Master of Arts in Higher Education

Information for Potential Participants

The Master of Arts in Higher Education (MA HE) forms a key part of MMU's Academic CPD Framework. The programme structure is shown below:

The Master of Arts in HE has two pathways: the Teaching Pathway, which begins with the Core Unit Learning, Teaching and Assessment in HE, and the Professional Services Pathway, which begins with the Core Unit HE Today. After taking these inital units, participants take either one 30 credit option or two 15 credit options. They can then exit the pathway with a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in HE, or carry on. The next core unit is Researching HE, followed again by either one 30 credit option or two 15 credit options. Participants can then choose to exit with a Postgraduate Diploma in HE, or carry on to the full Masters in HE by completing a 60 credit dissertation.

The programme is designed for two groups of staff:

  • Staff who already have an appropriate postgraduate certificate qualification (including the MMU PGCert in Academic Practice, or the PGCert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, or an equivalent from another institution) and wish to develop their academic practice or HE scholarship further. Staff in this category may be admitted to the programme with 60 credits advanced standing.
  • Staff who work in HE (but without a specific teaching remit), and who wish to complete an MA award which relates to their own aspects of Higher Education work.  Staff in this category complete 30 option credits and the 30 credit ‘HE Today’ core unit, before progressing to the PGDip stage.  This route is therefore appropriate for HE staff with any relevant role, including for example, governance, librarianship, student support, strategic or operational management, and so on.

The programme is designed to further develop knowledgeable, skilled and reflective HE professionals, able to adopt a scholarly and evidence based approach to their academic and professional practice and to the enhancement of the student experience and the higher education sector.

The MAHE is studied part time over three years and therefore external participants may be eligible for a postgraduate loan from Student Finance - see the GOV.UK website for an overview of postgraduate loans and to register/login to your Student Finance account (NB the MAHE is free of charge for Manchester Metropolitan University staff).

More detail about the course can be found in the MA HE Programme Specification.

Entry Requirements

Entry to MA in Higher Education

Applicants will normally be graduates working in a teaching or support role in Higher Education, and must also be able to demonstrate the following to the satisfaction of the Programme Leader:

  • A first degree in any subject or alternative educational qualifications that are deemed equivalent

Applicants with a 60 credit M level higher education teaching qualification (e.g. PGCLTHE or PGC FE/HE) or equivalent will normally be eligible for entry to the MA HE at the PG Diploma stage.  Other applicants will normally be expected to enter the programme at PG Certificate stage.

Recognition of Prior Learning is another route to entry on the MA HE. You can find details of RPL on the Manchester Met Intranet

Admissions

To apply for the MA HE please

  • ensure you meet the entry requirements
  • complete the application form and email it to utacpd@mmu.ac.uk. You should ensure that we receive your application at least 4 weeks before the start date of the first unit you wish to study.

Delivery

All units are delivered through a blended learning model that incorporates a range of approaches utilising a variety of face to face teaching methods together with online guided learning. This offers participants the maximum flexibility and the opportunity for participants to personalise their own learning, online learning materials have also been developed and the participants can engage with these at the most convenient time for them.

Contacts

Programme Leader

Bernard Lisewski b.lisewski@mmu.ac.uk

Programme Administrator

utacpd@mmu.ac.uk

 

 

 

How to Apply

To apply for this course, please download and complete the relevant form from the application form page »

As well as completing an application, you need to register for the units you wish to study as part of the course. Register for any units you know you want to study now on the webpage for each unit. If you haven't decided exactly what to study and when, you can register at a later date

Core Units:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please contact utacpd@mmu.ac.uk for further advice if required.