Master of Arts in Clinical Education

Information for prospective students

The inter-professional MA in Clinical Education addresses the contemporary context, educational theory and practical teaching skills relevant to practitioners of all disciplines involved in education and training in the clinical environment.  The MA in Clinical Education and has been developed as a collaborative project between the London Deanery and the Institute of Education.

This Programme has been accredited by the Higher Education Academy and successful completion of the 3 core elements (90 credits) entitles participants
to accreditation as a Fellow of the HEA.

The Institute of Education of the University of London is a world-renowned centre for education studies and research and is the largest graduate school in the UK of its kind.  In addition to the highest calibre academic staff, the Institute provides extensive support facilities including the most comprehensive education library in Europe. The Institute is located in the centre of London, and is easily accessible by tube, bus and mainline rail.

What does it involve?

The MA in Clinical Education draws from a range of modules across the Institute of Education’s taught Master’s programmes and comprises three core modules, an extended piece of written work - either a dissertation (60 credits) or a report (30) in the area of study - and optional modules up to an overall total of 180 credits.

How long does it take?

One year full time or two to four years part-time.

Who is it for?

Practitioners of all disciplines involved in education and training in the clinical environment.

What are the entry requirements?

You should have a good honours degree and relevant professional experience.

What are the core modules?

There are three core modules:

• Contemporary issues in clinical education
• Learning and Teaching for Adults
• Learning and Teaching in Higher and Professional Education (two workshops from a choice of six)
  • Developing supervisory and professional practice
  • Designing courses and curricula
  • Learning in small groups
  • Improving lecturing
  • Using ICT
  • Assessing learning

All of the core modules may be undertaken as stand-alone short courses.

What optional modules are available?

Students may choose from across the range of taught MA modules at the Institute.  However the recommended optional modules (all 30 credits) for this course are as follows:

• Education for the professions    
• Assessment issues and practice 
• Leading and managing change and improvement   
• Leadership and management of change   

• Innovation and change in higher and professional education

• Personal development portfolio
• On-line education and training

Tell me more about the core modules

Contemporary Issues in Clinical Education is the unique core module at the heart of this new award. The module is delivered in 10 three-hour evening sessions and will address the challenges faced by clinical educators providing a contextual backdrop against which other modules of more general educational relevance can be placed.  Topics to be covered include: curriculum design and development, selection for education and training, clinical education and the patient, professionalism and the nature of expertise, inter-professional education, simulation, the pedagogy of the one-to-one, assessment and continuing professional development.

Learning and Teaching for Adults is predicated on the principle that understanding how adults learn underpins effective teaching. A range of theoretical perspectives are used to analyse the roles of teachers, the activity of teaching, the roles of learners, processes of learning and the ways in which teaching and learning are both shaped by the wider organisational context and the knowledge teachers are seen as imparting. The module is suitable for teachers of adults of all ages and for those associated with learning support and the management of learning. 

Learning and Teaching in Higher and Professional Education offers a choice of two (out of five) short courses aimed at developing specific skills.  Each course is run over two days and counts for 15 credits.

• Developing supervisory and professional practice provides an opportunity to examine, explore and integrate a range of practical and theoretical issues that underpin supervision and professional development in a workshop setting.
• Designing courses and curricula will provide course members with an opportunity to examine, explore and integrate a range of practical and theoretical issues relating to course design, in a workshop setting.
• Improving lecturing will cover: lecturing and learning; the place of the lecture in a course; the nature of the lecture and ‘alternative’ lecturing; approaches to and conceptions of lecturing; evaluating the lecture; the practice of lecturing (including practical video-taped sessions).
• Learning in small groups aims to provide participants with an opportunity to examine, explore and integrate a range of practical and theoretical issues of small group teaching, in a workshop setting.  The module raises new opportunities for the provision of excellence in teaching and learning, including the development of creative thinking, teamwork, problem solving and interpersonal skills. 
• Using ICT will explore the effective use of information technology in higher and professional education.

How is the course assessed?

Most modules are assessed by written coursework (of 3,000 words plus or minus 10% for 15 credit modules and 5,000 words plus or minus 10% for 30 credit modules).

Do I have to write a dissertation?

Students are required to complete an extended piece of written work.  This may be a dissertation of approximately 20 000 words or a shorter report of 10 000 words.  If the latter route is chosen then an additional optional module must be undertaken.

Where and when is it held?

Seminars and workshops will be held at the Institute of Education in the evenings and as short courses.

How much does it cost?

Updated fee rates and further details are available from the IOE Registry or the MA course page.

Note: Higher fees apply for overseas students and those with previous Masters level qualifications. Check with Institute of Education student Registry for details.

How do I find out further information?

Dr Mark Newman (course leader)
Telephone 020 7612 6575
Email: m.newman@ioe.ac.uk

Alison Finlay (course administrator)
School of Lifelong Education and International Development
Institute of Education
University of London
20 Bedford Way
London WC1H 0AL
a.finlay@ioe.ac.uk
020 7612 6362

How do I apply?  

Registry: Further Professional Development
Institute of Education
University of London
20 Bedford Way
London WC1H 0AL

020 7612 6100/6101
fpd.enquiries@ioe.ac.uk
www.ioe.ac.uk/courses