Inclusion and Special Educational Needs (MEd) | Courses | Queen's University Belfast
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Inclusion and Special Educational Needs (MEd)

MEd|Postgraduate Taught

Inclusion and Special Educational Needs

Entry year
2023
Entry requirements
2.1
Duration
1 year (Full Time)
3 years (Part Time)
Places available
no limit (Full Time)
no limit (Part Time)

As contemporary societies become more heterogeneous, and as inclusive education reforms gain currency across the world, educational systems are being challenged to address some fundamental questions about teaching and learning related to the accommodation of and respect for difference.

Underpinning the movement for inclusion is a concern for social justice and wellbeing. Meeting the diverse needs of learners within today's schools, colleges and universities, is one of the most challenging and important tasks facing education today.

This thoroughly revised Master's degree is unique not only because of the disciplinary approaches it employs, but also because students study and apply an approach to wellbeing that has been developed by some of the world’s leading thinkers.

This is an approach that is internationally recognised by, for example, the UN, and whose principles are increasingly found in government policy on education and SEN, namely the Capability Approach. We are one of the very few institutions in the UK to offer this practical and ethical approach to assessing issues of SEN, equality and inclusion.

The skills you will develop include critical thinking skills and how best to be an inclusive practitioner. Importantly, this is a professionally based degree which means that you will apply what you have learned to your own professional practice whether you are a classroom assistant, SENCO or university lecturer.

Closing date for applications: Friday 30th June 2023 at 4pm.

Inclusion and Special Educational Needs highlights

Over 83% of research submitted by colleagues based in the Education Unit of Assessment was judged to be ‘World Leading’ or ‘Internationally Excellent' by a peer review panel (REF2021).

Student Experience

  • Flexibility This programme is designed to meet the needs of professionals. Diploma and Certificate options are also available.
  • Credit transfer Students who have completed other master's-level awards, eg PGCE, within the last 10 years are eligible to credit transfer. The credit transfer application must be submitted at the same time as the online programme application as retrospective applications are not accepted.
“In terms of your career prospects, there is no doubt that completing this MEd will increase your promotion potential as we move towards a Master’s-led teaching profession, and as issues of SEN and Inclusion take centre stage in a society whose ambition is to increase social justice and inclusion.”
Dr Alison MacKenzie, Programme Director

Course Structure

Students may enrol on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (3 years) basis. Individual modules may be studied as a short course. Part-time students typically complete one or two modules per semester. Full-time students typically complete three modules per semester.

The MEd is awarded to students who successfully complete six taught modules (120 CATS points) and a 15,000 word research dissertation (60 CATS points).

Exit qualifications are available: students may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma by successfully completing 120 CATS points from taught modules or a Postgraduate Certificate by successfully completing 60 CATS points from taught modules.

We've made it easy to study for a master's module as a short course. If you would like to apply for a short course, please contact the Education Secretary (ssesw@qub.ac.uk) for advice.

Course DetailsCore Modules (compulsory, all 20 CATS points):

An Introduction to Research Methods: Children, Young People and Education (online)
This introductory research methods module is compulsory for all Masters students in the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work and assumes no previous experience or knowledge of research methods. The aim of the module is to provide a general research overview and to contextualise the broad range of approaches and debates that are evident within contemporary educational research. The module aims to provide students with an understanding of the theory and an appreciation of the differing perspectives that underpin quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Students will be introduced to the ethical issues relating to educational research as well as a range of methodological approaches, within which the key theoretical and practical issues will be addressed.

Deconstructing Special Needs Education and Inclusion
We will focus on deconstructing Special Needs Education and Inclusion by exploring how some popular approaches and behavioural theoretical models have influenced our understanding of SEN. Much of the ‘knowledge’ of special education is, arguably, misconceived and promotes inequality, rather than addresses it. In examining the consequences of, for example, labelling or social and emotional behavioural difficulties (SEBD), we will consider a powerful rationale for inclusion based on deconstructing the very notion of ‘need’ and ‘special’ to ask: why special needs education? And whom does it really serve?

Epistemic Injustice: The Ethics of Knowing in SEN/Inclusion
What is a stereotype and how does a stereotype conduce to prejudice? How do forms of ignorance abet injustice against the marginalised? To explore these issues, we will examine how stereotyping and prejudice contribute to forms of ‘epistemic injustice’ whereby what certain groups of people know is given less credibility and weight simply because of their disability, sex, class or ethnicity. The testimony (what they know or experience) of members of stigmatized groups is likely to be discounted because of (often unconscious) prejudicial beliefs and attitudes, which can magnify the effects of injustice as well as create others, such as failing to recognize certain questions as relevant for inquiry, such as the sexual abuse of vulnerable girls and boys, or sexuality of disabled or impaired people. Our judgments, as we will learn, are likely to be affected by implicit biases even when we think we’re making judgments of scientific or argumentative merit.

Social Justice in Special Needs Education and Inclusion: A Capabilities Approach
In this core module we will explore some of the complexities of understanding social justice in education and what it means to flourish, a much vaunted aim in education at present. While education systems across the UK and many parts of the world espouse equal entitlement to education, and the importance of allowing the child and young person to flourish and attain wellbeing, the precise content of this goal is difficult to determine and agree upon. One approach which has emerged with considerable power and application is the Capability Approach (CA). The CA asserts two core normative claims: first, that the freedom to achieve well-being is of primary moral importance; and, second, that freedom to achieve well-being is to be understood in terms of people's capabilities, that is, their real opportunities to do and be what they have reason to value. Examples might include getting a degree, travelling, or being a teacher; or being valued, respected, and included.

The Capability Approach is an ethically evaluative framework that, in order to assess well-being, development and justice, simply asks two questions: what is a person able to do and to be? The answer to those two questions will depend on how society, including our educational institutions, are arranged. So, to what extent do our schools include minorities or children with special needs labels? For example, how is a child on the autistic spectrum enabled to be the person she wants to be and to do the things she values?

Two optional modules may be chosen from the Educational Studies (MEd) degree.
“This course has completely changed how I view the whole area of SNE. It has challenged my thinking and attitudes, leading me to question and critique how we perceive and provide support for children experiencing any kind of difficulty during their schooling. Having visiting speakers has also been very helpful, keeping the course current and up-to-date with what is happening in practice.”

Rachelle McDermott
MEd Student

People teaching you

Programme Director

SSESW
Email: A.MacKenzie@qub.ac.uk Dr Alison MacKenzie is a registered teacher. Her main research interests are in SEN/Inclusion, the Capabilities Approach (Nussbaum), education policy, philosophy of emotions, feminism and gender (philosophical liberalism), and literacy/linguistic capital. Alison MacKenzie was nominated by her Masters students for the international Find A University: Best Masters Teacher 2022 award, for which she was one of only eight people shortlisted in the UK.

Teaching Times

Evenings from 5.30pm - 7.3-pm. The evening classes run for six weeks with one Saturday workshop for each module. The Saturday workshop is timetabled for each module from 10am – 4pm.

Career Prospects

Introduction
Graduates from this degree have found it beneficial in their professional institutions in advising colleagues, influencing policy and supporting pupils and students.

The degree helps students reshape their thinking on special needs education and matters of inclusion, to question values and beliefs that were previously taken for granted. Importantly, a Master's degree in SEN/Inclusion will be of great advantage to professionals seeking promotion as we move towards a Masters-led teaching profession.

Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.

Employment after the Course
Most of the students on this course are practising teachers in the nursery, primary, secondary sector. Students from further education and disability sectors also attend. Students take up employment, or continue to work in teaching, apply for promotion, or go on to undertake further degrees.

Employment Links
Education
Disability organisations
Further and Higher Education

Learning and Teaching

Learning opportunities available with this course are outlined below:

Study hours

Indicative Number of Modules per Semester: Part-time students typically complete one or two modules per semester. Full-time students typically complete three modules per semester.

Indicative Proportional Mix of Time in Classes, Tutorials/Seminars/Labs, and Private Study in a Teaching Semester: Varies, depending on module choice and study mode (full-time/part-time). Each class is of two hours’ duration. The evening classes run for six weeks with one Saturday workshop for each module.

Assessment

Assessments associated with this course are outlined below:

There are no written examinations. Modules are assessed through a written assignment of 3000 words that is informed by the student’s own professional practice and experience.

Facilities

The School is situated across a suite of three buildings in Belfast's Queen's Quarter. We provide student and staff common rooms, computer suites and designated study spaces.
Explore the teaching and social spaces in our School through our 360 Virtual Tour:
https://youtu.be/PJeiF24bjxE

The Graduate School
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ_BwOtjXAE

Prizes and Awards

  • Teachers working on classroom-based dissertation projects may apply for the Northern Ireland Centre for Educational Research (NICER) award.

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Modules

Modules

The information below is intended as an example only, featuring module details for the current year of study (2022/23). Modules are reviewed on an annual basis and may be subject to future changes – revised details will be published through Programme Specifications ahead of each academic year.

  • Year 1

    Core Modules

    Dissertation (60 credits)

    Optional Modules

Entrance requirements

Graduate
A 2.1 Honours degree or above or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in any subject discipline.

Applicants with a 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University may also be considered if they have at least two years of professional experience in an education, training or relevant context.

Closing date for applications: Friday 30th June 2023 at 4pm.

Late applications may be considered.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.

International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

  • Academic English: an intensive English language and study skills course for successful university study at degree level
  • Pre-sessional English: a short intensive academic English course for students starting a degree programme at Queen's University Belfast and who need to improve their English.

INTO - English Language Course(QSIS ELEMENT IS EMPTY)

Career Prospects

Introduction
Graduates from this degree have found it beneficial in their professional institutions in advising colleagues, influencing policy and supporting pupils and students.

The degree helps students reshape their thinking on special needs education and matters of inclusion, to question values and beliefs that were previously taken for granted. Importantly, a Master's degree in SEN/Inclusion will be of great advantage to professionals seeking promotion as we move towards a Masters-led teaching profession.

Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.

Employment after the Course
Most of the students on this course are practising teachers in the nursery, primary, secondary sector. Students from further education and disability sectors also attend. Students take up employment, or continue to work in teaching, apply for promotion, or go on to undertake further degrees.

Employment Links
Education
Disability organisations
Further and Higher Education

Additional Awards Gained

There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.

Prizes and Awards

Teachers working on classroom-based dissertation projects may apply for the Northern Ireland Centre for Educational Research (NICER) award.

Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Graduate Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1 £6,980
Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 £6,980
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 £8,360
EU Other 3 £19,100
International £19,100

1 EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.

2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.

3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees quoted are for the academic year 2023-24, and relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

More information on postgraduate tuition fees.

Additional course costs

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

Inclusion and Special Educational Needs costs

There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.

How do I fund my study?

The Department for the Economy will provide a tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 per NI / EU student for postgraduate study. Tuition fee loan information.

A postgraduate loans system in the UK offers government-backed student loans of up to £11,836 for taught and research Masters courses in all subject areas. Criteria, eligibility, repayment and application information are available on the UK government website.

More information on funding options and financial assistance.

International Scholarships

Information on scholarships for international students, is available at www.qub.ac.uk/Study/international-students/international-scholarships/.

How to Apply

Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

Apply now

When to Apply

The deadline for applications is normally 30th June 2021. In the event that any programme receives a high volume of applications, the university reserves the right to close the application portal earlier than 30th June deadline. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Entry Portal (DAP) against the programme application page.

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study.
Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions.


Download Postgraduate Prospectus