Online MA Special and Inclusive Education | Walbrook

Get your Master’s in Special and Inclusive Education, the Walbrook Way

Study 100% online, from anywhere
- Graduate in as little as 1 year.
- Start any month from September 2026.
- Competitive tuition – £6,960 total.
12th in UK for employment and further study
- Beating Russell Group unis on career outcomes*
- Shaped by practice, grounded in research.
- Career support and a 24/7 job portal.
For educators balancing work, home and life
- Study flexibly within a weekly structure.
- Flex between full and part-time.
- Online learning for busy educators.

MA Special and Inclusive Education online degree

Eighty-eight per cent of school leaders say the role is becoming more challenging, with more complex student needs such as mental health, SEND, and absence (Sustainable School Leadership Report, 2026). Behind these figures are young people whose experience of education depends on whether the right support is in place. The MA Special and Inclusive Education focuses on educational inclusion as a fundamental right. It prepares you to lead inclusive education in your own setting, shaping policy and culture so all students feel supported to succeed.

Why this master's degree?

Education needs experts who treat inclusion as a moral and rights-based practice.
Designed for SENCOs, inclusion leads, and educators moving into specialist or leadership roles.
Created in London, by educators advising UNESCO, ministries, and global organisations.

Headshot of Prof Robert White with the quote "You'll explore questions around purpose, inclusion, equity, and leadership, examining them through the complex realities of contemporary educational settings."

Your online MA Special and Inclusive Education degree at a glance

Location:

‣ 100% Online, distance learning

Start dates:

‣ Start any month from September 2026

Duration:

‣ Full-time: 1 year or 13 months

‣ Part-time: 2 years

Tuition fees and funding:

‣ Total programme cost is £6,960

‣ Secure your place by paying for your first one or two modules, depending on whether you choose full-time or part-time study.

Entry requirements:

‣ 2:2 honours degree and above (or equivalent)

‣ Alternatively, you can apply with 2+ years’ relevant professional experience in one or more education-related roles.

Tuition fees for your online MA Special and Inclusive Education degree

The prices shown below are for our online MA Education degrees only. They are inclusive of your first module(s) payment and don't include any reductions.

Total programme cost
Full-time: 1 year or 13 months | Part-time: 2 years

£6,960
in total
You'll study 10x 15-credit modules and 1x 30-credit Dissertation module in total (approx. 17-30 hrs/week).
Apply now
Cost per module
Full-time: 1 year or 13 months | Part-time: 2 years

£580
per 15-credit module
You'll study 10x 15-credit modules. Your final 30-credit Dissertation module will be charged at £1,280.
Apply now

Total tuition fees: £6,960.  You can pay for your MA Special and Inclusive Education degree per module, or in full before you start your studies.

If you choose to pay in full, you’ll receive a 15% reduction on your total tuition fees.

If you choose to pay per module, your payment schedule will depend on whether you choose full or part-time study:

If you apply as a full-time student, you’ll need to pay for two modules upfront to confirm your place, then continue to pay in two-module instalments as you progress.
If you apply as a part-time student, you’ll pay for one module upfront, then continue to pay per module before each one begins.

If you’re a UK student, you may be eligible for a government master's loan from Student Finance England for our online master's degrees. The Student Loans Company (SLC) will pay the loan directly to you after you start your studies. So, it’s your responsibility to make your module payments to us directly. Find out more about funding your Walbrook master's with a UK master's loan >
Want to see exactly when payments are due? Open the payment schedule for our next two start dates below.

September 2026 start date
- Full-time payment schedule – September 2026
- Part-time payment schedule – September 2026
October 2026 start date
- Full-time payment schedule – October 2026
- Part-time payment schedule – October 2026
Alumni receive a 10% tuition fee discount. If you’re eligible, our enrolment team can provide your personalised payment schedule.

Entry requirements for your online MA Special and Inclusive Education degree

Every application is different. If you’re not sure whether you meet the MA Special and Inclusive Education entry requirements, or you have any questions, contact us for advice.

To apply, you’ll need to meet the following entry requirements:
- A UK honours degree at 2:2 or above (or equivalent international qualification).
Or
- 2+ years’ relevant professional experience in one or more education-related roles.
Thinking of transferring institutions or have you studied before? You can apply to transfer up to 60 credits towards your master's degree. Please note that credits can’t be awarded for the research module of this programme.

These credits must be relevant, current, and aligned with the subject matter of your chosen MSc Computer Science pathway.
- Review our recognition of prior learning process.
- Speak to our Enrolment Team.
- Submit a recognition of prior learning form alongside your application.
Overseas qualifications may be accepted and will be subject to evidence of equivalency normally verified through ECCTIS (UK ENIC).
If English is not your first language, you’ll be asked to provide proof of your English language proficiency. Ideally, your test should be no more than two years old when your course begins. If your test is older, please still apply and our admissions team can review your circumstances.

Alternatively, you may be accepted if you have previously studied in English at an appropriate level and attended a recognised institution.

IELTS
- Evidence of a score of IELTS Level 6.0 or above with no element below 5.5.
TOEFL iBT®
- Evidence of a score of 79 overall (with 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 21 in writing).
Duolingo
- Evidence of an overall minimum score of 110 with no component score below 100.
Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English
- Evidence of a score of 170 overall, with 160 in each component.

I would say just go for it. I am currently in full time employment, so being able to study at my own time and being able to be in control of my own studying was really important, and Walbrook provided that as part of their online degrees.

Aleksandra Anastasova
Walbrook online master's student

The course content is engaging and easy to follow, and the lecturers are really responsive, which makes a huge difference when you’re studying online. I like that there’s pacing built in to keep you on track, but also the flexibility to fit around work, life and kids. I’ve really learnt a lot that I can already put into practice in my role at work. 

Hayley Coates
Walbrook online master's student

MA Special and Inclusive Education programme details

What does inclusive practice look like in everyday teaching? On this MA Special and Inclusive Education degree, you’ll explore disability as a lived experience, look at how educational systems group learners, and develop practical strategies to challenge exclusion wherever it appears.

These questions apply across all critical education settings – mainstream and specialist, in the UK and internationally, from early years through to secondary education. Alongside this, you'll study ethics, global education systems, learning and pedagogy, education policy, curriculum theory, social justice, and research methods. The programme finishes with a place-based dissertation based on your professional practice, one that matters in your work and could improve the experience of the young people you work with.

On this online MA Special and Inclusive Education programme, you’ll study a series of carefully designed modules. With flexible monthly starts, you’ll join the next available module and study alongside a cohort of master's level students learning the same subject at the same time.
- Inclusive Education and Human Rights
  Inclusion is a right. This module aims to challenge fixed or negative views of difference, explore different ways of understanding disability, and build your ability to question special education systems that may unintentionally exclude learners.
- Disability Studies and Neurodiversity
  You’ll explore disability studies and neurodiversity perspectives, looking at how systems shape learners’ experiences, learning to develop clear, well-founded arguments for change that recognise every learner as an individual.
- Education, Ethics and Human Purpose
  What is education actually for – and who does it serve? This module explores the philosophical and ethical foundations of educational practice, helping you think more clearly about purpose, fairness, and responsibility, and develop principled positions on the big questions.
- Global Education Systems and Policy Context
  Why do education systems look so different around the world? You'll examine how politics, governance, and economics shape schools and policy across the UK and internationally, building the critical thinking tools to assess what educational reform actually achieves.
- Learning, Knowledge and Pedagogical Practice
  What gets taught, why, and by whose authority? You'll explore how decisions about knowledge, curriculum, and assessment affect learners, developing the confidence to make and defend your own professional judgements with clarity.
- Education Policy and Reform
  Policy shapes classrooms, but policy implementation is rarely simple. Drawing on political theory and policy sociology, you'll examine how education reform is made, contested, and put into practice across national and international contexts.
- Curriculum Theory and Design
  Curriculum is more than just a list of topics. A good curriculum reflects social, political, and ethical priorities. You'll explore how knowledge is chosen, ordered, and assessed, and gives you the tools to design the right curricula for your students.
- Education, Power and Social Justice
  On this module, you'll develop a critical understanding of how race, class, gender, and inequality play out in education systems, and build the skills to respond in ways that are grounded in educational research and ethics.
- Research Methods in Education
  Good research skills start with good thinking. This module takes you from the fundamentals of research process and design (including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods) through to a full, coherent research proposal ready to take into your dissertation.
- Research Development
  This module bridges your taught study and your dissertation. You'll refine your research question, build your conceptual framework, review the literature on your topic, and develop a full research proposal.
- Dissertation
  This is your chance to investigate a topic within educational practice that genuinely matters to you. An independent research project, you'll design and execute original research aligned to your professional context and your own interests within education.

Your module schedule depends on the month you start, and whether you study full or part-time. You'll study each module once, completing all taught modules before moving on to your final two modules: Research Development and Dissertation.

Full-time students: start a new 8-week module every month.
Part-time students: start a new 8-week module every other month.

Module start date	Module name	Assessment details
7 September 2026	Education, Ethics and Human Purpose	1. Philosophical Position Paper - 20% 2. Applied Ethical Case Evaluation - 30% 3. Integrative Contested Issue Essay - 50%
5 October 2026	Global Education Systems and Policy Context	1. Comparative Policy Commentary - 20% 2. Governance Analysis Report - 30% 3. Reform Impact Evaluation - 50%
2 November 2026	Learning, Knowledge, and Pedagogical Practice	1. Epistemological Commentary Essay - 20% 2. Curriculum and Assessment Coherence Analysis - 30% 3. Pedagogical Judgement Synthesis Paper - 50%
7 December 2026	Education Policy and Reform	1. Policy Formation Analysis - 20% 2. Implementation Case Study - 30% 3. Reform Evaluation Paper - 50%
4 January 2027	Curriculum Theory and Design	1. Curriculum Theory Critique - 20% 2. Curriculum Coherence Analysis - 30% 3. Curriculum Design Justification Project - 50%
1 February 2027	Education, Power and Social Justice	1. Theoretical Framing Essay - 20% 2. Institutional Equity Analysis - 30% 3. Integrated Social Justice Position Paper - 50%
1 March 2027	Research Methods in Education	1. Research Article Critique - 20% 2. Comparative Methods Analysis - 30% 3. Critical Analysis of Research Methods in Education - 50%
5 April 2027	Inclusive Education and Human Rights	1. Social Justice Theory Analysis - 20% 2. Structural Inequality Case Study - 30% 3. Equity Reform Position Paper - 50%
3 May 2027	Disability Studies and Neurodiversity	1. Disability Framework Analysis - 20% 2. Institutional Inclusion Audit - 30% 3. Inclusive Reform Position Paper - 50%
7 June 2027	Education, Ethics and Human Purpose	1. Philosophical Position Paper - 20% 2. Applied Ethical Case Evaluation - 30% 3. Integrative Contested Issue Essay - 50%
5 July 2027	Global Education Systems and Policy Context	1. Comparative Policy Commentary - 20% 2. Governance Analysis Report - 30% 3. Reform Impact Evaluation - 50%
2 August 2027	Learning, Knowledge, and Pedagogical Practice	1. Epistemological Commentary Essay - 20% 2. Curriculum and Assessment Coherence Analysis - 30% 3. Pedagogical Judgement Synthesis Paper - 50%
6 September 2027	Education Policy and Reform	1. Policy Formation Analysis - 20% 2. Implementation Case Study - 30% 3. Reform Evaluation Paper - 50%
4 October 2027	Curriculum Theory and Design	1. Curriculum Theory Critique - 20% 2. Curriculum Coherence Analysis - 30% 3. Curriculum Design Justification Project - 50%
1 November 2027	Education, Power and Social Justice	1. Theoretical Framing Essay - 20% 2. Institutional Equity Analysis - 30% 3. Integrated Social Justice Position Paper - 50%
6 December 2027	Research Methods in Education	1. Research Article Critique - 20% 2. Comparative Methods Analysis - 30% 3. Critical Analysis of Research Methods in Education - 50%
3 January 2028	Inclusive Education and Human Rights	1. Social Justice Theory Analysis - 20% 2. Structural Inequality Case Study - 30% 3. Equity Reform Position Paper - 50%
7 February 2028	Disability Studies and Neurodiversity	1. Disability Framework Analysis - 20% 2. Institutional Inclusion Audit - 30% 3. Inclusive Reform Position Paper - 50%
6 March 2028	Education, Ethics and Human Purpose	1. Philosophical Position Paper - 20% 2. Applied Ethical Case Evaluation - 30% 3. Integrative Contested Issue Essay - 50%
3 April 2028	Global Education Systems and Policy Context	1. Comparative Policy Commentary - 20% 2. Governance Analysis Report - 30% 3. Reform Impact Evaluation - 50%
1 May 2028	Learning, Knowledge, and Pedagogical Practice	1. Epistemological Commentary Essay - 20% 2. Curriculum and Assessment Coherence Analysis - 30% 3. Pedagogical Judgement Synthesis Paper - 50%
5 June 2028	Education Policy and Reform	1. Policy Formation Analysis - 20% 2. Implementation Case Study - 30% 3. Reform Evaluation Paper - 50%
3 July 2028	Curriculum Theory and Design	1. Curriculum Theory Critique - 20% 2. Curriculum Coherence Analysis - 30% 3. Curriculum Design Justification Project - 50%
7 August 2028	Education, Power and Social Justice	1. Theoretical Framing Essay - 20% 2. Institutional Equity Analysis - 30% 3. Integrated Social Justice Position Paper - 50%

Final research modules

Module name

Assessment details

Research Development

1. Research proposal – 45%

2. Critical literature review – 55%

Dissertation

1. Dissertation – 100%

Across your MA, you’ll complete a mix of assessment methods designed to stretch your thinking, strengthen your communication skills, and bring your learning to life. Each module (except your final research modules) includes three assignments – helping you build confidence, test ideas and apply theory in more than one way.

Here’s a snapshot of the main types of assessments you’ll complete across your core modules.
- Critical commentary or theoretical analysis: examine a key concept, framework, or tradition in depth while evaluating its assumptions, strengths, and limitations within educational contexts.
- Case study or contextual analysis: apply theoretical frameworks to a specific institution, policy, reform, or setting. You'll interrogate what's actually happening in the case study, and why.
- Comparative analysis: look at two systems, methodologies, or approaches and construct an evidence-informed evaluation of what distinguishes them and why it matters.
- Position paper or argument essay: develop and defend a theoretically grounded position on a complex or contested issue in education – integrating multiple perspectives and demonstrating clear analytical judgement.
- Curriculum or professional learning design: produce a structured proposal (for a curriculum framework, professional learning strategy, or improvement plan) grounded in research and justified through theory.
- Research proposal: start planning your dissertation by identifying a research problem, shaping your ideas, and designing a study that fits your professional practice.
- Critical literature review: explore the research around your topic, identify key themes and gaps, and build the critical awareness and foundation for your dissertation.
- Dissertation: your final independent research project that brings together theoretical perspectives and future practice, showing your understanding of research methodology in your chosen area.

How you'll study

Studying online with Walbrook is designed to be flexible and engaging, giving you access to everything you need to succeed:

Full-time students should set aside around 30 hours per week.
- You'll start a new 8-week module each month, so while you’re beginning your learning in one module, you’ll be preparing for assessment in the other.
Part-time students should set aside around 17 hours per week.
- You'll start a new 8-week module every other month, making it easier to fit your studies around work, family and everyday life.
Your self-study will include:
- Engaging programme content delivered via our online study platform.
- Case studies and applied tasks that link theory to real business scenarios.
- Preparation for assessments including reports, proposals and project work.
Our support is built around you and your success. From enrolment to graduation, you’ll have access to digital academic tools that help you study in a way that works for you, and people who are here to help.

You'll benefit from:
- Digital learning materials including key readings, videos, and research resources.
- Access to a digital library to support your independent research.
- Support to help you stay on track and direct you to the right teams when needed.

Apply to start MA Special and Inclusive Education this September

Applying to study an online master's at Walbrook is simple, and you can do it directly.

1. Check programme entry requirements
Review our entry requirements to make sure you meet them.
2. Complete your application online
Apply through our secure online application portal and upload your documents as you go.
3. Accept your unconditional offer
By paying for your first module (part-time) or first two modules (full-time).

Contact us about our online degrees

Any questions about our online degrees or studying at Walbrook? Our Enrolment Advisors are here to help.

Our office is open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 5.30pm UK time (excluding UK public holidays).

contact-image-enrolment-team

Career opportunities: MA Special and Inclusive Education

Only 24% of educators feel their professional development fully reflects the needs of their students (Teacher Development Trust, 2025). At the same time, 88% of school leaders say the role is becoming more difficult, with special educational needs, mental health, and absence among the biggest challenges (Sustainable School Leadership Report, 2026). Schools, trusts, and other education settings need leaders with a deep understanding of inclusive and special education, the ability to use research evidence, and the judgement to build cultures where every young person feels they belong.

This postgraduate degree in Special and Inclusive Education is designed to help you step into that role. You’ll build specialist knowledge and strengthen your approach to inclusive education, whether you’re moving into a more senior position or developing further in your current one. Combined with relevant professional experience, this programme prepares you to work towards roles like those below. Please note that this MA does not award qualified teacher status or professional accreditation – but it can strengthen your expertise and support progression when combined with relevant experience and any role-specific requirements.

Head of SEND
Average UK salary: £78,060

Head of SEND: job description

As a Head of SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), you'll lead strategy across a school or trust, shaping policy, managing budgets, and overseeing support for young people with special educational needs and specific learning difficulties. You’ll also work with staff to improve outcomes and make sure the right support is in place. The role requires clear thinking and strong judgement to balance accountability with fairness. The module on Education Policy and Reform helps you assess large-scale changes, while Disability Studies and Neurodiversity gives you a perspective that challenges systems which exclude rather than support.

Average UK salary: £78,060
Special Education Programme Manager
Average UK salary: £65,867

Special Education Programme Manager: job description

In this role, you design and lead programmes or educational interventions, often working across local authorities, charities, or trusts. You’ll support multiple educational institutions to improve outcomes for learners with special educational needs. The role relies on strong research evidence, clear evaluation, and the ability to turn findings into practical decisions for schools and families. Research Methods in Education and the Dissertation help you build these skills, so your decisions are informed and effective.

Average UK salary: £65,867
Assistant Head and SENCo
Average UK salary: £48,841

Assistant Head and SENCo: job description

You combine senior leadership with day-to-day responsibility for inclusive practice. This includes coordinating support, working with families, managing processes, and guiding how staff approach learners with additional needs. It’s a role where decisions can be complex, and your judgement has a direct impact. Modules such as Inclusive Education and Human Rights and Education, Power and Social Justice support your understanding of inclusive education and help you lead with confidence.

Average UK salary: £48,841

FAQs: Why study for an MA Special and Inclusive Education online degree?

This master’s programme in Special and Inclusive Education focuses on inclusive education, with a strong emphasis on inclusion, disability, and equity. It aims to provide students with the confidence to challenge exclusion, lead inclusive practice, and build specialist knowledge in supporting learners with SEND, disabilities, and specific learning difficulties. Successfully complete the programme and you’ll graduate with the knowledge and credibility to support progression into more senior roles, alongside your existing experience.

Walbrook also offers three other MA Education programmes:
- MA Education – a programme for educators who want to study a broad foundation of topics across comparative, policy, and professional learning themes.
- MA Early Childhood Education – focused on early years development, pedagogy, and policy.
- MA Educational Leadership – focused on leadership theory, systems change, and organisational improvement
This degree aims to prepare students for a broad range of senior and specialist roles.

Senior leadership roles:
- SENCO or inclusion lead with postgraduate-level expertise
- Assistant or deputy headteacher with an inclusion remit
- Headteacher of a special school or inclusive mainstream setting
- Director of inclusion or SEND at local authority or trust level
Specialist and advisory roles:
- Education consultant or policy adviser specialising in inclusion
- School improvement adviser focused on equity and SEND
- Inclusion lead within a multi-academy trust
- Programme lead for NGOs or charities working in inclusive education
Research and academic pathways:
- Researcher or policy analyst in inclusion, disability, or equity
- Teacher educator or lead in inclusive and special education teacher training programmes
- Progression to doctoral study (EdD or PhD)
Education is, at its core, about people – and inclusion brings that into focus. As Prof. Robert White, Academic Lead for Education, puts it: "You'll explore education not just as a field of study, but as a human practice. One that is shaped by moral values, relationships and real-world impact." The ideas you develop on this programme can shape how young people and communities experience education long after you’ve finished your own professional practice.

The thinking you develop here reaches well beyond your own career:
- Young people with SEND and other vulnerable learners experience school as a place where they belong.
- Colleagues learn to see difference as something to understand, not something to fix.
- Schools, trusts, and systems shift towards inclusive practice that treats belonging as a right.
Place-based inquiry means researching education from within your own setting. The research undertaken in your dissertation is based on what you see in your day-to-day work, helping you build evidence that is directly useful in your setting.

For this programme, that could mean exploring how behaviour policies affect pupils with SEND, how transitions impact autistic learners, or how families experience support processes in your area. Successful completion of the dissertation gives you insights you can apply straight away, along with experience of reflective practice that can make a real difference in your work.
Many students choose this programme because they want to move into a specialist role, such as SENCo or inclusion lead, and need the knowledge to get there. Others are teachers or middle leaders who see inclusion as a key part of their own practice and want to build their understanding, even without a formal title.

The programme supports you in developing your skills while also opening up future opportunities. You don’t need to be in a specialist role to apply. You just need a willingness to engage in critical reflection on your own practice and explore the challenges inclusion raises.
Yes, the programme is a fully online distance learning course – there are no fixed classes or lectures, so you can study around your professional and personal commitments at your own pace.

Part-time study takes 2 years, with around 17 hours of study per week. You'll take one new module every other month. Full-time study takes around 1 year, with around 30 hours of study per week and a new module starting every month, with assessments sometimes overlapping. Tuition fees can also be paid per module, so you can spread the cost in a way that works for you.

Depending on your start date, the full-time programme might require 13 months of study instead of 12. This is because the schedule of modules differs with each start month, and if your schedule places one of the modules that directly informs your research at the end of your taught stage, you'll finish it in full before moving into the Research Development and Dissertation modules.
You don't need qualified teacher status or a specific undergraduate degree in education. Standard entry is a 2:2 or above undergraduate degree (or equivalent qualification), or two or more years of relevant professional experience in education or a related field. Prior learning may also be recognised, which can help you fast-track parts of the programme.

If your qualifications or experience don't match the standard route exactly, please get in touch for further information. We consider applications on their individual merits, and real experience in inclusion, SEND, pastoral, or support roles with children or young people is taken seriously.
Your master’s degree is delivered through an online study platform, where you’ll study either one or two modules at a time depending on your study mode. Full-time students take two modules in parallel (with a short gap between start dates), while part-time students complete one module at a time.

Here’s what you can expect:
- Weekly learning units to guide your progress
- Readings and case studies
- Videos and narrated presentations (mini-lectures)
- Online discussion forums
- Quizzes and tasks to check your understanding
You’ll have the freedom to plan your study time around work and life – but within a guided schedule that helps you stay focused, connected, and on track to succeed.
Yes – both home and international students are welcome to apply. If your first language isn’t English, eligible students will need to meet our English language requirements – further information can be found in the 'entry requirements' section above. Inclusion is a global question: every education system faces it in its own way, and the global perspectives you bring from your own context are part of what makes this programme work.

The Walbrook Way: Digital from day one. Designed for your career.

Graduate in as little as 1 year, or flex to part-time.
Ranked 12th for employment outcomes in the UK*
Total fees: £6,960 – pay in full or pay per module.

Request information

Request information

Walbrook: recognised for education excellence

Hi there, do you have any questions? Our Enrolment Advisors are here to help.