| UCAS code | 1234 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 year full time |
| Entry year | September 2025 |
| Campus | St Luke's Campus |
| Discipline | Education and Teacher Training |
| Contact | Programme Director: Dr Kerry Chappell |
| Typical offer | 2:2 Honours |
|---|---|
Overview
- Learn how to encourage creativity via the arts and understand the variety of roles for the arts in education, how they benefit other areas of the curriculum and how they can promote inclusion
- Join a vibrant student community which brings a collective wealth of different educational and cultural experiences and perspectives
- Flexible programme with opportunities to specialise in art, music, dance or drama or choose an interdisciplinary approach
- Experience creative arts in action through visits to arts education settings such as schools and galleries and interactions with cultural organisations that collaborate with us
100% of our Education research has internationally excellent impact
Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
Top 150 in the world for Education
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024
Home to one of the largest Education libraries in the UK
Specialise in visual art, music, dance or drama – or take an interdisciplinary approach
100% of our Education research has internationally excellent impact
Based on research impact rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021
Top 150 in the world for Education
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024
Home to one of the largest Education libraries in the UK
Specialise in visual art, music, dance or drama – or take an interdisciplinary approach
Entry requirements
We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree with 53% or above in a relevant subject area such as social sciences, humanities or education.
Applicants are expected to have some previous experience of the creative arts in education (visual arts, dance, drama, music or other). This might include simply having attended arts classes yourself or having volunteered to assist in arts education settings, or you may be experienced in some form of arts-based teaching or facilitation. We are looking for students who are actively interested in creative arts education; we aim to start with your own experience and to develop this through the course.
We welcome applications from students who hold qualifications and degrees that are not in education. These may include degrees and qualifications undertaken in the social sciences, natural sciences, humanities, arts or business studies. Please note that this list is not exhaustive and every application will be considered on a case-by-case basis. We would encourage applicants to use their personal statement to indicate their interests in creative arts education and any relevant work experience.
Some modules require Disclosure and Barring Service checks.
Entry requirements for international students
Please visit our entry requirements section for equivalencies from your country and further information on English language requirements.
Entry requirements for international students
English language requirements
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.
Course content
Our two arts education modules will provide you with an insight into a variety of arts in education settings, interdisciplinary practice and experience in identifying and facilitating creativity in education. The Education Studies module will expose you to the range of possible approaches to educational studies, helping students to position themselves and their learning.
Optional modules enable you to tailor your programme according to your professional and academic interests. “Reflecting on Educational Practices” offers skills which can be helpful in finding employment following the course. "Transdisciplinary collaborations for creative futures" is an exciting new module for 24/25 which allows students to collaborate with peers from across the university, bringing arts education skills into conversation with other disciplines to respond to a global challenge. The dissertation offers you the opportunity to follow your own research passions in arts education and to be supported by expert education academics.
You must take 180 credits in total to qualify with an MA qualification. This will either consist of taught modules to the value of 120 credits and a dissertation worth 60 credits, or a combination of modules, dissertation and accredited prior learning or experience.
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
150 credits of compulsory modules, 30 credits optional modules
Compulsory modules
A - Students must take either EFPM308 Preparing for Educational Research and Dissertation OR EFPM331 Preparing for Education Inquiry Portfolio
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EFPM914 | Education Studies | 30 |
| EFPM906 | Arts Education Theory, Practice and Potential | 30 |
| EFPM907 | Creativity in Education: Valuing, Facilitating and Assessing It | 30 |
| EFPM200 | SoE Success for All | 0 |
| EFPM308 | Preparing for Educational Research and Dissertation [See note A above] | 60 |
| EFPM331 | Preparing for Educational Inquiry Portfolio [See note A above] | 60 |
Optional modules
Students choose one of the following options:
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EFPM294 | Technology and Education Futures | 30 |
| EFPM913 | Debating the Big Questions in Education | 30 |
| EFPM375 | Education for diversity | 30 |
| EFPM910 | Education Policy | 30 |
| EFPM918 | Reflecting on Educational Practices | 30 |
| EFPM919 | Critical Perspectives on Inclusive Education | 30 |
| EFPM839 | Transdisciplinary Collaborations for Creative Futures | 30 |
Fees
2025/26 entry
UK fees per year:
£10,700 full-time
International fees per year:
£25,300 full-time
Scholarships
The University of Exeter has many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students applying to study with us in the 2025/26 academic year, such as our Exeter Excellence Scholarships*.
For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
*Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.
Teaching and research
Teaching and learning
Learning methods vary across our wide range of modules and may include:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Workshops
- Peer-led activity
- Online resources
- Studio and classroom work
- Field trips and school visits
Our Education Studies module provides a grounding in education research, theory and practice. Every other week students participate in activity sessions such as:
- A discussion and practical activity with a range of psychology practitioners
- Designing your own materials which might help to address racial inequalities in school
- Working with an expert in young people's relationships education
- Short series of pedagogy-focused sessions for students who want to work with young people in educational settings in the future
Assessment
All modules are assessed through course work and there are no final examinations. Assessments are varied and include:
- Essays
- Online projects
- Portfolios
- Presentations
Facilities and support
You'll be assigned a personal tutor and have access to module tutors via face-to-face and/or email or online tutorials. You'll also have access to a range of support including lecture notes, presentations, film clips and reading materials through our online learning environment.
Campus-based modules are taught at the School of Education at the St Luke's Campus in Exeter, which offers an excellent range of specialist facilities and one of the UK's largest Education libraries.
Research-led teaching
You will join a vibrant postgraduate community at the School of Education, studying with some of the leading scholars in their disciplines.
You will benefit from our active research culture, which promotes the sharing of ideas and knowledge to encourage innovation. Our research centres provide a focus for research and discussion for academic staff, researchers and practitioners, and organise seminar series, visiting speakers, conferences and other events.
Visiting speakers
In addition to benefiting from the expertise and experience of our academics, on this course you will also engage with high profile arts education providers.
We bring visiting speakers and organisations into our modules, as well as providing opportunities for students to understand local arts education community to see practice in context via field visits. Below are examples of the partners we work with to achieve this:
Daisi
Daisi’s vision is for artistic and cultural experience to be at the heart of young people's lives and learning. Daisi’s mission is to work in partnership with artists from a broad range of artistic disciplines, and educators to enable arts and culture to enrich and inspire the lives, learning and futures of children and young people in the South West region.
Within this remit Daisi has a close affiliation with the MA Creative Arts in Education.
Daisi believes that engagement and learning in and through the arts transforms lives, and that young people contribute to the cultural lives, futures and heritage of all of us. They aim to celebrate their achievements and to contribute intelligently to the arts education sector's evidence base of the positive impact of arts education activity on outcomes for young people. Daisi is committed to designing, supporting and sharing innovative, diverse and relevant approaches to learning in and through the arts through partnerships, such as the affiliation with the MA Creative Arts in Education course and collaborations across sector boundaries.
Associate Professor Oded Ben-Horin
Associate Professor Oded Ben-Horin (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway) held a “Science Opera” workshop for University of Exeter’s Creative Arts students as part of the European Commission’s CREATIONS project. During the workshop, students were introduced to pedagogical features of the CREATIONS project, which seeks to raise interest in science and scientific careers through a specific approach to creativity in science education: the inter-disciplinary meeting of science and art in the classroom. Two cases were demonstrated: Write a Science Opera (WASO) and Global Science Opera (GSO). In the former, students experienced exercises which may be used to realize science/art activities with a class of pupils. In the latter, the students were introduced to how global opera productions are realised in collaboration with international scientific institutions.
The full gallery of photos from Associate Professor Ben-Horin's workshop can be viewed here.
The Real School, Budapest
CREATIONS Project
The MA Creative Arts in Education staff are also involved in research relevant to the course. One such project was the EU-Horizon 2020-funded CREATIONs project which aimed to engage young people in science education through creativity and the arts. Creative Arts students assisted at the CREATIONs Masterclass where the secrets of light and colour in butterflies and photography were revealed to school children in Years 7 and 8. The day involved seminars and hands on activities including looking at photography via a Camera Obscura. The event, held at the University’s Streatham campus, was led by Professor Pete Vukusic and Sam White.
Professor Vukusic’s research explores how light is manipulated in the natural world, and Sam is a specialist in photography who works in schools with his Camera Obscura. The event was a collaboration between the University of Exeter's School of Education and Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy and run with the help of PhD Physics students and the Creative Arts students. This Masterclass was also run in association with the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Physics Masterclass Programme.
What I enjoy the most about my course is that I not only feel empowered to integrate the arts and creativity into my teaching but I also feel capable to support other teachers with how to do it. Visits to creative schools and galleries have given me interesting ideas on making the arts a part of my curriculum.
Kelly
Student (MA Creative Arts in Education)
Careers
The flexibility of this programme means it is ideal for students from a range of subject, professional and career backgrounds including teachers, lecturers, administrators, education advisors, or other related professions.
Graduate destinations
The University has an excellent reputation with graduate recruiters and our students compete very successfully in the employment market. Our graduates have gone on to a range of careers in the UK and overseas with examples given below. We are aware that Chinese students may want to go on to become teachers in China after graduating from the programme. We have assisted programme alumni previously with translating the qualification into terms which work within the Chinese teacher training system. Whilst we cannot promise success, we are happy to work with students to support them in this way where appropriate.
Please note that, due to data protection, the job titles and organisations listed below are independent and do not correspond.
Job Titles
- Teacher
- Subject Specialist Teacher (including music, arts, drama)
- Special Needs Teacher
- Head of Department
- Arts Manager
- Educational Therapist
- Education Officer
- Dyslexia Assessor
- Headteacher/Principal
- Education Consultant
- Dean, Faculty of Arts
- Lecturer
Employers
- Ofsted
- Devon Education Authority
- Jersey States Education Department
- Plymouth City Council
- FEA Training and Development Centre
- Camden LEA
- Exeter College
- Hong Kong SAR Government
- Danish National School of Contemporary Dance
- Ministry of Education, Cyprus
- Saltash Community School
- University of Reading
Career support
Careers support including skills training, internships, jobs vacancies, employment fairs and other events is available through the Career Zone.
Reflecting on Educational Practices
You are encouraged to consider taking the Reflecting on Educational Practices (EFPM918) as your optional module, thereby gaining skills which can be helpful in finding employment following the course.
This module is focused on experiencing and reflecting on educational practices. The module involves two parts: a series of lectures and seminars focusing on critical reflection, experiential learning and professional development within education; and a set of educational experiences. It allows you the unique opportunity to observe, experience and reflect on practice and to use this as an opportunity for personal, professional and academic development. The module will provide you with the tools to reflect critically upon your experience of educational practices. You will also be encouraged to reflect on your learning in your experience of educational practices and to consider how this relates to the wider issues, processes, practices, policies and theoretical ideas that you have explored in your academic study. This module thus strongly supports you in connecting theory and practice.
The educational experience of practice may either: be based on curated digital online activities; take place physically in a place of education; or occur in a virtual place of education. In the curated digital online activities, you would engage with a wealth of initial resources selected by module tutors to allow you to experience a variety of educational settings, and will build on this independently to develop your own particular focus. You will have the opportunity to search for your own physical/virtual experience, and support in this process may be available from the college Employability and Placement Advisor. It is not expected that experiences will take place in the formal school setting. You are encouraged to think about the variety of settings where education might occur and to consider experiences which will challenge your existing assumptions, perspectives and skill sets.
