An inclusive education system includes, welcomes, and supports all learners to learn and teachers must be professionally competent and confident in teaching and breaking down barriers to ensure every child and young person can achieve their full potential. This online learning programme enables teachers and educational professionals to acquire a thorough professional knowledge and understanding of inclusive education to support them to create inclusive classrooms.
The programme will equip teachers and other educational professionals with the necessary knowledge, skills and competencies to be effective in supporting the education of learners in an inclusive context, including those with special educational needs. The programme is underpinned by constructivist, student-centred, active and participative methodologies offered within a collaborative online learning community, cognisant of best practice in a professional context and excellence in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approaches.
This MA is aimed at teachers and educational professionals, with the flexibility to fit their studies around their current work commitments.
Programme Outline
The MA programme is structured to provide students with a range of elective modules so that their learning journey can be personalised and shaped to their interests and professional needs.
Elective modules include Inclusive Instructional Strategies, Introduction to Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Literacy and Dyslexia, Numeracy and Dyscalculia (January 2026 intake), Supporting Students with Autism (January 2026 intake), Supporting Students with General Learning Disabilities.
Students successfully completing 45 ECTS of modules (i.e. 3 modules) in Stage 1 of the programme continue to Stage 2 where they undertake the Advanced Research Module (core module) and the Dissertation Module (core module) and exit with a Master of Arts in Professional Studies in Special Educational Needs and Inclusive Education (90 ECTS)
Alternatively, students may exit with a Postgraduate Certificate on successfully completing 30 ECTS (2 modules) or with a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts on successfully completing 60 ECTS (4 modules). Students can also opt to complete the Advanced Research module (listed at Stage 2) as the 4th module for the Diploma instead of choosing one of the optional modules listed at Stage 1.
| Course Category | Special Needs Assistant Training, Education & Teaching |
| Course Type | Online Learning |
| Course Qualification | Masters Degree |
| Course Duration | 3 years |
| Course Time | Part-time |
| Course Fee | 7200 |
| Entry Requirements | This programme is aimed at a wide range of graduates working in educational settings (e.g. primary, post-primary, higher education, adult and further education). Applicants will normally possess a Level 8 Undergraduate Degree (H2.2 or above) in Education or equivalent. For applicants without the relevant academic qualification, but with relevant previous experience, recognition for approved prior learning (APL) can be awarded in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning Policy. |
| Career Path | This programme is suitable for candidates who wish to progress further in their professional sector (education) including those who are already in employment. It aims to enhance professional knowledge, and it is designed to provide a student-centred, accessible, flexible, coherent framework for the personal, professional and academic development of participants. |
This course is free/ funded under the Springboard+ Initiative.
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