Table of Contents
How can you tell if a Master’s degree is valid for teaching recruitment exams?
Master’s degrees recognised for teaching recruitment exams
How many marks do master’s degrees contribute to the competitive examinations?
What else can you do to earn extra marks in the competitive examinations?
In this article, we’ll explain how to choose a Master’s degree that will help you improve your score, what requirements it must meet, and which ones are most highly recommended for general teaching competitive examinations (primary and secondary school teachers). Read on!
How do you know if a Master’s degree is valid for teaching competitive examinations?
For a master’s degree to be taken into account in the competitive examination process and to earn points on the marking scheme, it must meet certain requirements. Not all master’s degrees earn points, so it is essential that you are clear about the characteristics your master’s degree must have in order to boost your score.
Official Master’s degree
For a Master’s degree to be taken into account in the competitive examination process and to earn points on the marking scheme, it must be an official degree. This means it must be accredited by ANECA (the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation) or by the assessment bodies established by the Autonomous Communities in accordance with their legislation.
These university master’s degrees form part of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and are recognised at both academic and professional levels. If your aim is to improve your score for general teaching competitive examinations, an official master’s degree is a safe choice.
University-run master’s degree
In contrast, university-specific master’s degrees do not carry the same weight. Although they may be useful in certain professional contexts, they do not count towards marks in teaching competitive examinations, so they will not help you gain points on the marking scheme.
Check the competition rules
To be absolutely sure that your Master’s degree will be taken into account in the competitive examination process, we recommend that you read the terms and conditions of the call for applications carefully. These rules usually specify what type of qualification is valid and how many points are awarded for each section of the marking scheme. This will help you avoid any unpleasant surprises when you realise that your master’s degree has not been taken into account as you had expected.
Master’s degrees valid for teaching competitive examinations
All officially accredited Master’s degrees in education count towards the marks in competitive examinations for general teaching posts (nursery, primary, secondary, etc.), regardless of their specific subject area. At UAX, we offer several officially accredited Master’s degrees that meet these requirements and can help you improve your score. These include:
- Master’s in Bilingual Education : An increasing number of schools are adopting bilingual programmes, which has created strong demand for teachers trained in CLIL/AICLE. This master’s degree prepares you to teach non-language subjects in English, with a practical and digital focus, in subjects such as Science, Physical Education, Art or History.
- Master’s in Educational Technology and Digital Teaching Skills (ICT): Ideal for teachers who want to keep up to date with the latest digital tools. You’ll learn to integrate technologies such as gamification, robotics and app design into your lessons. Highly valued in competitive examinations and recruitment processes due to its alignment with educational digitalisation plans.
- Master’s in Educational Neuropsychology : This is one of the educational specialisms with the best career prospects. It explores in depth how the brain learns in order to improve the teaching and learning process. This master’s programme combines neuroscience and education to help you adapt your teaching methods to the cognitive characteristics of your pupils and improve their performance.
- Master’s in Educational Psychology : Highly valued at all levels of education. It provides you with the tools and specialist knowledge to understand, analyse and address the educational needs of each student from a psychopedagogical perspective.
- Master’s in Supporting Diversity and Inclusive Education : Essential training for working with pupils with specific educational support needs. You will learn inclusive intervention strategies based on psychology, pedagogy and neuroeducation, making this a highly regarded master’s programme due to its social and educational impact.
- Master’s in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language : Specialise in teaching Spanish to international students. You will learn active teaching methodologies, how to design teaching materials and how to use ICT to adapt your lessons to different contexts and levels of language proficiency.
- Master’s in Educational Innovation : Aimed at teachers who wish to transform their classroom practice. It covers active methodologies, artificial intelligence, project-based learning and formative assessment. Highly useful for standing out in schools committed to advanced pedagogical models.
- Master’s in Leadership and Management of Educational Institutions : If you aspire to management roles, this master’s degree prepares you to lead educational institutions with a strategic, innovative vision focused on quality improvement. It covers everything from team management to the digital transformation of the school.
- Master’s in Emotional Education and Pedagogical Support : Develop your skills in emotional intelligence, managing emotions in the classroom and providing comprehensive support for pupils. Highly useful for counsellors and form tutors seeking to improve school life and well-being.
- Master’s in Conflict Prevention and Mediation in Educational Settings : Specialise in conflict resolution, mediation and improving the school climate. This master’s programme prepares you to foster positive coexistence and apply intervention strategies in situations involving bullying, violence or exclusion.
- Master’s in Instrumental Pedagogy : Focused on training music teachers, this master’s programme combines theory and practice to enable you to specialise in teaching your instrument. It is an ideal complement for musicians who wish to teach at conservatoires or specialist centres.
- Master’s in Educational Research Methodology : If you are interested in the continuous improvement of evidence-based educational practice, this master’s degree provides you with the tools to design, develop and implement research in the classroom. It is also an ideal route to a PhD.
- Master’s in Compulsory Secondary Education and Sixth Form : This master’s degree is a qualifying qualification and is compulsory if you wish to work as a teacher in Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO), Sixth Form and Vocational Training (FP). If your aim is to teach at these educational levels, this master’s degree is not only valid for competitive examinations, but is also an essential requirement. Without it, you will not be able to sit the competitive examinations or work in public or private educational institutions.
How many points are Master’s degrees worth in competitive examinations?
The number of points you can earn with a Master’s degree in competitive examinations depends on several factors, such as the type of examination and the specific marking scheme for each call for applications. However, broadly speaking, official Master’s degrees usually award 1 point in the academic training section.
It is important to bear in mind that, in the marking scheme, the Master’s degree is scored under the ‘complementary academic training’ section. The more closely it relates to the specialism of the competitive examination, the more points it will earn you.
What else can you do to earn points in the competitive examinations?
As well as master’s degrees, there are other ways to earn points under the marking scheme for teacher recruitment exams. Some of the elements that are taken into account are:
- Additional university degrees: if you have a second university degree, this also earns you points.
- Accredited courses: accredited continuing professional development or specialised training courses also count towards the marks in the competitive examinations.
- Previous teaching experience: if you have worked as a supply teacher or in private schools, this experience counts towards the scoring system.
- Languages: knowledge of languages, particularly if you hold an official qualification, also earns you points in some competitive examinations. In Spain, English is particularly valuable for those wishing to specialise in bilingual education , and may even be a requirement.
Conclusion
Choosing a master’s degree for competitive examinations can make all the difference to your final score and increase your chances of securing a post. Ensure that the master’s degree you choose is officially recognised, relates to your specialism and is listed in the competition guidelines.
If you follow this advice, you’ll know how to find master’s degrees that count towards competitive examinations and you’ll be able to make the most of your training to advance your professional career.
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