Educational Science MA
GENERAL INFORMATION
Recommended for those who
- wish to gain a comprehensive overview of schooling as well as the individual and social processes of learning and instruction;
- would like to develop their research skills and further their expertise by becoming familiar with modern research methods and findings;
- wish to understand the nature of phenomena and the methods and instruments with which they are examined.
What the program gives
- An overview of how society and education work, and an understanding of human and organisational behaviour.
- An understanding of how universal and individual phenomena are connected.
- A working knowledge of how to think and act as a Social Scientist.
- An overview of the current research trends and findings, and effective strategies and methods of learning and instruction (e.g., collaboration, problem-based learning, using ICT for teaching and learning, and teaching with the understanding of student diversity).
- Research skills.
- Professional attitudes in, and methods and tools for, continuing development; an introduction to the most important professional issues of the theory and practice of learning and instruction.
From studying to the labour market
This degree is useful in organisations that govern or research learning and instruction, in positions that require educational expertise, deep understanding, and systemic thinking. Most of our alumni work in education, in diverse fields: in schools as teachers or leaders, in higher education, in textbook publishing, in educational assessment organisations, in educational research; in policy and administrative organisations; in non-profit organisations working with diverse groups of learners and parents; and in non-formal education in the business sector, in shadow education, and in adult education.
Please note that this is a research-oriented degree. It does not provide a qualification to teach. However, the program contributes to teachers’ professional development and can help significantly improve teaching skills and practices as well.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR APPLICANTS
(1) Previous degree
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree.
It is possible to apply to the master’s program while in the final semester of a bachelor’s program. However, the bachelor’s degree must be earned by the time the MA offer is made.
(2) Field of previous studies
There are two alternative eligibility criteria in this respect: (a) a few select bachelor’ degrees are automatically accepted, or (b) otherwise a set amount of study hours in select disciplines.
Either
(2a) Previous degree in:
- Pedagogy (Education) [a non-teacher training degree];
- Andragogy;
- Community Coordination;
- Social Pedagogy;
- Psychology;
- Conductive Education;
- Primary School Teaching;
- Pre-School Teaching;
- Special Needs Education; or
- Infant and Early Childhood Education.
Or
(2b) the completion of at least (the equivalent of) 50 ECTS credits in the following disciplinary areas:
- Education and/or
- Psychology and/or
- Andragogy and/or
- Sociology and/or
- Law and/or
- Social Sciences and/or
- Economics and/or
- Health Science.
A review of the prerequisite studies is part of the admission procedure. However, prospective applicants can ask for such a review before submitting their application. Send your request and link to the legibly scanned English language transcripts of your studies to molnar@edpsy.u-szeged.hu. The review is based on the definition given in the Hungarian law on higher education: 1 credit is equivalent to 30 study hours (this includes the time spent studying in class and outside class).
(3) Language requirement
Accepted proof of proficiency: FCE, CAE or CPE, IELTS 6.5+ or TOEFL 90+
Certificate of English Language of B2 / C1 level of proficiency, issued by an accredited language centre after a successful four-skill examination of English. TELS, Euroexam, LanguageCert, Cambridge First Certificate, Certificate of Advanced English, or Korean College Scholastic Ability Tests (English Language results between 1-4) are equally accepted as proof of English proficiency.
Duolingo Tests are NOT accepted.
If the applicant graduated from a higher education program (at least 4 semesters) where the medium of instruction was English, these former studies can be accepted as proof of English proficiency instead of the results of a proficiency test. In this case, the applicant must submit an official statement from the Registrar's Office of the higher education institution that issued the diploma stating the medium of instruction.
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Timewise
- September intake only, fall semester: September–January, spring semester: February–June.
- 4 semesters = 120 ECTS credits
1 credit = 30 study hours (including work in and outside class)
48 credits – common foundation courses
41 credits – specialisation*
20 credits – thesis (research, consultation, and writing)
6 credits – elective
5 credits – field visit and field work
Final examination (thesis defence and viva voce)
* As part of the program, each student must complete one specialisation, a 40 credit unit. Possible streams include Early Childhood Education, Assessment and Evaluation, and Compensatory Education. Of these, one or two are run for each class, based on student preferences.
All courses must be taken. The recommendation refers to the timing. Courses recommended for semesters 1 and 3 are taught in the fall. Courses recommended for semesters 2 and 4 are taught in the spring.
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Courses
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semester
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type
(l: lecture, s/p: seminar or practice) |
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1.
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2.
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3.
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4.
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credit
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Conceptual Foundations
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History of Education
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3
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l
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Academic Communication in Education Sciences
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3
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s/p
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Comparative Education
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3
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l
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Theoretical Foundations
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Cognitive Psychology
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3
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l
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Educational and Social Psychology
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3
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l
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The Psychology of Formal Education
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3
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l
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Research Foundations
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Research Trends in Education Sciences
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3
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l
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Research Methods in Education Sciences
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3
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s/p
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Collecting and Analysing Educational Information
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3
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s/p
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Empirical Research Methods
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3
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l
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The Organisations of Learning and Instruction
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The Education System and the School as Organization
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3
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l
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Theories of Learning and Instruction
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3
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l
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The Sociology of Education
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3
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l
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Planning and Assessment in Educational Practice
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3
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l
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The Facilitation of Learning and Instruction
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Methods and Strategies of Learning
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3
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s/p
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The Development of Skills and Abilities
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3
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s/p
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Specialisation in
Early Childhood Education |
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A Problem-Based Overview of the History of Education
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3
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l
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Skills Development in Early Childhood
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3
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l
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Educational Planning and Assessment
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3
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l
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The Psychology of Early Childhood
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3
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l
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Statistical Analysis
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4
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s/p
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Learning Motivation
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3
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l
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Education for children with atypical development
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3
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s/p
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Educational Diagnostics
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4
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s/p
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On-site Observations (Kindergarten)
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3
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s/p
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Computer-based Statistical Analysis
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3
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s/p
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Methods of Social and Emotional Education
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3
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s/p
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Fostering Cognitive Skills
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3
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s/p
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On-site observations (School)
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3
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s/p
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Specialisation in
Assessment and Evaluation |
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A Problem-Based Overview of the History of Education
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3
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l
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Statistical Analysis
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4
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s/p
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The Psychology of Assessment
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3
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l
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Educational Planning and Assessment
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3
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l
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Questionnaires in Educational Research
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3
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s/p
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Curricula and Standards
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3
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l
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Test Theory
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3
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l
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Test Development
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4
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s/p
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Computer-based Statistical Analysis
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3
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s/p
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The Evaluation of Programmes and Institutions
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3
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s/p
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Exams and Examination Systems
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3
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l
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System-Wide Assessment
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3
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s/p
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Item and Task Writing
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3
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s/p
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Specialisation in
Compensatory Education |
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A Problem-Based Overview of the History of Education
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3
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l
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Statistical Analysis
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4
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s/p
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Qualitative Research Methods
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3
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s/p
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Special Educational Needs
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3
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l
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Helping Professions in Education
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3
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l
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Inclusive Education Systems and Classrooms
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3
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l
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Developmental Disorders
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3
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l
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Individualised and Differentiated Education
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3
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s/p
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Gifted Education and Fostering the Development of Abilities
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3
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s/p
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Equal Opportunity in Education
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3
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s/p
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Educational Diagnostics
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4
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s/p
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Preventive Measures
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3
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s/p
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On-site Observations
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3
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s/p
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MA thesis
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Thesis writing 1.
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10
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s/p
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Thesis writing 2.
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10
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s/p
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Elective courses
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Elective Course 1 (Education, Master level course)
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2
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2
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s/p
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Elective Course 2 (Education, Master level course)
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3
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3
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s/p
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Elective Course (any Master level course)
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2
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2
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s/p
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Field visits
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Field visit
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2
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s/p
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Field work
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3
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s/p
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Note: l= lecture, s= seminar, p=practical course; elective courses are recommended to be taken in semesters 3 and 4.
ADMISSION PROCESS
The applications are open from December/January until April 30. Admission interviews are organised from March through May.
For fee-paying (self-financing) applicants, all technical and financial details are available on the application site. Click APPLY HERE to learn more and start your application.
Check if you are eligible to apply for a Hungarian state scholarship:
This is a competitive scholarship that covers tuition, insurance, contribution to housing, and a modest contribution to living expenses; it also covers the university application fees. Note that an application to Stipendium Hungaricum includes the application to a university program (i.e., one application includes everything).
Admission interview
The admission interviews are organised by the Institute of Education.
Applicants are required to take an oral interview (in person or online), which consists of two parts:
(a) The applicant must prepare and give a 10–15 minute oral presentation of their own synthesis of an issue in Education.
For this, the applicant must choose in advance an issue they find important or intriguing in education. They must choose three publications they find most relevant to the understanding of this issue base their discussion on these. (Visual aid, e.g., a PowerPoint presentation, may be used but is not obligatory.)
(b) The applicant must answer the questions the exam committee members ask them regarding the issue and the presentation.
The decision of the admission committee is communicated officially in writing on the admission site.
CONTACT
If you still have questions, please contact
Edit Katalin Molnár, PhD at molnar@edpsy.u-szeged.hu
Please note that Saturday and Sunday are not workdays in Hungary.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Timetable 2025 Spring | 129 KB |
| Final exam topics | 69.46 KB |
