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Education, Health Promotion and International Development MA

London, Bloomsbury

This MA, grounded in the values of equity, empowerment, participation, social justice, and sustainability, allows you to deepen your understanding of theories and practices for promoting education, health, and wellbeing in low- and middle-income countries. You will develop new ways to analyse, evaluate, and generate knowledge in educational contexts to advance health and wellbeing. The course can be taken on campus, online, or in a blended format (on campus and online).

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£14,200
£7,100
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£32,000
£16,000
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

The minimum requirement for entry to this programme is a second class Bachelor’s degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. As the academic content on our MA programmes is demanding, we are particularly looking for applicants from relevant academic backgrounds – normally in social science, education or nursing, but a range of undergraduate programmes are accepted (including arts and humanities) - and/or who can demonstrate substantial relevant experience. For entry onto the MA Education, Health Promotion and International Development, we are particularly looking for applicants who can demonstrate a sufficient combination of experience in, and understanding of, health and health education/promotion, participatory practice and participatory research, in one or more low-/middle- income countries. Applicants are normally expected to have a minimum of one month’s experience working (paid or voluntary) in a low-/middle-income country.

The English language level for this course 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 course 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

Through this distinctive MA you will develop new ways of understanding, analysing, evaluating and creating knowledge related to promoting health and wellbeing through educational contexts.

By the end of the course, and through ongoing engagement with classes, with tutors and with your co-students, you should be able to: 

  • Analyse the latest academic and other sources of information to generate new insights into promoting education, health and wellbeing.
  • Understand how policy development, programming and professional practice can work in partnership with children, young people, adults and communities to promote wellbeing.
  • Evaluate critically a range of sources of information - including generative AI - for research and preparation of individual and group-based assignments.
  • Apply ethical and research frameworks to make an original and critical research contribution to the field on an educational- and wellbeing-related issue of relevance to you (within a low/middle income country context).

Taught by experts in the field, the course can be taken on campus, online (distance), or a combination of both (mixed mode). Please select the relevant mode of study at point of application. Note that distance and mixed mode options are not available to students applying for a student visa.

Who this course is for

We welcome applications from those with backgrounds in one or more of these areas: health, education, health promotion, arts and humanities, anthropology, psychology, sociology (and social sciences in general), nursing, medicine (and allied health professions), as well as in social development in low- or middle-income countries.

Applications are encouraged from those with substantial experience in low- and middle-income countries, as well as those with minimal experience in these country settings but who would like to extend and deepen their understanding of research, policy and practice in these contexts.

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

What this course will give you

UCL Institute of Education (IOE) is one of the world's leading centres for education and related areas of social science. For the twelfth year in succession IOE has been ranked as the world's leading university for Education (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025).

IOE is home to the Centre for Education and International Development (CEID), which comprises a team of internationally recognised experts in international development and education and which has nurtured world leaders in educational practice and research for over 85 years. 

Centre staff have extensive experience and expertise in education-related research and practice in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Themes addressed include equality and human rights, gender, migration, race, health and wellbeing, sexuality, disability, social class, conflict and peacebuilding.

The MA provides you with opportunities to explore and examine the links between three academic and professional fields - education, health promotion and international development. It encourages a consideration of the ways that these fields are distinctive, yet inter-related, and how evidence- and values-informed practice might best contribute to working across professional boundaries, enhancing wellbeing and advocating for social justice.

Students learn alongside tutors who hold a breadth and depth of expertise in education, health promotion, social research and international development and who have professional experience in national and international contexts. Tutors are active in research on areas related to physical and emotional health and wellbeing, international development, refugees, young people, gender and sexuality, teaching and pedagogy and curriculum development.

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

The foundation of your career

In addition to being accepted onto doctoral courses, graduates of this Master's degree have been engaged as:

  • Policymakers and advisers in government ministries and departments
  • Policy advocates and programme managers in international NGOs and development agencies
  • Social research consultants
  • Teachers and lecturers in schools, colleges and universities
  • International development consultants

(Graduate Outcomes Survey 2017-22 and information held by the department)

The best thing about my course is that my course leader motivated me to better myself academically, and to also feel free to be open-minded and creative in my studies.

UCL Portico building with welcome sign between columns.

Ave Le Blanc

Education, Health Promotion and International Development MA

Q&A with Ave Le Blanc

Employability

Graduates of this Master's degree will be expected to have developed a number of attributes through the course – these often being transferable and relevant to a range of career paths. These include:

  • Effective verbal and written communication, including being able to present information clearly and of value to different audiences. 
  • Proficiency in collaborating effectively with others including being able to understand, and engage with, diverse perspectives. 
  • Expertise in analysing complex situations, identifying problems, and developing equitable, creative and effective responses.
  • Be adept at thinking critically, evaluating theory and information analytically, forming well-reasoned arguments and applying this to real-world challenges. 
  • Proficiency in understanding one’s own strengths, areas for improvement, and understanding what contributes to one’s own and others’ empowerment, growth and learning.  
  • Be adaptable to new situations, embrace diversity, and being able to learn from continuously changing contexts, communities and individuals.
  • Proficiency in the critical use of digital tools and technologies for study, communication and to support participation and empowerment. 
  • Awareness and demonstration of ethical personal and professional practices which contribute to equitable advocacy and social justice.

Networking

During your time at UCL, you will be able to build networks with other students on this and the other courses in the Education and International Development cluster, academic staff and alumni in the Centre for Education and International Development, as well as the broader UCL community and international development field.

Teaching and learning

The course is taught through a combination of lectures, participatory and interactive groupwork, online learning and individual tutorials.

Teaching intends to provide you with a critical perspective on a range of different theoretical and practice-based frameworks. You will be expected to apply what you have learned to the production of coherent and engaging writing as well as other forms of communication (such as presentations). 

To assist with the development of characteristics for employability, students are expected and supported to not only engage with in-person and online discussions, but also lead conversations and presentations using these different modes of communication. This echoes the ways that professionals across the field increasingly connect with one another and with non-specialist or community audiences.

Students' work is assessed through a range of methods which may include coursework essays or other written assignments, oral presentations and group projects, plus a sustained research study in the form of a dissertation. UCL’s module catalogue details individual module assessments, but please note these may be subject to change annually.

The number of contact hours per week will depend on the number of credits studied each term. For example, for each 30-credit taught module, students normally receive around 30 hours of direct teaching per term (either online or face-to-face), as well as up to one hour tutorial time.

Students are themselves also expected to contribute up to 300 learning hours (a little over 37 days at 8 hours per day - during and between terms). This consists of your own self-directed study such as, preparation for classes and online learning activities, reading (individual and with other students), searching for new literature related to your area of interest, assignment preparation and completion.

Most taught modules are 30-credits. Your compulsory dissertation is 60-credits, and so requires 600 hours or 80 days of study time.

Modules

As a full-time student, you will complete the course within one calendar year.

The course consists of two compulsory taught modules, a compulsory research/dissertation module and two optional taught modules.

You can study the course on-campus/face-to-face or mixed mode (which is a combination of on-campus/face-to-face and online) or wholly online.

Your Course Leader and/or Personal Academic Tutor can discuss with you an appropriate combination of compulsory and optional modules that might best align with your own professional and personal interests.

As a part-time student, you will complete the course within two calendar years.

The course consists of two compulsory taught modules, a compulsory research/dissertation module and two optional taught modules.

You can study the course on-campus/face-to-face or mixed mode (which is a combination of on-campus/face-to-face and online) or wholly online.

Your Course Leader and/or Personal Academic Tutor can discuss with you an appropriate combination of compulsory and optional modules that might best align with your own professional and personal interests.

For part-time study it is recommended that you begin your course with the two compulsory taught modules.

As a student on a flexible basis, you will complete the course over two to five calendar years.

The course consists of two compulsory taught modules, a compulsory research/dissertation module and two optional taught modules.

You can study the course on-campus/face-to-face or mixed mode (which is a combination of on-campus/face-to-face and online) or wholly online.

Your Course Leader and/or Personal Academic Tutor can discuss with you an appropriate combination of compulsory and optional modules that might best align with your own professional and personal interests.

For flexible study it is recommended that you begin your course with the two compulsory taught modules.

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, Health Promotion and International Development.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is not a compulsory part of the course. However, students are encouraged to draw from their professional or voluntary experience as well as the ideas encountered during the course to write critically and cogently for different audiences. The small-scale research study (dissertation) often takes the form of a combination of desk-based research (a literature review) and fieldwork.

Placement

Placements are not routinely part of the course. But good links have been established between the course and UCL Volunteering Services. Some students have also taken part in UCL ChangeMakers. These can provide those studying in London with valuable international development-related experience. That said, both on-campus and online/distance learning students are encouraged to bring their own interests and concerns into their course, helping to make it personally relevant and professionally significant.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Where you'll study

people at a table

The Department of Education, Practice and Society has specialists from a wide variety of disciplines who undertake research to support education throughout the life course by contributing to economic, social and political debate as well as development in societies, nationally and internationally.

Find out more about the Education, Practice and Society department

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Education and International Development

Are you passionate about shaping global contemporary practice and policy? 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. Be part of a world-leading centre for research and teaching working to make a difference in the world.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £14,200 £7,100
Tuition fees (2026/27) £32,000 £16,000

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course 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 with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a £350 deposit will be charged.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a £500 deposit will be charged.

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

Students may choose to organise and undertake placement or fieldwork in relation to their research for their dissertation, but this is not a requirement. If undertaken, placement or fieldwork must be self-funded.

Students are responsible for covering any travel, accommodation, and other expenses involved in conducting research for their dissertation, and should account for these costs when planning their finances.

For in-person teaching, 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 £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. 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

GREAT Scholarship

Deadline: 7th May 2026
Value: £10,000 towards tuition fees (1 year)
Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need
Eligibility: EU, 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 course of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn about:

  • Why you want to study education, health promotion and international development at graduate level and at UCL

In particular, we want you to describe:

  • Relevant academic, professional and/or voluntary experience in promoting health and wellbeing through education
  • Your experience of working with marginalised groups in participatory ways
  • Your experience of qualitative research
  • Any other experience you consider relevant to the course values of: equity, empowerment, participation, social justice and sustainability
  • Where you would like to go professionally with your degree. 

We expect applicants to have relevant experience of at least one month in a low- or middle-income country (as defined by the World Bank).

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this course are aligned with the course to which you are applying.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (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: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Education, Practice and Society
Education, Practice and Society

ioe.ma.ehpid@ucl.ac.uk

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