Mathematics Education PGCert

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Course Overview

This course is designed for educators who want to deepen their understanding of mathematics teaching and learning. You will explore key issues in education with our MA Education students through core modules, but will have the opportunity to engage in dedicated breakout sessions that apply these themes to mathematics education. These sessions provide opportunities to reflect on policy, curriculum design and classroom practice in mathematics.  Throughout the course, you will be supported by a tutor with expertise in mathematics education, who will guide you in developing a research project focused on a topic relevant to mathematics teaching and learning. This will ensure you gain both a broad understanding of educational research and specialist insights into mathematics education. 

Why Study This Course at the University of Chester?

This pathway is ideal for educators across different settings who are passionate about improving mathematics teaching and learning. The structure of the course allows you to benefit from interdisciplinary discussions, while also engaging with subject-specific applications of educational research. With expert academic support, the Mathematics Education pathway will equip you with the skills to critically evaluate research, reflect on practice and contribute to the development of mathematics education in your own context. 

If you do not wish to complete the full MA, you can choose to exit with a PGDip qualification instead.

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Why You’ll Love It

Specialist support in mathematics education

You will be assigned a dedicated tutor with expertise in mathematics education, providing tailored guidance for research and professional development in the field.

A tutor and student chatting at table with notebook open.

Dual delivery for flexible learning

With both in-person and online learning opportunities, this pathway accommodates different learning needs and professional commitments, making it accessible to educators in various settings.

A person using a computer whilst writing in a notebook

Focused application to mathematics teaching

Core MA Education modules are enriched with breakout sessions specifically designed to apply educational theories and research to mathematics education, bridging theory and practice.

A group of people sitting in a room talking.

What You'll Study

Core Modules

This module is designed to support students to explore and understand the nature of deep conceptual understanding of mathematics and synthesise this knowledge with practice. Students will critically analyse mathematics education literature in the context of individual settings as well as nationally and internationally whilst interpreting conceptual and procedural understanding in a mathematics education setting from the perspective of teachers and learners. Throughout the module students will have the opportunity to apply their emerging knowledge through research projects with the characteristics of transformative teacher education.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

How You'll Learn

This course is taught using multiple approaches to learning

Assessment is by a variety of methods such as digital presentations, projects, and critical reflections

This course is delivered in-person and online study

There may be some online learning activities

An aerial photograph of Exton Park with the text 'How we teach at the University of Chester'

How we teach at the University of Chester

Teaching methods

The course has been structured to integrate with the work patterns of busy professionals. You can choose to attend the taught sessions at the University of Chester's Exton Park in Chester, or to attend by distance learning where participants can join the classroom-based students virtually from anywhere in the world using Microsoft Teams.

As the majority of participants will be teachers or other educational professionals, the teaching is concentrated into six Saturdays each year, supplemented by six online evening seminars.

Assessment

We use a variety of assessment methods, including digital presentations, essays, projects, and critical reflections, which will enable you to apply the topics studied to your own area of interest and to the age phase or subject area in which you are working.

Your Future Career

Job Prospects

Students who successfully engage in the MA in Education will become reflective practitioners and critical thinkers who can articulate their views with confidence and conviction.

The course will enhance participants' knowledge and understanding, developing skills that will support career progression in educational settings. Graduates may go on to work with children and young people in a variety of contexts; take up leadership and management roles; take on roles in further and higher education such as lecturing and research; or engage in advisory roles with local authorities or private companies.

Careers Service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs .

Entry Requirements

Honours Degree

Applicants should normally hold a Bachelor's degree, 2:2 or higher, in an area broadly related to Education. Those with a degree in a different area but with experience of working in educational settings will also be considered.

Extra Requirements

The target award of PGCert Mathematics Education is only available for teachers concurrently enrolled on either of the following courses accredited by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM).:

Professional Development Lead (PD Lead)
Non-specialist mathematics teachers Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics (SKTM)

Students will apply for 20 credits of Accredited Prior Experiential Learning to capture work which will already have been accomplished on the above NCETM courses by the start of the PGCert.

Prior Work/ Voluntary Experience

Applicants should have some experience working in an educational environment, as this background will enhance their understanding and engagement with the course

Students from outside the UK are expected to hold qualifications broadly equivalent to UK standards - a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) for postgraduate study.

To help you interpret these equivalents, please select your country/region of residence. This will provide details on equivalent entry requirements, as well as information about local representatives, events, and key contacts.

We accept a wide range of qualifications and assess all applications on an individual basis. Relevant work experience may also be taken into consideration where appropriate.

For more information on English entry requirements, including accepted qualifications, please visit International Entry Requirements.

IELTS

Minimum requirement IELTS level 6.5. Please refer to the international admission requirements on the University of Chester website for more details. https://www1.chester.ac.uk/international/how-apply/entry-requirements

Honours Degree

Applicants should normally hold a Bachelor's degree, 2:2 or higher, in an area broadly related to Education. Those with a degree in a different area but with experience of working in educational settings will also be considered.

Extra Requirements

The target award of PGCert Mathematics Education is only available for teachers concurrently enrolled on either of the following courses accredited by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM).:

Professional Development Lead (PD Lead)
Non-specialist mathematics teachers Specialist Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics (SKTM)

Students will apply for 20 credits of Accredited Prior Experiential Learning to capture work which will already have been accomplished on the above NCETM courses by the start of the PGCert.

Prior Work/ Voluntary Experience

Applicants should have some experience working in an educational environment, as this background will enhance their understanding and engagement with the course

Fees and Funding

£0,000 for the full course (2026/27)

Guides to the fees for students who wish to commence postgraduate courses are available to view on our Postgraduate Fees page. Here you will also find information about part-time fees and project/placement year fees.

£14,950 per year for a full-time course* (2026/27)

The tuition fees for international students studying courses in 2026/27 are £14,950 per year for a full-time course. This fee is set for each year of study.

For courses with a Foundation Year, the tuition fees for Year 1 are £11,250 and £14,950 for Years 2-4 in 2026/27.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

For more information about International fees for Postgraduate study, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Who You’ll Learn From

Dr Heather Macdonald

Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for the MA in Education
Heather Macdonald

Sarah Collins

Senior Lecturer
Sarah Collins

Tracey Patterson

Deputy Head of Division
Tracey Patterson

Christine Packer

Senior Lecturer
Christine Packer

Dr Sally Bamber

Senior Lecturer
Sally Bamber