Program Name: Educational Leadership and Policy
The Institute of International and Comparative Education, Beijing Normal University
in collaboration with the Institute of International Education, Stockholm University
INTRODUCTION
The International Master Program in Educational Leadership and Policy (Comparative Education) is a unique program offered by the Institute of international and comparative education at Beijing Normal University with support from the Institute of International Education at Stockholm University. This program, 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 can contribute to globalization and internationalization in the fields of educational management, leadership and policy-making worldwide.
The Master Program in Educational Leadership and Policy (Comparative Education) for International Students is modeled on the core-course system designed by the Institute of International Education at Stockholm University. This system has a proven track record of effectiveness in training of over 30 years, and the program 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 the rich international resources of Beijing Normal University, it has a strong team of professors and faculty members, and aims to become a high quality and world-class international program.
AIMS
The Master Program in Educational Leadership and Policy (Comparative Education) for International Students aims to train talented individuals from all over the world so that they will develop a deep understanding of educational theories and acquire a wide knowledge of fundamental trends in educational reform and development worldwide. The program aims to meet the demands of the international labor market by training individuals who have highly developed international communication and educational manage- ment skills, and will go on to work in international organizations, governmental authorities, NGOs and related areas.
The objectives of the Master Program in Educational Leadership and Policy (Comparative Education) for International Students include:
Educational Knowledge: understanding theories and methodologies of comparative education, major trends in international educational development and educational practices in various nations.
Educational Abilities: to possess an international perspective when analyzing issues of educational policy, management, leadership and evaluation, to identify similarities and differences in education in various countries and areas, to summarize the universal characteristics of educational development worldwide, and to learn from international experience in educational practices.
Educational Attitudes: developing an approach to analyzing international experience consciously and critically, maintaining an open mind to rich and diverse educational practices worldwide and respecting the unique characteristics of educational practices in various countries and regions.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
The Master Program in Educational Leadership and Policy (Comparative Education) for International Students requires the completion of a number of credit modules and a master thesis. As a unique feature of the program, it allows students to use knowledge and abilities developed through their taught modules to examine an issue relevant to their own professional lives or interests. In this way, the program aims to develop effective managers and leaders in education.
Credits: The minimum 34 credits are required, including at least 22 credits for core courses, at least 4credits for elective courses, and two required tasks: Internship and MA thesis, which respectively equal 2 credits and 6 credits. No fees will be charged for additional credits.
Mid-Course Examination: master’s degree candidates must first pass the mid-course examination at the beginning of the third semester, and may then proceed to the master thesis-writing period. Candidates should complete at least 20 credits in the first academic year and submit a thesis proposal, to be examined and approved by their supervisors. An examining group is responsible for the examination of the thesis proposals. Those who fail to pass the examination will have the opportunity to apply for a second-round examination if they have the support of the examining group and their supervisors. If the proposal fails to pass the second-round examination, the candidate will not be permitted to continue the program.
Master Thesis: After enrollment in the Master Program in Educational Leadership and Policy (Comparative Education) for International Students, the candidate should select a theme for thesis study under the direction of his/her supervisor. We encourage candidates to pursue topics relevant to their own professional backgrounds and interests. The final master thesis should be written in English and the length of the thesis should be 60-80 pages (Times New Roman 12 point font and 1.5 line spacing). A final thesis defense is required.
It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that his/her proposal passes the thesis proposal examination in the third semester, to submit a complete version 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 oral defense in May of the fourth semester. The oral defense committee will assess the thesis and grade them on a scale from A to F according to their qualities. The University’s Degree Evaluation Committee will finally decide whether to bestow ’s degrees upon the students.
DURATUION
The Master Program in Educational Leadership and Policy (Comparative Education) for International Students is a 2-year program and students should complete their courses within 2 years. Graduation cannot be postponed or deferred and scholarships cannot be extended or increased. Suspension of study (and of the scholarship) will be offered according to relevant regulations, only if a candidate has exceptional circumstances which prevent continuation of study, such as health problems. The suspen- sion shall not be longer than 1 year.
PROGRAM CURRICULUM
|
Type |
Course name |
Credits |
|
Core Course |
Chinese History and Culture (Education Systems, Policy and Management in China) |
2 |
|
Core Course |
Comparative Education |
3 |
|
Core Course |
Introduction to Educational Research Methods |
3 |
|
Core Course |
Educational Management and Leadership |
3 |
|
Core Course |
Educational Planning: Theory and Practice |
3 |
|
Core Course |
Quantitative Research Methods or Qualitative Research Methods |
3 |
|
Core Course |
Proposal & Interim Assessment |
0 |
|
Core Course |
Educational Policy Analysis |
3 |
|
Core Course |
Academic Writing |
2 |
|
Core Course |
Internship |
2 |
|
Core Course |
Master Thesis |
6 |
|
Elective Course |
Education and National Development |
2 |
|
Elective Course |
Chinese Language |
2 |
|
Elective Course |
Education and Rural Development |
2 |
|
Elective Course |
Educational Reforms: International Perspectives |
2 |
|
Elective Course |
Education Statistics |
2 |
Notes:
1. Student can select either Quantitative Research Methods or Qualitative Research Methods.
2. 20 credits are required before interim assessment in 3rd semester, 34 credits for the total;
at least 4 credits for selective courses throughout the whole program.
PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS AND APPLICATIONS
Candidates undertaking the International Master Program in Educational Leadership and Policy (Comparative Education) should meet the following entry requirements:
- A recognized bachelor’s degree;
- Since the program is offered in English, a good mastery of English is required for program admission. TOEFL or IELTS score required for international students whose first language is not English: Applicants who have received an original degree from an English-medium program in previous institutions can be exempted from test requirements..
- Work experience in the educational field is preferable but not essential.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition: RMB 68,000 (for 2 years)
Scholarships
The Master Program in Educational Leadership and Policy (Comparative Education) for International Students is a priority for the Government of the People's Republic of China and enjoys strong financial support for international students.
The program enrolls 25 international students per year, all the students can apply the following scholarships:
Chinese Government Scholarships, HanBan Scholarships, Beijing Municipal Government International Students Scholarships, Beijing Normal University Scholarships, and Specialized Scholarships.
For details about scholarships, please visit: http://iso.bnu.edu.cn/en/Index.php?c=article&a=type&tid=93
Applicants' materials should arrive at Office of International Students
& Scholars Affairs, Beijing Normal University before March 1st every year, for the exact date, please keep an eye on the above website.
Other students still have the opportunity to get Beijing Government Scholarships covering tuition fees for at least one year. For details on applying for a Beijing Government Scholarship, please visit: http://iso.bnu.edu.cn/en/
Application Documents
All students should apply online first and then submit the following application documents by mail. For detailed application procedure and documents, please visit http://www.bnulxsh.com/english/index.htm
- Application Form
- Application Fee: RMB 600 or 100 US dollars (non-refundable)
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Personal Statement (800 words or less)
- Two personal recommendation letters from university, college or research institute academic staff (e.g. professor, associate professor, etc.)
- Admission Approval Form
- An original or notarized copy of academic transcripts and degree certificates (college-level and above)
- Notarized proof of English proficiency for students with English as a second language
- Two 2-inch photos taken within the last 6 months (no hats, glasses or other obstructions to a full head shot allowed)
- A copy of the photo page of a valid personal passport
- Any published academic papers, patents or other academic achievements (originals or copies)
The documents above should all be provided in English and mailed to the address below before JUNE 15:
Office of International Students & Scholars Affairs Beijing Normal University
19 Xinjiekou Wai St. Beijing, China 100875
Review Process
All applications will first go through the screening process at the Office of International Students & Scholars Affairs, and will be further assessed by the International and Comparative Education Research Institute. Each member of the Institute’s Committee of International Degree Programs will review and rank all the applications. The final decision is based on the rankings by all committee members.
Notification Date
As we review applications on a rolling basis, we will notify applicants of our decision as soon as the review process is complete. Thus, although applications are accepted until June 15, every year, we encourage prospective students to submit their applications as early as possible.
Candidates will be notified whether they have been admitted or not within 45 days after the arrival of their materials; please check the status of your account at the International Student Online Application System, BNU.(http://www.bnulxsh.com/graduate/include/login.php)
CONTACT INFROMATION
For application affairs, please contact:
HAN Ruilian
Office of International Students & Scholars Affairs
Tel: +86(10) 58800309
For academic or administration affairs, please contact:
XIAO Xiao
The Faculty of Education
Tel: +86(10) 58804610
Fax: +86(10) 58800597
For more information about the Institute of International and Comparative Education, Beijing Normal University, please visit: www.compe.cn
For more information about the Institute of International Education, Stockholm University, please visit: www.interped.su.se
International PhD Program in Educational Leadership and Policy (Comparative Education) is also available. For more information, please visit: www.compe.cn/Inter_phd_e.jsp