Education Inclusion and Special Educational Needs PGCert / MA
About This Programme
The MA and PGCert in Education (Inclusion and Special Educational Needs) at the University of Birmingham Dubai prepare educators to lead inclusive education, creating supportive learning environments and advocating for and implementing strategies that benefit all learners. Grounded in disability studies and inclusion, the programme supports the UAE's inclusive mission, combining research with practice and a global perspective rooted in the region's values. The PGCert is a one-year, part-time course taught at master's level that gives the theoretical and practical foundations in disability, inclusion and special education; the MA runs part-time over three years. In the second year MA students specialise in a practice-based pathway, such as autism, social, emotional and behavioural difficulties, or severe and profound learning difficulties, learning online with experts from the UK campus alongside monthly tutorials in Dubai, and in the third year they complete a supervised research dissertation.
Course Highlights
- Designed for practitioners, with flexible study and an international perspective on inclusion.
- Varied assessment, from school improvement plans and policy evaluations to academic essays, focused on practical application.
- A multinational cohort, deepening understanding of disability across different schooling systems.
- An MA that can be personalised around specific disability areas while building expertise in whole-school inclusion.
- Ranked 64th in the world for Education, as stated on the course page.
What You'll Study
Students join a close-knit, multinational community and learn through weekly evening classes, synchronous online lectures and intensive weekend sessions, with monthly Saturday sessions designed around working professionals, and choose from assessment options including school improvement plans, policy evaluations and academic writing. In Year 1, MA and PGCert students learn together in in-person seminars. In Year 2, MA students work with experts from the UK campus through the Canvas virtual learning environment and online lectures, with monthly tutorials in Dubai. In Year 3 they complete a research project supervised by a subject specialist and meet regularly to learn research design and data collection. The Programme Director is Dr Sarah Benson, Associate Professor in Inclusion and Disabilities, whose research covers the policy and practice of inclusion and special educational needs in the Middle East and North Africa.
PGCert / MA Year 1
2026/27 session. Inclusion through cultural, policy and disability-specific lenses; PGCert and MA students study these three compulsory 20-credit modules together. The PGCert is complete after these 60 credits.
- Cross-Cultural Issues in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities20 credits
- Evaluation and Policy Analysis for Inclusive Education20 credits
- Inclusion: Universal and Specialist Approaches20 credits
MA Year 2
A further 60 credits from a specific practice-based pathway, such as Autism (Children), SEBD or LLD, taught through online lectures with UK-based experts and monthly tutorials in Dubai.
Take three 20-credit modules from a practice-based pathway. Current Dubai offerings:
- Challenging Behaviour and Autistic Spectrum Disorders (Distance Education)20 credits
- Curriculum and Approaches for Autistic Children and Young People20 credits
- Developing Scholarly Practice and Becoming an Agent for Change20 credits
- Developing and Evaluating Interventions for Learners with SLD/PMLD20 credits
- Developmental Psychology and Neurodiversity (Distance Education)20 credits
- Improving Classroom Achievement (Distance Education)20 credits
- Issues in the Education of Children, Young People and Adults Identified with ADHD (Distance Education)20 credits
- Reflective Practice in Meeting the Needs of Learners with SLD/PMLD20 credits
- Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties and Mental Health: Identification, Assessment & Provision20 credits
- The Educational Needs of Autistic Children and Young People.20 credits
- Understanding the Common and Diverse Needs of Autistic Adults and Young People20 credits
- Using Enabling Practice with Autistic Adults and Young People20 credits
MA Year 3
2028/29 session. A 60-credit research dissertation supervised by a subject specialist, completing the MA's 180 credits (120 taught plus the dissertation).
- Dissertation60 credits
Entry Requirements
Two references are needed: one academic (for example a previous university tutor) and one professional that confirms the applicant's current role and shows their motivation and ability to study. A personal statement of 500 to 700 words should cover motivation and commitment and the applicant's educational context.
Careers
The MA and PGCert open careers in education, policy and leadership, such as inclusion coordinator, special education consultant and policy adviser, in the UAE and internationally, with skills linked to UK and UAE standards. The University says it is consistently one of the UK universities most targeted by leading graduate employers (top 2, High Fliers Research 2026). The Careers Network Dubai offers information, advice and guidance.
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
Accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and listed as Active on the Commission for Academic Accreditation register as the Master of Arts in Education (Inclusion and Special Educational Needs) and the Postgraduate Certificate in Inclusion and Special Education Needs.
Programme Details
Award
Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) / Master of Arts (MA)
Start Date
September 2026 (applications closed; September 2027 details to follow)
Typical Offer
2:2 degree or a recognised equivalent
Duration
PGCert: 1 year part-time; MA: 3 years part-time
Qualification
Certificate, Masters
Subject Area
Education
Campus
Dubai
Study Pattern
Part time
Delivery Format
In person
Tuition Fee
AED 41,136/yr
AED 41,136 a year, part-time, for September 2026 entry, charged for each year of study (one year for the PGCert, three for the MA); the fee covers tuition, examinations and graduation, can be paid in full or in three instalments a year, and does not include visa or living costs. Applications for September 2026 entry to this programme are closed, and details for September 2027 entry will be published later. Applications are made online through the University of Birmingham Dubai Admissions portal, with no application fee; postgraduate applicants upload transcripts for study completed so far, their degree certificate if available, and a CV, alongside the references and personal statement this course requires. Decisions are usually made within 10 working days of all documents arriving. A non-returnable AED 5,000 deposit, deducted from tuition, is paid on accepting an offer. Scholarships of up to 30% are assessed from the application itself, with no separate form; University visa sponsorship is for full-time students.