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MRes in Education - Assessment and Quality Assurance
Why choose Herts?
- Expert support: Ranked 1st in the UK for teacher training (Daily Mail University Guide, 2025), support (PTES, 2024), you’ll receive one-to-one support from experienced researchers, alongside access to specialist facilities and the University’s Researcher Development Programme.
- Career impact: With 96% of Herts postgraduates in work or further study (Graduate Outcomes Survey, 2025)1, you’ll graduate with the skills, confidence, and networks you need to succeed.
- World-leading research: Ranked in the top 25% of UK universities for research impact (REF, 2021), with over 75% of our education research rated as world leading or international excellent. You’ll be part of a research community whose work actively drives change in education.
About the course
The Master of Research in Education Assessment and Quality Assurance is a research-led postgraduate degree in education with taught elements, uniquely designed to equip you with the expertise to critically examine how assessment, evaluation, and quality assurance practices shape teaching, learning, and policy across education systems. It’s grounded in research methodology, with particular emphasis on the design, implementation, and evaluation of assessment frameworks and the mechanisms that underpin quality assurance in schools, colleges, and universities.
You will explore how assessment policy, quality standards, and institutional accountability influence learner outcomes, teaching practices, and educational reform at both national and global levels. This pathway enables you to develop advanced research skills in assessment and evaluation, along with transferable abilities that are highly valued by employers, including critical analysis, data interpretation, ethical research practice, and the ability to communicate complex ideas effectively to a range of audiences. You will deepen your understanding of educational theory and practice in order to contribute evidence-based improvements to teaching, learning, and policy.
You can choose this Master of Research in Education - Assessment and Quality Assurance or the following pathways:
Why choose this course?
You will work with academics who are leading authorities in their area of research, and many have extensive educational experience. Our staff all support you in your learning and in applying research techniques to real-world educational issues in measuring learning outcomes, evaluating quality and improving educational standards.
At the University of Hertfordshire, you will become part of a vibrant researcher community in education, with opportunities to attend seminars, conferences, and interest groups, and to contribute to conversations shaping the future of education. You’ll also have access to the University’s Researcher Development Programme, which provides additional training in advanced skills that will support both your studies and future career.
This two-year full-time programme is a great opportunity if you want to:
- study a range of research methods in educational assessments and quality assurance, and gain insights into how they shape teaching, learning, and institutional effectiveness
- develop a unique set of skills in evaluation, accreditation, educational measurement, and quality systems, building skills that are transferable across schools, colleges, higher education, training providers, and policy bodies
- obtain a world-recognised master's degree in education and progress to doctoral study (PhD/EdD) or a career in educational research, quality assurance, policy development, or institutional leadership.
What will I study?
Your modules will be taught by experts in assessment, evaluation, and education research design, combining both theoretical and applied perspectives. In your first year, you will take modules on key concepts in education, critical review of literature, and research design which will equip you with the tools to analyse debates and practices in assessment and quality assurance.
You will also begin developing your research proposal, which will form the foundation for your independent major research project in the second year. This project, supported by a dedicated supervisory team, will give you the opportunity to explore a topic of your choice in depth and develop specialist expertise in quality assurance and education research.
Teaching is delivered through a combination of study days, online activities, research seminars, and one-to-one supervision. Assessment methods are varied and designed to reflect real research practice, including literature reviews, research proposals, viva-style discussions, and your final dissertation.
Further course information
| Programme specifications | |
|---|---|
| Master of Research in Education - Assessment and Quality Assurance | Download |
| Master of Research in Education - Assessment and Quality Assurance | Download |
| Additional information | |
|---|---|
Sandwich placement or study abroad year |
n/a |
Applications open to international and EU students |
Yes |