This programme is for education professionals who wish to investigate specific areas of interest through a combination of independent study and small-scale research, usually in their own work context. Designed as a flexible alternative to a traditional taught masters, it develops expertise across related assignments and builds to a dissertation.

There is a taught element (EDUC 6353 - Understanding Educational Research), which is assessed through two assignments (EDUC 6281):

- A 3,000-word critical essay, analysing the empirical research literature of a topic of interest to our research area. 

- An academic research poster,  discussing and evaluating one of the empirical articles that you are used in the essay.  The poster should present the aims and rationale of the study, the methods used to collect and analyse the data, the findings and results, and the key outcomes. A final section should include a critique of the research. 

The rest of the course is self-directed, and assessed through three further written assignments:

- EDUC 6282 - An 8,000-word written assignment, in the form of a literature review.

- EDUC 6283 - A 12,000-word written assignment, focussing on conducting initial research within the school environment. 

- EDUC 6342 - A 15,000-17,000-word dissertation, incorporating our own, more in-depth, empirical research.