Special and Inclusive Education (Specific Learning Difficulties) MA

London, Bloomsbury

This route within the Master's in Special and Inclusive Education focuses on Specific Learning Difficulties (dyslexia)/literacy difficulties. Students will be introduced to cutting-edge theory and research and consider how it links to policy and practice. This MA will appeal to students looking to consolidate and enhance their knowledge; develop their professional practice and/or progress to doctoral study or employment in this specialist 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 – 27 Jun 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

Entry requirements

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. Applicants will also normally have some related professional experience.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 3

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

Students will gain a comprehensive and critical understanding of theory and research relevant to special and inclusive education, as well as its applicability to policy and practice; with a specific focus on Specific Learning Difficulties (dyslexia)/literacy difficulties.

Through a variety of taught sessions, independent activities and group/individual assessments, students on the programme will graduate with a broad range of knowledge (including subject-specific knowledge), intellectual, academic and research skills; and practical and transferrable skills. Learning will prepare students for a future within the field of inclusive education and/or the specialism outlined.

Who this course is for

This programme would appeal to those working within education, both in the UK and within international settings (e.g., teachers, teaching assistants) who have an interest in working with children, young people or adults with special educational needs and disabilities. We particularly welcome those with personal experience of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), e.g., family members, individuals with disabilities, including dyslexia. 

What this course will give you

This unique programme provides students with the opportunity to engage with the latest theory and research on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), whilst specialising in Specific Learning Difficulties (dyslexia)/literacy difficulties. Led by academics from the internationally recognised UCL Centre for Inclusive Education (CIE); together with a team of world leading tutors (researchers, academics, and professionals) from the Department of Psychology and Human Development (PHD), students will benefit from a cutting-edge programme of taught sessions, independent activities and group/individual assessments; all of which will deepen their knowledge, challenge their thinking and enhance their employability or current workplace practice. London offers a rich and diverse population so students can focus on neurodiversity within a wide range of communities and study at IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society, which is repeatedly ranked #1 in the world for education (QS World University Rankings by subject).

Students choosing this MA benefit from a rigorous academic programme. Critical engagement with current research and evidence-informed practice on special and inclusive education (focusing on Specific Learning Difficulties (dyslexia)/literacy difficulties) provides a thorough grounding for those new to the field. It also challenges the thinking and deepens the knowledge of those with prior (academic, personal or professional) experience in special and inclusive education and/or Specific Learning Difficulties (dyslexia)/literacy difficulties. Input from a broad range of experts ensures strong relevance to practice. This highly regarded course will hugely benefit any educational setting, as well as the individual student We strongly encourage students as alumni to maintain links and engage in future research projects.

The MA programme is designed for national and international students with rich and varied professional and/or personal experiences; offering valuable opportunities for networking and collaborative learning. The programme would also be suitable for less experienced applicants hoping to develop new skills and knowledge for future careers in the field. 

At the end of the programme, students are encouraged to join our Professional Learning Networks (PLNs); to continue their personal and professional development and to provide further opportunities for peer-to-peer learning alongside fellow alumni. This programme, alongside the diverse range of events and initiatives provided by PHD, IOE and UCL and our centres of excellence (such as the Centre for Inclusive Education), offers a transformative experience for students interested in special and inclusive education and/or Specific Learning Difficulties (dyslexia)/literacy difficulties.

The foundation of your career

Students on this programme can broaden their career horizons within the educational settings in which they work (if applicable) and/or develop skills that can be used in a wide range of careers within or outside the field of special education and Specific Learning Difficulties (dyslexia)/literacy difficulties. Students will also develop skills in the areas of personal organisation and time management; oral and written communication; collaborative working; computing and IT; presentations; critical, adaptive and reflective thinking; problem solving; research and inquiry.

I really appreciated the practical elements of the course, where we were introduced to the little things that can be done or used to help children within the classroom, whether it is printing on coloured paper, utilising everyday objects, or which children’s authors to recommend and read from for children with dyslexia.

Mona Mettawa - Special and Inclusive Education (Specific Learning Difficulties) MA, class of 2023

Mona Mettawa

Special and Inclusive Education (Specific Learning Difficulties) MA

Employability

Graduates could seek future employment in a broad range of areas, for example: as senior leaders in mainstream, special schools and other educational settings; and/or directly supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Graduates may also pursue pathways as literacy leaders or working in the field of Specific Learning Difficulties (dyslexia). Graduates may choose careers within specialist services for children and young people with SEND or SEND charities; or consider opportunities in government and policymaking positions. Some will choose to follow research pathways and/or work in Higher Education or as consultants.

Networking

The programme team provide enrichment opportunities that relate to the taught content (e.g., optional seminars that focus on academic writing, new research directions in the field, and students' sharing their own practice; career talks from alumni; and local school visits to observe inclusive practices). Students also have access to talks and events in the wider department, which often involve external speakers. Through these enrichment opportunities, students are able to network with their peers on the programme, tutors, alumni (both home and international), experienced researchers and practitioners.

Teaching and learning

The MA is taught through a combination of face-to-face lectures/seminars, plus online materials and lectures (blended learning), group discussions, small group and/ or one-to-one tutorials.

Compulsory and optional modules are assessed through a range of different assessment types; including presentations, written assignments, case studies and multiple-choice questions. For some modules students may choose from a range of assignment titles or may be able to negotiate their own title. In addition, students will be required to choose to write either a research report or a dissertation in the final year of the programme.

Contact hours are module dependent, but each 30-credit module will equate to 300 hours of study time. Each module will include contact with faculty via a range of forums (e.g., individual tuition, whole/small group lectures/seminars, group presentations, online materials on learning platform Moodle).

Modules

Full-time students over the course of a year will undertake four compulsory modules: Understanding Specific Learning Difficulties (dyslexia); Intervention for literacy difficulties: Evidence and application; Concepts and Contexts of Inclusive Education and Research Design and Methodology (total 120 credits). Students will also choose either a dissertation (60 credits) or a research report (30 credits) plus one optional module (30 credits). The first term is busy, with students attending 3 Modules; two of these are taught face to face and the third taught through a combination of face to face and online lectures. Please see further details of Modules below. 

Part-time students will take three compulsory modules in their first year: Understanding Specific Learning Difficulties (dyslexia); Intervention for literacy difficulties: Evidence and application; Concepts and Contexts of Inclusive Education (total 90 credits). 

In their second year, students will take the fourth compulsory module (Research Design and Methodology) and complete either the dissertation or an optional module, plus the research report (total 90 credits). 

Flexible modular students must complete the programme between 2 to 5 years. Students must take the compulsory module Concepts and Contexts of  Inclusive Education in their first year of study. The compulsory module ‘Understanding Specific Learning Difficulties (dyslexia)’, should be taken before the compulsory module ‘Intervention for literacy difficulties: Evidence and application’. Optional modules can be taken at any point during the remainder of the programme; students can take one optional module if choosing the Report. The Research Design and Methodology module, and either a Dissertation or Report, must be taken in the final year of study. 

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.

Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Special and Inclusive Education (Specific Learning Difficulties).

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.

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

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

Part-time students may apply for the UK Government Postgraduate Loan. Visit the DfE website for information. Payments for the full master's are spread equally over the two years (students pay for 90 credits per year). Please note if a student leaves the course at the end of the first year, they will be required to pay the outstanding fees, as they will have attended the first 3 modules in year one (120 credits).

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

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

Next steps

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 would like to learn:

Why you are interested in following the specialist Specific Learning Difficulties route and what attracted you to this programme? What is your interest in dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties? 

We would additionally like to learn:

  • why you want to study Special and Inclusive Education at graduate level?
  • why you want to study Special and Inclusive Education at UCL?
  • what particularly attracts you to the chosen programme?
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme?
  • 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 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

UCL is regulated by the Office for Students.