Program Overview
Share Facebook Linkedin Email Postgraduate Taught 2026 autism-practice-msc robotics-artificial-intelligence-msc artificial-intelligence-pgcert history-pgdip engineering-energy-economics-the-environment-pgcert applied-cyber-security-pgcert data-analytics-pgcert technology-management-msc sound-music-pgcert sound-music-pgdip masters-law-mlaw international-commercial-business-law-llm cancer-medicine-mscres public-health-mph education-computingit-digital-skills-creative-enterprise-pgce public-health-systems-policy-theory-into-practice-pgcert international-political-economy-msc sound-music-ma public-health-sciences-pgcert public-health-data-systems-research-pgcert substance-use-substance-use-disorders-msc substance-use-substance-use-disorders-pgcert substance-use-substance-use-disorders-pgdip english-creative-writing-ma data-analytics-msc english-creative-writing-pgdip advanced-healthcare-practice-msc law-technology-llm intellectual-property-law-llm palliative-care-pgdip irish-studies-ma digital-marketing-analytics-msc conflict-transformation-social-justice-ma global-security-borders-ma molecular-biology-biotechnology-msc ecological-management-conservation-biology-msc one-health-parasitology-infection-biology-msc supply-chain-analytics-msc accounting-finance-analytics-msc actuarial-science-msc advanced-clinical-pharmacy-practice-msc advanced-clinical-pharmacy-practice-pgcert advanced-clinical-pharmacy-practice-pgdip advanced-food-safety-msc advanced-healthcare-clinical-practice-msc advanced-pharmacy-practice-msc advanced-social-work-children-young-people-families-msc advanced-social-work-children-young-people-families-pgcert advanced-social-work-children-young-people-families-pgdip ai-business-msc animal-behaviour-welfare-msc anthropology-ma anthropology-pgdip applied-behaviour-analysis-msc applied-cyber-security-msc applied-cyber-security-professional-internship-msc applied-developmental-psychology-msc applied-digital-construction-management-msc architecture-march artificial-intelligence-msc arts-humanities-mres arts-management-ma bioinformatics-computational-genomics-msc biomedical-clinical-research-msc biopharmaceutical-engineering-msc biopharmaceutical-engineering-pgcert biopharmaceutical-engineering-year-industry-msc building-information-modelling-project-management-higher-level-apprenticeship-msc building-information-modelling-project-management-industrial-internship-msc building-information-modelling-project-management-msc business-agrifood-rural-enterprise-msc business-agrifood-rural-enterprise-pgcert business-agrifood-rural-enterprise-pgdip business-analytics-msc caring-children-young-people-complex-needs-msc childrens-rights-msc childrens-rights-participation-pgcert city-planning-design-higher-level-apprenticeship-msc city-planning-design-msc city-planning-design-pgcert climate-change-msc climate-change-pgdip clinical-anatomy-msc clinical-education-pgcert clinical-health-psychology-msc clinical-health-psychology-pgdip cognitive-behavioural-practice-pgcert cognitive-behavioural-psychotherapy-pgdip construction-project-management-higher-level-apprenticeship-msc construction-project-management-industrial-internship-msc construction-project-management-msc creative-games-technologies-ma criminology-criminal-justice-llm digital-business-msc education-english-pgce education-mathematics-pgce education-modern-languages-pgce education-religious-education-pgce education-science-pgce education-social-science-pgce education-studies-med educational-leadership-msc engineering-management-pgcert english-literary-studies-ma english-literary-studies-pgdip english-poetry-ma english-poetry-pgdip environmental-engineering-msc environmental-engineering-pgdip film-ma finance-msc finance-trading-msc financial-analytics-msc financial-risk-management-msc geopolitics-ma geopolitics-pgdip history-ma human-resource-management-msc hydrogen-energy-systems-pgcert inclusion-special-educational-needs-med independent-prescribing-pgcert industrial-pharmaceutics-msc international-business-msc international-human-rights-law-llm international-public-policy-msc international-public-policy-pgdip international-relations-ma international-relations-pgdip interpreting-ma law-llm leadership-sustainable-development-msc leadership-sustainable-rural-development-msc linguistics-ma linguistics-pgcert linguistics-pgdip management-msc marketing-msc master-business-administration-internship-mba master-business-administration-mba mechanical-engineering-management-higher-level-apprenticeship-msc mechanical-engineering-management-industrial-internship-msc mechanical-engineering-management-msc mechanical-engineering-management-pgcert mechanical-engineering-management-pgdip mechanical-engineering-pgcert media-broadcast-production-ma media-broadcast-production-pgdip mental-health-mental-capacity-law-msc mental-health-mental-capacity-law-pgdip mental-health-pgdip midwifery-msc net-zero-engineering-distance-learning-msc net-zero-engineering-msc net-zero-engineering-year-industry-msc pharmaceutical-analysis-higher-level-apprenticeship-msc pharmaceutical-analysis-industrial-placement-msc pharmaceutical-analysis-international-industrial-placement-msc pharmaceutical-analysis-msc philosophy-ma philosophy-pgdip planning-development-higher-level-apprenticeship-msc planning-development-msc planning-development-pgcert politics-ma politics-pgdip prescribing-pharmacists-pgcert professional-nursing-adult-nursing-msc professional-nursing-children-young-people-msc professional-nursing-learning-disabilities-nursing-msc professional-nursing-mental-health-nursing-msc professional-practice-architecture-pgcert psychological-science-msc public-history-ma social-science-research-mres social-science-research-pgdip sociology-global-inequality-msc software-development-msc software-development-part-time-msc specialist-cognitive-behavioural-therapy-msc sustainable-energy-systems-management-msc sustainable-energy-systems-management-pgdip systemic-practice-family-therapy-msc systemic-practice-family-therapy-pgcert systemic-practice-family-therapy-pgdip systemic-psychotherapy-msc teaching-english-speakers-other-languages-applied-linguistics-msc translation-ma violence-terrorism-security-ma violence-terrorism-security-pgdip youth-justice-msc youth-justice-pgdip zero-carbon-engineering-pgcert Share Facebook Linkedin Email Undergraduate 2025 MEd | Postgraduate Taught Inclusion and Special Educational Needs Apply now Register Interest Entry year Academic Year 2026/27 Entry requirements 2.2 Attendance 1 year (Full-time) 3 years (Part-time) Places available 50 (Full Time) 50 (Part Time) Overview Course content Modules Entry requirements Careers Fees and funding Apply As contemporary societies become more heterogeneous, and as inclusive education reforms gain currency across the world, educational systems are being challenged to address some fundamental questions about teaching and learning related to the accommodation of and respect for difference. Underpinning the movement for inclusion is a concern for social justice and wellbeing. Meeting the diverse needs of learners within today's schools, colleges and universities, is one of the most challenging and important tasks facing education today. This thoroughly revised master's degree is unique not only because of the disciplinary approaches it employs, but also because students study and apply an approach to wellbeing that has been developed by some of the world’s leading thinkers. This is an approach that is internationally recognised by, for example, the UN, and whose principles are increasingly found in government policy on education and SEN, namely the Capability Approach.
Key Program Features
Inclusion and Special Educational Needs highlights
Student Experience
Flexibility This programme is designed to meet the needs of professionals. Diploma and Certificate options are also available.
Credit transfer Students who have completed other master's-level awards, e.g., PGCE, within the last 10 years are eligible for credit transfer. The credit transfer application must be submitted at the same time as the online programme application as retrospective applications are not accepted.
“This course has completely changed how I view the whole area of SNE. It has challenged my thinking and attitudes, leading me to question and critique how we perceive and provide support for children experiencing any kind of difficulty during their schooling. Having visiting speakers has also been very helpful, keeping the course current and up-to-date with what is happening in practice.” Rachelle McDermott MEd Student “I am a preschool teacher in Turkey. I am pleased that I studied Special Educational Needs and Inclusion at Queens University. I had a chance to learn the philosophy of SEN to find out more about what lies behind ‘Special Education’. I learned a lot from Dr Mackenzie regarding disability and social justice. I found The Capability Approach thanks to her, and I was immediately attracted to it as this approach takes firmly into account the perspective of the individual and is based on human flourishing and creating a ‘life worthy of human dignity’. I highly recommend this course because it will change the way you think and what you do as a teacher.” Z Ozdan
Career Opportunities
Career Prospects
Introduction
Graduates from this degree have found it beneficial in their professional institutions in advising colleagues, influencing policy, and supporting pupils and students. The degree helps students reshape their thinking on special needs education and matters of inclusion, to question values and beliefs that were previously taken for granted. Importantly, a master's degree in SEN/Inclusion will be of great advantage to professionals seeking promotion as we move towards a masters-led teaching profession. Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.
Employment after the Course
Most of the students on this course are practising teachers in the nursery, primary, or secondary sector. Students from further education and disability sectors also attend. Students take up employment, or continue to work in education, apply for promotion, or go on to undertake further degrees.
Employment Links
Education Disability Organisations Further and Higher Education
Prizes and Awards
Teachers working on classroom-based dissertation projects may apply for the Northern Ireland Centre for Educational Research (NICER) award.
Program Curriculum
Course Structure
Students may enrol on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (3 years) basis. Individual modules may be studied as a short course. Part-time students typically complete one or two modules per semester. Full-time students typically complete three modules per semester. Two optional modules may be chosen from the Educational Studies (MEd) degree (except for EDU7225/7227/7228/7229/7230/7900). The MEd is awarded to students who successfully complete six taught modules (120 CATS points) and a 15,000-word research dissertation (60 CATS points). Exit qualifications are available: students may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma by successfully completing 120 CATS points from taught modules or a Postgraduate Certificate by successfully completing 60 CATS points from taught modules. We've made it easy to study for a master's module as a short course. If you would like to apply for a short course, please contact the Education Secretary (ssesw@qub.ac.uk) for advice.
People teaching you Professor Alison MacKenzie Programme Director SSESW Email: A.MacKenzie@qub.ac.uk
Teaching Times
Learning and Teaching
Learning opportunities available with this course are outlined below:
Study hours
Indicative Number of Modules per Semester: Part-time students typically complete one or two modules per semester. Full-time students typically complete three modules per semester. Indicative Proportional Mix of Time in Classes, Tutorials/Seminars/Labs, and Private Study in a Teaching Semester: Varies, depending on module choice and study mode (full-time/part-time). Each class is of two hours’ duration. The evening classes run for four weeks with two Saturday workshops for each module.
Assessment
Admission Requirements
How to Apply
Apply using our online Queen's Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply .
Terms and Conditions
The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study. Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions .
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 15,200/year (international)
Tuition Fees
| Northern Ireland (NI) 1 | £7,700 |
| Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 | £7,700 |
| England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 | £10,400 |
| EU Other 3 | £23,000 |
| International | £23,000 |
1 EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.
2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.
3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.
All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
More information on postgraduate tuition fees .
Additional course costs
There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Financial Aid & Funding Opportunities
A range of funding options may be available to students enrolling at Queen's University Belfast. Explore all options early — many scholarships have deadlines months before programme start.
- University Scholarships: Queen's University Belfast may offer merit-based, need-based, or programme-specific scholarships for postgraduate students. Contact the international or financial aid office for current awards.
- Government Scholarships (): National governments often fund outbound and inbound student mobility. Check your home country's government scholarship schemes (e.g., national student loan bodies, ministry of education awards).
- International Scholarships: Major funders include: Commonwealth Scholarships, Fulbright (USA programmes), Chevening (UK), Erasmus+ (Europe), DAAD (Germany), Campus France, Australia Awards, and many more.
- Employer Sponsorship: Professionals returning to study may negotiate tuition sponsorship with their employer, particularly for MBA or executive programmes.
- Graduate Assistantships / Fellowships: Some universities offer funded research or teaching assistant positions that include a stipend and partial or full tuition waiver.
- External Foundations: Rotary Foundation, Aga Khan Foundation, Ford Foundation, and many discipline-specific bodies fund postgraduate study globally.
- Payment Plans: Flexible instalment plans may allow you to spread tuition payments across the academic year.
About Queen's University Belfast
Queen's University Belfast
Botswana, Botswana
Visit the university profile page to learn more about this institution.
University Profile- Start Date 2017-09-25
- Language English
- Duration 12 months
- Credits 60 ECTS / 180 credits (1-year programme)