Our rigorous MA course offers a comprehensive multidisciplinary foundation in the comparative analysis of the intricate relationship between education, society, and communities. Through this course, you will gain a profound understanding of education policy and the political dynamics that shape it on an international level, including influential organisations like the OECD and the EU, as well as national governments across the UK, Europe, and southeast Asia. Designed for aspiring educators, policymakers, researchers, and development professionals, the MA prepares graduates to contribute meaningfully to educational transformation in an increasingly interconnected and globalised world. Focussing primarily on the developed world, you will delve into the politics driving educational reforms, assess their effects, and analyse their impact on economic growth, skill formation, and social inclusion.
With its strong comparative perspective, the course encourages you to look beyond national boundaries. You will engage with peers from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds, exchanging perspectives and experiences from around the world. In doing so, you will broaden your global outlook, deepen your intercultural understanding, and build an international network of future educators, policymakers, and change-makers.
This course is designed for educators, policymakers, researchers, and professionals working - or aspiring to work - in education who seek to understand the political, social, and policy dimensions of education in a global and comparative context. It is particularly relevant for those interested in educational reform, international development, policy analysis, leadership, and social inclusion across schools, universities, governments, NGOs, and international organisations.
The Comparative Education MA will help you to develop key employability skills, which will make you attractive in both the public and private sector, e.g., international organisations, government departments, think tanks and consultancies, education businesses, and in research and teaching. We provide assistance for applying internship at the OECD and UNESCO.
We also offer MPhil/PhD course in the Department of Education, Practice, and Society, which provide opportunities to explore the field of Comparative Education in greater depth.
Recent career destinations for graduates of this degree include:
UCL Institute of Education (IOE) is one of the world’s leading centres for education and related areas of social science. For the thirteenth year in succession IOE has been ranked as the world’s leading university for Education (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026).