Learn how educational challenges vary across the globe and how to counter them
Year of entry: 2025 (September)
Join us online or in person to find out more about postgraduate study at York.
Upcoming eventsGlobally education systems are witnessing unprecedented mobility, competition and disparities.
For students interested in a career addressing global educational challenges as a teacher, policymaker or researcher this course provides engagement with crucial contemporary issues:
Through a discussion of such questions, this course will help you develop an understanding of comparative education and how development goals relate to education.
It was a year of fun and learning - learning from great scholars, access to huge resource banks, making friends, learning about different cultures, and the wonderful overall experience of being in York and belonging here. I decided to stay longer, and have continued at York for my PhD in Education.Ghazal, MA Global Citizenship Education
We host the Centre for Research on Education and Social Justice, meaning you will have opportunities to connect with researchers and students from across the world.
You will explore key debates in education and international development in the global context. You will develop a critical understanding of how development goals relate to education and how international agencies like the OECD and the World Bank shape education policies and programmes. You will examine how various national governments have responded to global educational agendas and challenges. You will develop an awareness of how nation-building projects, social stratification and austerity have shaped education policy and practice in the global north and south.
You will learn how to compare education systems and policies across nations and some key historical milestones in national and global education programmes. You will explore emerging debates within comparative education and methods of comparing educational systems, processes and outcomes in diverse contexts. You will learn how macro factors like culture, politics and economics play out at the micro level in education, that is, in teaching-learning, textbooks and assessment.
You will take a total of 180 credits, including four core modules, two option modules and a dissertation.
*You must choose this module in Semester 2 if you want to take the Professional Practice Dissertation.
You will also study one option module. In previous years, options have covered topics such as:
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.
You'll develop, design, implement and manage your own original research project, supervised by a member of staff with the relevant experience for your topic. To complete this masters, you will produce a 12,000-word dissertation based on your research project.
Previous studies have included an examination of global education in schools and elsewhere, universities as sites of global citizenship, and the role of the media.
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.
| 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We offer some departmental scholarships. View details of funding and scholarship opportunities.
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.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
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.
You will be taught through a combination of formal lectures, seminars, tutorials, 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 seminars from visiting scholars on a wide variety of educational topics.
You'll be supported academically and pastorally by a tutor who you will have one-to-one meetings with.
You will be based in the Department of Education on Campus West. Teaching for this course takes place at various locations on Campus West, including Vanbrugh, Derwent and Alcuin Colleges; and the Spring Lane teaching building.
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.
You'll be assessed in a variety of ways. The actual methods will depend on your choice of modules. Some common methods of assessment include:
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.
With its focus on policy and practice and a comparative lens this programme enables you to work in national and global education settings. The programme equips you to work in public and private sectors, for example, teaching in schools or higher education, working with local and national policy making bodies as well as international development agencies like the OECD or the World Bank.
You could also do a PhD and build a career researching education and development. Knowledge and skills gained through a range of core and optional modules allow you to select a route aligned with your individual interests and professional goal.
| 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 |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| 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 |
| 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 | 459-494, with 426-458 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.
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.
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