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Mathematics Education MA

London, Bloomsbury

The Mathematics Education MA is for teachers, tutors and others interested in how mathematics is taught and learnt at all levels of education. The programme gives students the opportunity to explore issues in mathematics teaching, to consider the theoretical underpinnings, and to carry out a rigorous study of mathematical learning.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£13,500
£6,750
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£33,000
£16,500
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 27 Jun 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 14 Oct 2024 – 29 Aug 2025
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

Normally applicants are expected to have at least a lower second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard, usually in mathematics or in education. Professional experience of teaching or tutoring will also be considered as relevant experience. In addition, applicants should demonstrate commitment and a clearly expressed interest in issues relating to mathematics education, through the submission of an additional specific maths education written task.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

This programme is suitable for international students on a Student visa – study must be full-time, face-to-face, starting September.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

In the two compulsory modules (Understanding Mathematics Education and Mathematics for Teachers) students consider research-based developments in mathematics teaching and their related sociological, psychological, curricular and linguistic issues, and they engage with mathematics itself, finding implications for teaching. Optional modules enable students to explore, for example, learning with digital technologies (Digital Technologies for Mathematical Learning), or learning specifically aimed at primary school levels of education (Primary Mathematics Teaching: Mathematics and Pedagogy), while the independent dissertation/report modules offer students the opportunity to carry out a sustained and systematic piece of academic or professional enquiry in their chosen area of mathematics education research interest.

Who this course is for

This programme is suited to teachers and other professionals working in all phases and sectors of education (from early years to adult education and in mainstream, alternative and special provision) who are interested in mathematics education, and others with a strong background in both mathematics and education.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

The Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment Department at IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society is a world-leading centre for geography, business, mathematics, history, religious education, citizenship and science education. Students will work with tutors who are at the forefront of mathematics education research and who are directly involved in some of these developments.

The department's student population is very diverse: students on initial teacher education programmes, practising teachers, and a rich and diverse range of international students.

Our Mathematics Education Group (MEG) has a mission to offer high quality teaching, while providing high-quality student learning and support. We invite you to browse our MEG pages to find details about our mathematics educators' research interests, but also about our research seminars, Initial Teacher Education programmes, as well as Continuous Professional Development courses we developed.

With this programme, it may be possible to reduce the cost of studying to two-thirds of the total if you already have PGCE Master’s credits. This is valid for up to 5 years after the completion of your PGCE. For more information, please contact ioe.ma.maths@ucl.ac.uk.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Graduates of this programme work across a broad range of areas. Some work as secondary school heads of mathematics, while others are primary school mathematics leads. Graduates can also be found working as head teachers, in teacher training and as mathematics education lecturers and researchers.

Studying Mathematics Education MA at IOE is a really good investment for teachers who want to progress in their career and develop their pedagogy.

Ashraf Islam, Mathematics Education MA

Ashraf Islam

Mathematics Education MA

Q&A with Ashraf

Employability

For most teachers, the Mathematics Education MA enhances their satisfaction in teaching and adds a thoughtful critique that balances the pressures of teaching. It develops skills in mathematics, pedagogy, research methods and writing. This programme is a vital stepping-stone to a higher degree in mathematics education and a post in teacher education or education research. For non-teachers, this programme develops transferable skills of writing, critical analysis and understanding of how a mathematical perspective differs from other forms of reasoning.

Networking

Students enrolled on this programme are welcome to attend the regular 'Mathematics Education Special Interest Group' lunchtime meetings, where tutors present about their research, external maths educators are invited to give talks, and our alumni also present their dissertations and are supported to publish their work with continued support from their tutors.

Teaching and learning

Teaching consists of face-to-face seminars, discussions of readings, mathematical workshops, student presentations, as well as online interactions. The compulsory modules are taught face-to-face, and some optional modules are delivered online or offer a choice of mode of study.

All our modules will be taught using a variety of approaches. You will be encouraged to draw and reflect on your own experience of learning, studying and teaching and having been taught mathematics when discussing the issues, ideas, and theories presented in the modules. We know that students learn best when they are involved so you will be expected to participate through presenting ideas to a class or group, preparing work to share in a seminar, or posting comments and feedback in the Virtual Learning Environment (Moodle).

The programme is assessed through essays and oral presentations (not examinations) that involve critical engagement with specific areas of mathematics education chosen by the student from a range of areas covered within each module. Formative assessment is provided by tutor feedback in tutorials and elsewhere and in comments on draft assignments.

For full-time students, typical contact hours are around six to eight hours per week. Outside of lectures, seminars, and tutorials, full-time students typically study the equivalent of a full-time job, using their remaining time for self-directed study and completing coursework assignments. In terms one and two full-time students can typically expect between six and eight contact hours per teaching week through a mixture of lectures, seminars and tutorials. In term three and the summer period students will be completing their own Dissertation or Report research, keeping regular contact with their supervisors.

Contact hours for part-time students will depend on the modules selected. Typically a part-time student will only work on one module in any one term. For each module, typical contact hours vary between three and four per week and students will additionally engage in approximately 10 hours of self-study per module. The time allocated will vary from module to module and tutors will advise you in how to manage your workload.

Modules

Full-time students study the programme over one year. Understanding Mathematics Education, Mathematics for Teachers and EITHER Dissertation with Integrated Research Methods OR Report with Integrated Research Methods are compulsory modules. Optional modules are also available in the wider IOE offering. Full-time students therefore choose: 

EITHER  

  • Understanding Mathematics Education (Autumn Term) 
  • Mathematics for Teachers (Summer Term) 
  • Dissertation with Integrated Research Methods (Autumn Term Online Integrated Research Methods, Dissertation Spring and Summer Terms) 
  • Optional module 1 - recommended: Digital technologies for Mathematical Learning or Primary Mathematics Teaching: Mathematics and Pedagogy (Spring term) 
  • Optional module 2 (Term dependent on choice)

OR  

  • Understanding Mathematics Education (Autumn Term) 
  • Mathematics for Teachers (Summer Term) 
  • Report with Integrated Research Methods (Autumn Term Online Integrated Research Methods, Report Spring and Summer Terms) 
  • Optional module 1 - recommended: Digital technologies for Mathematical Learning or Primary Mathematics Teaching: Mathematics and Pedagogy (Spring term) 
  • Optional module 2 (Term dependent on choice)
  • Optional module 3 (Term dependent on choice)

Part-time students study the programme over two years. Understanding Mathematics Education, Mathematics for Teachers and EITHER Dissertation with Integrated Research Methods OR Report with Integrated Research Methods are compulsory modules. Optional modules are also available in the wider IOE offering. Over their two years of study, part- time students therefore choose: 

EITHER  

  • Understanding Mathematics Education (Autumn Term) 
  • Mathematics for Teachers (Summer Term) 
  • Dissertation with Integrated Research Methods (Autumn Term Online Integrated Research Methods, Dissertation Spring and Summer Terms) 
  • Optional module 1 - recommended: Digital technologies for Mathematical Learning or Primary Mathematics Teaching: Mathematics and Pedagogy (Spring term) 
  • Optional module 2 (Term dependent on choice)

OR  

  • Understanding Mathematics Education (Autumn Term) 
  • Mathematics for Teachers (Summer Term) 
  • Report with Integrated Research Methods (Autumn Term Online Integrated Research Methods, Report Spring and Summer Terms) 
  • Optional module 1 - recommended: Digital technologies for Mathematical Learning or Primary Mathematics Teaching: Mathematics and Pedagogy (Spring term) 
  • Optional module 2 (Term dependent on choice)
  • Optional module 3 (Term dependent on choice)

Modular/Flexible students study the programme over a period of up to 5 years. Understanding Mathematics Education, Mathematics for Teachers and EITHER Dissertation with Integrated Research Methods OR Report with Integrated Research Methods are compulsory modules. Optional modules are also available in the wider IOE offering. Over the period of up to 5 years of study, modular/flexible students therefore choose: 

EITHER  

  • Understanding Mathematics Education (Autumn Term) 
  • Mathematics for Teachers (Summer Term) 
  • Dissertation with Integrated Research Methods (Autumn Term Online Integrated Research Methods, Dissertation Spring and Summer Terms) 
  • Optional module 1 - recommended: Digital technologies for Mathematical Learning or Primary Mathematics Teaching: Mathematics and Pedagogy (Spring term) 
  • Optional module 2 (Term dependent on choice)

OR  

  • Understanding Mathematics Education (Autumn Term) 
  • Mathematics for Teachers (Summer Term) 
  • Report with Integrated Research Methods (Autumn Term Online Integrated Research Methods, Report Spring and Summer Terms) 
  • Optional module 1 - recommended: Digital technologies for Mathematical Learning or Primary Mathematics Teaching: Mathematics and Pedagogy (Spring term) 
  • Optional module 2 (Term dependent on choice)
  • Optional module 3 (Term dependent on choice)

Compulsory modules






Optional modules










Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Mathematics Education.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

Where you'll study

IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society

IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, is a world-leading centre for research and teaching in education, culture, psychology, and social science. We are one of the UK’s largest teacher training providers, offering a wide range of programmes across all phases of learning and more subjects than any other university. We also offer an extensive range of master’s programmes. Our research addresses society’s most important challenges and feeds into our teaching, enabling our graduates to go on to influence future generations for the better, from individual lives to societal change.

Find out more about IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £13,500 £6,750
Tuition fees (2025/26) £33,000 £16,500

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For Full-time and Part-time offer holders a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For flexible/modular offer holders a £500 fee deposit will be charged.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

Students are responsible for covering any travel, accommodation and expenses involved in carrying out their Report or Dissertation module for the purpose of data collection, and should account for these costs when planning their finances.

UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this programme of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

All applicants are asked to submit a PERSONAL STATEMENT and a SPECIFIC WRITTEN ADMISSIONS TASK with their application. Applications cannot be assessed unless both documents have been uploaded.

Your Personal Statement

Your personal statement should be no longer than two sides of A4. When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study mathematics education at graduate level
  • what particularly attracts you to the chosen programme
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging programme
  • your experiences of using research to inform teaching and learning
    where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Specific Written Admissions Task

Together with the personal statement, PLEASE NOTE that all applicants are ALSO required to submit a specific written admissions task. Your response to this task (excluding references) should be 500 - 600 words.

You are asked to outline a research investigation, related to any aspect and stage of mathematics education, which you are interested in conducting. You might want to include:

  • what you want to investigate and why it is important
  • what is already known about your selected area
  • a description of an appropriate research method to examine your area of interest
  • the implications of potential findings for selected audiences

The task will allow you to demonstrate:

  • awareness of current issues in the field of mathematics education
  • your ability to select and engage with academic literature
  • your ability to communicate in academic written English

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2025-2026

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment

ioe.ma.maths@ucl.ac.uk

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