Unlocking career opportunities with an MA in education

What kinds of jobs is a Master's in education useful for?

MA in education courses are aimed at those who already work in the sector, either as teachers or in a related role. However, there are also those who want to make a switch into teaching, and are attracted to a postgraduate qualification to kickstart their education careers. Regardless of your approach, if you’re asking ‘what can I do with an MA in education?’ the answers broadly split into two categories:

School-based teacher

Whether you’ve recently graduated from teacher training or you’ve been working in a school for a while, an MA in education will improve your knowledge, enhance your expertise, and advance your teaching career.

If you have aspirations of gaining a more senior role within your school or at another, an MA in education shows that you're committed to furthering your career, interested in the latest developments in the field, and ambitious to lead and achieve great things. Educational roles that an MA in education can help you prepare for can include:

·       Head of year

·       Head of department

·       SEN inclusion officer/specialist

·       Deputy head

·       Headteacher

Wider education roles

Many people work in education outside of schools or colleges. Whether you’re already in a role like this, or looking to move out of the classroom, an MA in education will be an attractive addition to your CV to recruiters from wider educational organisations. Middle and senior non-teaching roles can include:

·       Head of learning at a museum or other cultural institution

·       Senior/chief examiner

·       Teacher trainer

·       Director of education for a local authority

·       Ofsted inspector

·       Education advisor or consultant 

Climbing the career ladder in these kinds of organisations requires experience but also ambition and a deep understanding of relevant topics and practices. For professionals in these roles, an MA in education that isn’t just focused on the classroom, but also on the theories and fundamentals of education in general, will help you succeed.

Interested in starting an MA in education?

If you want to develop your academic and professional knowledge, our top-up MA in Education with Pedagogy could be perfect for you. If you'd like to learn more, our MA in Education with Pedagogy course page has all the information you need. Alternatively, if you’d like to discuss the course with our enrolment team please email us at institute@tesglobal.com

If you’re a school leader looking to support your staff to gain a Master's degree please visit our MA in Education with Pedagogy for schools page.