Educational Assessment MSc

This professional development course is aimed at researchers and professionals in the field of educational assessment. It aims to deepen knowledge, understanding and expertise in the chosen specialist topic. This new two-year part-time MSc course has been introduced at a time when professionals are required to have a deeper understanding of and confidence to utilise various assessment approaches. The aim of the course is to provide researchers and professionals with the skills to enhance and develop their knowledge in a specialist topic such as international large-scale assessments, advanced analysis techniques or teacher assessment. Students will study the history, contemporary issues and development of the disciplinary field, gain technical and statistical knowledge in assessment and engage with the design and evaluation of educational assessments.

The course combines a number of teaching sessions within the department and online support through the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (WebLearn). In the second year of the course students will receive supervision of dissertation projects from a University supervisor with expertise in a particular subject. This new course is intended to improve assessment skills and to provide students with a wider education in this critical field than they would encounter in their working career or with other universities. On completion of the course, graduates will have a sound understanding of the design of assessment systems, the options available and their implications. They will be able to analyse the quality of assessments and engage in research, policy and practice questions in an informed and critical manner. This MSc qualification will have an impact upon the quality of educational assessments in a wide range of settings by enhancing assessment skills and increasing opportunities for progression to senior positions in educational assessment organisations both nationally and internationally.