Overview
- Degree awarded
- Master of Arts (MA)
- Duration
- 1 year
- Entry requirements
-
We require a UK Honours degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent  in Education, Teaching or English.
Applicants without an education, teaching or English-related degree should have at least six months of relevant professional experience.
When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.
- How to apply
- Apply online
- Sustainable Development Goals
Find out how this course aligns to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including learning which relates to:
- Goal 4: Quality education
Course options
| Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA | Y | N | N | N |
Course overview
Examine higher education systems, policy and leadership in an international context.
- Prepare for careers across international education, policy, educational leadership, research, NGOs and global learning organisations.
- Study at a top ten UK university for Education and join a highly international community of students and academics (QS University Rankings, 2026).
- Explore the opportunities and challenges facing universities worldwide.
- Benefit from research-led teaching that combines professional learning with critical scholarship and international perspectives.
Our students. Real experiences. Visit the page to hear from our students as they share what it's really like to study here
Open days
The University holds regular events throughout the year, including webinars and the annual on-campus Master's Expo, all of which offer the opportunity to find out more about our facilities and courses from our academic and admissions staff.
We also attend a number of education fairs both in the UK and overseas throughout the year.
For more details on how you can meet us, visit our events page: /study/masters/meet-us/ .
Fees
Fees for entry in 2027 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2026 were as follows:
-
MA (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £13,700
International, including EU, students (per annum): £29,400
The fees quoted above are fully inclusive of tuition, administration and computational costs.
Fees for entry are subject to yearly review. The University reserves the right to increase your tuition fee by up to 7% each year for courses lasting more than one year, including to reflect rising costs associated with delivering our educational and wider student experience. Postgraduate fees information .
Always contact the admissions team if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
We know that student finance can be complicated. The links below provide further information to help guide you.
- Learn more about - student finance options for UK students .
- Learn more about - fees and finance for international students .
- Graduates of Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ and Manchester Metropolitan University can receive a 10% discount on their master's degree tuition fees as part of our Manchester Alumni Loyalty Discount scheme.

UN Sustainable Development Goals
The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the world's call to action on the most pressing challenges facing humanity. At Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ, we address the SDGs through our research and particularly in partnership with our students.
Led by our innovative research, our teaching ensures that all our graduates are empowered, inspired and equipped to address the key socio-political and environmental challenges facing the world.
To illustrate how our teaching will empower you as a change maker, we've highlighted the key SDGs that our courses address.

Goal 4: Quality education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- Contact name
- School of Environment, Education and Development +44 (0) 161 275 2814
- Telephone
- +44(0) 161 275 2814
- mie.admissions@manchester.ac.uk
- School/Faculty overview
-
See: .
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
We require a UK Honours degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent  in Education, Teaching or English.
Applicants without an education, teaching or English-related degree should have at least six months of relevant professional experience.
When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.
English language
For the latest information on demonstrating your English proficiency for those whose first language is not English, please see our .
You are required to provide a valid English language qualification which meets our entry requirements for the Master's course or a pre-sessional course at the time of application.
This programme accepts successful completion of the 6- and 10-week pre-sessional English language course. We accept the following qualifications which must be valid on the start date of the Master's course.
Pre-sessional 6-week course requirement:
IELTS UKVI or Academic 6.0 Overall with 6.0 in Writing, no more than one sub-skill at 5.5, and no other sub-skill below 6.0
TOEFL iBT 80 Overall with 20 in Writing, 20 in Speaking, and no other sub-skill below 18
TOEFL iBT (6-point scale) 4.5 Overall with 4.5 in Writing, and no other sub-skill below 4.0
Pearson PTE Academic UKVI or Academic 65 Overall with 65 in Writing, no more than one sub-skill at 59 and no other sub-skill below 65
Pre-sessional 10-week course requirement:
IELTS UKVI or Academic 5.5 Overall with no sub-skill below 5.5
TOEFL iBT 72 Overall with 20 in Speaking and no other sub-skill below 18
TOEFL iBT (6-point scale) 4.0 Overall with no sub-skill below 4.0
Pearson PTE Academic UKVI or Academic 59 Overall with no sub-skill below 59
English language test validity
Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the Master's course.
Other international entry requirements
We accept a range of qualifications from across the globe. To help international students the university provides specific information for many individual countries. Please see our    for guidance on the academic qualifications which may be accepted from your country.
Professional entry qualification
Application and selection
How to apply
Staged admissions
As there is a high demand for our courses, we operate a staged admissions process with selection deadlines throughout the year.
Due to the competition for places and high quality of applications that we receive, we give preference to students from high-ranking institutions and with grades above our minimum entry requirements.
Please ensure you submit all supporting documentation with your application before the application deadline to avoid a delay in processing.
•Stage 1: Application received by 06 December 2026 - Application update by 19 February 2027
•Stage 2: Application received by 01 March 2027 - Application update by 02 May 2027
•Stage 3: Application received by 04 May 2027 - Application update by 18 June 2027
•Stage 4: Application received by 04 July 2027 - Application update by 30 July 2027
While we aim to give you a decision on your application by the deadline date, in some instances due to the competition for places and the volume of applications received, it may be necessary to roll your application forward to the next deadline date.
Applications received after our final selection deadline will be considered at our discretion if places are still available.
Please note, all places are subject to availability and if you apply at one of the later stages, some courses may already be reaching capacity or be closed to further applications. We, therefore, recommend that you apply early in the cycle to avoid disappointment.
Advice to applicants
Please submit the following documents with your completed application form:
- copies of official degree certificates and transcripts of your previous study, showing the subjects taken and grades obtained. If these documents are in languages other thanEnglishplease provide official translations;
- copies of English Language Certification,e.g.IELTS, TOEFL iBT or Pearson test score report, if available at the time of application;
- your CV.
Ensure that you enclose all the necessary documents to avoid any delays.
Deposit information
We ask for the deposit to accept your offer as competition is high and availability is limited.
When you are made an offer, you will be required to pay a £2,500 deposit by the deadline date stated in your offer letter before you can be accepted on to the course. The deposit amount will be deducted from your tuition fees when you register on the course.
The deposit is non-refundable, except in the circumstances specified in the Acceptance Deposit refund policy .
How your application is considered
Once your application has been received, our admissions team will contact you. We may ask you to submit additional information, if necessary.
Overseas (non-UK) applicants
We accept a range of qualifications from different countries.
For these and general requirements including English language seeÂ
Deferrals
Re-applications
If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again.
Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.
In your new application, you should demonstrate how your application has improved.
We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.
Course details
Course description
Develop a global perspective on education, policy and practice.
MA International Education explores how education systems, organisations and policies operate across different countries and contexts.
Designed for students, teachers and education professionals interested in the relationship between education and global development, the course examines contemporary issues affecting learners, educators and institutions around the world.
You will examine the changing role of universities and higher education systems within global society. Exploring themes such as policy, leadership, governance, internationalisation and student experience, you will consider the opportunities and challenges facing higher education institutions in different national and international contexts. This will help you develop a deeper understanding of how higher education responds to social, political and economic change.
The programme combines professional learning with critical scholarship, enabling you to connect theory, research and practice. Studying alongside an international cohort provides opportunities to learn from a wide range of educational experiences and perspectives, while developing a broader understanding of education in a globalised world.
You will examine key issues affecting education internationally, including educational policy, leadership, curriculum, teaching and learning, inclusion, development and educational reform. This will help you develop the analytical and research skills needed to engage with complex educational challenges across different contexts.
The course is suitable for educators, educational professionals, policymakers, administrators and graduates seeking careers in international education or related fields. It also provides a strong foundation for doctoral study and education-focused research careers.
Aims
- Develop participants' critical understanding of educational concepts and theories in order to enable an informed analysis of educational practices in international contexts.
- Develop participants' capacity to engage in research and to inform and develop their understandings and practices of education in international contexts.
- Raise participants' awareness of the influence of global, national, and local contexts upon education.
- Develop participants' professional knowledge, understanding and skills in relation to their prior and emerging professional interests.
- Enable participants to gain analytical skills that will help them to engage critically with education policies and practices across and within international contexts.
Special features
- Education has been a discipline of study at Manchester since 1890.
- We have more international students than any other UK university, with more than a quarter of the student body joining us from outside the EU.
- Choose from a wide range of optional units covering topics such as international development, educational leadership, TESOL, sustainability, and social justice. Many course units include practical teaching approaches, placements, and community engagement opportunities. Some restrictions may apply to optional unit choices to allow as many students as possible.
- Choose unique specialist pathways, with tailored modules and expert dissertation supervision:
Additional course information
Optional units available include:Â
- International development and education;
- Intercultural Communication and Education;
- Key Issues in English Language and Education;
- Early Years Education;
- Education leadership;
- Examining Educational Policy;
- Digital, Media and Information Literacy;
- Language Learning and Technology;
- Multimedia Design and Development;
- Equality, diversity and inclusion in international education;
- Educating for Sustainability;
- Higher education in international contexts;
- Curriculum Internationalisation;
- Employability in Education;
- School Improvement;
- Approaches and Methods in TESOL;
- Approaches to Teaching and Learning;
- Professional Development for Teachers;
- Intercultural Engagement and Work and in Communities;
- Schools working with children, families and communities;
- Social Justice, Poverty and Place from the Global to the Local.Â
We have several units that offer practical approaches to teaching and several that include visits or placements in local community organisations or schools.Â
Some restrictions may apply to optional unit choices to allow as many students as possible.
Teaching and learning
Important notice: factors affecting fieldwork and placements
The School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) recognises the value of fieldwork and placements. However, the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff remains our priority.
The School will assess on a regular basis the viability of any travel and fieldwork and communicate any significant changes to our students at the earliest possible opportunity.
The role of SEED
- changes to the rules and guidance on travel and activities implemented and published by the UK and overseas governments;
- a risk assessment conducted by or on behalf of the University identifying unmanageable risk;
- changes that enhance the educational value and student experience of the activity;
- changes to the situation of a placement provider (for example, which cause them to be unable to accept students);
- the unavailability of appropriate insurance cover;
- the unavailability of appropriate travel and accommodation and any significant changes to their financial costs;
- where fieldwork and placements are a compulsory element of the Programme, they will be replaced with something academically similar;
- where a trip or placement is not a compulsory element of the Programme, it may not be replaced.
We will consult with affected students at the earliest possible opportunity and explore the options available to them.
The duty of students
Preparation, attendance and conduct
Attendance at preparatory classes is a compulsory pre-requisite of the fieldwork and placements to ensure safety and learning outcomes are met.
Students who do not attend the compulsory preparatory classes may be prevented from participating in the fieldwork or placement. It is the duty of students to discuss any attendance issues with the field course or placement convenor.
Students are representatives of the university during their fieldwork or placement. Behaviour deemed by the convenor to be unacceptable may result in students being sent home.
Where a student is unable to attend or complete the fieldwork or placement (e.g. due to mitigating circumstances), is prevented from attending due to absence from compulsory preparatory classes, or returned home due to poor conduct:
- a suitable alternative assessment will be offered (as appropriate) to ensure that the programme ILOs are met, and that the student is not academically disadvantaged;
- the University accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred by the student in relation to the fieldwork or placement.
Immigration, passport and visa requirements
It is the responsibility of the individual student to ensure they have:
- a valid passport to enter the destination country (including sufficient months prior to expiry);
- a valid visa (where required) and comply with its requirements.
The School cannot guarantee that visas required for fieldwork or a placement will be granted by the relevant authority. Please note that countries may change their immigration and visa regulations at short notice.
Where a student is unable to attend fieldwork or a placement because they do not have the required visa or passport:
- a suitable alternative assessment will be offered to ensure that the programme ILOs are met and that the student is not academically disadvantaged;
- the University accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred by the student in relation to the fieldwork or placement.
Coursework and assessment
You will study four course units in each semester, four of which are core to all students, one is core to this pathway, and three of which are optional.
The form of assessment varies by course unit; however, most involve a 3,000-word written assessment, which may be in the form of an essay, a critical review of literature, or a research report. Formative and summative feedback is provided.
The dissertation is the report of an empirical or conceptual research project investigation of an aspect of international education, and is 12,000 words in length.
Course content for year 1
- Concepts and Practices in International Education;
- Theories of Teaching and Learning; Engaging with Education Research;
- Higher Education in International Contexts;
- Research Methods and Design.
In addition to a wide range of optional units, and a research-based dissertation.
Course unit details
A master’s degree is formed of 180 credits.
120 of these credits are made up by a mix of mandatory and optional course units, with 60 credits taken in each semester. If you choose to study on a specialist pathway, you must choose the option associated with that pathway.
The availability of individual course units may be subject to change. Information that is sent to you in August about registration onto the course will clearly state the course units that are available in the academic year ahead.
The remaining 60 credits are awarded through a compulsory research component in the form of a dissertation. Your dissertation must be within your chosen pathway area, or if you do not have a pathway, the area of one of the course units you have chosen and you will be assigned an academic dissertation-advisor who is experienced in your chosen field.
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engaging with Education Research | EDUC60011 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Educational Research Methods and Design | EDUC60452 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Theories of Teaching and Learning | EDUC60491 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Higher Education in International Contexts | EDUC70552 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Concepts and Practices of International Education | EDUC71331 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Dissertation MA International Education | EDUC84000 | 60 | Mandatory |
| Digital Media and Information Literacy | EDUC61712 | 15 | Optional |
| Blended Learning in a Digital Age | EDUC70032 | 15 | Optional |
| Digital Literacy in Language Teaching and Learning | EDUC70061 | 15 | Optional |
| Psychology of Language Learning | EDUC70091 | 15 | Optional |
| Displaying 10 of 33 course units | |||
| Display all course units | |||
What our students say
"MA International Education at Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ gives students opportunities to engage in various educational theories, ideas and concepts in an international context and put them into practice.
The courses are taught by world-leading researchers who are really patient and always willing to help students."
Jinxuan Song, MA International Education.
Facilities
The course is taught by the Manchester Institute of Education (MIE) which has its own Student Hub. Here you'll find all your teaching staff and support staff as well as a place to relax with fellow students.
MIE is based in the University's Ellen Wilkinson building, which is centrally located on the University's Oxford Road campus, close to the Main Library, Alan Gilbert Learning Commons and the Students' Union.
Disability support
Careers
Career opportunities
Graduates of this course develop specialist knowledge of higher education systems, policy and leadership in international contexts. The course is suitable for people who want to understand the opportunities and challenges facing universities and higher education institutions around the world.
Potential career paths include:
- higher education administration;
- student experience;
- academic support;
- education policy;
- university leadership;
- governance;
- programme management;
- international education;
- research;
- doctoral study.
The course can support careers in universities, higher education agencies, government organisations, policy environments and other education-focused settings.View our page for more information.
Careers support
The University has its own dedicated that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate. At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .
Careers support for international students
The Careers Service provide specialist resources, advice and events for international students to help with career planning and making the most of your time while studying in Manchester.
Global networks
Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ is proud to have the largest of any campus-based university in the UK.
International alumni groups are a great way to keep in touch with fellow Manchester graduates in your country and provide an opportunity to build professional and social networks.
