Deaf Education (Teacher of the Deaf Qualification) MA

Course overview

The MA Deaf Education is a two-year course leading to the Mandatory Qualification for Teacher of the Deaf (QToD).

This course is taught part-time using blended learning, providing the opportunity to study both online and face-to-face. This flexibility allows you to balance your studies alongside your existing work and other commitments.

The dissertation provides an opportunity to extensively explore an aspect of deaf education that you are particularly interested in. You’ll apply the knowledge and skills you’ve developed during the course to address an issue or question you have about your own practice or experience.

We also offer a Postgraduate Diploma in this subject leading to the QToD, which does not require a dissertation. See PGDip Deaf Education (Teacher of the Deaf) for more information.

Our expertise

The School of Education has a national reputation in the field of deaf education, drawing students from all over the UK with a variety of experiences and knowledge.  The course is led by national and international leaders, as well as senior practitioners in the field.

Course highlights

• Work closely with peers and build a strong network of colleagues throughout the UK across a wide range of settings.

• Approved by the Department for Education (DfE), you'll benefit from a course that integrates cutting-edge research knowledge with practitioner expertise, to become a skilled, knowledgeable and critical practitioner.

• Explore your own interests in deaf education as part of your dissertation, which will be supervised by experts in the field.

• Assessments are varied and designed to help you develop the skills you need in the field, and have recently been updated in response to student feedback.

• We welcome suitably qualified deaf and hearing applicants and provide appropriate access and support arrangements for all students. All University-based sessions are supported by BSL interpreters and notetakers. Assessed presentations may be delivered in British Sign Language (BSL). 

• A partial-fee scholarship is available to UK Deaf Education schools or services funding two or more students in a single year, see the Funding section for details.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Department for Education (DfE), this course meets the requirements of the Mandatory Qualification for Teacher of the Deaf, for England and Wales.

Course details

MA Deaf Education comprises six core modules delivered across two years, and a dissertation to be undertaken in the second year. All the modules are developed in conjunction with the new Mandatory Qualification (MQ), and you’ll build a portfolio of professional skills across the two years to demonstrate your proficiency against the required MQ competencies.

Central to the course is an understanding of the establishment of language fluency and effective communication as a basis for cognitive, social and emotional development. It recognises the plural and diverse linguistic contexts of deaf children’s lives, and that maximising engagement with curriculum must be the educational priority for all deaf learners while supporting their development as a deaf individual.

Through consideration of the roles of spoken and signed languages and increasingly sophisticated hearing technologies, you’ll develop a broad knowledge base and the skills to respond flexibly to deaf children’s dynamic and changing communication academic, social, and emotional needs. You’ll become a reflective and critical thinker equipped to work with deaf children, their parents/carers and other professionals to prepare deaf learners for life as a deaf adult.

The dissertation will provide you with an opportunity to extensively explore an aspect of deaf education in which you are particularly interested. You’ll apply the knowledge and skills you’ve developed during the course to address an issue or question you have about your own practice or experience.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Deaf Education (Teacher of the Deaf Qualification) MA in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Year 2 compulsory modules

Year 2 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Learning and teaching

Each semester comprises a study day or a short residential in Leeds, followed by online sessions including Academic Skills workshops, two live online tutorials and a live regional tutorial. Bespoke online meetings, phone, email and Teams support is also available from tutors.

We expect you to commit to the equivalent of one study day per week as a minimum for this course – to be negotiated with your employer at the application stage. Some practical requirements of the course are difficult to fulfil without this allocated time. We also ask you to identify someone in your school or service who will act as a mentor for you throughout the training.

If you wish to extend your dissertation study into a third year to accommodate work or personal commitments, this is available as an option. An additional registration fee would be payable.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Assessment is through a combination of presentations, essays, critical reports, case studies and a practical skills portfolio that includes a minimum of 20 days assessed placement. Assessed presentations may be delivered in BSL.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree (hons) or non-UK equivalent.

You will also need:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) (required for Teacher of the Deaf award)
• one year of teaching experience or experience of working with deaf children in educational settings
• contact with a school or service that will enable you to work with deaf children to meet the requirements of the Mandatory qualification
• British (or local) Sign Language CACDP/ Signature/ iBSL Level 1 (required for Teacher of the Deaf award) or equivalent
• access to local sign language tuition
• access to internet facilities for e-learning.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

How to apply

Application deadline

• Friday 15 August 2025

If you intend to apply for funding, you should submit an application for a place on your chosen course at least one month before any specific scholarship deadline.

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page will take you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Documents and information we will need include:

• Original or certified copies of your degree certificate

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

This course is taught by

School of Education

Contact us

Postgraduate Admissions

Email: pgeduc@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £11,000 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.

Additional cost information

This fee includes some meals during the residentials in Leeds. It does not include accommodation and other food costs, travel costs or cover costs associated with course attendance and teaching placements.

Should you wish to extend your dissertation study into a third year, an additional registration fee would be payable.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

Partial fee scholarships are available to UK schools or services funding two or more students in a single year to the MA or PGDip Deaf Education (Teacher of the Deaf) in the School of Education. Find out more about the scholarship for schools

Career opportunities

MA Deaf Education equips Teachers of the Deaf with the specialist knowledge and skills needed to work across a range of settings in deaf education, providing the mandatory qualification for Teachers of the Deaf in England and Wales.

Graduates from the course have taken up a range of positions in specialist support services and schools. Many have subsequently progressed to management and leadership roles.

The course also provides a route to further research and study at postgraduate level via an EdD or PhD route.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.

Study abroad and work placements

For the Teacher of the Deaf award, a minimum 20-day assessed teaching placement is required. Additional days may be required depending on experience.