Application Deadline Jun 15,2025
RMB 34000 per year
The MA in Comparative Education for International Students is a uniquecourse offered by the International and Comparative Education ResearchInstitute at Beijing Normal University with support from the Institute of International Education at Stockholm University. This course, with generous financial support from the Chinese Government,is designed to enhance educational and cultural exchange between China and other countries, and to train talented individuals who cancontribute to globalization and internationalization in the fields ofeducational management, leadership and policy-making worldwide.
The MA course in Comparative Education for International Studentsis modeled on the core-course system designed by the Institute ofInternational Education at Stockholm University. This system has aproven track record of effectiveness in training of over 30 years, and thecourse at BNU is focused on a series of contemporary educational topics that are relevant to all countries, especially developing nations.These include promoting educational equality, high quality education,education for sustainable development and ICT education. Based on therich international resources of Beijing Normal University, it has a strongteam of professors and faculty members, and aims to become a highquality and world-class international course.
Tuition and Fees Tuition: RMB 50,600 (for 2 years) Living expenses in Beijing: On-campus lodging: RMB 1,800-2,700 per month Other expenses: RMB 1,700 per month on average Health Insurance: RMB 600 per year
The Aims of the Course The MA in Comparative Education for International Students aimsto train talented individuals from all over the world so that they willdevelop a deep understanding of educational theories and acquirea wide knowledge of fundamental trends in educational reform anddevelopment worldwide. The course aims to meet the demandsof the international labor market by training individuals who havehighly developed international communication and educationalmanagement skills, and will go on to work in internationalorganizations, governmental authorities, NGOs and related areas.
The objectives of the MA in Comparative Education for International Students include:
Educational Knowledge: understanding theories and methodologiesof comparative education, major trends in international educationaldevelopment and educational practices in various nations. Educational Abilities: to possess an international perspectivewhen analyzing issues of educational policy, management, leadershipand evaluation, to identify similarities and differences ineducation in various countries and areas, to summarize the universalcharacteristics of educational development worldwide, and tolearn from international experience in educational practices. Educational Attitudes: developing an approach to analyzinginternational experience consciously and critically, maintaining anopen mind to rich and diverse educational practices worldwide andrespecting the unique characteristics of educational practices invarious countries and regions. course Requirements The MA in Comparative Education for International Students requires thecompletion of a number of credit modules and a MA thesis. As a uniquefeature of the course, it allows students to use knowledge and abilitiesdeveloped through their taught modules to examine an issue relevant totheir own professional lives or interests. In this way, the course aims todevelop effective managers and leaders in education.
Credits: At least 34 credits are required (1 credit equals 18 class hours),including 8 core courses (2 credits for Chinese History and Culture and foran Internship respectively; 3 credits for others. 22 credits in total), and atleast 3-4 elective courses (1-2 credits for each course. 6 credits in total).In addition, 1 MA thesis is required, for 6 credits. No fees will be chargedfor additional credits.
Mid-Course Examination: Master’s degree candidates must first passthe mid-course examination at the beginning of the third semester, andmay then proceed to the MA thesis-writing period. Candidates shouldcomplete at least 18 credits in the first academic year and submit a thesisproposal, to be examined and approved by their supervisors. An examininggroup is responsible for the examination of the thesis proposals. Thosewho fail to pass the examination will have the opportunity to apply for asecond-round examination if they have the support of the examininggroup and their supervisors. If the proposal fails to pass the second-roundexamination, the candidate will not be permitted to continue the course.
MA Thesis: After enrollment in the MA in Comparative Education forInternational Students, the candidate should select a theme for thesis studyunder the direction of his/her supervisor. We encourage candidates to pursuetopics relevant to their own professional backgrounds and interests. Thefinal MA thesis should be written in English and the length of the thesisshould be 60-80 pages (Times New Roman 12 point font and 1.5 linespacing). A final thesis defense is required.
It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that his/her proposal passesthe thesis proposal examination in the third semester, to submit a completeversion of the thesis to the supervisor at the beginning of the fourth semester,and to submit a final version of the thesis for assessment and attend the oraldefense in May of the fourth semester. The oral defense committee willassess the theses and grade them on a scale from A to F according to theirqualities. The University’s Degree Evaluation Committee will finally decidewhether to bestow Master’s degrees upon the students. Duration: The MA in Comparative Education for International Students isa 2-year course and students should complete their courses within 2 years.Graduation cannot be postponed or deferred and scholarships cannot beextended or increased. Suspension of study (and of the scholarship) will beoffered according to relevant regulations, only if a candidate has exceptionalcircumstances which prevent continuation of study, such as health problems.The suspension shall not be longer than 1 year.
Course Curriculum
Semester |
Curriculum |
Type |
credits |
Minimumcredits |
I |
ChineseHistoryandCulture |
corecourse |
2 |
8 |
ComparativeEducation |
corecourse |
3 |
||
IntroductiontoEducationalResearchMethods |
corecourse |
3 |
||
EducationandRuralDevelopment |
electivecourse |
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