MSt in Advanced Subject Teaching

The course will run from September 2012 to July 2014, and has been designed to be accessible to teachers both in the UK and world-wide. Teaching and supervision by Cambridge academics will be offered through a combination of residential teaching in Cambridge (two concentrated teaching blocks in the first year) and online tuition.

Successful applicants will become members of a Cambridge college where they will be members of the wider graduate community as well as enjoying full access to the facilities of the University.

What will I be studying?

When you embark on this innovative programme, you will choose an aspect of your subject which you would like to explore further or perhaps tackle for the first time. You will then study it both academically and pedagogically, so that your new knowledge and skills can be put to effective use in the classroom.

It is an important aim of the programme that you should focus on areas of the curriculum that are under-represented in schools, not least because teachers themselves may be less familiar with them.

We hope that successful graduates of this MSt will go on to make major contributions to syllabus development not only in their schools, but also at national and international level.

How will I be taught and assessed?

The MSt is part-time and studied over two years

Year 1

The first year consists of four taught modules, and you will be expected to produce a 3,000-word assignment for each:

• Module 1: The history and development of the subject (residential)
• Module 2: Updating subject knowledge (i): innovation and design (online)
• Module 3: Teaching vs. testing in the subject (residential)
• Module 4: Updating subject knowledge (ii): syllabus design and construction (online)

Year 2

• Module 5: Research skills

In the second year, you will undertake a research project on a topic of your own choice, culminating in a 15,000 to 18,000-word dissertation. There will be a residential Research Skills course at the start of the year.

What can I go on to do?

The MSt is a research degree, and successful completion of the MSt at a high grade may allow you to progress to an EdD or PhD either at the University of Cambridge or another institution.

Fees

The course fee is £3,250 per annum for Home/EU students and £7,475 per annum for Overseas students.

Please note your application must be accompanied by a non-refundable fee of £35.

Applicants will be responsible for their own college fees and expenses incurred during residential events. 

Location

Teaching will take place at Madingley Hall. Accommodation can be booked at Madingley Hall (subject to availability).

Admissions procedure and how to apply

Graduate work in Cambridge is intense and very intellectually demanding and so the University has high academic entry requirements. You are normally expected to hold or to be about to achieve:

• At least a 2i honours degree from a UK university or an equivalent standard from an overseas university; and
• Completion of, or release from, any current training or education course.

Please note that the closing date for applications to the 2012-2014 course is 1 April 2012. Currently the MSt in Advanced Subject Teaching is offered every two years and places are offered to up to 20 students. 

The MSt is not a distance learning course and attendance in Cambridge for the residential sessions is compulsory. It is therefore essential that all applicants are available to attend all the residential teaching events.

Please note that the application form together with supporting documentation as specified below must be submitted to Sue Brignell, Academic Programme Manager at the Insitute of Continuing Education, Madingley Hall, Madingley, Cambridge CB23 8AQ.

Find out more

For academic enquiries, please contact Dr Nigel Kettley: nck20@cam.ac.uk.

For administrative enquiries, please contact Sue Brignell: sab67@cam.ac.uk

For further guidance regarding the application process or to find provisional dates for the residential teaching blocks please refer to the download documents.