Marjon University Cornwall

Marjon University Cornwall is based in Truro at the Old Cathedral School. We offer postgraduate programmes, short courses, postgraduate research opportunities, and research support services. We believe that education can transform lives and access to high-quality university-accredited CPDL for educational professionals supports this transformation.

Delivering Postgraduate Professional Education in Cornwall

The facilities and resources at Marjon University Cornwall are designed to ensure that all students will engage in a higher education and collaborative professional learning experience.

All taught sessions will take place at times that support working educational professionals in being able to attend. We offer a range of taught postgraduate programmes and in-school support, and opportunities for schools, colleges, and organisations looking for staff coaching and mentoring development, to request bespoke CPDL that supports their improvement and development plans.

Study at Marjon University Cornwall

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Taught Postgraduate Programmes

Marjon University Cornwall offers the following programmes, which can be applied for via our postgraduate apply direct portal (just click on MA Education Part-Time Truro in ‘Start Your Application’):

A teacher teaches two students who are doing computer work

MA Education

Study in either Plymouth or Truro for this Master's degree. Research your area of interest within education and apply your findings to benefit your organisation, and enhance your career progression.

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MA Education - Educational Leadership

Reflect on your own practice as an educator. You'll study and research educational leadership as you chart your course to senior leadership. This flexible Master's fits alongside working in education.

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A teacher and a pupil with Down's Syndrome engage on a task that uses a mobile phone

MA Education - Disability

Understand how disability discrimination manifests in educational contexts, and what you can do to change it.

MA Education - Disability

PG Crt. Coaching and Mentoring

Postgraduate Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring. Explore the principles of coaching and mentoring and apply them to a diverse range of professional settings.

PG Cert in Coaching and Mentoring

MA Education - Coaching

MA Education - Coaching, Mentoring and Leadership. Improve your professional practice to progress your career as an educator, trainer, mentor, or leader.

Mentoring and Leadership

Short courses

We also offer opportunities for schools, MATs, colleges, and other educational organisations to request specific CPDL short courses that we can design to support improvement and development plans. These short courses can be designed at Master’s level (and used by participants to contribute towards a Master’s degree in the future) or as non-accredited university-certificated training. Please contact Professor Tanya Ovenden-Hope at cornwall@marjon.ac.uk for a discussion about your CPDL needs and how we can help.

Short courses we have developed on request include:

Postgraduate Certificate – Governance in Schools (60 credits at Master’s level)
University Certificate of Training – Governance in Schools (non-accredited)
University Professional Diploma – Leading Coaching and Mentoring in Schools (60 credits at Master’s level)
University Certificate of Training – Leading Coaching and Mentoring in Schools (non-accredited)
These short courses are available for any organisation to use for their staff CPDL. Please contact Professor Tanya Ovenden-Hope at cornwall@marjon.ac.uk for more information on the content, duration, and cost.

Areas that you may want Master’s level CPDL for your staff, and that we can develop with you, include:

Leadership in education
Developing practitioner research in education
Organisation-focused research on an area for development (independent study)

Our approach

Our aim is to provide opportunities that enhance the Continuing Professional Development and Learning (CPDL) of educators in Cornwall and support further engagement with educational research in the county. Here you can:

Develop evidence-based practice with benefits to both the professional and the school.
Develop the skills to ask questions and find the answers to most school improvement issues.
Attend taught sessions to fit with the commitments of working professionals in Education.

Postgraduate research

Marjon University Cornwall can support PhD students living in Cornwall who have been successful in their application to research an area of education. Please make a note in your initial enquiry form (RD1a) that you would like to be supported in Truro. Applications can be started by submitting the PhD enquiry form.

Evaluation, project and research partnership

Academics at Marjon University Cornwall have the expertise and experience to develop and deliver education evaluations, projects, and research. If you are looking for a partner in these areas to support a proposal to organisations such as the Education Endowment Foundation, Nuffield Foundation, Teacher Development Fund, Department for Education tenders (previously we have undertaken evaluations of School Strategic Improvement Fund projects), Erasmus plus, and more, please contact the Provost, Professor Tanya Ovenden-Hope, for a discussion at cornwall@marjon.ac.uk.

Marjon University Cornwall is constantly looking at ways to support academic opportunities for professional learning, not only for education, but also other professions in the county. Please let us know if there is an area of professional development in Cornwall that you feel we could support.

Marjon University Cornwall is a preferred partner of the Cornwall Association of Primary Heads (CAPH), giving all members a discount on fees and services. Please see the CAPH website for more information. Marjon University Cornwall is also a member of the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce.

Student testimonials

Dave Nicholls

“The MA Education presented a challenge, but I needn't have been nervous, as throughout it has been delivered in a supportive manner. I had opportunities to contribute to journals and media articles, something I never thought I would achieve. It has been an experience which I would highly recommend.”

Teacher at Newquay Tretherras Secondary School

Mark Clutsom

“I wanted to deepen my knowledge and understanding alongside developing an area of school improvement. The support from the tutors, the materials and the taught modules were challenging but enjoyable on the MA Education Leadership course. The school has benefitted from my work.”

Headteacher at Charlestown Primary School

Kathryn Donnelly

“My dissertation was linked to my role as Pupil Premium Lead, focusing on raising the success of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The pandemic had a huge impact and influenced my decision to stay on to do a PhD, researching the impact of Covid-19 on children from disadvantaged backgrounds.”

Teacher at St Columb Minor School, Newquay