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Education and Technology MA

London, Bloomsbury

The Education and Technology MA offers students the opportunity to develop both theoretical and practical approaches to education and technology. The MA is available for both campus and distance learning modes. The MA is based at UCL Knowledge Lab, a ground-breaking research centre that uses the latest evidence to design and implement innovative educational technology and pedagogies that shape the future of education and learning. As such, students are supported by teaching staff who are all active researchers from a range of fields including education, sociology and computer science. 

Students will develop the skills to design, use and critically appraise education and technology across a wide range of settings (e.g., schools, universities, professional contexts, informal learning environments). Students will learn to adopt a research-based approach to education and technology that equips them for a variety of careers in the education and technology field.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£13,500
£6,750
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£33,000
£16,500
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 04 Apr 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

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Entry requirements

Applicants should have a minimum of a second-class UK Bachelor's degree or overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant subject (related to education and/or technology), and relevant experience in teaching, education and/or a technology related field. Applicants who do not meet these criteria may sometimes be considered on the basis of an excellent personal statement.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

This programme is suitable for international students on a Student visa – study must be full-time, face-to-face, starting September.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree


This is a multi-disciplinary programme that brings together students from a wide range of fields to explore the ways in which educational theory can be applied to the design, development, implementation and research of learning technologies. As such:

  • educators learn to incorporate new technologies into their practice,
  • developers bring concepts and evidence from learning sciences into the design and evaluation of technologies, and,
  • aspiring researchers build the skills for an academic career in this fast-moving field.

Optional modules include topic areas such as learning design, design thinking, artificial intelligence and learning analytics, among others.

While most tutors are based at the UCL Knowledge Lab, campus teaching is conducted at various UCL locations, including the IOE main building at 20 Bedford Way.

Who this course is for

This programme attracts a wide range of teachers and lecturers, software developers and technicians, NGO workers, education managers and administrators, local authority advisors, information resource managers and entrepreneurs. It is suited to those seeking continuing professional development, as well as those aiming for a research degree and academic career.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

The programme's combination of academic and practical multidisciplinary elements provides a unique skillset for a career in the rapidly developing Education and Technology sector, across academia and industry.

  • The blending of research and design methods with key issues and debates in the field will equip you with critical thinking skills and the ability to appraise and/or lead evaluation studies.
  • The optional modules provide the necessary background and skills to design and critically evaluate technology in a variety of contexts.

The teaching and learning strategies of the programme develop students' communication and collaborative skills, preparing them to work in interdisciplinary teams. The final dissertation/report gives them an opportunity to delve deeper in a topic that interests them and helps them develop transferable research project conceptualisation and management skills.

This programme is delivered by leading researchers in rapidly developing fields such as learning design, digital sociology, human- and child-computer interaction, artificial intelligence and learning analytics. It offers a number of opportunities for networking across different sectors in educational contexts, for example:

  • The UCL Knowledge Lab runs regular seminars and talks from external academic visitors, providing networking opportunities with academics.
  • Several projects within the UCL Knowledge Lab are in collaboration with edtech companies, providing potential opportunities to link with industry.
  • The programme attracts students from across the world providing international networking links across different educational sectors.

The MA attracts students from a wide variety of backgrounds and nationalities, providing scope for broad intellectual discussion and debate, and opportunities for multidisciplinary working, and global networking.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

The Education and Technology MA is highly regarded within education and industry. Graduates from our programme have gone on to develop their careers in the education sector as senior teachers and lecturers, learning technologists and digital education specialists, consultants, education researchers, and to undertake PhD research. Several entrepreneurs have chosen this Master's programme to bring concepts from the learning sciences to create evidence-informed learning technologies. Alumni work both in industry and non-profit sectors and many have set up their own businesses. Students have access to a lively alumni community, and we regularly invite alumni back to share their experiences with current students.

Studying at UCL facilitated a journey of personal growth. Returning to academic study awakened my creative self, reinforcing my self-belief and competence. A worthwhile investment.

UCL Portico building with welcome sign between columns.

Cemile Cakir

Education and Technology MA

Q&A with Cemile Cakir

Employability

Our graduates have a combination of critical and practical skills that position them as leaders in education and technology. Graduates are able to appraise and design approaches to education technology from a diverse range of perspectives. Graduates who focus on learning analytics have the skills to research and evaluate learning with technology and the contributions of Artificial Intelligence for learning. Graduates who focus on digital design thinking and making have the skills to design new technological approaches to learning. Graduates who focus on learning design have the skills to lead the design of online and blended learning. Graduates develop their specialism through their dissertation and their research orientation to education and technology differentiates them from the crowd.

Networking

During the programme we endeavour to provide you with opportunities to engage with professionals working in the field of education and technology. This can be in the form of guest speakers on the programme or seminars/webinars held at UCL Knowledge Lab. We attempt to make all such sessions available to both campus and distance learners. Your greatest networking resource is your fellow students, who are studying on the MA to position themselves as leaders in education and technology around the world. After you graduate, we run a LinkedIn group so you can connect with past MA students.

Teaching and learning

We make the most of digital methods in our teaching, and all students can expect to engage in active synchronous and asynchronous learning experiences. Campus based sessions are designed to maximise discussion, debate and developing practical and collaborative skills. Teaching is delivered through tutor presentations, individual and group work, student presentations and group discussions of reading and writing undertaken in preparation for sessions, both online and face-to-face. Some modules require regular weekly student collaboration in and outside the classroom, and it is thus expected that students who sign up for these can sustain the pace of this work.

Distance learners join in asynchronous learning activities and have dedicated Zoom sessions for live discussion of concepts and ideas.

Most modules are assessed by coursework (essays), but some include individual and group-work projects and practical, which can take various digital formats (e.g., video reflections, knowledge representations or learning designs).

The Dissertation module is an extended written assignment and allows students (with prior approval) the option of developing a prototype.

All modules combine synchronous and asynchronous contact time with staff. Synchronous in-person sessions for campus students or Zoom sessions for distance learners typically last between 1 and 3 hours. These are supplemented with asynchronous contact via Moodle-based learning activities (e.g., discussions). In order to complete all synchronous and asynchronous learning we estimate that you will need to allocate 15 hours study per module per week.

Modules

The programme consists of two compulsory modules (60 credits). Students also choose two optional modules (60 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits). Exceptionally, students may choose three optional modules (90 credits) and a report (30 credits). All our compulsory and optional modules can be taken either in-person or online apart from Digital Design Thinking and Making which is only available in person. Students are free to select one of their optional modules from the wider range of MA level modules offered across IOE/UCL subject to availability.

Students take a total of 180 credits over 2 years. In year one, students take Key Issues and Debates and two optional modules (total 90 credits). In the second year, students take Researching Digital Learning and either an optional module and a Report OR a Dissertation. All our compulsory and optional modules can be taken either in-person or online apart from Digital Design Thinking and Making which is only available in person. Students are free to select one of their optional modules from the wider range of MA level modules offered across IOE/UCL subject to availability.

Students can take between 2 and 5 years to complete the programme (180 credits) to suit their own pace. It is recommended to take Researching Digital Learning in the same year as your Dissertation or Report. All our compulsory and optional modules can be taken either in-person or online apart from Digital Design Thinking and Making which is only available in person. Students are free to select one of their optional modules from the wider range of MA level modules offered across IOE/UCL subject to availability.

Compulsory modules






Optional modules







Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Education and Technology.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Where you'll study

Department of Culture, Communication and Media

The Department of Culture, Communication and Media is committed to excellence in research and teaching in the areas of Art, Design and Museology, Academic writing, English education, Applied Linguistics, Music Education, Learning with Digital Technologies and teacher professional development.

Find out more about the department

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All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Digital Media: Critical Studies, Education and Production

Are you interested in the digital media and technology in society and education? We welcome you to book your place at our Virtual Open Event. You will meet our Programme Leaders, hear about the programmes you are interested in and have the chance to ask any questions you might have. These sessions are free and open to all.

Watch on demand event

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Education and Technology MA

Are you interested in the digital media and technology in society and education? We welcome you to book your place at our Virtual Open Event. You will meet our Programme Leaders, hear about the programmes you are interested in and have the chance to ask any questions you might have. These sessions are free and open to all.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £13,500 £6,750
Tuition fees (2025/26) £33,000 £16,500

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For flexible/modular offer holders a £500 fee deposit will be charged.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

Students should take into account any travel, accommodation and expenses involved in their Report or Dissertation.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

IOE-Clarke Scholarships

Deadline: 5 May 2025
Value: Tuition fees, return flights and stipend (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: EU, Overseas

IOE-ISH Centenary Masters Scholarships

Deadline: 5 May 2025
Value: Tuition fees and accommodation at International Students House (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: Overseas

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we are paying particular attention to the reasons you want to study Education and Technology at graduate level, why you want to study Education and Technology at UCL and how your professional experience with education and technology has given you the background to benefit from the programme. Please explain in detail how you have worked in the context of education and technology, how this has motivated you to apply to the programme and where you want to go professionally with your degree. Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to indicate how your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

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Got questions? Get in touch

Culture, Communication and Media
Culture, Communication and Media

ioe.ma.edtech@ucl.ac.uk

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