Master of Science by Coursework in Education

Differences from 2014/15 to 2022/23

    1. 1. Candidates must follow for three terms aThe course shall be under the supervision of instructionthe inAcademic Committee of the Department of Education,.

    2. Candidates specialisingwill specialise in one of the following pathways:   
      1. Comparative and International Education,   
      2. Higher Education, Learning  
      3. Digital and Technology,Social Change 
      4. Child Development and Education, or  
      5. Research Design and Methodology. The examination shall consist of six one-term papers and a dissertation.

         
    3. 2.Candidates Partmust 1follow a course of instruction for three terms full-time or for the courseResearch consistsand ofDesign Methodology pathway either three terms full-time or six papersterms part-time. 

    4. For Candidateseach pathway candidates will take a combination of requiredsix pathway-specificone coreterm papers andas set out in the Schedule below. Details of the option papers, as determined in advance by each pathway convenor. Candidatesavailable will be informed of the available options, along with the assessment requirement,published by Friday of 0thweek week0 of Michaelmas Term. For part-time students, four papers will be taken in year 1, and two papers in year 2.
    5. Each paper will be assessed by course work as set out in the yearCourse in which the examination is takenHandbook. On some pathways, students are also required to successfully complete a research internship.

    6. 3. Exceptionally, candidates may offer one paper from a relevant mastersMaster's degree in another department in the University, in place of one option paper, subject to permission from the relevant pathway convenor, the Course Director and the Educationowning Graduate Studies Committeedepartment. Applications to take such a paper must normally be made by FridayThursday of theweek fifth week5 of Michaelmas Term.

        In such cases, the method of assessment shall be as described for the owning department. Further details are set out in the Course Handbook.
    7. 4. PapersCandidates are normally assessed by one or more coursework assignments totalling no more than 3,000 words (inclusive of footnotes but excluding bibliography and appendices). All such assignments must be uploaded to the Assignments section of the Higher Degrees Weblearn site by the times and dates specified at the start of the course. Each submission must be accompanied by a declaration indicating that it is the candidate’s own work. Exceptionally, candidates are assessed by unseen examination.

    8. 5. For Part 2 of the course, candidates will bealso required to submit a dissertation of 15,00020,000 words (including footnotes/endnotes but excluding appendices and references or bibliography), the title to be selected in consultation with the supervisor, on a topic relevant to the pathway being followed. The subject and title selected by the candidate must be approved by the Course Director at a time to be announced at the beginning of the academic year in which the examination is taken.

    9. 6. Two soft bound, word-processed or printed copies of the dissertation must be deliveredsubmitted toby the Chair of Examiners, M.Sc. Education, c/o Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford, notno later than noon on the second FridayThursday in August. For part-time students, this will be during the second year of the course.

    10. All assessments must be submitted using the University approved online submission system.  Technical information on the requirements for online submissions is provided in the yearCourse in which the written examination is takenHandbook. These copies should be anonymous except for the candidate number, and accompanied by a declaration indicating that it is the candidate’s own work. Candidates are also required to upload an electronic copy of the dissertation by noon on the same day and to submit a hardbound copy of the work to the Department of Education no later than one week after submission of the soft bound copies. The hard bound copy of the dissertation of each candidate who passes the examination shall be retained by the department for deposit in the departmental library.

        
    11. 7. Every candidate will be required to satisfy the examiners in the following: (i) Satisfactory attendance at the appropriate classroom−based courses; (ii) Satisfactory performance in both Part 1 and Part 2.

    12. 8. Candidates may also be required to attend an oral examination. The oral examination maywill normally be on the candidates writtendissertation.

    13. If papersa candidate receives a failing mark for any of the summative assessments, they may resubmit the assessment on one further occasion, normally either by a date for resubmission which will be published by the Course Director when the results are released, and will be no sooner than 6 weeks from the release of the results, or when the assessment is next examined the following year. If a candidate fails the dissertation, or both. Candidates shall be deemed to have passed the examination if they have satisfied the examiners in both Part 1 and Part 2. No candidate may progress to Part 2 unless they have passed a minimum of 4 papers in Part I. If Part 2 is failed the candidate may resubmit the dissertation one further time normally on the next occasion when this is examined.

       Candidates who fail any modules or the dissertation at the first attempt cannot normally be awarded more than 50 at resubmission.

    Schedule 

    Child Development and Education 

    1. Foundations of Educational Research I: Concepts and Design 
    2. Foundations Learning and Wellbeing 
    3. 9.Introduction to Quantitative Research 
    4. Cognitive TheDevelopment examinersand mayEducational awardAttainment 
    5. Two aoption distinctionpapers foras excellenceset out in the wholeCourse examination.

      Handbook
       

Comparative and International Education 

  1. Foundations of Educational Research I: Concepts and Design 
  2. Comparative and International Education: An overview of the field 
  3. Systems Thinking in Comparative and International Education 
  4. Foundations of Educational Research II:  Strategies and Methods 
  5. The Implementation of the Rights of Children 
  6. One option paper as set out in the Course Handbook 

Digital and Social Change 

  1. Foundations of Educational Research I: Concepts and Design 
  2. Key Concepts in Digital Education 
  3. Social Justice and Technology 
  4. EITHER Foundations of Education Research II: Strategies and Methods, OR Perspectives and Debates on Qualitative Research, OR Intermediate Quantitative Research 
  5. EITHER Critical Digital Innovation OR Education, the Internet and Society 
  6. EITHER Critical Digital Innovation OR Education, the Internet and Society (if not already taken), OR one option paper as set out in the Course Handbook 

Higher Education 

  1. Foundations of Educational Research I: Concepts and Design 
  2. Module Higher Education Policy 
  3. Higher Education in the Economy and Society 
  4. Foundations of Education Research II: Strategies and Methods 
  5. Global Higher Education 
  6. One option paper as set out in the Course Handbook  

Research Design and Methodology 

  1. Introduction to Quantitative Research 
  2. Foundations of Educational Research I: Concepts and Design 
  3. Philosophy of Educational Research 
  4. Foundations of Education Research II: Strategies and Methods  
  5. EITHER Intermediate Quantitative Research, OR Perspective and Debates on Qualitative Research 
  6. One option paper as set out in the Course Handbook