Neurodiversity & Inclusive Practice MA
January Start | 20 Months Full Time
Option for Placement Year
Option for TV Abroad
International
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Option for Placement Year
Option for TV Abroad
Level of TV
Postgraduate
Mode of TV
20 months Full Time
Department
Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing
Location
Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University
City
Newcastle
Start
January 2027
Fees
Modules
First entry to this course is January 2027, by clicking the apply now button above to find out more and be notified when applications open, or see September 2026 entry. For September 2025 entry, please visit MA Autism.
Advance your career with a Masters in Neurodiversity and Inclusive Practice, designed to deepen your understanding of neurodiverse individuals’ needs through critical engagement with research, policy and practice. You’ll be encouraged to develop skills in reflective learning, data analysis, and applying emerging knowledge to real-world challenges, driving meaningful change in policy and practice through evidence-based interpretations and innovative solutions.
This course is relevant to those interested in pursuing careers in sectors such as education, health, and social care. For both professionals and family members supporting neurodiverse individuals, the course is available as flexible full-time or part-time study options, offering a personalised learning experience to suit your individual needs and career goals.
First entry to this course is January 2027, by clicking the apply now button above to find out more and be notified when applications open, or see September 2026 entry. For September 2025 entry, please visit MA Autism.
Advance your career with a Masters in Neurodiversity and Inclusive Practice, designed to deepen your understanding of neurodiverse individuals’ needs through critical engagement with research, policy and practice. You’ll be encouraged to develop skills in reflective learning, data analysis, and applying emerging knowledge to real-world challenges, driving meaningful change in policy and practice through evidence-based interpretations and innovative solutions.
This course is relevant to those interested in pursuing careers in sectors such as education, health, and social care. For both professionals and family members supporting neurodiverse individuals, the course is available as flexible full-time or part-time study options, offering a personalised learning experience to suit your individual needs and career goals.
Level of TV
Postgraduate
Mode of TV
20 months Full Time
Department
Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing
Location
Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University
City
Newcastle
Start
January 2027
Fees
Modules
Applicants should normally have:
A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree or a masters degree in a relevant subject area, or a relevant professional qualification.
International qualifications:
If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit
English language requirements:
International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 6 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS.? You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit
Full UK Fee: TBC
Full International Fee: TBC
Scholarships and Discounts
ADDITIONAL COSTS
TBC
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
RW7001 -
Academic Language Skills (ALS) for PG Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing Students (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.
The topics you will cover on the module include:
• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
• Discussing ethical issues in research, and analysing results.
• Describing bias and limitations of research.
TE7050 -
Negotiated TV (Optional,30 Credits)
In this module you will focus on the role of the practitioner as a research user and you will have the opportunity to articulate and negotiate a Master’s level enquiry relevant to you and your practice. You will have the opportunity to make effective and systematic use of published research to inform education practice and/or policy. You will learn how to interrogate electronic databases efficiently and effectively analyse qualitative data and write up your findings. Through this process, you will develop your critical appraisal skills. This module enables you to carry out a very small-scale piece of research which you undertake with the support of the module tutor.
More informationTE7076 -
Understanding Educational Research and Methods (Optional,30 Credits)
This module provides the underpinning skills and knowledge necessary to undertake independent research in education and training at Level 7. It will give you the opportunity to develop practical and theoretical skills in the use and understanding of different research paradigms, methodological approaches and their associated research methods. You will also develop an in-depth understanding of related issues, including but not restricted to, ethical concerns, data management and analysis, the use conceptual frameworks and how to engage critically with the literature. The module has a strong focus on practice, and you will be encouraged to take this as your starting point, to question and problematize professional concerns, and to develop those as research problems and questions.
This will provide you with a framework to critique and question research, policy and practice and their impact on Education and Training. Drawing on this, you will be able to develop a research proposal which addresses a professional concern, drawing on contemporary and relevant research literature in order to analyse and justify your methodological approach. You will also be supported to explore subject based literature in order to support your identification and exploration of a research problem.
TE7100 -
Inclusion and the Professions (Optional,30 Credits)
On this module you will explore the following topics:
• Inter-professional working
• Collaborative practice
• Protected characteristics
• Professional development
• Legislation, policy and codes of practice
TE7101 -
Contemporary Issues in Education (Optional,30 Credits)
On this module you will explore the following topics:
• Educational inclusion.
• International perspectives in education.
• UN Sustainable development goal 4
• Policy development in education
• Accountability structures
• Beliefs, Cultures and Values
TE7106 -
Understanding and Embracing Neurodiversity (Optional,30 Credits)
This module aims to engage you in a critical appreciation of the complexities of neurodiversity through critical exploration of related theories, literature and legislation, such as the Social Model of Disability.
You will learn about and evaluate concepts used to critique the challenges experienced by neurodiverse people within education, workplace and wider communities, to reduce exclusionary practices and improve inclusivity for all.
TE7107 -
Neurodiversity Affirming Practice (Optional,30 Credits)
This module aims to facilitate learning and apply theory within neurodiversity-affirming practice. The module will encourage you to explore the cognitive strengths and abilities of neurodivergent individuals and identify the challenges and barriers within the context of living in a neurotypical community. In this module, we seek to acknowledge and address the unique and distinct experiences of individuals whose neurodivergent characteristics require significant levels of care and support. You will draw upon knowledge and considerations for support needs, intervention and therapy, to develop and strengthen your practice. By embracing neurodiversity and fostering inclusive environments, together we aim to create a society that values and supports the diverse experiences and strengths of all citizens.
More informationTE7110 -
Managing Inclusive Learning Environments (Optional,30 Credits)
This module focusses on the various ways in which inclusive learning environments might be managed, in a variety of educational contexts and how it can impact on teaching and learning. You will be able to explore, create, reflect upon and evaluate inclusive learning environments and consider how they can be managed to maximise their effectiveness in relation to effective educational delivery, facilitation of learning and assessment of the desired outcomes. In addition, you will develop a critical understanding of how inclusive learning environments and their management can impact on student experience.
More informationWB0726 -
Project Management and Change Leadership (Optional,30 Credits)
This is a work based learning module that focuses your learning on the needs of your organisation and how they can be met through the initiation of change through a quality improvement project. It involves a tripartite relationship between you, your organisation and the university, facilitating your engagement with theory from the university and workplace activity concurrently. You will develop a comprehensive understanding of a range of models, concepts and theories that will help you to become engaged in well informed and meaningful work-based enquiry and project management. Through a combination of university seminar and inter-session activities in the workplace, the module will help you to develop a critical awareness of a range of appropriate approaches to project planning, implementation and evaluation appropriate to your own organisational and professional context. Learning from this module will enable you to develop a project based approach to complex issues in your practice using structured project management, change management, reflective models, leadership approaches while taking ethical, confidentiality, data protection and professional codes of practice into consideration. This module will develop a culture of project based approaches to complex issues in your practice. It will develop in you the confidence to initiate and lead change in your practice in response to challenges faced on a daily basis in organisations, effectively making you a lifelong change agent in your career. While it is a stand-alone module, taken before the 60 credit work based dissertation this module can be used to plan the major quality improvement dissertation.
More informationPP0724 -
The Empirical Project (Optional,60 Credits)
You will be encouraged to critically explore a range of approaches to research however emphasis will be placed on your understanding of the world view, design and meaning system that will drive your own research study. It is assumed that prior to the undertaking of this dissertation module you will have undertaken study that prepares you for engagement with a Masters dissertation process and that you will have constructed a robust research proposal that has gained or is in the process of gaining ethical approval from both the University and (if applicable) your employing organisation. In the module you will revisit and deepen your understandings of a range of key topic areas linked to the empirical research process, this will include discussion of world views and research paradigms, the research question, aim or hypothesis, research design, working with literature and theory, developing ethical codes, constructing the research sample, collecting robust research evidence, ensuring quality assurance within your research work, analysing both qualitative and quantitative evidence and writing and disseminating the research dissertation work. You will be invited to attend a series of research seminars during the module and you will have access to a named Higher Education supervisor for one to one tutorial work. Both the seminars and tutorials will encourage you to apply the key areas of learning within this module to your own professional context and field of expertise. This will enable you to critically examine how the empirical research process will work best for your research goals and design
More informationTE7039 -
Systematic Appraisal in Education and Training (Optional,60 Credits)
In this module you will focus on the role of the practitioner as a research user. You will have the opportunity to make effective and systematic use of published research to inform education practice and/or policy. Through the process of the systematic appraisal, you will develop enhanced critical appraisal skills. The systematic appraisal project will address research questions which arise from your specific practice/field of expertise. These questions may address:
• Effectiveness of single/definable interventions in order to state and recommend best practice/provide evidence based guidelines for practice.
• Evaluation of appropriateness/acceptability/process/outcomes of educational provision in order to improve/develop/inform practice.
• The service user experience of education services.
• Relationships between practitioners and service users.
• Theoretical and ideological issues of relevance to education practice and/or policy.
You will be supported to select published work to be included in the appraisal; this may be either entirely quantitative, entirely qualitative or mixed method. You will then have the opportunity to consider the philosophical perspective of both the research question and the appraisal methodology.
The focus of this module is a small scale systematic review which you will undertake with the support of an experienced academic research supervisor. Peer support is also encouraged through student led seminars.
WB0716 -
Work Based Dissertation (Optional,60 Credits)
This module comprising the implementation of a quality improvement project in your workplace is designed to promote your personal development, equipping you with a range of inter-personal, intellectual and practical (functional) skills. The real-time work-based dissertation will be of benefit to your employing organisation. It seeks to raise your awareness of the workplace as a learning environment, extend your capability and enhance your individual effectiveness, employability and business competitiveness. It will focus on organisational-based issues and seek to develop your skills in the diagnosis of problems, research and analysis. You will develop strategies to address complex problems in your organisation and practice, responding to internal and external factors that every organisation has to contend with. You will demonstrate that appropriate ethical, commercial, confidentiality and data protection issues are taken into consideration. The module will instil intellectual curiosity in you as a professional learner, and lay a foundation for a philosophy of lifelong learning. This will culminate in a dissertation report reflecting on the learning derived from implementing the project.
More informationInterdisciplinary Learning: Blends insights from multiple fields to give a well-rounded understanding of neurodiversity.
Advocacy and Empowerment: Promotes inclusion and challenges deficit-based views of disability.
Practical Skills: Teaches strategies for supporting neurodivergent individuals in real-world settings.
This course aims to equip you with the skills and knowledge to enhance your professional career in education, health, or social care. The student-centred approach ensures that learning is dynamic and relevant, integrating practice-based and project-based learning, peer tutoring, arts-based activities, guest speakers, case studies, role-playing, simulation exercises, peer feedback and technology-enhanced tasks.
With a focus on independent learning, critical reflection, leading learning, and teamwork, you can prepare to advance in your career, potentially moving from support roles to managerial positions.
You can gain tools to evaluate policies, practices, and emerging trends in your field, offering a competitive edge in your profession. Those who study this course might develop their careers in education, for example, teachers or classroom support working with neurodiverse students or social workers working with neurodiverse clients.
We have a fantastic service for students' to use to gain advice and tips on furthering careers and enhancing their employability.
Careers and Employment Services
Our teaching team is composed of experienced practitioners and qualified educators with expertise and research in neurodiversity and inclusive practices.
Their research-driven approach promotes transformative learning, encouraging you to actively engage in critical scholarship. Tutors provide ongoing support through individual and group guidance.
Based at Coach Lane Campus, Coach Lane Campus is an extensive site with its own Sports Centre, Students’ Union, Library and IT suites.
You will have access to specialist facilities like the 24/7 Library and e-learning platforms, which enhance your study experience.
All information is accurate at the time of sharing.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
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If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.
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