Overview
- Degree awarded
- Master of Arts (MA)
- Duration
- 1 year
- Entry requirements
-
We require a UK Honours degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent.
When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.
- How to apply
- Apply online
- Sustainable Development Goals
Find out how this course aligns to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including learning which relates to:
- Goal 4: Quality education
Course options
| Full-time | Part-time | Full-time distance learning | Part-time distance learning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MA | Y | N | N | N |
Course overview
- We are ranked in the top ten universities in the UK for Education (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023).
- We are a highly diverse and international community of academics and students, representing perspectives and experiences from across the globe.
- Across the programme, there is a strong focus on professional learning, underpinned by critical scholarship.
Open days
The University holds regular open days - both in person and online - where you will have the opportunity to tour the campus and find out more about our facilities and courses.
Please consider joining us to find out more about the School of Environment, Education and Development, our resources, and meet academic and admissions staff who will be able to answer any questions you have.
Fees
For entry in the academic year beginning September 2025, the tuition fees are as follows:
-
MA (full-time)
UK students (per annum): £13,000
International, including EU, students (per annum): £28,000
Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.
The fees quoted above will be fully inclusive for the course tuition, administration and computational costs during your studies.
All fees for entry will be subject to yearly review and incremental rises per annum are also likely over the duration of courses lasting more than a year for UK/EU students (fees are typically fixed for international students, for the course duration at the year of entry). For general fees information please visit postgraduate fees
Self-funded international applicants for this course will be required to pay a deposit of £1,000 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. This deposit will only be refunded if immigration permission is refused. We will notify you about how and when to make this payment.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
We offer a number of postgraduate taught scholarships and merit awards to outstanding applicants and international students, including:
- Manchester Humanities International Excellence Scholarship : partial discount on tuition fees for selected Master's programmes, available to international applicants from a number of countries.
- Manchester Alumni Loyalty Discount : partial discount on tuition fees to the University of Manchester graduates progressing to a postgraduate taught Master's course.
- Manchester Humanities Postgraduate Scholarships
For further information on available scholarships and bursaries as well as their full eligibility criteria, please visit our funding page or Master's fees and funding pages .
UN Sustainable Development Goals
The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the world's call to action on the most pressing challenges facing humanity. At The University of Manchester, we address the SDGs through our research and particularly in partnership with our students.
Led by our innovative research, our teaching ensures that all our graduates are empowered, inspired and equipped to address the key socio-political and environmental challenges facing the world.
To illustrate how our teaching will empower you as a change maker, we've highlighted the key SDGs that our courses address.
Goal 4: Quality education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Contact details
- School/Faculty
- School of Environment, Education and Development
- Contact name
- School of Environment, Education and Development 0161 275 2814
- Telephone
- 0161 275 2814
- seed.admissions@manchester.ac.uk
- Website
- http://www.seed.manchester.ac.uk/subjects/education/postgraduatetaught/
- School/Faculty
-
See: The School .
Courses in related subject areas
Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.
Entry requirements
Academic entry qualification overview
We require a UK Honours degree with a First or Upper Second (2.1) classification or the overseas equivalent.
When assessing your academic record we take into account the grades you have achieved and the standing of the institution where you studied your qualification.
English language
For the latest information on demonstrating your English proficiency for those whose first language is not English, please see our language requirements .
You are required to provide a valid English language qualification which meets our entry requirements for the Master's course or a pre-sessional course at the time of application.
This programme accepts successful completion of the 6 and 10 Week Pre-sessional English Language course. We accept the following qualifications which must be valid on the start date of the Master's course:
Pre-sessional 6 Week Course Requirement:
IELTS Academic or UKVI - 6.0 Overall with 6.0 in Writing, no more than one sub-skill at 5.5 and no sub-skill below 5.5
TOEFL iBT - 80 Overall with 20 in Writing, 20 in Speaking and no other sub-skill below 18
Pearson PTE Academic or Academic UKVI - 65 Overall with 65 in Writing, no more than one sub-skill at 59 and no other sub-skill below 59.
Pre-sessional 10 Week Course Requirement:
IELTS Academic or UKVI - 5.5 Overall with no sub-skill below 5.5
TOEFL iBT - 72 Overall with 20 in Speaking and no other sub-skill below 18
Pearson PTE Academic or Academic UKVI - 59 Overall with no sub-skill below 59
English language test validity
Some English Language test results are only valid for two years. Your English Language test report must be valid on the start date of the Master's course.
Other international entry requirements
We accept a range of qualifications from across the globe. To help international students the university provides specific information for many individual countries. Please see our country-specific information page for guidance on the academic qualifications which may be accepted from your country.
Professional entry qualification
An initial qualification in teaching, if this is not formally part of your Bachelor's degree, would be desirable.
Admission of candidates who do not meet our academic criterion may be approved if satisfactory evidence of postgraduate study, research or professional experience can be provided.
Application and selection
How to apply
Advice to applicants
Please submit the following documents with your completed application form:
- copies of English Language Certification,e.g.IELTS, TOEFL or Pearson test score report. Applications without an English language qualification are placed on a waiting list and are assessed only when an acceptable English language qualification is provided;
- copies of official degree certificates and transcripts of your previous study, showing the subjects taken and grades obtained. If these documents are in languages other thanEnglishplease provide official translations;
- your CV.
Ensure that you enclose all the necessary documents to avoid any delays.
Staged admissions process
As there is a high demand for our courses, we operate a staged admissions process with selection deadlines throughout the year.
Due to the competition for places and high quality of applications that we receive, we give preference to students from high-ranking institutions and with grades above our minimum entry requirements.
Please ensure you submit all supporting documentation with your application before the application deadline to avoid a delay in processing.
•Stage 1: Application received by 07 December 2024 ; Application update by 21 February 2025
•Stage 2: Application received by 02 March 2025 ; Application update by 01 May 2025
•Stage 3: Application received by 04 May 2025 ; Application update by 05 June 2025
•Stage 4: Application received by 01 July 2025 ; Application update by 25 July 2025
While we aim to give you a decision on your application by the deadline date, in some instances due to the competition for places and the volume of applications received, it may be necessary to roll your application forward to the next deadline date.
Applications received after our final selection deadline will be considered at our discretion if places are still available.
Please note, all places are subject to availability and if you apply at one of the later stages, some courses may already be reaching capacity or be closed to further applications. We, therefore, recommend that you apply early in the cycle to avoid disappointment.
How your application is considered
Applications for MA Educational Leadership are very competitive. Due to the high demand for the programme we may not be able to offer places to all applicants who have the entry qualifications that we require. If we are unable to consider you for an offer you may be placed on a waiting list. Candidates on a waiting list will only be considered for an offer if places become available.
Once your application has been received, our admissions team will contact you. We may ask you to submit additional information, if necessary.
Deferrals
Re-applications
If you applied in the previous year and your application was not successful you may apply again. Your application will be considered against the standard course entry criteria for that year of entry.
In your new application, you should demonstrate how your application has improved. We may draw upon all information from your previous applications or any previous registrations at the University as a student when assessing your suitability for your chosen course.
Course details
Course description
MA Educational Leadership is the ideal programme if you are - or aspire to be - an educational leader, school-based practitioner or educational policymaker. You will be taught by internationally renowned academics in the fields of leadership, management, and school improvement, as well as senior educational experts such as headteachers and policymakers.
This range of voices - and the creative pedagogies we use - will equip you with the knowledge, skills, insights and capabilities to become an inspirational and impactful leader within Education, in any context.
Aims
- Examine current theories for examining education policy and practice from a leadership perspective.
- Develop your understanding of the key contemporary leadership issues that influence teachers' performance.
- Enable colleagues to identify issues and develop appropriate school improvement strategies.
- Consider some of the issues of equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility that enable and constrain leadership practices.
- Develop a range of transferable employability skills which integrate current research and best practice.
Special features
- Education has been a discipline of study at Manchester since 1890.
- Our students come from all over the globe, and our qualifications are recognised across the globe.
Teaching and learning
Important notice: factors affecting fieldwork and placements
The School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) recognises the value of fieldwork and placements. However, the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff remains our priority.
The School will assess on a regular basis the viability of any travel and fieldwork and communicate any significant changes to our students at the earliest possible opportunity.
The role of SEED
- changes to the rules and guidance on travel and activities implemented and published by the UK and overseas governments;
- a risk assessment conducted by or on behalf of the University identifying unmanageable risk;
- changes that enhance the educational value and student experience of the activity;
- changes to the situation of a placement provider (for example, which cause them to be unable to accept students);
- the unavailability of appropriate insurance cover;
- the unavailability of appropriate travel and accommodation and any significant changes to their financial costs;
- where fieldwork and placements are a compulsory element of the Programme, they will be replaced with something academically similar;
- where a trip or placement is not a compulsory element of the Programme, it may not be replaced.
We will consult with affected students at the earliest possible opportunity and explore the options available to them.
The duty of students
Preparation, attendance and conduct
Attendance at preparatory classes is a compulsory pre-requisite of the fieldwork and placements to ensure safety and learning outcomes are met.
Students who do not attend the compulsory preparatory classes may be prevented from participating in the fieldwork or placement. It is the duty of students to discuss any attendance issues with the field course or placement convenor.
Students are representatives of the university during their fieldwork or placement. Behaviour deemed by the convenor to be unacceptable may result in students being sent home.
Where a student is unable to attend or complete the fieldwork or placement (e.g. due to mitigating circumstances), is prevented from attending due to absence from compulsory preparatory classes, or returned home due to poor conduct:
- a suitable alternative assessment will be offered (as appropriate) to ensure that the programme ILOs are met, and that the student is not academically disadvantaged;
- the University accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred by the student in relation to the fieldwork or placement.
Immigration, passport and visa requirements
It is the responsibility of the individual student to ensure they have:
- a valid passport to enter the destination country (including sufficient months prior to expiry);
- a valid visa (where required) and comply with its requirements.
The School cannot guarantee that visas required for fieldwork or a placement will be granted by the relevant authority. Please note that countries may change their immigration and visa regulations at short notice.
Where a student is unable to attend fieldwork or a placement because they do not have the required visa or passport:
- a suitable alternative assessment will be offered to ensure that the programme ILOs are met and that the student is not academically disadvantaged;
- the University accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred by the student in relation to the fieldwork or placement.
Coursework and assessment
Assessment is by eight 3,000-word assignments, or the equivalent, and a dissertation of 15,000 words.
Course unit list
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
| Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engaging with Education Research | EDUC60011 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Educational Research Methods and Design | EDUC60452 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Contemporary Issues in Education Leadership | EDUC70331 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Educational Leadership and Diversity | EDUC70372 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Education Policy | EDUC70531 | 15 | Mandatory |
| School Improvement | EDUC70882 | 15 | Mandatory |
| Theories of Teaching and Learning | EDUC60491 | 15 | Optional |
| Digital Media and Information Literacy | EDUC61712 | 15 | Optional |
| Blended Learning in a Digital Age | EDUC70032 | 15 | Optional |
| Digital Literacy in Language Teaching and Learning | EDUC70061 | 15 | Optional |
| Displaying 10 of 26 course units | |||
| Display all course units | |||
Facilities
The course is taught by the Manchester Institute of Education (MIE) which has its own Student Hub. Here you'll find all your teaching staff and support staff as well as a place to relax with fellow students.
MIE is based in the University's Ellen Wilkinson building, which is centrally located on the University's Oxford Road campus, close to the Main Library, Alan Gilbert Learning Commons and the Students' Union.
Disability support
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service.
For more information, email dass@manchester.ac.uk
Careers
Career opportunities
My time at Manchester has fostered my capability for learning. I can understand not only what I want and need to learn, but also how to learn.
This learning experience gives me confidence in starting my future career.
Duan Sun / MA Educational Leadership
- teaching;
- lecturing;
- research;
- teacher education;
- educational administration;
- leadership;
- consultancy;
- publishing;
- testing;
- assessment.
View our careers and employability page for more information.
Careers support
The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate. At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .
Careers support for international students
The Careers Service provide specialist resources, advice and events for international students to help with career planning and making the most of your time while studying in Manchester.
- Working in the UK after study
- Working during study
- Professional and alumni networks for international students
Global networks
The University of Manchester is proud to have the largest global alumni community of any campus-based university in the UK.
International alumni groups are a great way to keep in touch with fellow Manchester graduates in your country and provide an opportunity to build professional and social networks.