MA Education (Mental Health and Wellbeing)
Put mental health and wellbeing at the heart of education
Year of entry: 2026 (September)
Learn how to transform policy and practice in mental health and wellbeing in education.
Some of the most important questions facing society are how young people should be prepared for the future and how citizens should be educated. On this course you'll critically engage with these questions and others within the field of education. In particular, you'll focus on current debates and theories surrounding mental health and wellbeing.
You'll reflect on teaching and learning in specific contexts, broadening your ability to undertake educational research in key areas. By specialising in mental health and wellbeing, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the role those factors play in learners' development. This includes their academic achievement, personal growth, social development and lifelong wellbeing. You'll also discover ways to effectively support this in education.
After you graduate, you'll be able to play an informed role in the development of educational thinking, policy and practice. You'll also be well-suited to a range of careers where a critical understanding of mental health and wellbeing is increasingly important, such as education leadership or pastoral leadership. You can move on to PhD study, or explore professional training routes in areas such as psychotherapy.
Course content
You'll select from a specialist set of optional modules and complete an independent research project focused on mental health and wellbeing. This allows you to tailor your learning to your specific career needs or interests.
Modules
Core Modules
- Research Methods for Education I: Researching Questions
- Theories of Learning and Development
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health
- School-Based Mental Health Interventions
- Research Methods for Education II: Researching Answers or Professional Practice in Education*
*You must choose this module in Semester 2 in order to take the Professional Practice Dissertation.
Option Modules
You will also study one option module. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
- Positive Psychology in Education
- Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health and Wellbeing in Education
- Contemporary Issues in Teaching
- Evaluating UK Classroom Practice
- Gender, Sexuality and Education
- Artificial Intelligence and Technology Enhanced Learning: Key Issues and Debates
The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course. For further information please get in touch.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Dissertation
- Independent Study Module (Dissertation)
- Professional Practice Dissertation (you need to choose the Professional Practice in Education module in Semester 2 to take this option)
In Semester 2 and the summer vacation you'll focus on either an independent research project or a practical group project.
You will develop, design, implement and manage your own original research project, supervised by a member of staff with the relevant experience for your topic. The independent research project leads to a 10,000 word dissertation on a subject of your choice.
The practical group project follows on from what you learnt in your Professional Practice in Education. In your group, you'll work together to develop an artefact, such as a set of classroom materials, digital resources or a syllabus, with guidance from your supervisor.
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
- Analyse and assess the implications of current issues and key trends in the field of education based on a critical understanding of the sector and its methodological traditions.
- Contribute to decision-making concerning teaching, learning and education by critically appraising, evaluating and synthesising information from diverse knowledge bases, literatures, perspectives and contexts to produce well-evidenced arguments.
- Inform and improve practice in specific educational contexts by using a broad range of theoretical frameworks and concepts to evaluate approaches to teaching and learning.
- Communicate complex information and arguments clearly, confidently and in a professional manner, making use of oral, written and visual formats.
- Initiate and conduct independent, focussed research or pedagogical projects with a focus on mental health and wellbeing in education by engaging in thorough planning, rigorous procedures and the selection and application of appropriate principles, methodologies and approaches.
- Collate, manage and critically analyse complex critical data using digital tools in order to support presented arguments.
- Understand and critically appraise a range of approaches to supporting learners' mental health and wellbeing in education to inform their selection and application in specific educational contexts and levels.
Fees and funding
Annual tuition fees for 2026/27
| Study mode | UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (1 year) | £12,000 | £26,900 |
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.
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 2026/27 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.
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'll be taught through a combination of formal lectures, seminars, practical exercises and workshops.
You'll spend time working on your own, reading assigned texts and researching supporting materials, as well as working with others in seminars to discuss and present your work.
There will also be opportunities to attend talks from guest speakers on a wide variety of topics in education.
A member of teaching staff will act as your supervisor throughout the degree to help guide your studies and monitor your progress.
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
We use a number of assessment types including:
- Research evaluation proposal
- Case study
- Provision proposal
- Policy consultancy report
- Poster Presentation
- Essay
- Professional Practice Dissertation
Throughout your course you'll complete assignments and exercises which don't count towards your final grade. The marks and feedback you receive for these will help you understand your strengths and identify areas for improvement.
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Careers and skills
This course will provide you with a highly valued set of skills that meet the needs of more senior positions in education, particularly those with a mental health and wellbeing focus. By the time you graduate, you'll be ready to take on an educational leadership, pastoral leadership, or psychology focused position in schools and other educational settings.
As an MA Education (Mental Health & Wellbeing) graduate, you'll be able to play an informed role in the development of educational thinking, policy and practice.
Career opportunities
- Youth worker
- Education welfare officer
- Widening participation officer in Higher Education
- Education consultant
- Mental health and education researcher
- Special educational needs coordinator (SENCO)
- Policy officer
- Educational psychologist
Transferable skills
- Digital literacy
- Research analysis, design and evaluation
- Translating research into practice
- Problem solving
- Time management
- Communicating to a wide range of audiences
Turn ambition into achievement with our expert guidance and connections. From your first day here to life after graduation, we'll help you find your career advantage.
Entry requirements
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate degree | 2:2 undergraduate degree in a relevant subject. Some educational experience in either teaching or administration is also considered beneficial. |
| 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 of 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
Department
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