Master's Degree Programme in Education and Learning

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GET A DEGREE IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION WITH AN ADVANCED COMBINATION OF THEORY AND PRACTICE!

Masters degree programme in education and learning trains you for various national and international tasks in the field of education.

The Programme is based on the strengths in research of the Faculty of Education: learning research, learning environments and research of educational systems. The degree studies will both enhance the students’ understanding of social functions of education and familiarise them with analyses on global and local relationships in educational policy. In addition, the Programme increases their understanding of learning and motivation in complex and multilevel learning environments.

Throughout the studies, a strong emphasis is placed on students’ research skills. The applicants also have the possibility to apply for a double degree option called the Finnish-German Master Programme in Education, where a part of the degree studies is completed at the University of Regensburg, Germany.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

The studies are divided into different study modules as follows:

Orientation and general studies 25 ects

• Compulsory courses, including academic English and intensive Finnish

Advanced studies in Educational Sciences 80 ects

• Compulsory courses in Educational Sciences 30 ects
• Internship 10 ects
• Master’s Thesis 40 ects

Elective studies 18 ects

• Optional courses

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE & EXPERIENCE

LLEES Programme is a two year Master’s degree programme which trains experts and researchers for various national and international tasks in the field of education. The Programme concentrates on the leading research of the Faculty of Education: learning research, learning environments and research of educational systems.

The studies will give you an in-depth insight into education on a macro-level as well as into individual learning. On the macro-level, the studies will enhance your understanding of social functions of education and familiarise you with analyses on global and local relationships in educational policy.

You will also learn to analyse and explain findings of international assessment studies. On a micro-level, you will increase your understanding of learning and motivation in complex and multilevel learning environments.

Throughout the studies, strong emphasis is placed on students’ research skills.

There are two research units at the Faculty which contribute to these various branches:

• Centre for Research on Lifelong Learning and Education (CELE)
• Centre for Learning Research. Students major in Education. The language of the Programme is English.

The high-quality research at the Faculty of Education is internationally recognised and its scope covers the entire human life-span.

The main themes of our research are learning education policy and education systems, and teaching and teacherhood.

MASTER'S THESIS & TOPICS

Students complete a Master’s thesis as part of the advanced studies in the field of educational science. A Master’s thesis should demonstrate the student’s:

• the ability for scientific thinking
• mastery of the required research methods
• familiarity with the topic of the thesis
• the ability to communicate in a scientific context.

There are two key research areas for Master’s theses in the Programme: 1) research on learning and instruction, and 2) research on educational policy and sociology of education.

Examples of thesis topics:

• Attendance Policy Moderates the Influence of Achievement Goals a Transfer of Training.
• Analysis of educational transfer and policy changes after PISA in Japan and Finland.
• Achievement goals, learning strategies and exam performance in English learning: a study among undergraduate EFL learners in China.
• Children with hearing problems in elementary school environments in Pakistan and in Finland.
• Developmental trajectories towards the concept of rational numbers: a latent transition analysis of third to sixth-grade students.
• Extracurricular language activities in higher education: perspectives of teachers and students.

DOUBLE DEGREE PROGRAMME

The applicants can choose an option that leads to two Master’s degrees. This double degree option is called the Finnish-German Master Programme in Education and it leads to the following degrees: Master of Arts in Education from the University of Turku, and Master of Arts Erziehungswissenschaft (Educational Science) from the University of Regensburg, Germany. The studies take two years to complete (120 ECTS credits).

A student who has been admitted to the double degree option studies the 2nd semester at the University of Regensburg, Institute of Education.

The number of students admitted to the Education and Learning programme is 20 at the most: a maximum of 20 students to the single degree option and, among the 20 best scoring applicants, a maximum of 5 students will be admitted to the double degree option.

COMPETENCE DESCRIPTION

Competence description: The Education and Learning programme trains experts in the areas of research on learning and sociology of education. The students develop their capability to do analytical and critical research in two key research areas: 1) research on learning and instruction, and 2) research on educational policy and sociology of education.

CAREER IN RESEARCH

After completing the Master of Arts degree in education, students may pursue postgraduate studies for the Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Turku.

Graduates are eligible to apply for a position in the University of Turku Graduate School, UTUGS. The Graduate School consists of 16 doctoral programmes which cover all the disciplines and doctoral candidates of the University.

Together with the doctoral programmes, the Graduate School provides systematic and high-quality doctoral training. UTUGS aims to train highly qualified experts with the skills required for both professional careers in research and other positions of expertise.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: GENERAL DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Who can apply?

Persons who have completed a Bachelor’s degree in education, adult education, special education, or in other domains relevant to the master’s programme (e.g. social sciences or humanities) are eligible to apply to the programme. Also, persons who have a Bachelor’s degree from other fields of study, and who have either an official teacher’s qualification or who can prove a clear affinity to educational sciences are eligible to apply to the programme. The degree must include at least three years of studies.

Persons who have completed a Bachelor’s degree in education, adult education, special education, or in other domains relevant to the master’s programme (e.g. social sciences or humanities) are eligible to apply to the programme. Also, persons who have a Bachelor’s degree from other fields of study, and who have either an official teacher’s qualification or who can prove a clear affinity to educational sciences are eligible to apply to the programme. The degree must include at least three years of studies.

Persons who have completed a Finnish first-cycle polytechnic degree called ammattikorkeakoulututkinto and who either have completed basic and intermediate studies (altogether min. 60 ECTS) in education, special education or adult education, or have completed basic studies (min. 25 ECTS) in education and can prove a clear affinity to educational sciences are also eligible to apply to the programme

The decision for admission will be based on the relevance of:

• the applicant’s previous degree(s)
• the amount, relevance and grades of the courses in the degree(s)
• motivation letter

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