MA Educational Leadership / Course details

MA Educational Leadership is ideal if you're an educational professional currently working in, or aspiring to work in, a leadership position.

The course is taught by leading academics in the fields of leadership, management, and school improvement.

Senior educational experts may also contribute, including head teachers, inspectors, local authority officers and policy-makers.

Teaching encourages student participation, shared experiences and opportunities for practical application.

Depending on your background and experience, you may find the approach rather different from your previous experiences of university.

• Examine current theories for examining education policy and practice from a leadership perspective.
• Develop your understanding of key leadership issues that influence teachers' performance.
• Enable colleagues to identify issues and develop appropriate school improvement strategies.
• Develop your practical approaches to school improvement and effectiveness.
• Develop your transferable skills which integrate current research and best practice.

• 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.
• Our research improves the quality of education across the world, with 78% of our activity defined as `world-leading' or `internationally excellent' (Research Excellence Framework 2014).

The course is taught by world-leading researchers who focus on the realities of professional practice through using the social sciences. This includes:

• Dr Jenna Mittelmeier (whose expertise is in higher education students' transition experience);
• Dr Steve Courtney (an expert on school restructuring, change and leadership);
• Dr Susie Miles (known internationally for her specialist knowledge of inclusion and disability in developing country contexts);
• Prof Helen Gunter (known internationally for her work on policy and leadership);
• Prof Linda Evans (a field-leader in educational leaders' professional development);
• Prof Mel West (a leading expert in school improvement and school effectiveness);
• Prof Michael Apple (the world's leading critical educationalist).

Course units are delivered through lectures, tutorials, group-work, case-based approaches, and enquiry-based learning. Comprehensive training is provided in the use of electronic resources.

We encourage both individual and co-operative learning and research and hope to foster an ethos of lifelong learning. We aim to build on the expertise of our students, many of whom are experienced teachers, and who bring with them a wealth of knowledge and practical experience from a wide range of different countries.

Assessment is by eight 3,000-word assignments and a dissertation of 15,000 words.

The course is taught by the Manchester Institute of Education (MIE), which has its own Undergraduate Hub. Here you will find all of your teaching staff and support staff. It is also a place to relax with fellow students.

MIE is located 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.