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Primary Education (4-12) MA

London, Bloomsbury

The Primary Education (4-12) MA develops critical understanding of policy development in primary education within the UK and internationally. It meets the rapidly changing needs of professionals educating young children, in examining critically the bases for current practices in primary schools, providing insight into international developments in primary education and in offering opportunities to work with leading researchers and practitioners in the field.

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)
£35,400
£17,700
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

Normally a minimum of a lower second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Students should also ideally have direct professional involvement with pre-school or primary education either in or outside the UK.

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

The course offers opportunities to engage with the latest research and international debate concerning curriculum, pedagogy and assessment and its implications for professional practice in primary education. Students will develop knowledge and skills to evaluate and conduct educational research related to their professional interests and develop their own perspectives as leaders in primary education. It does not provide qualified teacher status.

Who this course is for

Candidates are expected to have some experience of working with children aged between 4-12 years old. This work can be in a paid or voluntary capacity.

This course is suited to a wide range of professionals involved in primary education seeking continuing professional development, such as class teachers, curriculum co-ordinators, senior leaders, policy advisers, consultants and lecturers in higher education, and those working with children in related fields such as museums or children's services and publishing.

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).

The Primary and Early Years Education staff team at IOE have been at the forefront of international research for two decades including the renowned Effective Pre-School, Primary and Secondary Education (EPPSE) project. The course also has strong links to the innovative Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy (0-11). This will give you access to some of the most up to date research and researchers in Primary Education in the UK and internationally.

This degree supports understanding and insights into primary education nationally and internationally, and contributes to personal and professional development in the field of study. For example: "the course equips me with a thorough understanding of the primary education system, education policies, contemporary issues, and good practices in primary education." (International student). 

Previous students have found it helpful in developing their critical awareness of how policy and practice interact and its influence on their practice, for example: -"linking classroom and school practice to research and thinking about the implications of research findings and resulting possibilities." (E. Taylor-Jones)

You will study in a supportive environment where wellbeing, inclusion and collegiality are hallmarks. The staff, both academic and professional, are approachable and supportive, working with you and your peers from a variety of backgrounds, to have the optimum learning experience. Being on the course gives you access to the UCL IOE Library, the largest education library in Europe, stocked with a variety of physical and online resources including our internationally renowned Special Collections. The library resources at your disposal gives you access to the most recent and relevant information and literature on education obtainable from any part of the world.

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

The foundation of your career

By taking this course students develop an international, critical and deep understanding of primary leadership, curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. Participants have used their studies to gain promotion, apply for new careers and to set up educational businesses. 

My employer especially appreciated my experience in immersion teaching and my understanding of UK’s primary school system. Thanks to the MA, and especially my tutor Dr Amanda Ince, I had the flexibility and support to explore a topic that I’m really passionate about in my dissertation, which was about Chinese immersion and non-immersion teaching approaches in a UK primary education context.

Jing Wang, Primary Education MA graduate

Jing Wang

Primary Education (4-12) MA

Q&A with Jing Wang

Employability

Graduates of this course are currently working in a broad range of careers, both nationally and internationally. Many have leadership roles in schools (both state and private), for example as school mentors for early career teachers, subject leaders, phase co-ordinators, assistant head teachers or head teachers. Others work as education advisers and consultants across a range of schools or as inspectors and policymakers at both local and national levels. Graduates can also be found working as researchers, lecturers and teacher educators in higher education and in educational services outside schools such as museums, publishing, children's support services and online educational companies.

Networking

Led by world-leading experts at IOE, this course supports students in developing knowledge and skills to address challenges at the local, national, and international levels. 

The students have the opportunity to be taught by leading academics at the discipline of Primary Education and to work with students across the course, department and faculty.

Teaching and learning

This course is delivered through face-to-face teaching, facilitation, multimedia presentations and activity-based learning. Each module is supported by materials on our virtual learning environment.

This course is delivered through face-to-face sessions which are a mix of mainly evenings 5.00-8.00pm and a few Saturdays across the year. Sessions are a mixture of input by specialists and discussion in seminars and workshops. Assessment is through a variety of approaches such as written essays, presentations, directed tasks and a dissertation/dissertation portfolio.

For full-time students, typical contact hours are around six to eight hours per week. Outside of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments.

In terms one and two full-time students can typically expect between six and eight contact hours per teaching week through a mixture of lectures, seminars, online formative feedback and tutorials. In term three and the summer period students will be completing their own dissertation research, keeping regular contact with their dissertation supervisors.

Contact hours for part-time students will depend on the modules selected. Typically a part-time student will only work on one module in any one term. For each module, typical contact hours vary between three and four per week and students will additionally engage in approximately 10 hours of self-study per module.

The time allocated to self-directed study will vary depending on which module the student chooses and tutors will advise you in how to manage your workload.

Modules

Full-time students take all modules over one academic year. 

The course has four compulsory modules:

  • Primary Education Policies and Practices (PEPP)
  • Researching Early Years and Primary Education (REYPE)
  • Global Debates and Research into Practice: Educating Children Aged 4-12
  • Dissertation/ Report/ Dissertation Portfolio: the Primary Education (4-12) MA course offers various pathways for students to demonstrate their expertise, including the option to complete a dissertation, report, or dissertation portfolio, each designed to reflect and enhance their academic and professional development.

Each module runs only once per academic year. 

You will also select one optional module. Each module should be completed in one term and have assignments in different formats. If you choose to do a report, you'll need to select two optional modules instead of one.

Students will receive full support from the course team to help them choose the option that best fits their interests.

For part-time students the course runs over two years with a module per term.

The course has four compulsory modules:

  • Primary Education Policies and Practices (PEPP)
  • Researching Early Years and Primary Education (REYPE)
  • Global Debates and Research into Practice: Educating Children Aged 4-12
  • Dissertation/ Report/ Dissertation Portfolio: the Primary Education (4-12) MA course offers various pathways for students to demonstrate their expertise, including the option to complete a dissertation, report, or dissertation portfolio, each designed to reflect and enhance their academic and professional development.

Part-time students typically complete the course as below:
Year One
PEPP - 30 credits 
Optional module - 30 credits 
Global Debates and Research into Practice: Educating Children Aged 4-12 - 30 credits

Year Two
REYPE - 30 credits
Dissertation/ Report*/ Dissertation Portfolio

*Optional module if writing a report.

Students must remain enrolled throughout the maximum of five years.

The course has four compulsory modules:

  • Primary Education Policies and Practices (PEPP)
  • Researching Early Years and Primary Education (REYPE)
  • Global Debates and Research into Practice: Educating Children Aged 4-12
  • Dissertation/ Report/ Dissertation Portfolio: the Primary Education (4-12) MA course offers various pathways for students to demonstrate their expertise, including the option to complete a dissertation, report, or dissertation portfolio, each designed to reflect and enhance their academic and professional development.

Students on a flexible basis can complete the MA over a period of time, between two and five years and the selection of modules is a combination of the teaching offer and student's choice. The modules run once per year and we recommend PEPP first and then REYPE just before Dissertation, Report, or Dissertation Portfolio, which needs to be the final module.

If you choose to do a report, you'll need to select two optional modules instead of one.

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 take modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Primary Education (4-12).

Fieldwork

There may be an opportunity in the Autumn term to make an optional visit a primary school (subject to availability), particularly for those unfamiliar with the English education system. This visit may incur a small charge made by the school (see additional costs). This is subject to  government restrictions and may change at short notice.

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.

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) £35,400 £17,700

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.

DBS may be required depending on the type of research undertaken for the dissertation module. The DBS application cost will be covered by UCL, but offer holders will also need to have their ID checked and verified at a Post Office, for which they will incur a charge of £15 (note, this was the fee for 2025 but may change). The offer holder is also required to arrange and pay for any overseas police check that may be necessary; costs vary by country. For more information about the DBS application process, please contact the Admissions team.

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.

This course may offer optional field trips to students. These are not compulsory and do not affect final grades. The exact cost of each field trip will depend on the location, prevailing exchange rates, and the price of travel and accommodation. It is estimated that students would need to contribute between £200 and £800 per field trip depending on the destination.

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

IOE - Aziz Foundation Scholarships

Value: Full tuition fees (1 year)
Criteria Based on academic merit
Eligibility: UK

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

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:

  • why you want to study Primary Education at graduate level
  • why you want to study Primary Education at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to the chosen course
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging course
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this course match what the course will deliver.

This course is an academic masters, it does not offer Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) to teach in the UK. 

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

Learning and Leadership
Learning and Leadership

ioe.maprimary@ucl.ac.uk

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