The Learning Sciences programme in UNIMAS is interdisciplinary in nature, combining advanced knowledge and skills in the areas of cognitive sciences, instructional technology and educational research in its curriculum framework.

Learning Sciences is the study of how people learn. Findings from Learning Sciences are often used to guide in designing instructional practices and learning environments that enable effective learning. Learning Sciences as a field of study focuses on promoting instructional practices grounded on the scientific understanding of how humans learn.

Research in Learning Sciences centres on understanding the complexities of human learning and thinking, and it explores how knowledge acquisition takes place in a variety of formal and informal real life settings. Learning Sciences looks into how learning can be improved and enhanced, by considering the potentials of emerging technologies to scaffold for meaningful learning. It looks into issues, problems or challenges that learners of all ages face, through the lenses of cognitive science, socio-cultural studies, and educational psychology.

The Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) is the first university that offers a graduate programme in Learning Sciences in Malaysia. The programme has received its full accreditation status from the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA) in March 2014, and its first batch of Learning Sciences postgraduate students have received their Master degrees during UNIMAS 18th Convocation in 2014.

ENTRY REQUIREMENT

For admission into the programme, a candidate must meet the following criteria:

• A Bachelor’s degree with a minimum CGPA of 2.50 or;
• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent but CGPA less than 2.50 may be admitted subject to a minimum of five years’ working experience in the relevant field or,
• Other equivalent qualifications approved by Senate
• For international students, an IELTS score of 6.0 is required, in addition to the entry requirements stated above.