MA Social Justice and Education
Explore the making of a fair and just society and how education can help shape a better future.
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
Evaluate and debate the fairness of educational practices.
This course is ideal if you have an interest in diversity, inclusion, equality and a fair and decent society. It's especially useful for current and future teachers as well as potential policy makers and researchers.
Educational policymakers, researchers and teachers recognise that social justice is fundamental to their work. This course will equip you to investigate the pedagogical and professional issues that relate to social justice.
Course content
On the MASJE degree students work with colleagues in the Education Department’s Centre for Research on Education and Social Justice (CRESJ) where they will have the opportunity to explore the nature of social justice and the role of education in its achievement.
Students will explore the boundaries of knowledge and understanding of educational policy and practice.
You will gain fundamental philosophical perspectives on education and social justice, and be able to critically reflect on dominant conceptions of education and human capital.
Students will analyse social justice as an essential perspective that is expressed through education; and explore education as a mechanism to enhance social justice (for example through policy).
The programme equips students to act knowledgeably, thoughtfully and decisively regarding questions of inclusion, equality and diversity, with special emphasis on current issues in higher education, intercultural communication, race, gender, sexuality, power and citizenship education.
You will take a total of 180 credits, including core modules, option modules, and a dissertation.
Core modules will introduce you to an international perspective on issues of educational development. They will introduce you to the tools and techniques you'll use throughout the course and in your career. You'll also choose option modules that will allow you to build a course that suits your interests and supports your career.
In the Summer term you'll continue to develop your research skills, while also working on your dissertation.
Modules
Core modules
- Comparative Education and International Development
- Social Justice & Education
- Race, Difference, Equity and Equality and other issues in Education
- Research Methods for Education I: Researching Questions
- Research Methods for Education II: Researching Answers or Professional Practice in Education*
*You need to choose this module in Semester 2 in order to take the Professional Practice Dissertation.
Option modules
You will also study one option module:
- Contemporary Issues in Teaching
- Evaluating UK Classroom Practice
- Gender, Sexuality and Education
- Higher Education in the 21st Century
- Intercultural Communication in Education
- Language and Power
- Migration and Education
- Motivation in Education
- Teaching & Learning with Technology
Some option modules combinations may not be possible. The option available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Learning outcomes
Every course at York is built on a distinctive set of learning outcomes. These will give you a clear understanding of what you will be able to accomplish at the end of the course and help you explain what you can offer employers. Our academics identify the knowledge, skills, and experiences you'll need upon graduation and then design the course to get you there.
Learning outcomes for this course
- Apply in-depth knowledge of the theories, principles, methodologies and approaches concerning social justice and education to support related social justice education initiatives.
- Contribute to developing and or revising education practice and policy through reflection, evaluation, critical thinking and analysis of the interplay between key concepts in a range of social justice contexts, including pedagogical and decolonising practices from different perspectives.
- Identify systemic barriers to equality and inclusiveness, giving attention to perspectives which differ from their own and continuing to reflect on their own practice in relation to inclusivity and diversity.
- Collate, manage and critically analyse complex empirical data using appropriate software and apply it to support presented arguments.
- Initiate and conduct independent, focused research projects including thorough planning, rigorous ethics processes and the selection and application of appropriate principles, methodologies and approaches.
- Communicate complex information and arguments clearly, confidently and professionally, making use of oral, written and visual formats.
- Contribute to debates about the nature of pedagogical initiatives in the field of social justice in education and society.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees for 2025/26
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £11,200 | £25,900 |
Students on a Student Visa are not currently permitted to study part-time at York.
Fees information
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Find out more information about tuition fees and how to pay them.
Additional costs
There are no mandatory additional fees, but we do recommend that you set aside some money for photocopying. Course books will be available from the Library and online reading packs are available for most modules, but you may wish to buy your own copies. Each book typically costs £20 to 40.
Funding information
Discover your funding options to help with tuition fees and living costs.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
If you've successfully completed an undergraduate degree at York you could be eligible for a 10% Masters fee discount.
Funding opportunities
Chevening Scholarships
We are pleased to work with Chevening Scholars to offer funding for our Masters programmes. Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK for international (including EU) students. The scholarships are open to early and mid-career professionals who have the potential to become future leaders.
Chevening scholarships
Awarded by British embassies and high commissions, Chevening Scholarships provide one year of fully-funded postgraduate study in the UK. They are offered to early and mid-career professionals with the potential to become future leaders. We have hosted 34 Chevening Scholars in the past five years and welcome further enquiries and applications.
I think education is a brilliant way to challenge injustice and inequality. A lot of prejudice and discrimination comes from lack of education.
Teaching and assessment
You’ll work with world‐leading academics who’ll challenge you to think independently and excel in all that you do. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace.
Teaching format
You will prepare for your modules with preliminary reading which you'll go on to discuss with tutors and fellow students. You'll be taught through a combination of methods, which may vary depending on your choice of modules. Common formats for teaching include:
- tutor presentations
- lectures
- seminar discussions
- individual and group practical activities
- workshops
- video demonstrations.
Teaching location
You will be based in the Department of Education on Campus West.
About our campus
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
Assessment and feedback
You'll be assessed in a variety of ways, the methods will depend on your choice of modules. Common methods of assessment include:
- Assignments (3,500 words)
- exams
- lessons plans and commentary
- series of blog posts
- presentations (group and individual)
Most modules will involve short assessed tasks through the course of the term. These do not form part of your final mark, although you will be given feedback on your performance so you can prepare for the formal assessment.
Careers and skills
The wide choice of modules allows you to shape this course to suit your own aspirations, meaning that it's suitable for a wide range of careers. You'll also benefit from the University's careers team who offer a bespoke advice and support service.
Career opportunities
- Policy officer
- Researcher
- HR officer
- Civil Service Fast Stream
- Fundraiser for NGO
- Prison worker
Transferable skills
- Analysis and evaluation of debates and initiatives
- Communication and dissemination of research
- Interpreting research
- Using common techniques for analysis
I see myself in social policy or public policy in Slovakia. Maybe regional policy. I would like to deal with the everyday problems of people in Slovakia, and to help them. So studying Social Justice and finding the answer to what Social Justice is, and how to achieve it, will be essential to my future career.
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 undergraduate degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant discipline such as: Education, Sociology, Humanities, Social Sciences. Some educational experience in either teaching or administration is also considered beneficial. |
| International pre-masters programme | Pre-masters from our International Pathway College |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
English language
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Qualification | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, minimum 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | B2 First: 176, with 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, minimum 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | 120, minimum 105 in all other components |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | 70 with a minimum of 65 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478-509, with 444-477 in all other components |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, minimum 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87, minimum 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all requirements |
For more information see our postgraduate English language requirements.
If you haven't met our English language requirements
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Next steps
Contact us
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