Course summary

The information provided on this page was correct at the time of publication (November 2024). For complete and up-to-date information about this course, please visit the relevant University of Oxford course page via www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/ucas. High quality educational assessment is recognised as a core element of a strong education system. This two-year part-time MSc is a professional development course aimed at researchers and professionals working in the field of educational assessment including in awarding bodies, test agencies, schools and universities. In the compulsory elements of the MSc, you will study the history of educational assessment, the different paradigms that underpin approaches to assessment (psychometric, curriculum-embedded and outcomes based), debates regarding key concepts such as validity and fairness, and approaches to assessment design and evaluation, and how to use research synthesis techniques to develop policy and practice. The three core modules are: Assessment Issues and Practices Assessment Design and Evaluation Research synthesis for development of policy and practice In the optional element, you will study a specialist topic such as research methods to investigate educational assessment issues or classroom-based assessment. Throughout the MSc, you will be supported to develop your technical and statistical skills. The course combines a number of residential teaching sessions within the department and online support through the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (Canvas). Each of the four papers will comprise eight teaching sessions that include lectures, seminars and practicals, and a small-group tutorial. The student cohort come from a range of professional backgrounds, from around the world, making group discussions rich and diverse. For each paper, you will be expected to spend approximately 64 hours during non-residential times for the preparation of the papers and the formative pre-paper assignments. In the second year of the course you will receive supervision of dissertation projects from a University supervisor with expertise in a particular subject. The topic of the dissertation is selected in consultation with a supervisor, and must be relevant to the course. In consultation with your supervisors and employers, dissertation work may be informed by activity in employment. Research in the department is organised around three major themes: Language, Cognition and Development Policy, Economy and Society Learning: Pedagogy, Learning and Knowledge. Within each of these themes there are several research groups and centres. All staff and doctoral students belong to one or more of these research groups, each of which has its own seminar programme to which graduate students often contribute. In addition, the department as a whole sponsors regular seminars and public lectures which attract distinguished national and international speakers.