Study in a vibrant research hub
The quality of our research was recognised in the latest Research Excellence Framework (2021), the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.
The University of Reading's Institute of Education is rated in the top quartile of education departments in the UK with 98% of our research being of international standing (REF 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – Education).
A programme for early and mid-career educators
Take the opportunity to invest in yourself and your practice. Whether you are at a crossroads in your career or want the opportunity to rethink your practice, our experts will help you to challenge your thinking as well as consolidating what you already know. We offer a range of pathways, allowing you to specialise if you have a particular interest. There are a variety of routes, including a part-time option, to enable you to study alongside work.
Routes through study
Our students come from a range of backgrounds and routes. Some have completed a PGCE in the past, but not all are qualified teachers. Students come from education management, early years, special educational needs, primary or secondary schools and further education colleges as well as higher education backgrounds.
If you have studied a PGCE or PGCert with the University of Reading’s Institute of Education you will have 60 master's level credits which will be accepted towards your MA – these credits are valid for up to 10 years from when you completed the qualification. This can allow you to get your master’s in as little as two calendar years.
If you have studied a postgraduate programme elsewhere, your previous master’s level study can be considered for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) – this will be carried out on a case by case basis. For University of Reading academic staff, the University’s Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (Pg CAP) provides 60 credits which will be transferred towards your master’s. You will also be automatically accepted on to the programme.
If you would like to get experience of different settings or schools, the University’s Students in Schools programme is an excellent way to broaden your horizons.
Networks and impact
The reach and impact of our work are both local and global. Locally, we have close working relationships with over 400 schools; and globally, our research, consultancy and project work extends to countries as varied as China, Jamaica, the USA and Singapore.
Scholarships
The University of Reading's master's scholarships scheme offers two funding opportunities:
- Scholarships that are centrally-funded and for which all master's students are eligible (General Scholarships)
- Scholarships provided by our schools and which are course-specific (Subject Scholarships).
Students can usually be considered for both types of award. Successful candidates may be offered one or both of these scholarships.
For 2024 entry for the Subject Scholarship for Education, there is one scholarship for international students at £5,000 and one scholarship for UK/Republic of Ireland students at £2,500.
