The part-time Primary Education route is intended for education professionals, policymakers and researchers at any stage of their career. Many students have relevant international experience and interests. We aim to fuse research and theoretical understandings about primary or elementary education with current priorities in policy and practice.
To apply to finish your Masters through the PGCEM route you will have already completed the Postgraduate Certificate Education (PGCE) at the Faculty of Education. You will then join the Primary Education route for your second year of study. On the Primary Education Masters course you will have the opportunity:
to enhance your educational understanding and practice through critical reflection, study and research;
critically engage with the best quality national and international educational research that has relevance to primary education;
carry out an individual and collaborative critical enquiry into significant educational issues and practice; and
develop your thinking in order to contribute to informed policy and practice analysis and improvement in the primary phase and your own work setting.
The education aims are:
to examine the theoretical frameworks used in the study of education and its constituent disciplines;
provide training in research methods appropriate to education;
advance students’ capacity for professional reflection and judgment;
cater to a range of specialists interested within the field of education or one of its constituent disciplines.
Course modules:
Critical perspectives on primary education policy and practice
Creative approaches to the curriculum
Pedagogy, talk and learning
The school and communities
Note: Pairs of modules run on a rolling programme. In 2026-2027 the course modules will be the top two modules.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the programme, students will have:
- an understanding of research techniques, and a thorough knowledge of the literature applicable to their specific educational domain;
- demonstrated originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in their field;
- shown abilities in the critical evaluation of current research and research techniques and methodologies;
- demonstrated self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and acted autonomously in the planning and implementation of research.
Continuing
Continuation to the PhD from Masters programmes within the Faculty of Education is not automatic. If you wish to continue to the PhD you must submit a separate PhD application by the relevant PhD deadline.
Open Days
The University hosts and attends fairs and events throughout the year, in the UK and across the world. We also offer online events to help you explore your options:
Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD study webinars - these Spring events provide practical information about applying for postgraduate study.
Postgraduate Virtual Open Days - taking place in November each year, the Open Days focus on subject and course information.
For more information about upcoming events visit our events pages.