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Specific Learning Difficulties (dyslexia) MA

London, Bloomsbury

This is the programme information for 2026/27 entry

If you require details of the previous year's programme, Specific Learning Difficulties (dyslexia) MA (2025/26), click here

Literacy is a gateway to opportunity, yet for many learners with lived experience of Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs) such as dyslexia, that gateway can feel frustratingly out of reach. This course is built on the belief that every learner deserves to be understood, supported, and empowered. This leading course in the field of dyslexia prepares you to critically evaluate and develop evidence-informed practice to become a specialist teacher and specialist assessor of learners with literacy difficulties. This course is recognised by the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) and leads to Approved Teacher Status (ATS), Approved Practitioner Status (APS), and Associate Member of the BDA (AMBDA) and an Assessment Practising Certificate (APC).

UK students International students

Study mode

UK tuition fees (2026/27)

Fees to be confirmed

£7,100

Part-time students take 120 credits in Year 1 and 60 credits in Year 2, but tuition fees are split equally across both years (90/90). Therefore, students withdrawing in Year 1 must pay additional fees for the extra 30 credits.

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)

Fees to be confirmed

£17,700

Duration

Not applicable

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

A minimum of a second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university in a relevant subject, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard is required. A minimum of two years’ experience in an educational role e.g., teacher/teaching assistant is also a requirement and ideally, appropriate experience of working with children with literacy difficulties. Students will need access to pupils under the age of 16 with literacy difficulties to teach and assess. Students will need DBS clearance for modules two and three and the research report.

The English language level for this course 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 course is not suitable for international students on a Student visa.

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 course explores the complex and varied nature of dyslexia and related SpLDs, asking critical questions: How do we identify and assess diverse learning profiles? Why do neurodevelopmental difficulties like dyslexia and dyscalculia overlap? How can we tailor interventions to meet individual needs in inclusive and equitable ways? What does it mean to be a specialist teacher in a world where educational needs are increasingly recognised as dynamic and intersectional?

Taught by key researchers and professionals in the field, rooted in evidence-based practice and informed by the latest research, the programme combines theoretical depth with practical application. Whether you're looking to deepen your understanding of cognitive and linguistic development, learn how literacy difficulties can be assessed and identified or how to develop personalised support programmes, this course will equip you with skills and knowledge.

You can learn all the skills necessary to become an accredited specialist teacher and assessor. You may hope to lead change in educational settings, if so this course offers you a rigorous and rewarding pathway. Graduates leave not only with accredited specialist qualifications for teaching and assessing learners of varied ages, but with a renewed sense of purpose: to champion the potential of every learner, and to shape a more inclusive educational future.

Who this course is for

This course will appeal to you if you are passionate about inclusive educational practices and neurodiversity, have an interest in working with learners with literacy difficulties, dyslexia, and related learning needs and/or wish to gain the ATS, APS or AMBDA qualifications that will enable you to become a specialist teacher or practising assessor with an Assessment Practising Certificate (APC).

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

What this course will give you

This course is taught by a range of leading researchers and professionals in the field of dyslexia. It offers a rigorous academic course combined with professional practice qualifications, fully recognised by the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) and taught at UCL Institute of Education (IOE), an internationally recognised university ranked as world #1 for education (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025). As a student of this course, you have access to leading researchers in the field and opportunities to create your own piece of research supervised and guided by the Department of Psychology and Human Development.

The professional accreditation associated with this course supports you to gain qualifications which lead to recognition as an approved specialist teacher and assessor.

We encourage continued contact with our alumni, who attend professional learning networks that occur regularly during the year. Alumni who are currently expert practitioners in the field are involved in providing practical workshops on the course and will support you by providing insights into how to apply theory to practice with children and young people in varied educational settings.

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

The foundation of your career

This course offers opportunities for you to broaden your career horizons within your educational settings and elsewhere. Our graduates are currently working within a wide range of areas: some as specialist teachers of children with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) dyslexia, others as specialist assessors; many combine both. This can be within educational settings or as consultants.

Graduates can also be found working as headteachers, assistant headteachers, special educational needs teachers, literacy lead teachers, special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCos), local authority advisors, university lecturers, disability advisors, workplace skills advisors, university study skills tutors, specialist AMBDA tutors and in research roles. Past students have also set up in partnerships together or independently, running their own consultancies and tuition/assessment services.

When I investigated the programme, I was impressed by the fact that I could challenge myself academically, whilst also gaining the professional qualifications I would need to practice as a specialist teacher and dyslexia assessor. It was then exciting to apply this academic understanding to my practice as a teacher.

Maureen Brittain

Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia) MA, 2023

Read more about Maureen

Employability

This course supports you with an in-depth understanding of literacy difficulties and the obstacles they can pose, arming you with a range of educational approaches that can support learner needs. Upon completing this course you'll be equipped to make a meaningful impact both within educational settings and beyond. As a qualified specialist in dyslexia, you’ll be able to carry out diagnostic assessments and provide tailored support to learners. Many graduates go on to establish independent practices, offering assessment and intervention services outside of school hours, while others take on specialist roles within schools, shaping inclusive learning environments from within.

This course also lays the groundwork for further academic exploration, offering a strong foundation for doctoral research or a career in the expanding field of SpLD and dyslexia studies.

Transferrable skills you will gain through this course which would serve you well in a number of professional contexts include leadership, empathy, communication, problem-solving, decision-making and an affinity for working collaboratively with other people.

Networking

There are opportunities to network with home and international students on the Special and Inclusive Education MA course. You also have the opportunity to network with alumni and meet professionals who have pursued careers in this specialist industry field. You also have the opportunity to network with experienced researchers and specialist teachers and assessors. We organise careers events where industry professionals have attended in past years and alumni share their tips on varied career pathways. The course, along with the diverse range of events and initiatives provided by our centres of excellence, PHD, IOE and UCL, offers a transformative experience for you if you are interested in dyslexia and inclusive education.

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) and associated professional practice qualifications are awarded by the BDA. Please note that whilst this course is accredited by the BDA, the BDA is not responsible for the day to day running of the course. Any feedback or queries should therefore be addressed directly to the Programme Leader at IOE.

Teaching and learning

The course is delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops, individual and group coursework, teaching videos; as well as hands-on experience with relevant tools and engagement with researchers in academia and industry.

Course delivery will combine online and face-to-face learning. All modules may have content online on Moodle (which you can study at your own pace), which complements regular face-to-face and online sessions, where you will have a chance to interact with your lecturers and peers. You can continue your education while working; our schedule includes day, evening, and weekend sessions designed to fit around your existing commitments.

A range of assessment methods are used, including: coursework assignments, presentations, an annotated bibliography, a portfolio of evidence, video recordings of administering assessments and teaching pupils, written diagnostic professional reports, plus a written research report.

Study hours vary according to number of modules studied over the year and some times may be busier than others due to additional professional practice elements associated with the course. Face-to-face whole day sessions (9am-5pm) may be on Saturdays at times. Zoom or face-to-face sessions may be in the evenings after work.

Each 30-credit module is expected to require approximately 300 study hours and 30 contact hours. For the two 45-credit modules, linked to professional practice, this would equate to 450 study hours and 45 contact hours.

Part-time students should expect around 3-5 contact hours per week consisting of a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops, and departmental talks, plus approximately 12 hours of self-directed study. This would be during term time and depend on the module being studied. Optional journal club sessions are offered to support you to learn to read research papers.

Modules

We encourage students to study over two to three years via the Flexible mode. The part-time option is only recommended for students taking the government loan, as there is no flexibility to extend the time over two years. For loan students there are no exit points for a Post Graduate Diploma or Post Graduate Certificate and early exit may result in financial penalties.

The Evidence Informed Practice module and the Assessment of SpLD (dyslexia) module both include professional practice; including 30 hours of supervised teaching of a pupil. The professional practice elements associated with the modules continue over more than one term and support you to develop your practice in the journey to become a specialist teacher and assessor.

The following three compulsory modules must be taken in this order: Understanding SpLD (dyslexia), Evidence Informed Practice (dyslexia), Assessment of SpLD (dyslexia). This is because the first module underpins subsequent modules and their contents are linked.

We recommend a Flexible mode for this course, meaning that you have a maximum of five years to complete all five modules.

The Evidence Informed Practice module and the Assessment of SpLD (dyslexia) module both include professional practice. The professional practice elements associated with these modules continue over more than one term.

As with the part-time study option, the following three compulsory modules should be taken in this order: Understanding SpLD (dyslexia), Evidence Informed Practice (dyslexia), Assessment of SpLD (dyslexia)

Compulsory modules

Understanding Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia)

Evidence Informed Practice (dyslexia) - Practical Components

Assessment of Specific Learning Difficulties (dyslexia)- Practical components

Evidence Informed Practice: Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia)

Assessment of Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia)

Research Design and Methodology

Report on Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia)

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 5 modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Specific Learning Difficulties (dyslexia).

Fieldwork

Students are required to work with children and young people up to the age of 16 to demonstrate core competencies of the programme. Additional learners under 18 may be allowed with permission of the Module leader. Students must find and have access to learners: we do not find placements for students. Approximately thirty hours of teaching intervention is required (1:1 or small group) and students will also need to find three learners they can assess. Learners must be aged 18 or under, including at least one learner aged 16 or under at end of school year.

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.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Master's Courses in Special and Inclusive Education (MASIE) and Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD)

Do you want to enhance your skills and further your career in special and inclusive education? Our courses enable you to engage with the latest theory and research on special educational needs and disabilities. You will meet our academics, hear about the courses you are interested in and have the chance to ask any questions you might have.

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)	Fees to be confirmed	£7,100
Tuition fees (2026/27)	Fees to be confirmed	£17,700

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.

You can borrow psychometric assessment kits from the department during the course, though you may want to purchase some of these for personal use whilst studying and after the course ends. The price of the test kits is approximately £1,800 (including VAT), please note that purchasing tests is not a requirement.

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

This course requires a completed DBS check for some compulsory modules. You will receive more information from UCL on how to complete the check once you have firmly accepted an unconditional offer for the course. A charge for Post Office ID verification (£15.00) needed for an application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is payable by the student. The cost of the DBS check itself is paid for by UCL. For more information about the DBS application process, please contact the UCL Graduate Admissions team.

If you have lived, worked, studied or travelled in any single country outside of the UK for six continuous months or more, in the last five years, you will be required to obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct/Police Check from the relevant country/countries. The cost of this check varies by country and is payable by the student. More information on how to obtain these can be found on gov.uk.

This course requires a completed DBS check for some compulsory modules. You will receive more information from UCL on how to complete the check once you have firmly accepted an unconditional offer for the programme. A charge for Post Office ID verification (£15.00) needed for an application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is payable by the student. The cost of the DBS check itself is paid for by UCL.

For more information about the DBS application process, please contact the UCL Graduate Admissions team.

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

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).

See the UCL website for current Master's Funding Awards

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

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding should take note of the funding 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 Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia) at graduate level and what you want to do with the AMBDA level 7 qualification?
why you want to study Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia) 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?
whether you have the relevant prerequisites to apply?

If you have got the relevant experience to pursue this course, please give recent details of employment, (voluntary and paid), which shows your experience in education settings or working with children and young people.

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. Please ensure you clearly outline your prior experience in the personal statement and demonstrate this meets the entry criteria.

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.

This course only requires one reference in support of your application. Your reference should be academic unless you have been out of university education for more than four years. Further information regarding references can be found on this Selecting your references page.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.