Issues for the Effective School

Leaders in Catholic Schools

Educational Research Methods (online module)

Meeting the Needs of the Bilingual Learner

Children and Young People in Crisis: Pastoral Responses

Lessons for Learning (online module)

Issues in Curriculum: Improving Practice through Lesson Study (online module)

Personal Development: Promoting the Health and Well-Being of Teachers and Pupils

Contemporary Leadership Issues for the Effective School

Pupil Learning through Physical Education and School Sport

Developing Coaching Science and Physical Education in Schools

Promoting Numeracy and Literacy Competence in Irish-medium Settings

Building Capacity in Schools: Advancing Inclusivity to Raise Pupil Outcomes

Current Issues and Future Directions in Physical Education and School Sport

Understanding, Supporting and Teaching Pupils with Specific Literacy Difficulties

Putting the Sting into STEM

Music Therapy in Education

Understanding and Supporting Autistic Children and Young People in Education

The Pleasure and Promise of Children’s Literature in the Primary Setting

Autistic Voice and SEN Practice

Art for Wellbeing in Schools

A Specialised Irish Language Course for teachers: knowledge and proficiency



LIST OF 20-POINT MEd MODULES



Conducting Educational Research (available as a taught or as an online module)

Study of Native Irish Speech



LIST OF 10-POINT MEd MODULES



Eloquence and Accuracy of Expression in Irish



Specialist Options

Specialist options apply to the Master of Education and Postgraduate Diploma courses only. For the purpose of continuity, students are advised to take a specialist option. The research module is compulsory for anyone wishing to undertake the MEd dissertation. To be awarded a named Masters degree, the dissertation must also be in the area of study of the specialist option. The remaining module(s), subject to availability and timetable restrictions, may be chosen from the full range of modules detailed in the prospectus.



For further information please refer to: https://www.smucb.ac.uk/MPros/

Candidates for admission to the Masters programme in Education should normally hold either:



(a) Qualified teacher status and an honours degree or equivalent qualification or

(b) An honours degree or equivalent qualification with at least two years’ professional experience in an educational, training or professionally related context.

Application for a part-time MEd course can be

made online at the 'Application Weblink'



Academic Registry Office

St Mary’s University College

191 Falls Road

Belfast BT12 6FE

Tel: +44 (0)28 9026 8320



Application forms for entry to the MEd programme should be submitted to the Academic Registry Office no later than two weeks prior to the commencement of a course.



Late applications will be considered subject to the availability of places.

3 years part-time.



Attendance

Students are expected to attend all planned teaching sessions and, if unable to do so, to inform the course tutor.

Tuition Fees


All full-time and part-time students will be charged tuition fees. This includes PGCE students. For students who are Northern Ireland domiciled, these are currently £4,160 per year and are normally subject to an annual inflationary uplift. A student will be liable for the full tuition fee at the point of enrolment and registration. This includes a non-refundable element of 25% of the calculated tuition fee.


Tuition Fee Loan

Students may defer their fees by applying for a Tuition Fee Loan, currently up to a maximum of £4,160, by paying the full fee directly to the College or by a combination of taking out a fee loan for part of the fees and paying the rest directly to the College.


A single application form PN1 is used in applying for a fee loan, for loans for living costs and maintenance grants and for the St Mary's College Bursary. Students can apply online or download an application form via the Student Finance Northern Ireland website www.studentfinanceni.co.uk.


Once applications have been assessed, the local branch of Student Finance NI will send the student a Student Notification which will include details of the amount of the fee loan the student has requested.


Payment Options

Students who do not avail of the fee loan can pay their fees in one of two ways:


• Direct Debit – Students can complete a direct debit authorisation which spreads the fee over six months from December to May.


• Cash or Cheques – Students who do not complete a direct debit authorisation will receive one invoice in November for the full amount, which will be payable within thirty days.


EU Students

Non-UK EU Students, including students from the Republic of Ireland, can defer their fees by applying for a fee loan, currently up to a maximum of £4,160.


The application is essentially the same as the system for applying for fee loans and other support. EU students may also be eligible for a College Bursary. This will be dependent on the level of their household income. EU students should contact the Student Loan Company EU team by telephoning 0141 243 3570 in Darlington for advice. For maintenance support EU students should contact their local county council.

Careers

Graduates from this degree have found the skills and knowledge learned to be beneficial in their workplace by improving their professional practice. In the case of teachers this has meant the development of research-informed practice and the ability to lead professional development within their schools. A higher degree can enhance employment prospects and help secure future promotion.