International Education (MSc) - Distance Learning September 2022 entry
The International Education MSc gives students the opportunity to integrate and explore theory and practice in the field of International Education. You will have the flexibility to select modules of interest and of benefit to your future career and will interact online with students on education-related programmes in St Andrews and around the world.
Key information
Course type
Postgraduate, leading to a Master of Science (MSc)
Course dates
- Start date: 5 September 2022
Course duration
Up to five years
Entry requirements
Applications are welcomed from all education systems. A good 2.1 Honours degree or 3.3/4.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) is typically required in any discipline. The School also consider applications from students who can provide significant professional or other relevant experience alongside evidence of prior alternative learning such as professional qualifications or certifications. If you require further information about our academic entrance requirements in relation to the education system you studied in, please contact ie@st-andrews.ac.uk.
If you studied your first degree outside the UK, see the international entry requirements.
Some students may be eligible for recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on their previous studies. The International Education Institute considers applications for RPL on a case by case basis in line with the University's recognition of prior learning policy. To confirm the exact amount of credit you could be awarded, please forward your relevant transcript to ie@st-andrews.ac.uk.
For direct entry to an MSc International Education programme, you will need an overall score in IELTS (Academic) of 6.5, with a minimum subscore of 6.0 or the equivalent. Students with a lower score may be eligible for a pre-sessional course. For alternative forms of evidence, see English language tests and qualifications.
The qualifications listed are indicative minimum requirements for entry. Obtaining the listed entry requirements will not guarantee you a place, as the University considers all aspects of every application including, where applicable, the personal statement, and supporting documents.
Tuition fees
Home and overseas: £10,395
Application deadline
Thursday 11 August 2022. Applicants should apply as early as possible to be eligible for certain scholarships and for international visa purposes.
Application requirements
- CV. This should include your personal details with a history of your education and employment (paid or voluntary) to date.
- personal statement. See personal statement guidance for International Education courses
- two original signed references (at least one of which must be academic)
- academic transcripts and degree certificates
- evidence of English language proficiency (required if English is not your first language). If you have not yet taken an English language test, this can be submitted at a later date. Any offer of a place would then be conditional on attaining evidence of your English language competence.
For more guidance, see supporting documents and references for postgraduate taught programmes.
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Course information
The MSc International Education Distance Learning is run by the International Education Institute. It is designed to be useful to experienced practitioners in the field of international education, as well as those considering working in this area. Relevant careers might include educators, managerial and administrative roles in international education organisations (eg schools, universities, education-facing NGOs), educational agencies, educational policy makers, International Officers, and education-related marketing roles.
Highlights
- In addition to the five compulsory modules, choose three optional modules and a dissertation topic to explore your interests while interacting with our students from a diverse range of nationalities and backgrounds, and join the International Education Institute community of practitioners and scholars.
- The modules are taught by an interdisciplinary team from different parts of the University to provide input from a range of academic and practical backgrounds.
- Study modules in the applied management and organisational behaviour aspects of leading an organisation as well as modules related to teaching and learning.
- Discuss theoretical concepts and frameworks in small groups and in writing in online forums with students studying both in St Andrews and by distance learning around the world, and apply these through theoretical and more practical assessments.
- Participate in an optional non-credit module in Professional and Academic Literacies to support both your studies and your career development.
Teaching format
You will take a variety of taught modules over the taught phase of the programme. Modules are delivered through a mix of:
- recorded lectures
- recorded mini-lectures
- online written chatrooms
- podcasts
- guided writing
- webinars
- intensive feedback sessions on your work.
Each semester you will generally study two modules. One module is taught over the first five weeks of each semester, followed by a week to complete the related assessments, and then a further module is taught over the last five weeks of each semester. However, it is possible to study at a slightly slower or occasionally faster pace. Please email ie@st-andrews.ac.uk to discuss.
In these modules, you will integrate theory and practice by discussing and critiquing theoretical concepts and frameworks, and then applying them through a range of theoretical and more practical assessments. Assessments will include:
- a variety of different types of written assignments
- presentations
- rationales
- online forum written discussion
- a dissertation.
Modules
The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue which is for the 2021–2022 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2022 entry.
- Action Research and Reflection for Educational Practitioners: provides a learning experience in which you can reflect on concepts and theories you are studying in other modules and connect them with education and classroom practice. The module explores the combined value of reflection and action research for educational practitioners, providing a means for practitioners to understand their classroom contexts and to plan responses to challenges in these contexts.
- Education and Researching: educators are increasingly expected to be evidence-informed or even evidence-led; consuming, creating, and sharing research. This module addresses how we evaluate the quality of research to decide what is rigorous and informative for our practice, how we can build on existing research when planning our own interventions, and how to design, pilot and reflect on the effectiveness of different data collection instruments. We consider a range of research contexts and values to help you actively engage with pedagogical research.
- Leadership and Management in International Education: asks students to think critically about the purpose, importance and understanding of key concepts and theories of educational leadership in higher education. To this end, the module will begin by exploring what is educational leadership and the qualities of an effective leader in educational settings in the 21st century. It will then introduce and consider relevant theories and principles underlying practice in educational leadership. In order to demonstrate an awareness of the contextual nature of leadership, the module will examine the contributions from international leadership perspectives in a number of different global contexts. Students will be encouraged to analyse and discuss questions and issues arising from the study in-line with their own practice and experience in both written and verbal communications.
- Organisational Development in International Education: you will learn about key theories of organisational development as well as their practical application to an educational setting. In addition, students will explore organisation diagnosis, leading change, and organisation culture. Students will be given the opportunity to reflect and critically apply the organisation development interventions to international settings.
- Trends and Policies in International Education: aims to raise awareness and enable reflection of the key trends and policies in international education. It provides students with the opportunity to examine the impact that these trends and policies have on standing pedagogical structures and the dialogues they create within the field of intercultural pedagogy. Against this backdrop, the module will encourage students to assess the impact that the decisions they make as leaders, or may go on to make as potential leaders within the field of international education have on the stakeholders within their context of work.
- Assessment and Evaluation in Education: brings together the study of language testing with the theory and practice of assessment in pedagogy. You will learn key concepts in both, how to design and improve tests for different purposes, and how to make productive use of assessment within teaching. We also consider some of the broader social impacts of assessment and testing and how teachers navigate tensions when promoting student learning within a measurement culture. The module also acts as an example of learning through assessment, giving you opportunities to reflect on how different approaches such as mastery learning or active learning are reflected in assessment design, as well as critiquing aspects of assessment such as the use of time limits, group tasks, multiple-choice questions, and gamification.
- English Medium Instruction: In recent years there has been a rapid increase in the teaching of academic subjects through English in countries where the majority of the population do not use English as a first language. This module explores this global trend from the standpoint of content and language teachers, as well as students. It considers the wide variety of English medium instruction contexts, evaluating theory in the fields of teaching and learning, language acquisition and intercultural communication in an attempt to address some of the practical challenges involved.
- Language Teaching Methodology: explores the theories that inform teaching practice and analyses the implications these have in terms of ways of learning, material used, the teacher role and the learning spaces. This is essential for all those seeking to understand teaching environments more clearly and for those who have a chance to influence teaching environments.
- Online Programme Design: you will learn about key theories of learning and teaching as well as the principles that underpin online programme design. In addition to this you will learn about digital content creation, how to build a sense of community in online teaching and learning contexts, and about assessment and evaluation in the online world. You will be given the opportunity to identify and conceptualise these aspects of online teaching and learning within your
own professional contexts. - Technology for Teaching: introduces you to the principle theories, concepts and practices of technology in language education. You will be able to critically consider the role and purpose of various modes of technology in education in a wide range of settings to identify and conceptualise problems within your own professional contexts.
Optional modules are subject to change each year and require a minimum number of participants to be offered; some may only allow limited numbers of students (see the University’s position on curriculum development).
For the 15,000 word dissertation, you will choose a topic of interest to you and to your future career. You will read related literature and conduct independent research on your topic.
Student dissertations will be supervised by IE staff members. Supervisors will provide guidance throughout the research process, helping you to formulate a suitable research hypothesis. They will offer advice on relevant literature and how to plan your time effectively.
The modules listed here are indicative, and there is no guarantee they will run for 2022 entry. Take a look at the most up-to-date modules in the module catalogue.
Meet us
Postgraduate visiting days
We hold virtual visiting days throughout the year to offer prospective postgraduate students a chance to experience the University's unique atmosphere and see for themselves the quality of the teaching on offer.
International Education webinar dates
If you are unable to visit St Andrews before you apply, the International Education Institute offers virtual information sessions to discuss the programmes.
Awards and prizes
Members of the International Education Institute and previous students have been awarded various awards and prizes including the following:
McCall MacBain Foundation Outstanding Contribution to Teaching Excellence Awards 2020
In 2020, the International Educational Institute was the recipient of two McCall MacBain Foundation Outstanding Contribution to Teaching Excellence Awards:
- Mark Carver was awarded for his work on assessment and feedback scholarship.
- Janie Brooks and Kerith George Briant were awarded for a presentation entitled 'Developing Effective Online Engagement in the Context of Internationalisation' delivered at the British Council International Education Conference in 2019.
University of St Andrews Teaching Excellence Awards
- Kerry Tavakoli was awarded one of four annual Teaching Excellence Awards in 2018. Kerry was recognised for the positive impact her work has had on students through her teaching.
- Lori Davis was awarded one of six annual Teaching Excellence Awards in 2022. Lori was recognised for the energy and enthusiasm she brings to her classes, her commitment to embedding sustainability within her teaching, as well as her work mentoring colleagues and contributing to University widening access programmes.
University of St Andrews Students Association Teaching Excellence Awards 2022
- Lesley Thirkell was short listed in the category of Outstanding Academic Mentorship, which acknowledges the way a member of teaching staff influences students' overall development (both personally and academically)
British Council ELT Masters Dissertation Award
- Allison Crum (MSc TESOL 2019-2020) was commended at the British Council ELT Masters Dissertation Awards 2020-2021 for her dissertation entitled "Introducing standards for evaluating enrichment materials (SEEM): Testing the modern framework with football-themed materials".
- Yin Lijun (MSc TESOL 2017-2018) was commended at the British Council ELT Masters Dissertation Awards 2018-2019 for her dissertation entitled "An investigation of experienced EAP teachers' marking processes".
Funding
Find out more about postgraduate scholarships.
Careers
International Education graduates are equipped with a range of skills and experiences which allow them to take on a variety of roles. The majority of International Education students work within education as educators, managerial and administrative roles in international education organisations (eg schools, universities, education-facing NGOs), educational agencies, educational policymakers, International Officers, and education-related marketing roles.
Lecturers within the International Education Institute have a wealth of teaching, administrative and leadership experience in education, in a range of locations globally. They are active in using their international networks and experience to support and advise students on future career development. Current teaching staff have worked in Bulgaria, China, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Martinique, New Zealand, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, UK, USA and Vietnam.
The University Careers Centre also offers one-to-one advice to all students on a taught postgraduate course and provides a programme of events to assist students in building their employability skills.
Contact
International Education Institute
University of St Andrews
Kinnessburn
Kennedy Gardens
St Andrews
KY16 9DJ
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2255
Email: ie@st-andrews.ac.uk
Policies
Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our admissions policy.
Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.
Curriculum development
As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.
Tuition fees
The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.