Education (Mathematics Education) PGDip

Degree and/or experience:

• You must have a good honours degree or equivalent and be working in a relevant educational role regularly and frequently engaged in the teaching of mathematics.
• You must have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent.

English Language Requirement:

• IELTS 6.5 overall, with 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.

Stage 1: Post Graduate Certificate in Professional Education Studies

For this mathematics specialist route you will earn the PGCert by completing the Mathematics Specialist Teacher Programme. Here you will study three modules; the first introduces you to Masters level study, and is followed by two mathematics specialist modules:

• Engaging with Professional Development (taught, 20 credits) 
• Developing knowledge of Mathematics for teachers (taught, 20 credits) 
• Developing professional practice to enhance pupils' mathematical understanding (taught, 20 credits)

Stage 2: MA (120 further credits; 180 credits in total)

This stage of your study is made up of a further mathematics specialist module which together with more generalised education modules support your dissertation preparation. The specialist module offers a broader perspective on mathematics education, exploring a range of social factors that influence mathematics teaching and learning.

Core study modules enable you to gain an understanding of research methodology in preparation for your dissertation research project. You will be involved from the start of this phase in identifying an appropriate mathematics education topic for this research project and will also conduct a literature review to develop your own knowledge of current research findings within this field. Successful completion of these modules enables you to work on your own mathematics education research project, supported by your research supervisor.

Core study modules

• Research Contexts - Introduction to Research Methodology (taught, 20 credits)
• Literature and Research in Education (taught, 20 credits)
• Specialist Module: Social Issues in the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics (taught, 20 credits)
• Research project (60 credits)

Stage 2 alternative option: Post Graduate Diploma in Mathematics Education (60 further credits; 120 credits total)

If you decide that rather than study for the full MA you would prefer to study for a Post Graduate Diploma, then following your completion of stage 1 PGCert, your shorter study programme would comprise:

• Literature and Research in Education (taught, 20 credits) 
• Professional development project 2 (action research, 40 credits)
• Together, these two modules enable you gain an in-depth understanding of a particular aspect of mathematics education.

Skills that you hone throughout the literature and research module enable you to identify your own chosen mathematics focus for study and to explore current research findings in this field. Following this you will engage in and report on a practice based professional inquiry using an action research approach to deepen your understanding of your chosen mathematics education focus in the context of your own professional setting.