Tertiary and Higher Education MEd

What is special about this course?

This MEd Tertiary and Higher Education is designed to support the professional development of individuals working in education and training at either tertiary or higher education level. The intention is to strengthen and enhance participants' understanding of educational issues while raising their professional profiles.

You will be encouraged to discuss and analyse information from a wide range of theoretical perspectives and apply them to your own professional practice. You will have the opportunity to focus your studies on an area of professional educational interest while developing research skills and an understanding of ethical principles in higher education.

The course can help you to make changes in your professional practice that can have a positive impact on you and on your learners.

The course also offers specialist modules for those working in a clinical practice and who teach, for example; nursing or dental students. Students who choose this option can exit with a PgCert Clinical Pedagogy or continue on to the full MEd Tertiary and Higher Education.

It is recommended that you attend the face-to-face induction offered at the beginning of the course.

Special features

• The course is available to study part time, online through the university’s virtual learning environment (VLE), enabling you to fit your study around your personal and professional commitments
• Option for a face-to-face induction which, although not compulsory, is highly recommended
• Reflective learning is at the heart of this course allowing you to use your learning to enhance your professional practice
• You can choose to study individual modules for continuing professional development (CPD), or work towards the PgCert, PgDip, or full masters degree
• If you are member of staff, or a postgraduate research student of the University of the Highlands and Islands, and are practising in relation to higher education learning and teaching, you will be eligible to use your work on the PgCert to achieve Associate Fellow or Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Entry requirements

• 2:2 honours degree or equivalent in any subject. A third or ordinary degree will be considered with appropriate professional experience
• Candidates with no formal qualifications, who can demonstrate a capability and engagement in appropriate CPD, will also be considered, in some cases with the completion of a bridging module
• Candidates must be in employment in education or training

*Funding support notice*

Postgraduate Loans (SAAS) (Scottish domiciled and EU students)

Loans for tuition fees are available from SAAS for eligible Scotland domiciled and EU students, and loans for living costs for eligible Scottish students.

PgCert

You will study the following core modules:

• Teaching and learning in tertiary and higher education
• Theory and practice of e-learning

You will also choose one option module which may include:

• Research methods and techniques
• Quantitative research and data analysis
• Qualitative inquiry

Those working in a clinical practice and who teach (for example, nursing or dental students) may study the core Clinical Pedagogy modules below, and either exit at this point with a PgCert Clinical Pedagogy, or continue on to the full MEd Tertiary and Higher Education:

• Teaching and learning in tertiary and higher education
• Teaching and learning in the clinical environment
• Assessment in the clinical environment

PgDip

You will study the following core module:

• Mixed methods and action research

You will also choose two option modules which may include:

• Qualitative inquiry
• Research methods and techniques
• Developing potential through placement
• Research supervision
• Applying psychology to learning

MEd

To achieve the award of MEd Tertiary and Higher Education you must complete a research dissertation.

For more detailed information about the course modules, please see our Module descriptors document.

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland) or assessed as rest of the UK for fee status, the following fees apply:

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. These students will get an automatic fee scholarship.

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union, studying online from their home country, or assessed as international for fee status, the following fees apply:

This course is not available to international students requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international postgraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

Funding

Eligible Scotland-domiciled students studying part-time can apply for a tuition fee loan from SAAS. You must be intending to complete the course in no longer than twice the length of time it would take for a full-time student. For example, if your course is available to full-time students as a one-year programme, you will be funded for a maximum of two years' part-time study. If your course does not have a full-time option, you must complete within three years. You can apply for a tuition fee loan up to £7,000, which will be paid pro-rata for each academic year of study. 

Full details can be found on the SAAS website. Applications for loans open in April.

Students from the rest of the UK who meet the eligibility requirements may be able to apply for a loan from the Student Loan Company.