Program Overview

Overview

The Educational Leadership PGCert is a postgraduate certificate program designed for practicing educators, leaders, and aspiring leaders in any educational setting. The program aims to develop both 'know how' and 'know why' in relation to educational leadership, enabling students to critically understand current thinking and key issues in leadership and strategic management of educational institutions.

What You'll Learn

On completing the course, students will have a good, critical understanding of:

• Current thinking and key issues of leadership and strategic management of educational institutions
• Relevant leadership theories and their significance for educational leadership
• National and global trends to inform strategic planning and decision making The course will help students study and plan approaches of practitioner enquiry as a means for professional practice, educational effectiveness, and improvement of educational organizations.

How You'll Learn

Students will be taught through a range of compulsory and optional modules. The program draws on the expertise developed in the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, and in particular in the Educational Leadership Centre and the Research Centre for Learning and Teaching. The course tutors are active scholars who have had or currently hold leadership roles within various educational settings.

Your Development

Through critical reflection on leadership literature in the field of education, students will acquire a critical understanding of methods and theory of leadership research, current debates in the field, research methodologies, and data as well as national and global trends as a vehicle to inform the educational leader's strategy, planning, and decision making. This will prepare students for practical implementations of such approaches to encourage educational effectiveness and improvement.

Your Future

The PGCert is for practicing educators, leaders, and aspiring leaders in any educational setting. This Educational Leadership course will allow students to develop and hone their leadership skills, developing an appreciation of how theory can impact practice. This will help students implement change within their current context and consciously plan for future strategic endeavors.

Quality and Ranking

• 42% of the university's research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• Global Top 140 University – QS World University Rankings 2026
• Global Top 160 University - Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025
• Top 150 for Education - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

Facilities

Students will typically be taught in the King George VI Building and will have access to the Education Resource Centre and associated borrowing rights.

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for 2026 entry (per year)

• Qualification: PGCert (September) Part time: £3,800
• Qualification: PGCert (January) Part time: £3,800 Tuition fee increases are expected, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Entry Requirements

• An undergraduate degree and relevant professional experience in an educational context.
• Current access to educational workplaces (e.g., through employment or educational consultancy), but not necessarily in a leadership role.
• English Language requirements vary depending on the qualification.

How to Apply

• Start Dates: September and January
• Closing Dates: No application closing date for this course.
• Deposit: £1,500 for international students or students from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland who need a visa to study in the UK.
• Programme codes: 3073P for the September intake and 3077P for the January intake. The application portal has instructions to guide students through their application, and students can choose to start their application, save their details, and come back to complete it later.