Online MA SEND and Inclusive Education
Champion inclusive education for all learners as you gain specialist expertise in SEND policy, practice, and leadership.
Start Dates: January, March, June, September
Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Study Mode: Online
Fees: £8,000 (regional discounts available)
Create inclusive futures through education
Make a lasting difference to the lives of children, young people, and communities through the power of inclusive education. This online MA SEND and Inclusive Education equips you with the knowledge, confidence, and practical expertise to challenge barriers to learning, promote inclusion, and support meaningful change across educational settings.
Designed for educators and professionals working with learners of all backgrounds and abilities, the programme combines critical theory with real-world application. You’ll explore SEND, disability, inclusion, policy, and educational practice through a social justice lens, developing the skills to influence policy, improve provision, and create learning environments where every learner can thrive. Whether you’re seeking career progression, leadership opportunities, or a pathway into doctoral study, this degree prepares you to make a positive impact in education and beyond.
How you’ll study
Online learning environment
The MA is delivered through the university’s Moodle virtual learning environment, combining live and pre-recorded lectures, interactive quizzes, discussion forums, and collaborative group activities. The platform supports a blended approach – you engage with content at your own pace while participating in scheduled seminars and peer discussions that bring your learning to life. Guest speakers and education industry experts are integrated throughout the programme.
Weekly study commitment
Full-time students should expect to dedicate approximately 35-40 hours per week across directed learning, independent study, and assessment preparation. Part-time students typically commit around 15-20 hours. The programme is structured around modules that balance self-paced learning with interactive, tutor-led sessions, so you can build a study routine that works alongside your professional life.
Assessment methods
The module content and assessment methods have been specifically chosen to help you develop skills needed for Masters-level study. You’ll engage with a range of authentic assessment methods, from essays to presentations, supported by formative feedback that helps refine and improve your work before final submission. Interactive workshops, tutorials and recorded sessions provide clear guidance, ensuring you are fully supported to succeed in postgraduate study, particularly if you are returning to education or developing confidence in academic assessment.
Support and feedback
You will receive tailored feedback and guidance from your academic tutors throughout each module. A dedicated student support team is available for academic, technical, and administrative queries. Beyond graduation, Roehampton’s Careers Support Team offers personalised guidance, workshops, networking events, and one-on-one coaching to help you take the next step in your career.
Academic requirements
To be eligible for this degree, you’ll need a second-class honours degree from a recognised university, as well as relevant practical experience working in education contexts with children or young people, including those with learning or behaviour difficulties or disabilities (SEND).
We also welcome applications from non-graduates with professional experience, as well as those holding a third-class honours degree.
Language requirements
Our programmes are taught in English. If you’re applying as an international student, you’ll need to provide evidence of your proficiency with a valid qualification issued within the last two years.
- IELTS Academic – 6.5 overall
- Roehampton’s English Language Test – 6.5 overall
- Kaplan Test of English – 478-509 overall
- TOEFL IBT – 89 overall
- PTE Academic – 59 overall
- Cambridge – 176 overall
Modules
Every module gives you the chance to test ideas, solve problems, and apply what you learn straight into your work. Studying online with Roehampton means you’re part of an active learning community where theory meets practice, and where your day-to-day experience becomes part of the classroom.
Assessment:
Component one: portfolio of research tasks (2,000 word equivalent – 30%)
Component two: practitioner research proposal (3,000 words – 70%)
Assessment:
Component one: project portfolio (2,500 words equivalent – 50%)
Component two: AI-assisted essay (2,500 words – 50%)
Assessment:
Component one: policy brief (3,500 words – 50%)
Component two: presentation (no more than 15 minutes – 30%)
Assessment:
Component one: individual presentation (no more than 15 minutes – 30%)
Component two: critical reflection (3,500 words – 70%)
Assessment:
Component one: advocacy and awareness portfolio - visual and written submission (3 visuals + 1,000-word commentary – 50%)
Component two: critical appraisal of a strategy or intervention: 2,500 words – 50%
Assessment:
Component one: design a curriculum unit or create a curriculum policy proposal (2,500 words – 50%)
Component two: presentation (up to 20 minutes – 50%)
Assessment:
Component one: audio-recorded presentation (PPT or equivalent): 15 minutes – 30%
Component two: critical discussion and evaluation: 3,000 words – 70%
Assessment:
Component one: review of recent and relevant literature (2,000 words – 30%)
Component two: critical analysis and reflection on inclusive policy and practice (3,000 words – 70%)
Assessment:
Component one: pre-recorded podcast – no more than 15 minutes – 30%
Component two: critical policy and practice evaluation (3,000 words – 70%)
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for the MA SEND and Inclusive Education are £8,000 for the full programme. Fees cover all teaching, learning materials, assessments, and access to student support services. Regional discounts may be available depending on your location – check your individual programme page or speak with a student recruitment adviser for details.
Alumni discount
Roehampton graduates are eligible for a 20% tuition fee discount when returning for postgraduate study online. This is the only university discount available for 100% online programmes. It cannot be combined with other scholarship offers.
Student loans
UK residents may be eligible for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan through the UK Government, worth up to £12,167. The loan is not means-tested and can be used towards tuition fees and living costs. Visit gov.uk/masters-loan to check your eligibility and apply.
International students
International students are required to pay an initial deposit (IDP) before making the full deposit payment (FDP). This deposit is deducted from your tuition fees when you enrol. Full payment details are confirmed in your offer letter. Contact the student recruitment team if you have questions about international payment arrangements.
Transforming inclusion through educational leadership and practice
Inclusive education is no longer a specialist concern at the margins of schooling. It is central to how systems define equity, participation, and educational success. Schools, services, and organisations are increasingly expected to respond to diverse learning needs while addressing long-standing inequalities linked to disability, learning difficulty, and social disadvantage. This degree prepares you to lead that work with confidence, critical insight, and purpose.
Roles our graduates pursue
TheThe programme’s focus on inclusive practice, SEND leadership, and critical engagement with policy and research prepares you for a wide range of careers across education, policy, research, and the third sector, including:
- SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) – Leading SEND provision within a school, developing inclusive policies, and supporting staff and families of learners with additional needs
- Inclusion Consultant or Advisory Role – Working across schools or local authorities to advise on inclusive practice, policy development, and support for learners with SEND or learning difficulties
- Education Policy Developer – Contributing to the design and implementation of inclusive education policy at local, national, or governmental level
- Researcher or Academic – Pursuing doctoral study (EdD or PhD) and working in higher education or educational research, focusing on inclusion, SEND, and equity in education
- Third Sector / NGO Education Lead – Leading education and inclusion programmes within community organisations, charities, or non-governmental organisations that support children, young people, and families affected by disability or learning difficulty
Dedicated Careers Support
Roehampton’s Careers Support Team is available to online students from day one through to beyond graduation. Services include personalised one-on-one coaching, tailored workshops, employer networking events, and guidance on CV writing, interview preparation, and career planning.
Leading inclusion across systems, communities, and institutions
Professionals in inclusive education are increasingly required to move between classroom practice, strategic leadership, and policy influence. The ability to interpret research, challenge exclusionary systems, and design inclusive approaches is becoming essential across schools, local authorities, and global education organisations. As a graduate of this degree, you’ll be positioned to work not only within existing systems, but to actively shape and improve them.
Why choose this programme
Four intakes per year
for flexibility
Start in January, March, June, or September. Whether you are between roles or planning your next career move, there is always a start date within reach.
A university of London degree
The University of Roehampton is based in London, home to some of the world’s largest employers and most diverse workforces. Your MA carries the credibility of a London university, positioning you for educational roles specialising in SEND and inclusion.
Lead inclusive change in education and beyond
This MA develops advanced understanding of SEND and inclusive education at a time when schools and services are under increasing pressure to respond to complex learner needs. You’ll build the knowledge and confidence to challenge exclusionary practices and lead more equitable approaches across education systems, community settings, and policy environments.
Connect theory to real-world inclusive practice
Across the degree, you’ll examine inclusive education through lived experience, policy analysis, and practitioner enquiry. This ensures you can apply your knowledge to the real-world, designing practices that improve outcomes for learners who are often marginalised or excluded from mainstream education.
Flexible study designed for working professionals
Delivered fully online, this degree is designed to fit around your professional and personal commitments. Study at a time and pace that suits your role while continuing to apply your learning directly within your workplace or professional setting.
Career-focused progression into leadership and impact roles
This MA is designed to support progression into SENCO and inclusion leadership roles within schools, advisory positions across education systems, work in local authorities, and roles within the third sector and NGOs. It also provides a strong foundation for doctoral study and research-focused careers in education.
Build the skills to lead inclusive education with confidence
Think critically about education systems and practice
Develop advanced critical reflection skills to evaluate educational policies, practices, and institutions, enabling you to understand how inclusion is shaped and constrained.
Design inclusive learning for diverse needs
Build the expertise to create and promote high-quality, inclusive learning environments that support all learners, particularly those with SEND or additional support needs.
Influence policy and drive systemic change
Gain the knowledge and confidence to engage with education policy and contribute to wider conversations about inclusion, equipping you to advocate for meaningful change at organisational and systemic levels.
Challenge exclusion and reframe thinking
Learn to identify and challenge assumptions and marginalisation in education, developing the confidence to lead more equitable and humanising approaches to practice.
Apply learning in practice
Manage postgraduate study across online synchronous and asynchronous learning, applying theory and insight directly to your professional context as you progress.
Learn how to engage with research
Apply inclusive frameworks to your own professional context and ensure that your practice is not only informed, but critically aware and ethically grounded.
The Roehampton difference
Internationally recognised: Earn a prestigious education degree respected by global brands and guided by industry leaders.
Flexible first: Study at the office or on your commute home with our fully online curriculum and cutting-edge virtual learning platform.
Personalised experiences: Get tailored feedback and support throughout your studies with resources ready whenever you need them.
Student-approved: Recognised as a top 10 university in England for student experience, with outstanding results in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2026.
Support at every step
We provide bespoke support at every stage of your studies, from wellbeing and accessibility to academic guidance and career development, so you can thrive online with Roehampton.
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