About the course
This course aims to develop your professional knowledge and understanding of the role education can play in addressing social justice concerns. It develops your ability to reflect critically on how we as educators engage with and support learners from a range of contexts and backgrounds, with equal emphasis on theory and practical solutions.
This Master’s is suitable for new graduates as well as education professionals from organisations including schools, government agencies, the lifelong learning sector and universities.
You explore current policy and practice around social justice, and how these affect the lives of disadvantaged children and young people as well as poor and marginalised groups and communities.
Areas of study include policy analysis; citizenship and welfare in the 21st century; education and social justice. You also gain valuable skills in research methods and put them into practice in your final dissertation.
Why choose this course?
- Develop your understanding of the sociological and philosophical perspectives surrounding social justice in relation to education
- Examine the challenges of changing global political, social and economic landscapes, and how they impact nationally, locally and in your own work setting
- Explore the lived experiences of children and the realities they face

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Course Leader - Anna Graham
I trained as a primary teacher at Homerton College, University of Cambridge. After teaching in the UK and abroad I returned to Cambridge University to study for my MPhil and PhD degrees.
My MPhil thesis ‘Learners, Carers and Providers: The Problems and Perceptions of Low-Income Lone Mothers and Education’ explored the ways low income lone mothers reconciled their children’s education and welfare needs with the economic logic of paid employment and their own further education and training needs.

Units
- Analysing Policy: Children'S Voice (EDC115-6) Compulsory
- Citizenship And Welfare In The 21st Century (EDC116-6) Compulsory
- Dissertation In Education (Social Justice) (EDC120-6) Compulsory
- Education And Social Justice (EDC124-6) Compulsory
- Research Methods In The Workplace (EDC129-6) Compulsory
Each unit in this course has its own assessment. Wherever possible, the specific focus of assignments is negotiated individually between the unit co-ordinator and the student, within the parameters of the unit, in order to ensure that the assignment meets your personal and professional needs. The course provides you with a carefully planned and coherent sequence of learning opportunities that facilitate your development through formative and summative assessments. At this level the expectations, in terms of the quality of work produced, are high and you will need to take active control of your learning. At Master's level the expectation is that you are an autonomous and confident learner, that you will undertake assessments that are challenging and require mature argument developed from sustained research, and that you will demonstrate fluent and cogent presentation. You are encouraged in your assessments to draw upon an extensive range of sources to demonstrate a deep theoretical understanding and the ability to apply that to current issues and contexts. At the same time, you will expect some formative feedback through tutorial guidance and scheduled feedback as outlined in the handbook for each unit. The assessments test the ability to construct a reasoned, sustained and coherent argument, and to articulate it fluently, in a range of contexts. You are required to demonstrate an appropriate level of research, of independent argument, and to reference in an appropriate and accurate manner. Through the assessments designed for individual units, you will practise and reinforce skills in researching, evaluating and synthesising materials with a critical eye; quantitative and qualitative data collection and handling, together with skills associated with conventional academic tasks. Unit assessment is based on specified learning outcomes and threshold standards. The unit information forms state clearly the aims, objectives and learning outcomes of the unit, and delineate the criteria of assessment for each outcome. The unit assessment feedback offers detailed comment to the student on the assessment piece.
Why study in the School of Education and English?
- Broad spectrum of opportunities to study language and linguistics
- 92% satisfaction with English Language and TEFL, NSS 2020
Entry Requirements
Applicants should have a good undergraduate degree at Honours level, or equivalent.
To apply for a place on a postgraduate course (MA/MSc/MBA) at the University of Bedfordshire you should have a good first degree and the required English language qualification
Find out more about specific entry requirements for your country
To apply for a postgraduate degree (MA/MSc/MBA/LLM) at the University of Bedfordshire you should have a good honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in an appropriate subject from a recognised university or HE institution.
We will also consider candidates with other relevant qualifications or appropriate work experience.
You also need to have the required English language qualification
Contact your country’s International Admissions Team for more information.
Entry Requirements
Applicants should have a good undergraduate degree at Honours level, or equivalent.
To apply for a place on a postgraduate course (MA/MSc/MBA) at the University of Bedfordshire you should have a good first degree and the required English language qualification
Find out more about specific entry requirements for your country
To apply for a postgraduate degree (MA/MSc/MBA/LLM) at the University of Bedfordshire you should have a good honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in an appropriate subject from a recognised university or HE institution.
We will also consider candidates with other relevant qualifications or appropriate work experience.
You also need to have the required English language qualification
Contact your country’s International Admissions Team for more information.
How will this course improve my career prospects?
Bringing your subject knowledge from the areas you have studied, you will gain knowledge and skills through this course that will make you a specialist in relation to social justice and education. Holders of a postgraduate degree are most likely to progress in these careers and go into management roles more quickly.
Graduates of this course are most likely to seek jobs in teaching in schools, FE or HE; community or social work; the police; the probation service; education welfare; local authorities; home or school links; family welfare; the voluntary sector.
For those who wish, there is the option of applying to progress to Doctoral study.
Fees and funding
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2022/23 is £8,500 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2022/23 is available at www.beds.ac.uk/intfees
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £9,350 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £14,600
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk
Fees and funding
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2022/23 is £8,500 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2022/23 is available at www.beds.ac.uk/intfees
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £9,350 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £14,600
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk
Extra Costs
How to Apply
UK students applying for most postgraduate degrees at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form
International students applying for a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country. You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
International students applying for a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country. You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
How to Apply
UK students applying for most postgraduate degrees at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form
International students applying for a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country. You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
International students applying for a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country. You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student