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Social Justice and Education MA

London, Bloomsbury

‘Social justice’ is often linked to education, but what does it really mean? Join us to consider the complex links between social justice, equity and education on the Social Justice and Education MA.  In conversation with leading scholars and your peers, you will study cutting-edge sociological perspectives and theories to analyse research, policies and practices in this area. You will develop crucial analytical, methodological, collaborative and practical skills for engaging critically with social justice in ways relevant to your own professional, personal and / or activist life.

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 closed

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 with strong and relevant academic backgrounds, normally in sociology and/ or education. A range of other academic backgrounds may be considered where applicants can demonstrate other strengths. For instance, we also look for applicants who can demonstrate substantial relevant experience in educational organisations.

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 Social Justice and Education MA enables you to consider the concept in depth. You will develop a comprehensive theoretical understanding of the dynamics of justice and injustice in education, drawing in particular on sociological perspectives. You will review and debate important and topical themes within current educational scholarship, policies and pedagogies (such as ‘race’ and racism, gender, sexuality, (dis)ability, social class, decoloniality, global education reform, neoliberalism and neoconservatism), with a particular emphasis on their intersectionality, their connections to equity, and on creating social change. You are also supported to create your own research to explore these issues for yourself in your own context.

Who this course is for

This course is suited to teachers and education-related professionals, including those from any international context. Those who are interested in working in social justice sectors, including NGOs, are well placed for this course. It is also ideal for those wishing to gain high-level research skills in the area of social justice and education. 

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

What this course will give you

The context of the Social Justice and Education MA creates a particularly vibrant and powerful learning community. The MA forms part of a Sociology Cluster with the Policy Studies in Education MA and the Sociology of Education MA. The three courses share modules, and the MA Course Leaders and Module Leaders work closely together as a team. You therefore gain invaluable opportunities to study and network with a wider cohort of home and international students, with a range of backgrounds and experiences, during your time with us.

The MA is based in the department of Education, Practice and Society at the world-leading UCL Institute of Education (IOE), which has been ranked number one in the world for Education for twelve consecutive years (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025). The department itself is home to an interdisciplinary grouping bringing together high-quality teaching and research in the history, sociology and philosophy of education, international development, post-compulsory and vocational education and higher education. 

The MA is taught by sociologists and philosophers within the department, mainly from the highly-regarded Centre for the Sociology of Education and Equity (CSEE). You will be learning from active researchers with international reputations for their innovative scholarship, public engagement and impact, who will introduce you to the latest developments in their fields. We also take advantage of our London location, with its rich history of radical social movements, to offer optional visits to community organisations engaged in archiving past, and developing contemporary, activist practices. 

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme
Making an impact
Charlotte Milner speaking in front of a classroom. She holds a mic and a paper. She has long blonde hair and is wearing a blazer.

Decolonising geography

What does ‘decolonising’ geography mean? Through studying at IOE, Charlotte explores how geography helps children imagine alternative futures by engaging with coloniality, racism, and resistance.

The foundation of your career

The majority of students who graduate from the Social Justice and Education MA go on to highly skilled employment, further study or research. Recent graduates have progressed to further postgraduate or PhD study in UCL or other UK and overseas institutions. Many work in primary, secondary, further and higher education as researchers, lecturers, teachers, administrators and managers; in local or national government policy departments or organisations; in think tanks and other NGOs; as consultants; or in related sectors such as health and social care (Graduate Outcomes Surveys 2017-2022).

Employability

Graduates of this course are deeply knowledgeable and highly reflexive about the nature and dilemmas of social justice and education, with substantive critical competency in a broad range of sociological theory, research and practice in the international field of education. The international mix of students on the course results in graduates who take a broad critical perspective on global issues and challenges and who are part of networks that can sustain them through their working and personal lives. They have transferable skills in teamwork, collaborative approaches to learning, analytical and critical thinking. They can summarise and apply diverse bodies of literature and theory, and present fluent written and spoken arguments and reflections. They are independent scholars who design and execute research projects in depth on topics they choose.

The course ensures that you are informed about career information sessions that UCL offers. Every student is assigned a personal academic tutor who has the responsibility, among other things, to help advise on your career options.

Networking

The course attracts students from a range of backgrounds and nationalities, providing opportunities for global networking. These are further enhanced by its close relationship with the Policy Studies in Education and Sociology of Education MAs, meaning a wide and varied cohort of students are encountered on every module. Alumni are regularly invited back to share their experiences of research during the course and their career development since completing the course. You will encounter academics at the many seminars and events provided within the Centre for Sociology of Education and Equity, by the Department, the Faculty and UCL more broadly, as well as at Sociology cluster socials.

Teaching and learning

The modules in this course are delivered through face-to-face evening sessions using a variety of teaching and learning styles. For example, lectures provide an overview of a field and these may be delivered live and in-person, or pre-recorded and posted online for you to engage with at your convenience. In-person seminars are highly interactive and may involve, for example, open discussion, debates, group work, discussion of set reading, generating collective resources, discussing vignettes, arts-based approaches, role play, developing presentations to peers, and other activities. These sessions are often complemented by online interactions such as discussions in online forums. 

All course and module materials (such as reading lists and links to set readings, slides from lectures and seminars) are available through the Virtual Learning Environment Moodle. We also offer a tailored online course of support and study skills in conjunction with the Academic Writing Centre and the IOE library.

In preparing your dissertations or reports, you are provided with one-to-one supervision to discuss progress, alongside group support sessions on different aspects of the research process. 

Assessment takes a variety of forms. It can involve written coursework assignments, drawing on the module materials and shaped by your own interests. These are combined with shorter tasks, such as reflecting on the outcomes of literature searches; identifying essay topics and explaining their personal significance; providing peer or reflective feedback; individual or group presentations or other forms of oral assessment. The submission of a report or a dissertation is also required. There will be opportunities for formative feedback before final submission.

Each 30-credit module is intended to represent 300 hours of study, most of it self-directed. Typically modules run for ten weeks, with lectures, engagement activities, and seminars. For full-time students, typical contact hours across two modules are around six to nine hours per week during term time, involving six hours teaching plus approximately two to three hours optional sessions, office hours and support sessions. 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.

Please note that all our Sociology Cluster module in-person sessions run in the evenings, from approximately 17:00. This is to enable students who are working during the day (such as UK-based education professionals) to attend.

Modules

Full-time students will complete the course within one academic year.

The Social Justice and Education MA has three compulsory modules. A taught module is a one-term course, usually involving attendance at ten teaching sessions starting at 17:00 or 17:30, and developing written and other assignments for assessment.

The first core taught module is Sociology of Education (Autumn term), which offers significant insights into the relationship between education and the state, society, and the individual.

The second is the Understanding Education Research module, Autumn term, which is designed to cover key concepts and methodologies in the analysis of education research and to support the development of your Dissertation or Report.

The third is a choice between either a Dissertation or a Report, where you develop your own research in conjunction with a supervisor and a course of support sessions.

You also have the opportunity to select two (if choosing the Dissertation) or three (if choosing the Report) optional modules.
Rights and Education is a recommended optional module for students undertaking the Social Justice and Education MA.

Part-time students will complete the course within two academic years.

The Social Justice and Education MA has three compulsory modules. A taught module is a one-term course, usually involving attendance at ten teaching sessions starting at 17:00 or 17:30, and developing written and other assignments for assessment.

The first core taught module is Sociology of Education , Autumn term of the first year of study, which offers significant insights into the relationship between education and the state, society, and the individual.

The second is the Understanding Education Research module, Autumn term, which is designed to cover key concepts and methodologies in the analysis of education research and to support the development of your Dissertation or Report. 

The third is a choice between either a Dissertation or a Report, where you develop your own research in conjunction with a supervisor and a course of support sessions.

Part-time students take no more than one module per term, completing 90 credits in each year of the two-year course. Normally in the first year students take Sociology of Education in the Autumn term followed by two optional modules.

Rights and Education is a recommended optional module for students undertaking the Social Justice and Education MA.

Flexible students have up to five years to complete.

The Social Justice and Education MA has three compulsory modules. A taught module is a one-term course, usually involving attendance at ten teaching sessions starting at 17:00 or 17:30, and developing written and other assignments for assessment.

The first core taught module is Sociology of Education , Autumn term, which offers significant insights into the relationship between education and the state, society, and the individual.

The second is the Understanding Education Research module, Autumn term, which is designed to cover key concepts and methodologies in the analysis of education research and to support the development of your Dissertation or Report. You should aim to take this module in the year you also undertake your Report or Dissertation. 

The third is a choice between either a Dissertation or a Report, where you develop your own research in conjunction with a supervisor and a course of support sessions.

Rights and Education is a recommended optional module for students undertaking the Social Justice and Education MA.

UK students should note that the flexible route is not eligible for a Postgraduate Student Loan. 

Compulsory modules






Optional modules








Social Theory and the Study of Contemporary Social Problems




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 Social Justice and Education.

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.

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Graduate Open Events: Master's courses in Social Justice, Policy and Sociology of Education

Be inspired by academics with first-hand experience of world-leading research and knowledge creation. Meet our academics, hear about the courses 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.

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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. (Given the time and cost involved, we generally encourage students who do not already have DBS to choose alternative research approaches)

For dissertations, you may choose to organise and undertake fieldwork (this can include interviews online or face to face, or visits to schools and other organisations). You should take into account any travel, accommodation and expenses involved in your dissertation or report. If you undertake fieldwork for your dissertation or report, it must be self-funded.

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

NOW CLOSED FOR 2026/27 ENTRY
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:

  • why you want to study Social Justice and Education at graduate level
  • why you want to study Social Justice and Education at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to the chosen course
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging course
  • some idea of the sociological theories, scholars and issues relating to social justice and education that interest you
  • 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.

We look for a strong academic background in general, since the course is intellectually demanding. We particularly look for some background in Sociology, as its concepts are key to the course, or in Education and other cognate fields, and/or experience as an educator. Your application will still be considered if you do not have these, but you would need to address this explicitly in your Personal Statement.

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

s.bragg@ucl.ac.uk

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