MA

Education (Wales): Additional Learning Needs

Key Facts

Course Code X3PG2

  • Qualification

    MA

  • Course duration

    3 years

Available for September start 2025

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The National MA Education (Wales): Additional Learning Needs at Aberystwyth University is a truly transformative and sector leading programme for educational professionals in Wales, from early career teachers to senior leaders with an interest in Additional Learning Needs. The educational landscape in Wales is changing rapidly. Teaching not only requires the mastery of a complex set of skills to guide, motivate, and facilitate student learning, but also the ability to enquire into professional practice in order to improve it.

The MA Education (Wales): Additional Learning Needs, which has been collaboratively developed by seven universities in Wales, through direct engagement with a variety of key stakeholders including Welsh Government, will ensure that all education professionals in Wales have the same high-quality opportunity to enhance their professional knowledge, engage with research, and to improve their professional practice in the area of Additional Learning Needs.

In this programme, students will choose specialist modules in the area of Additional Learning Needs.

Typical Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements Candidates must

• hold qualified teacher status (QTS) and be registered with the EWC as a teacher in a school, an advisory teacher in a local authority or a teacher in a setting such as a pupil referral unit (QTS and EWC registration must be maintained throughout the course of the programme) OR be a college lecturer and be registered with the EWC (EWC registration must be maintained throughout the course);
• be employed by a maintained school in Wales / college in Wales / local authority in Wales as a teacher / lecturer / advisory teacher OR be employed by a registered independent school or specialist college.

English Language Requirements IELTS 6.5 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent

Other Requirements Applicants are encouraged to submit an up-to-date CV as part of their application.

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Course Overview

The course is 3 years part-time. There is no full-time option. Applicants who have completed a PGCE (or equivalent) with 60 credits at level 7 and/or significant professional experience are likely to be exempt from the first year of study. To be eligible for consideration, applicants must provide appropriate academic and/or professional evidence of this in the application process via the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Form. Please contact us for more information on this.  

The programme consists of 200 hours of study per 20 credit module, of which 22 will be contact hours.

Learning will be a blend of online independent study and face-to-face activities. This will include a combination of activities.

Students on this course will join students on the same course at 6 other HEIs. This includes joining for face-to-face sessions online at the National Saturday events.

Assessments are all coursework assignments and will be submitted at the end of each module. Wherever possible, assignments have been designed to complement the working contexts and schedules of full-time teacher. More information about assessment can be found on the specific module pages. The final year will focus on completing a dissertation.

The course can be study via the medium of Welsh.

The School of Education has been offering stimulating and innovative study programmes for over 100 years.

School of Education staff are either qualified to PhD standard or are experienced practitioners in their field.

About this course

Course Duration

The MA Education (Wales) is a part-time Masters over three years, but applicants may be exempted from the first year by completing the RPL form.

General course information:

The modules and structure of the course are noted in the sections ‘Modules’ and ‘Teaching and Learning’.

Prospective students are encouraged to contact Dr Megan Hicks, Programme Director for the MA (meh19@aber.ac.uk) for more information about the course. You will have the opprtunity to ask questions and sign up for one of our online open evenings (these will take place in April, May, June, July).

For further information regarding policies or information about the MA, please visit the dedicated National MA Education (Wales) webpage and the School of Education MA Education (Wales) webpage.

Application information:

Applications are currently being accepted until 31st August, but applicants are encouraged to submit as early as possible. Applications will be reviewed by a departmental application panel and a national funding panel. These panels take place May-September.

To start the application process, applicants should:

  • Complete the general application form by clicking the ‘Apply now’ icon.
  • Download and complete the additional application forms: the ‘Supplementary Application’ and ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ form.
  • These additional forms should then be uploaded to your application.
  • Applicants are strongly advised to speak with the Programme Director prior to completion of these forms.

Course Fees and funding:

Welsh Government funding is available for eligible candidates. For information on this and to view the conditions/eligibility of funding criteria click the link - Funding criteria. 

If you would like to discuss your eligibility for funding, please contact the Programme Director.

In addition, applicants who meet the entry requirements are welcome to apply for the MA as self-funded candidates.

Additional Costs:

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Aberystwyth University.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

  • Travel to and from campus
  • Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
  • Purchase of books or texts
  • Gowns for graduation ceremonies.

Contact details:

Dr Megan Hicks (meh19@aber.ac.uk) Programme Director MA Education (Wales).

Some useful FAQs are provided on the National MA Education (Wales) webpage.

Modules September start - 2025

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Collaborative and Professional Practice * EDM2220 20
Evidence-informed Practice * EDM2120 20
Pedagogy and Practice * EDM2020 20

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Advanced Research and Enquiry Skills * EDM3320 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Additional Learning Needs- Excellence in Practice EDM3520 20
Inclusive Classroom Practice EDM2520 20
Leadership and Management of ALN EDM2920 20

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Dissertation * EDM3260 60

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Teaching & Learning

How is the course structured?

All students undertaking the National MA Education (Wales): Additional Learning Needs will follow the course structure below (unless you are applying for RPL in Year 1):

Year 1

·      Collaborative and Professional Practice

·      Evidence Informed Practice

·      Pedagogy and Practice.

Year 2

·      Two of three specialist modules (Inclusive Classroom Practice, Leadership and Management of ALN or Additional Learning Needs – Excellence in Practice).

·      Advanced Research and Enquiry Skills.

Year 3

Dissertation.

Module tutors and personal tutors are provided for the students studying the MA Education (Wales): Additional Learning Needs.