Course summary
Our new MA in Inclusive and Special Education is designed for teachers, educators and education leaders who want to lead transformative change in diverse educational settings without pausing their careers or relocating. A fully online, interdisciplinary programme, it offers flexible study options, real-world assessments, and a strong foundation in evidence-based practice. With it, you’ll be equipped to design inclusive learning environments, influence policy, and advance equity across global contexts. Learn from experts in neurodiversity, disability, and social justice to critically engage with research evidence, theory, and real-life tasks and challenges. Through this course, you’ll build expertise that directly impacts your professional journey. Delivered by a Russell Group university with a strong research reputation, our programme prepares you for roles in inclusive education leadership, policy development, consultancy, and doctoral research. *Why study at Leeds: *- Fully online with flexible delivery: Delivered online, this programme is designed for working professionals based across the globe. Its blend of synchronous and asynchronous learning is designed to suit your schedule.
- Expert-led learning: Learn from staff who are specialists in neurodiversity, disability, inclusion, assessment and intervention, education evaluation, long-term health conditions, care-experienced children, social justice, and wellbeing.
- Develop future-focused skills: Develop a robust skillset across sustainability, digital innovation, enterprise, and academic inquiry. This will prepare you to lead inclusive education through strategic thinking, ethical decision-making, collaborative practice, and evidence-based analysis.
- Global and local perspectives: Explore inclusive education through international case studies, intersectionality, and lived experiences – letting you work capably across cultures and systems.
- Collaborative learning community: Join a diverse, global cohort of educators, advocates, and change-makers committed to equity and inclusion.
- Inclusive by design: Our programme is built from the ground up to be inclusive – not just in content, but in delivery, accessibility, and student support.
- Career versatility: You’ll be prepared for impactful careers in teaching, curriculum design, education consultancy, policy development, and leadership across schools, higher education, NGOs, and government agencies. And if you seek research or academic advancement, you’ll have the option to pursue doctoral studies, too.
- Explore inclusion through a rich interdisciplinary lens: This programme draws on diverse disciplines – Psychology, Sociology, Linguistics, Medicine, Politics, Social Policy, Disability Studies, and Childhood Studies – to critically explore inclusion and exclusion in education.
Modules
The MA Inclusive and Special Education is a two-year, part-time, fully online programme designed for professionals seeking to deepen their expertise while continuing their careers. The course is structured to provide a progressive learning experience: Year 1 focuses on foundational knowledge and research skills through core modules on inclusive approaches and research methods. This is complemented by optional modules such as Neurodivergence and Universal Design for Learning. Year 2 builds advanced understanding and leadership capacity. It offers modules on inclusive leadership and wellbeing, alongside a substantial capstone project or dissertation that lets you apply theory to practice in your own context. Throughout the programme, you’ll engage in interactive online seminars, collaborative projects, and independent study, supported by a learning community and expert academic staff. Design and deploy research methods to investigate issues in inclusive education and interpret findings to inform practice, understanding, and decision-making. Critically appraise current research and propose innovative, evidence-informed solutions to educational challenges. And gain knowledge of theories, research, perspectives and practices related to inclusive and special education within global and local contexts. You’ll also evaluate the complex social, cultural, political, and economic factors that shape inclusion and exclusion in education. Additionally, analyse educational contexts to support the design of contextually responsive approaches that promote equity and participation for diverse learners.
Assessment method
Assessments provide an opportunity for you to demonstrate the knowledge and skills you’ve developed in the module. You’ll be able to focus on areas and topics that are important to you and your professional context. You’ll be expected to show a critical understanding of current trends and debates in the field and apply these to a specific context of relevance. You’ll be required to read widely and use evidence from theoretical and empirical research literature, alongside your own experience and contextual knowledge, to develop arguments. Our assessment methods include written essays, case studies, reports, presentations, posters, and group projects. We’ll provide clear guidelines and structured support for all assessments, including coursework. Your tutors will also offer formative feedback to help you with your assignments. You’ll have the opportunity to showcase all your learning over the course of your studies through the successful completion of a capstone project. A capstone project may include a substantially research-based project, or a project that uses evidence to inform the development of a solution to a real-world problem, a particular practice or policy, or an artefact for use in the workplace.
Qualified teacher status (QTS)
To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:
- Course does not award QTS
Entry requirements
A bachelor’s degree with a 2:2 (hons) in teaching, education, or a related subject. We will also consider applicants with a 2:2 degree in any subject, plus relevant work experience in an educational setting (e.g., school, college, or higher education), on an individual basis. We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. Please visit our website https://www.leeds.ac.uk/admissions-qualifications
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5 | with no less than 6.0 in each component skill |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 88 | with no less than 19 in listening, 20 in reading, 22 in speaking and 21 in writing |
| PTE Academic | 64 | with no less than 60 in any component |
Please click here for further details of our English requirements
https://www.leeds.ac.uk/international-admissions/doc/entry-requirements
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
University of Leeds
Woodhouse Lane
Leeds
LS2 9JT