University of Nottingham Malaysia
MA in Special and Inclusive Education
UNM/JPT-R2/144/7/0005(2/28)A7269
- Full-time: 1-2 years
- Part-time: 2-4 years
- Start date: September 2025
- Malaysian fee: RM58,000 per programme
- International fee: RM60,000 per programme
- Intake: September
Course overview
This programme is designed for teachers and education professionals looking to deepen their knowledge and expertise in special and inclusive education. Students will engage with contemporary debates, theories, and research on critical topics such as effective support strategies, the complexities of inclusive education in a rapidly changing world, and the rights of children to be fully included in schools.
Throughout the programme, students will explore the educational needs of children and youth with special or additional learning requirements. They will develop critical analysis skills essential for identifying and addressing barriers to inclusion, implementing evidence-based practices, and applying frameworks that support diverse learners.
This programme empowers students to foster equitable and inclusive practices within schools, equipping them with the tools to create meaningful change in education systems.
Please note that the MA Special and Inclusive Education does not confer Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). However, it provides a robust foundation for advancing inclusive education practices globally.
Why Choose This Course?
- Expert-led Programme: Learn from leading experts in special and inclusive education, gaining insights into best practices for supporting diverse learning needs.
- Comprehensive Curriculum: Engage in modules such as Practice-based Inquiry, Debating Special and Inclusive Education, and Responding Mindfully to Challenging Behaviour, blending theory with practical application.
- Focused on Research: Conduct impactful research through a Masters-level dissertation, tailored to your professional interests and aspirations in inclusive education.
- Career Advancement: Gain specialised skills to excel in leadership roles within special education, policy development, and academic research.
- Practical Relevance: Develop the ability to assess special educational needs, design inclusive strategies, and interpret assessment outcomes effectively.
- Global Recognition: Benefit from a prestigious degree from the University of Nottingham Malaysia, recognised worldwide for academic excellence and innovation in education.
Course content
For the MA in Education: Special and Inclusive Education, you will need to successfully complete 180 credits. This will be composed of two core modules and two electives of 30 credits each. In addition, you will need to submit a dissertation, worth 60 credits, in a subject related to one of the modules and approved by your tutor.
Core modules
Debating Special and Inclusive Education
This module focuses on critical issues in special education and inclusive education across the globe, and application of theories, policies, societal issues, and education and inclusive systems on educational provision for individuals who are marginalised, including those with special needs.
Key topics include:
- Critiquing definitions of special and inclusive education.
- Exploring the sociological, political and theoretical perspectives of inclusion.
- Understanding inclusive pedagogies and systems.
Practice Based Inquiry
The content will involve you in active critical consideration of participating in and leadership of practitioner inquiry in relation to professional context mapping and workplace learning.
These processes will be achieved through:
- conceptualising different kinds of practitioner inquiry relevant to work-based understanding and development (purposes, processes, contexts, dilemmas, outcomes).
- examining a range of approaches to educational inquiry, with an emphasis on action research.
- developing an inquiry into your professional context.
Dissertation
This substantive piece of scholarship within the field of the course will normally be based on interests and skills you have developed in the course of the modules already studied.
You will choose a topic in consultation with your course leader and an appropriate supervisor.
Optional modules
Communication and Literacy
This module focuses on the importance of communication and its close links to the development of literacy. This module explores the development of both communication and literacy skills, issues that arise in individuals with communication and literacy difficulties and educational support for communication and literacy development.
Key topics include:
- Critiquing theories of communication and literacy development.
- Understanding the impact of communication and literacy difficulties including among individuals with learning disability, autism, Down syndrome and dyslexia.
- Evaluating communication and literacy assessments and interventions.
Responding Mindfully to Challenging Behavior
This module focuses on developing a critical understanding of theories on behaviour and relationship management, and reflecting on how these theories influence practical issues concerning the management of individuals with special needs.
Key topics include:
- Developing an awareness in reflexivity as a key resource and skill in facilitating other individuals and groups.
- Relating theories and practices related to managing relationships and behaviour in educational contexts.
- Understanding of whole school issues relating to responding mindfully to challenging behaviours and meeting the needs of individuals with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Meet the tutor
Please note that we offer only one or two modules at each teaching time point.
To maximise your study period, we highly encourage that you align your programme start date with the first module of your choice.
Please email the programme coordinator if you need help with module selection.
Programme coordinator: Dr Sharimila Ambrose.
Entry requirements
All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
A relevant second-class honours degree (2:2) or international equivalent. Relevant experience may be required for some programmes. Non-UK qualifications will be assessed against this standard.
Malaysian applicants, expatriates, and their families residing in Malaysia without the standard entry requirements but with substantial and relevant work experience may be considered for entry at the discretion of the School, provided they have successfully passed the Accredited Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) assessment through the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA).
Applicants must hold a degree from a recognised university. We welcome students from all academic backgrounds and consider a wide range of qualifications. For certain programmes, prior qualifications must be in related fields. As part of the admissions process, applicants may be invited to attend an interview if further evaluation is deemed necessary.
Eligibility can only be confirmed upon submission of a complete application.
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IELTS (Academic):
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6.5 (with no less than 6.0 in each element)
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TOEFL (iBT):
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90 (minimum 19 in Writing and Listening, 20 in Reading and 22 in Speaking) |
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PTE (Academic):
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71 (with no less than 65 in each element)
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MUET:
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Band 4.5 |
- IELTS (Academic), TOEFL iBT, and PTE (Academic) test results must be less than two years old.
- IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted.
- IELTS Academic Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, and PTE Academic Online are not accepted.
- MUET results are valid for five years from the release date.
Learning and assessment
How you will learn
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Workshops
- Tutorials
- Field trips
- Lab sessions
- Independent study
In addition to lectures, some modules have lab sessions, some have workshops and some drop in sessions. Each module is run with the aim of providing best learning experience for students and module objectives are achieved by devising the most appropriate delivery and assessment methods.
How you will be assessed
- Coursework
- Dissertation
- Presentation
- Essay
Modules are assessed via a 6,000 word assignment. The dissertation is an original piece of work and should be of approximately 12,000–15,000 words on an approved topic.
Fees
| Malaysian students | RM58,000 per programme |
| International students | RM60,000 per programme |
Funding
Find out about scholarships, financial assistance and specific research funding available to all malaysian and international students.
Scholarship fundingWhere you will learn
Malaysia Campus
Semenyih Campus is 48km from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and just 45 minutes’ drive from the famous city centre with its iconic Petronas Twin Towers. On arrival, you are immersed in the green jungle backdrop that Malaysia provides with wildlife, sunshine and campus lake.
The campus is home to our business, education, science and engineering schools, which sit alongside a sports centre, library and student accommodation. The University has everything a modern day student could wish for with the added bonus of being located in central Asia allowing you to travel further afield in your free time.
Public transport is plentiful with free shuttle services operating on some routes. Taxi/Grab services in Malaysia are very reasonable and used widely by the student community.
This content was last updated on 17 February 2025. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.