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Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Course overview
-
L27 -
Distance Learning -
Part-Time -
2 Years -
21 Sep 2026
Whether the discussion centres on racial inequality, political developments or the Black Lives Matter movement, issues relating to race, racism and decoloniality are more important than ever. This flexible course, the first of its kind in the country, will enable you to raise awareness of these matters across professional occupations.
As part of this distance learning programme, you’ll:
- Deepen your understanding of the contemporary global discourse on race, racism and decoloniality
- Draw on theory and practice from the Global South and Global North to analyse what race, racism and decoloniality mean within these contexts
- Study race, identity and culture within the Black Atlantic diaspora and the impact of Black philosophies and movements
- Explore contemporary theoretical debates around critical whiteness studies and critical ethnic studies
- Select option modules to tailor your learning to your academic interests or chosen career
Research focus
You’ll be taught by academic staff who have conducted extensive research in the areas of race and education. You’ll also have the option to engage in your own research-based learning. You could submit your work for consideration for publication as part of the ongoing ‘Race and Education Working Paper Series’ within the school.
Further opportunities to get involved with international and policy making analysis will be available. Carnegie School of Education engages with BAMEEd, Diverse Educators and numerous other Multi Academy Trust networks.
Extended learning
Additionally, you’ll be able to attend short online workshops on:
- Discourse analysis
- Ethnomethodology and conversation analysis
- Grounded theory
- Black feminist epistemologies and approaches
Why study Race, Education & Decolonial Thought at Leeds Beckett University...
- Flexible learning - with full-time and part-time distance learning study options
- Learn from experts - you'll be taught by a professionally experienced teaching team
- Access to research expertise - within the Centre for Race, Education & Decoloniality
- Strong and meaningful partnerships - with schools and community organisations
- Distinctive and creative programmes - that are responsive to changes taking place in society
Explore videos and blogs
MA Race, Education & Decolonial Thought - student experience Sabah shares her thoughts about studying on the course.
Everything you need to know
Discover all there is to know about the course, from entry requirements and fees to exploring the school you’ll be joining - we’ve got it covered.
Entry requirements
Applicants should either have at least a second class honours degree or have equivalent experience or training, normally from within the work environment.
All applications should be supported by a reference, either academic or professional; you can download our reference template for completion.
All applicants should satisfy our English Language requirements . Please note the IELTS requirement for this course are IELTS 6.5 with no skill below 6.0. Further details about acceptable equivalent qualifications can be found on our International Student information pages .
Entry requirements
Applicants should either have at least a second class honours degree or have equivalent experience or training, normally from within the work environment.
All applications should be supported by a reference, either academic or professional; you can download our reference template for completion.
All applicants should satisfy our English Language requirements . Please note the IELTS requirement for this course are IELTS 6.5 with no skill below 6.0. Further details about acceptable equivalent qualifications can be found on our International Student information pages .
IELTS
All applicants should satisfy our English Language requirements . Please note the IELTS requirement for this course are IELTS 6.5 with no skill below 6.0. Further details about acceptable equivalent qualifications can be found on our International Student information pages .
Independent study is a crucial part of learning at university and you will be required to undertake many hours of self-directed research and reading, and preparation and writing of assessments. Your course is delivered through a number of modules, which will help you to plan your time and establish a study routine. Outside of your lectures, workshops and tutorials, a range of support is available to assist with your independent study. Our subject-specific librarians will be on hand to direct you to the specialist learning and study-skill resources. You’ll also be assigned an academic advisor to give you tailored feedback and support.
Modules, teaching and learning
Distance learning
We understand that full-time study does not suit everyone. That’s why we offer courses which give you the opportunity to decide where, when and how you can get involved in learning. Studying a distance learning course offers the convenience and flexibility to make education work for you. Whether you’d like to fit your studies around childcare, develop your skills while working or, quite simply, want to learn from the comfort of your own home, we can help you gain a qualification at a time and pace that suits your lifestyle.
Like our students on campus, you’ll have the same excellent teaching and learning resources, however you’ll find these online instead of a lecture theatre. Not only are all the modules taught online, but you’ll also have access to an online community and more than 140,000 books and journals in our online library.
Technical requirements for distance learning study are detailed in the full guide. Visit our distance learning website for more information.
Overall workload
Each module on our distance learning courses is individually designed to maximise your learning so study requirements will vary. As a general guideline, you’ll need to allocate around 10 hours per week to complete each module, plus a further five hours for additional reading and assignments. However, this may vary depending on the module. Teaching and learning will be delivered using a range of interactive resources. This typically includes audio and video content, group discussions, reflective exercises, quizzes, online reading and much more. All these resources are delivered through our Virtual Learning Environment and can be accessed at a time and place that suits you.
What you'll learn
This module explores the relationship between decolonial thought and critical race theory, beginning with an examination of coloniality and its lasting impact on knowledge, identity, and power. You’ll investigate how modernity constructed a racialised ‘other,’ positioned outside of dominant European and North Atlantic worldviews. You’ll also examine how thinkers and activists from the Global South – particularly the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa – have challenged and reimagined these frameworks. Through an intersectional lens, you'll consider how race, gender, and colonial legacies continue to shape society, culture, and lived experience. The module draws on the work of influential theorists including Sylvia Wynter, Mahmood Mamdani, Nelson Maldonado-Torres, Achille Mbembe, Walter Mignolo, and MarÃa Lugones, among others. Their perspectives will help you analyse the colonial roots of systemic racism and explore how decolonial and critical race theories can work together to promote social justice and new ways of knowing.
Explore decolonial viewpoints on race, culture, politics, and identity from across the Black Atlantic. You'll draw on key contributions from Black philosophers, activists, and social movements in the Caribbean, the USA, Latin America, and the UK. This module engages with critical debates surrounding the Black body and its representation through histories of slavery, colonialism, independence, and decolonialisation. Using these insights, you'll develop a critical essay that examines key arguments and contested ideas within the study of race, culture, and identity in Black Atlantic contexts.
This module introduces key ideas in critical whiteness studies through the work of thinkers such as W.E.B. Du Bois and George Yancy. Drawing on Yancy's Density Project, you'll explore the lived experience of racialisation and the need to critically examine whiteness and white racism. Through an interdisciplinary lens, you'll engage with political, philosophical, and cultural debates that challenge dominant narratives, asking complex questions such as "what should white culture do?". In doing so, you'll critically appraise a range of texts and perspectives that interrogate the construction and impact of whiteness in contemporary society.
Fees and funding
£2,890
UK
Studying part-time gives you the flexibility to learn at your own pace. Because of this, the part-time tuition fees are calculated using credit points.*
The tuition fee for students entering in 2026/27 is £48.16 per credit.
The total number of credit points for this course is 60.
*The fee you pay may differ based on the number of credit points you study.
£3,350
International 2026. Full Course Tuition Fees.
Studying part-time gives you the flexibility to learn at your own pace. Because of this, the part-time tuition fees are calculated using credit points.*
The tuition fee for students entering in 2026/27 is £55.83 per credit.
The total number of credit points for this course is 60.
*The fee you pay may differ based on the number of credit points you study.
Fees and funding
£2,890
For students entering in 2026. Full Course Tuition Fees.
Studying part-time gives you the flexibility to learn at your own pace. Because of this, the part-time tuition fees are calculated using credit points.*
The tuition fee for students entering in 2026/27 is £48.16 per credit.
The total number of credit points for this course is 60.
*The fee you pay may differ based on the number of credit points you study.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Optional Costs
- If you choose to study via distance learning, you'll need access to a computer, the internet, and any necessary course software. Visit the course Teaching & Learning 'Modules, Workload & More' section for more details
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
£3,350
For students entering in 2026. Full Course Tuition Fees.
Studying part-time gives you the flexibility to learn at your own pace. Because of this, the part-time tuition fees are calculated using credit points.*
The tuition fee for students entering in 2026/27 is £55.83 per credit.
The total number of credit points for this course is 60.
*The fee you pay may differ based on the number of credit points you study.
Additional course costs
Tuition Fees
Your tuition fees cover the cost of registration, tuition, academic supervision, assessments and examinations.
The following are also included in the cost of your course:
- 24/7 Library and student IT support
- Free wifi via eduroam
- Skills workshops and resources
- Library membership, giving access to more than 500,000 printed, multimedia and digital resources
- Access to software, including five free copies of Microsoft Office 365 to install on your PC,laptop and MAC, and access to free high-end software via the Leeds Beckett remote app
- Loan of high-end media equipment to support your studies
In many cases, costs associated with your course will be included in your course fee. However, in some cases there are ‘essential’ additional costs (those that you will be required to meet in addition to your course fee), and/or ‘optional’ additional costs (costs that are not required, but that you might choose to pay). We have included those essential or optional additional costs that relate to your course, below.
Optional Costs
- If you choose to study via distance learning, you'll need access to a computer, the internet, and any necessary course software. Visit the course Teaching & Learning 'Modules, Workload & More' section for more details
Other study-related expenses to consider: materials that you will need to complete your course such as books (whilst the library provides access to readings recommended for your modules, you may wish to purchase your own copies of some books); you can also make suggestions for books to be added to Library stock; placement costs (these may include travel expenses and living costs); student visas (international students only); printing, photocopying and stationery (you may need to pay for multiple copies of your dissertation or final project to be printed and bound); events associated with your course such as field trips; study abroad opportunities (travel costs and accommodation, visas and immunisations). Other costs could include academic conferences (travel costs) and professional-body membership (where applicable). The costs you will need to cover for graduation will include gown hire and guest tickets, and optional extras such as professional photography.
As well as your mobile phone, you will also need access to a desktop computer and/or laptop to complete assignments and access university online services such as MyBeckett, your virtual learning environment. You can book and borrow AV equipment through the media equipment service accessed online via the student hub and located in the library at each campus. Equipment includes: 360 Cameras, iPads, GoPros, MacBooks, portable data projectors, portable projection screens, flipchart stands, remote presenters, digital cameras and camcorders, SLR cameras, speakers, microphones, headphones, headsets, tripods, digital audio recorders and PC/laptops (a laptop loans service is provided on campus in the library on both campuses). Student laptops are also available from the laptop lockers located in the libraries.
This list is not exhaustive, costs are approximate and will vary depending on the choices you make during your course. Any rental, travel or living costs are also in addition to your course fees. If you choose to study via distance learning, you may not be able to access all of the facilities listed if you are not able to visit us on campus.
Funding support for your studies
Discover more about our range of postgraduate funding options including a Master's Loan of up to £13,206, and our 20% alumni discount*
*Terms apply
Career prospects
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a course. Take a look at the team you’ll be working with, employability statistics and career prospects to help make up your mind.
This course is the first of its kind to examine the entanglements of race and colonialism through accessible and flexible modes of learning. We spotlight the education sector but also look to wider contemporary social settings, for example media, arts, culture and politics in the tradition of anti-racist, decolonial, and critical race lens.
Dr Kavyta Raghunandan
Senior Lecturer
Career Prospects
You’ll be a confident researcher and practitioner in race, racism and decoloniality in a variety of societal and professional contexts.
This course will also equip you with the transferable skills to work in an array of dynamic careers in roles such as:
- Project manager
- Equality, diversity and inclusion manager/lead
- Researcher
- Civil servant
You could be employed in education, the NHS, local government, international organisations, or social, community and youth development, or the cultural and creative industries. You may choose to work in human rights, community development or politics, or graduate schemes in the public and private sectors. Alternatively, you could continue your academic research by studying for a full master’s followed by a PhD.
Dr Kavyta Raghunandan
Senior Lecturer / Carnegie School of Education
Kavyta is a Senior Lecturer in Race and Education.
She holds a MA in Gender Studies, a PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education and Training (16+), and received a PhD in Sociology and Social Policy from the University of Leeds.
Beckett Careers Team
Our careers service is not just there for undergraduates, we support our postgraduate taught and research students too.
Your postgraduate degree will boost your CV and help you stand out from the crowd. Whether you're just starting out on your chosen career path, changing careers or moving to the next level, we can provide you with expert advice and resources to help you take the next steps to achieving your goals.
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