MA Positive Education
- Study Mode: Part Time
- Location: High Wycombe
- Duration: Two Years
- Start Date: September 2025
Our MA Positive Education course is ideal for you if you are passionate about education and psychology and want to understand how psychology can be applied to education. Whether you want to build your proficiency in a current teaching role or start your career in education or academic research, this course gives you the tools to begin applying advanced technique, wellbeing and research to a professional setting.
Teaching from experience, we give you a first-hand insight into how our teaching can be used to benefit you, your students and colleagues. With the ability to use your knowledge across a diverse range of roles, this course offers you a clear and helpful progression pathway within the education sector.
Our course uniquely combines the principles of positive psychology with educational practice, enabling you to enhance well-being and performance within educational settings at all levels.
Benefit from a supportive learning environment, including access to a 24-hour library, IT software, and the 'apps anywhere' service, which allows study from home. We also offer a strong support network, cost of living assistance, and student union to enrich the educational experience.
Located just 45 minutes from London, the university provides convenient access to the capital's resources. On-campus facilities include a 24-hour library and advanced IT infrastructure, supporting a comprehensive learning experience.
Enrolling on the MA Positive Education program has been one of the most transformative decisions of my career and personal life. I gained practical strategies grounded in research that have profoundly impacted my teaching practice.Matteo Anfora
On a personal level, the principles of Positive Education helped me to cultivate positive emotions, greater self-awareness, kindness, gratitude, and balance, enriching my well-being beyond the classroom.
Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?
We offer you a course that can help you achieve your personal goals within the world of education. You can gain the support of professional lecturers with insight born out of extensive research and experience. We believe this course prepares you for whatever you might face in the future and more.
At BNU, as much as possible we try to tailor our course content around your specific needs. If you have some goals set, or need some direction, we enable you to focus on issues important to you or discover new information you were unaware of. Our course provides you with the opportunity to combine theory with practice, and we make sure we’re doing the best we can to prepare you.
In addition to all the course benefits, there are some practical benefits to consider too. We can provide you with a campus only 45 minutes from London, with our apps anywhere service allowing you to use software and apps from home, in addition to a great support network, cost of living support, student union and benefits packages to help you complete your studies.
What facilities can I use?
Everything that is required for the study of this course is located across our 3 campuses. In addition, we have a 24-hour library for your use, with IT software, computers and the information you need. We also have apps anywhere that allows you to study from the comfort of your own home.
What will I study?
The MA Positive Education specialism is designed to help you understand how to apply the principles of positive psychology to education.
As practitioners and learners, you will consider ways to support and develop wellbeing as an integral part of education. You will examine topics and theories related to self-care and wellbeing, critically consider evidence-based interventions in education and have the opportunity to plan and implement a research project of your own choice and setting.
Through the programme, you will also engage in research and will have the chance to introduce a research-based intervention. Course content can properly prepare you for a role after graduation in a range of different careers including primary, early and secondary education, and many of our graduates have gone on to have successful careers in these areas.
How will I be taught and assessed?
Our course provides useful professional development opportunities for you if you are already working as a teacher, or a meaningful introduction to the field for those seeking a career in education who have opportunities to apply the learning in practice.
The focus of your engagement with the assessment process will be negotiated with a member of the programme team to ensure that assessed work responds to your interests and career aspirations. Your second year of study will focus on the development of an extended work project. This assessment is an exciting opportunity to frame a significant piece of work in your area of interest with a view to sharing this externally.
Some of the ways you will be assessed include:
- practical and oral assessments
- presentation
- professional conversations with your lecturer
What are the course entry requirements?
Individuals with an undergraduate degree, typically 2.1 or higher, with an interest in pursuing a career in education.
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) to the value of 30 credits is available within the master's framework. It is possible to APL against either Capturing Professional Education or Mentoring in the Practice Setting/ Principles of Practice Education. It is not possible to APL against the research modules. Where APL is sought, there is a requirement that it must have been conferred within the last 5 years.
Advanced Standing entry
Our Advanced Standing entry is perfect for you if you already hold a postgraduate qualification in an education subject, such as our PGCert Practice Education. If you have a 60 credit PGCert in the area of education, you can use the credits towards this full master’s degree, and you can gain this qualification with a lower cost and reduced module requirements.
In your first year, for example, on the Advanced Standing entry you are exempt from three core modules. This is because the Advanced Standing entry takes into account your existing knowledge to enable you to focus on those specialist areas that interest you the most.
Taken on its own, our PGCert Practice Education course is a great option for those who want to step into postgraduate study but not into a full masters. Advanced Standing entry into this programme then offers you a follow-on route and further qualification should you decide to continue onto this full masters course.
If you already hold a postgraduate certificate in the field of education, our MA Education Advanced Standing offers a streamlined award that recognises your existing expertise.
Modules
This provides a guide of the modules that make up your course. You can find more information about how your course is structured on our Academic Advice section.
What are the tuition fees
Home, Academic Year 2025 - 2026 fees:
- MA Education: £5,840 per year
- MA Education Advanced Standing: £3,830 per year
Following the Government’s announcement of 4 November 2024, we will be increasing our full-time undergraduate tuition fees for UK students to £9,535 per year from the start of the 2025/26 academic year. Our part-time fees for UK undergraduate students will increase to £7,145 per annum. Please visit , on the Government’s website, for more information about the changes.
Tuition fees for Home undergraduate students (including with foundation year) may increase in subsequent years for both new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Government.  
Tuition fees for both new and continuing international students may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year.  
Tuition fees for postgraduate courses and CPD may be subject to an inflationary increase based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the 12-month period to 31 January each year. This increase will apply to both new and continuing students.  
We understand, and really appreciate, the significant financial commitment our students make when they choose to study at BNU. We take our responsibilities to our students very seriously, and are ambitious for each to reach their full potential and succeed in their chosen career. Our fees help us to continue providing our students with a high-quality education, and to invest in the services and facilities which create an excellent student experience at BNU.
The following factors will be considered by the University when we set the annual fees: measures of inflation such as the retail price indices; projected increases in University costs; and any changes in the level of funding for teaching received from the Government.
What are my career prospects?
An MA in Education allows you to engage with a aspect of educational practice in depth, giving you knowledge and expertise that enables you to build confidence and inspire.
Completing this course is also a springboard to further academic research, such as an EdD or PhD. Many of our graduates go on to become senior educators in primary, secondary and higher education, as well as published researchers.
Course leader
- Associate Professor
- Course Leader for MSc Mental Health and Wellbeing in Education
