MSc Education  (Comparative and International Education)

The MSc course in Education (Comparative and International Education) has been in existence in Oxford for more than ten years. Successful course graduates now have positions in international organisations or in higher education. Many have gone on to doctoral research in comparative and international topics in Oxford and at other prestigious universities.

Our course attracts good students from around the world. Each year the usual group of fifteen students is truly international: in the current year, for example, there are students from Canada, China, Cyprus, India, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Thailand, the UK and the USA.
This is the course for graduates in all relevant disciplines who are looking for an introduction to the twin fields of comparative and international education. It is concerned with both the developing and the developed world, and there is a focus throughout on research of a comparative and international nature and its methods.
By the end of the course it is aimed that students should:

• have an understanding of the nature of comparative studies in education;
• have knowledge of some theories of comparative education and their exponents;
• be familiar with the education systems of a number of industrialised and developing countries and be able to describe and analyse those systems critically;
• be able to devise schemes to make basic comparisons of educational issues in any two or more countries;
• be familiar with several key research studies in comparative and international education;
• have a particular knowledge of educational developments in key areas of western and eastern Europe, including familiarity with the education and training policy of the European Union;
• have detailed knowledge of major issues affecting education at all levels in developing countries;be familiar with the work of the various non-governmental agencies concerned with educational planning, research and development.

Seminars during the course are a combination of tutor and student input, and are based on preparation, response to a presentation and/or analysis of documents and various group activities. There is a programme of visiting speakers from around the world. In February each year the course moves to Paris for a week for specially run seminars at UNESCO, the OECD and the Institute for International Educational Planning (IIEP).

During their time in Oxford course members will be part of a lively research community with interests in a wide range of topics in comparative and international education. The University of Oxford provides an ideal environment for graduate study: its resources are first-class and its graduate population is among the best qualified in the world. The Department of Education is a particularly friendly institution within the University, and the international constitution of the student body makes everyone feel at home.

The course leader is Professor David Phillips and others responsible for teaching include Dr David Johnson and Dr Colin Brock. All are well-known academics in comparative studies with international reputations and wide experience.
Early application is advised. Those interested in applying are invited to contact David Phillips (david.phillips@education.ox.ac.uk) or the Higher Degrees Office (higherdegreesoffice@education.ox.ac.uk).

Applicants to the programme may wish to apply for the Routledge Scholarship, see the Studentships section here for more details.

The Programme Specifications can be downloaded here.