Online Masters in Early Childhood Education & Nursery
20 months
Distance Learning
Tuition: USD 20,800
Paid Monthly: USD 745
Intake: Nov 2026
Deadline: 30 Sept 2026
Course overview
This programme is a pathway of the Online Masters in Education Degree from the University of Dundee UK. Students will receive a Masters in Education with the award title “Early Education & Nursery”
The Online Masters in Early Childhood Education is recognised by the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). Students who wish to apply for the below Advanced IB certificates must choose the Leadership and Organisational Development module.
- IB Advanced Certificate in Teaching and Learning Research
- IB Certificate in Leadership Practice
- IB Advanced Certificate in Leadership Research
The Online Masters in Early Childhood Education and Nursery focuses on providing a deeper understanding of the cognitive and emotional wellbeing of a child. It helps teachers comprehend social contexts, transition processes and procedures and how they impact children, allowing teachers to analyse these contexts as it relates to their workplace.
The Masters in Early Childhood Education will train teachers to analyse policy, curriculum, legislation and children’s rights. The findings will be used to understand, plan and develop for change. In addition, learn how children today are viewed as Social Agents and its implications.
This education course is an ideal pathway for Primary teachers and Elementary teachers.
Online Masters in Early Childhood Education PG Cert & PG Diploma entry & exit routes
The Masters in Early Childhood Education has entry and exit routes at a PG Cert, PG Diploma and Masters Level. The programme can be studied at either an accelerated rate of 20 months, or at a normal pace better suited to working professionals. The Nursery and Early Education course is taught on Dundee virtual learning environment. Optional Virtual Learning Events are included to provide additional academic support.
The other Online Masters in Education pathway specialisations are;
Online Masters in Early Childhood Education & Nursery
Online Masters in Early Childhood Education & Nursery
Accreditation
The Masters in Early Childhood Education is delivered entirely online, with virtual learning events for students that need additional academic support. These workshops are hosted by the University of Dundee faculty. This UK MEd is designed with working professionals in mind and incorporates a high degree of flexibility.
Learn alongside peers from around the world who are also specialising in Nursery and Early Childhood Education, enhancing your knowledge and skills with diverse perspectives.
Assessment
The Masters in Early Childhood Education is delivered entirely online, with virtual learning events for students that need additional academic support. These workshops are hosted by the University of Dundee faculty. This UK MEd is designed with working professionals in mind and incorporates a high degree of flexibility.
Learn alongside peers from around the world who are also specialising in Nursery and Early Childhood Education, enhancing your knowledge and skills with diverse perspectives.
Benefits
The Masters in Early Childhood Education is delivered entirely online, with virtual learning events for students that need additional academic support. These workshops are hosted by the University of Dundee faculty. This UK MEd is designed with working professionals in mind and incorporates a high degree of flexibility.
Learn alongside peers from around the world who are also specialising in Nursery and Early Childhood Education, enhancing your knowledge and skills with diverse perspectives.
Career path
Nursery and Early Childhood Education is a fundamental need of every society and community. Teachers who choose to specialise in this field will always be in demand, with teaching skills that can be applicable to any country.
Academic Progression
- Doctorate of Education
Eligibility
The Online Masters in Early Childhood Education degree is characterised by a path progression through a PG Cert, a PG Dip to a Masters degree, with entry and exit points at each level.
Recognition for prior learning (RPL) is available for this course. Claims for RPL must match to existing modules on the course with equivalent content. Please speak to your personal Stafford consultant about RPL.
There are both workplace-based and non-workplace-based routes for this teaching course, so you don’t have to be currently employed in an educational setting before applying.
Workplace based Online Masters in Early Childhood Education & Nursery:
- Professionals who currently work in an educational setting, and wish to enhance their professional learning and improve career progression prospects.
- Must have an undergraduate degree (any discipline).
- If your undergraduate degree was not taught in English, the English Language Requirement is IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent).
Non-Workplace based Online Masters in Early Childhood Education & Nursery:
- Professionals who have previous work experience (not necessarily current) in an educational setting.
- Must be a graduate (any discipline).
- If your undergraduate degree was not taught in English, the English Language Requirement is IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent).
Core module
The module aims to provide participants with a framework to enable them to reflect critically on their professional development and their current practice, and as a result enable them to formulate an appropriate professional development action plan.
The module will introduce participants to a professional development model that involves: reflecting on their personal and professional development; engaging with the debates and professional enquiries that have led them to their professional thinking, philosophies and views; reflection upon their current approaches and learning and teaching practice; a self-evaluation of professional development needs and directions.
The purpose of this module is to introduce you to research methodology and methods. In the course of the module you will develop an appreciation of what is entailed in conducting research in a professional field. The module content will follow the stages of research, starting with the research problem/question through to the presentation of findings. This module provides you with an introductory grounding in research methods. This module is also intended to prepare you to progress on to a small scale enquiry and to begin to think about the academic research process and the task of developing and conducting a research study.
Students on this module will consider social contexts, transition procedures and processes and the impact which they have upon children. In particular they will discuss and debate outcomes related to the emotional and cognitive wellbeing of the child. They will also analyse the implications of these contexts upon their role as a professional. Students are asked to compile an audit which relates to children’s wellbeing. Students will also critically analyse a range of government documents including children’s rights, legislation, policy and curriculum framework. Following evaluation of their findings, students plan for development and change, relating ecological frameworks to the 21st century concept of the child as an active social agent.
Optional module
This module will allow participants to investigate the nature of curriculum and consider theoretical models of curriculum development. This will include consideration of what constitutes curriculum innovation backed up with reference to relevant theory, research and policy. Students will engage in critical analysis of the political, socio-economic and cultural factors that drive and influence educational reform. During the module students will evaluate recent examples of curriculum innovation and critically evaluate the effectiveness or potential effectiveness of these drawing on theory, research and policy. Ultimately there will be a consideration of implications for the student’s future practice in light of a deeper understanding of the subject of curriculum innovation.
This module provides practitioners the opportunity to develop their professional knowledge and understanding, skills and attributes in relation to International Education. It provides a critical understanding of principal theories and concepts associated with International Education. Students explore this field by studying key concepts such as citizenship, intercultural awareness, multicultural education, international and comparative education. The focus of the course enables practitioners to develop a school/work-based initiative related to International Education by providing an overview and reflecting on their own international, national and institutional policy and practice context.
This module aims to introduce participants to the concept of leadership and its role within strategic development, organisational learning and communities of practice. Participants will explore and critically appraise the significance of leadership, its relation to management and impact on organisational development. With reference to current literature and research, participants will examine theories of leadership and how leadership differs from management within organisations. It also asks participants to explore the key principles of vision and values, culture and climate. Participants will be asked to consider personal and professional values and the notion of a systems view in the context of guiding organisational change.
This module provides opportunity to review the arguments for and against inclusive education in the light of current legislation and policy. It also considers the effects of other legislation which impact on social inclusion. The module develops an enquiry-based approach to teaching and learning and is consistent with current views on inclusive practice both nationally and internationally. It considers the importance of policy in relation to practice and provision, taking account of historical influences as well as the impact of current key legislation. The concept of inclusion is explored in terms of opportunities and challenges. A case study stimulates thinking around a range of factors, raising fundamental issues such as values, beliefs and principles for the participant. Throughout the module, the participants are required to reflect and justify their own professional beliefs and practices. Debate about inclusive education is a topic of interest to educationalists world-wide.
Dissertation
The culmination of a Masters programme is a substantial piece of work which will contribute to the development and enhancement of professional knowledge and practice for the writer and others across a range of professional fields. Students are expected to show that they can exercise independent critical judgement and that they have command of the necessary research processes required to carry forward and report a systematic investigation, either empirical or philosophical. They are also required to show that they can apply what they have learned through their studies to set up a project which will inform research or will explore an aspect of practice. A study of this professional standing and worth must be well planned and resourced, engage with research and public theories, be critically reflective and explore the assumptions that underpin practice.
*These options are required for the named awards
Course fee
This is to inform you that we will be offering an early bird discount of AED 1,800 (approx. USD 500) to the first 10 Dundee students who complete their payment.
Please note the following details:
- The offer will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Payment must be received no later than 30th March 2026.
- The discount will be applied to the first installment payment.
- This offer is not applicable to students based in Africa.
Global:
- Course Fee: USD 30,720
- Stafford Grant: USD 9,420
- Early Bird Discount: USD 500
- Net Course Fee: USD 20,800
- Monthly Fee**: USD 745
Africa:
- Course Fee: USD 30,720
- Stafford Grant: USD 17,920
- Net Course Fee: USD 12,800
- Monthly Fee**: USD 391
+VAT if applicable
**Monthly instalments calculated based on the Course fee minus the Stafford Grant
Fees are determined by where applicants are currently working and residing
Academics
Refaat Kazoun
Philippe Riewer
Ajith Kumar
What our students say
Nermine Gado
University of Dundee
Master of Education
I had a very satisfying experience while applying for my master's degree through stafford global, Particularly with Noel Mira who was very helpful through every step, he answered all my questions and inquiries. Definitely a very positive experience.
