Program Overview

MA Educational Leadership

The MA Educational Leadership is a flexible course designed for individuals interested in critically exploring educational leadership. The program offers a full-time and part-time route, as well as an offsite provision, allowing students to study at a pace that suits them.

Course Overview

The MA Educational Leadership is a postgraduate course that appeals to a variety of backgrounds and professions. Students will critically analyze the key approaches and debates in the field of educational leadership from UK and global perspectives and develop their understanding of different leadership models.

Course Structure

The course consists of four core modules, including a dissertation. Students will study two core modules in their first year, followed by two additional core modules and a dissertation.

Core Modules

• Key Debates and Discourses in Educational Leadership: This module enables students to critically analyze the key contexts, significant debates, and concepts in the field of educational leadership from UK and global perspectives.
• Conceptualise, Critique, Create: Thinking with Theory in Educational Leadership: This module provides students with the opportunity to learn to think with theoretical frameworks that allow for further and deeper critical analysis of educational leadership.
• Principles and Practice of Educational Research: This module enables students to approach their own research confidently and is a crucial step towards completing their dissertation.
• Policy, Politics and Practice in Education: The aim of this module is to unsettle and problematise taken-for-granted perspectives on educational practice and to promote a deeper understanding of the drivers underlying such practices.

Features and Benefits

• World-class research-informed teaching: Experience courses planned and delivered by award-winning TEF Gold standard team and world-leading Educational and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
• Expert dissertation support: Work closely with expert researchers from ESRI as part of the dissertation to help shape and carry out the research project.
• Join a diverse postgraduate community: Become part of a thriving community of postgraduate learners from a variety of professional backgrounds in the UK and across the world.
• Flexible learning: Study either part-time or full-time to fit the course around varying commitments.
• Tailored to you: Shape the learning journey to individual interests by choosing option modules and coursework topics that reflect specialisms in personal and professional interest.

Entry Requirements

• A relevant first degree, postgraduate diploma, or professional qualification recognized as equivalent to an undergraduate UK honours degree of at least a 2:2.
• Other qualifications or experience may be considered.
• Advanced standing: If students have completed a PGCE within the last five years, they can normally join the course with advanced standing.
• English language: Applicants whose first language is not English must have IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in any category, or an equivalent accepted English qualification.

Fees and Funding

• UK and Channel Island students: Full-time fee £10,250 per year, part-time fee £1709 per 30 credits.
• EU and non-EU international students: Full-time fee £20,000 per year, part-time fee £3334 per 30 credits.
• Scholarships and funding opportunities are available for UK and international students.

Careers Support and Prospects

• Employed or in further study: 93.7% of UK-domiciled, full-time, postgraduate taught graduates are employed or in further study 15 months after graduation.
• Explore your options and build sought-after skills: Through the Careers Service, students are supported and encouraged to get ready for what comes next, whether that's continuing their studies or pursuing their work ambitions.
• Graduate outcomes: Our graduates have taken up leadership roles in nurseries, schools, and colleges, from assistant head teachers and head teachers to nursery managers.

Research Areas

The Educational and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has expertise in areas such as early childhood, literacy, STEM, and global educational trends. Students will have the opportunity to work with expert researchers in these areas as part of their dissertation.