What can you do with a Masters Degree in Education?

If you’re considering MA in Education, either as a recent undergraduate or an educator with some years of experience, you’ll want to know whether the course is worth the investment. 

The best online programs for masters in education will not only give you a deep understanding of the latest developments in teaching theory and practice, but they’ll also have a positive impact on your career prospects. 

Whether you work as a teacher or in a wider educational role outside the classroom, discover what you can do with an MA in Education and how it can improve your career prospects. 

Read about our Masters Degree in Education

What kinds of jobs is a Masters in Education useful for? 

The best online Masters degrees in Education usually appeal to those who already work in the sector, either as teachers or in a related non-school role. However, there are also those who want to make a switch into teaching, for example, and are attracted to a postgraduate qualification to kickstart their education careers. Regardless of your approach, if you’re asking ‘what can I do with an MA in Education?’ the answers broadly split into two categories: 

Teachers 

Whether you’ve recently graduated from teacher training or you’ve been working in a school for a while, an MA in Education improves your knowledge, updates your skills, and boosts your CV. 

For teachers with aspirations of landing a more senior role within their school or at another, an MA shows that you are committed to your educational career, interested in the latest developments in the field, and ambitious to lead and achieve great things for your institution. 

Educational roles that a Masters can help you into can include: 

• Head of year 
• Head of department 
• SEN inclusion officer/specialist 
• Deputy head 
• Head teacher

Senior roles naturally call for more responsibilities and usually offer a higher salary. 

Wider education roles 

Many people work in education outside of schools or colleges. Whether you’re in a role like this, or a teacher looking to move out of the classroom, an Education MA will be an attractive addition to your CV to recruiters from wider educational organisations. 

Middle and senior non-teaching roles can include: 

• Head of learning at a museum or other cultural institution 
• Senior/Chief examiner 
• Teacher trainer 
• Director of education for a local authority 
• Ofsted inspector 
• Education advisor or consultant  

Climbing the career ladder in these kinds of organisations requires experience but also ambition and a deep understanding of relevant topics and practices. For professionals in these roles, a Masters that isn’t just focused on the classroom, but also on the theories and fundamentals of education in general, will help you succeed. 

Get answers to your questions about our Education Masters 

What skills will you learn in an online Education MA? 

Good online Masters degree programmes in Education will cover a range of vocationally relevant skills that you can apply directly to your work. Academic research and theoretical knowledge are an important part of postgraduate study and will help inform your learning. However, there has to be a practical element of the course that shows employers that you have a mastery of practical education skills, including: 

1. Teaching and learning fundamentals 

By the time you get to a Masters degree in Education you’re likely to have some previous study or experience in the field. An MA should lift your understanding of teaching fundamentals up a level, giving you a firmer grasp of advanced and cutting-edge thinking in education.  

You can expect to cover contemporary theories of learning, the latest practices and critical discussions in education such as curriculum development and assessments, and explore the growing use of technology in the classroom. 

2. Specialist teaching issues – Diversity, Inclusion and SEND 

There are certain “hot topics” beyond the fundamentals of educational thinking that a Masters degree will cover. For instance: 

• Diversity and inclusion are important concerns in the contemporary education space. How to involve all children and learners in the same institution and cater for everyone’s diverse needs through a whole-school approach is a particularly useful skill.

• Providing for SEND (Special Education Needs and Disabilities) pupils is a crucial topic and requires specialists to lead the way and ensure good practice. 

You may not want to become a specialist on these issues yourself. But with an advanced understanding of the latest ideas and methods in these areas, you’ll be able to effectively lead and oversee other staff as a head of year or other senior position. 

3. Leadership skills 

A big part of teaching is gaining the trust and respect of learners and other teachers. Leadership skills are in greater demand the higher you progress in your career, and the best online Masters programmes in Education will give you the ability to manage people and lead with confidence. 

4. Research skills 

An Education MA will normally involve in-depth independent study, culminating in a thesis, research project or systematic appraisal. As well as showing that you can understand and analyse contemporary thinking on complex educational issues, on a good Masters course you’ll be expected to apply your data and research findings to real-world scenarios.  

Kickstart your teaching career on our online Education MA course

Why an online MA in Education is a worthwhile investment for your career 

Meet the demand for skilled education practitioners 

While teachers will always be needed, those with specialist skills and advanced leadership abilities are especially valued. If you can demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the educational landscape with a Masters degree on your CV, you’ll get noticed for more senior positions.  

A good MA in Education will prepare you for the demands of a role with more responsibility and oversight. This enhanced ability to introduce and manage change in an organisation and make learning better can lead to real career outcomes for graduates. 

Reap the benefits of online learning 

Distance learning has many advantages, the main one being flexibility. For busy teachers with lessons to plan and homework to mark, being able to study for an MA around your work and life commitments is a huge advantage. 

The best online Masters degrees in Education will let you study part-time at hours that suit you. With an online course, you don’t have to go anywhere for classes, but resources are made available wherever you are, 24/7 – perfect for educators with lots of demands on their time.  

Discover Northumbria University’s MA in Education – Leadership & Learning 

We are ranked in the top 25 universities in the UK for Education (The Complete University Guide, 2022 and The Guardian University Guide, 2022) , and our department has been engaged in teacher training for over 100 years.  

At Northumbria, not only will you study on a comprehensive online education course, teaching you the latest theories and practices in a research-rich environment, but we allow maximum flexibility and offer excellent support for online students throughout their time on with us. 

Visit our course page for full details and discover how our Education MA can improve your career.