Main details
Course overview
Module options
Our academics
Entry requirements
Fees & funding
Scholarships
Facilities
Future prospects
Next steps

Postgraduate Taught

Leadership and Management in Education

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If you’re a current or future educational leader that wants to develop the skills and knowledge to create more effective learning environments, this MA is for you.

Studying leadership and management practices, you’ll explore how to influence and manage change.

You’ll enhance your skills, knowledge and confidence so you can progress your career in education.

Learn as part of a community with diverse perspectives, working collaboratively to find solutions to practical problems.

You’ll develop your abilities to navigate real-world education leadership challenges and get the chance to hear from experienced guest speakers.

Build your knowledge of contemporary educational practices, issues and policies.

Are you an educational leader or aspiring leader looking to create a more effective learning environment for your students?

If you’re actively involved in shaping policies, provision, or practices within educational settings, this Masters is ideal for you.

This course covers everything from current critical issues across the educational landscape through to the principles, values and ethics for effective leadership and management.

With options for both full-time and part-time study, this program offers flexibility to suit your needs.

Study

leadership and management from a range of perspectives
Explore

how to influence and manage change
Engage

in a community of learners with diverse outlooks
Reflect

on key contemporary issues in education
Combine

perspectives on policy, theory and practice

Swipe

Course overview

Module options

About this course

Whether you’re a headteacher, education officer or aspiring educational leader, this course is the building block to becoming an effective leader.

You’ll gain key study skills focused on critical thinking and analysis, along with introducing key theoretical concepts to create a more effective learning environment for your students.

Expect to dive into experiential learning, navigating real-world educational leadership challenges, and gaining insights from guest speakers who are experienced leaders. There will be the opportunity to work collaboratively with your peers to tackle practical issues using cutting-edge research tools and seamlessly connect theory to practice, with a strong ethical leadership focus.

Finally, you’ll get to apply your knowledge through your independent research project, under the guidance of dedicated tutors, making a real impact on your profession.

After finishing this course, you'll not only have vital skills but also the self-assurance to enter educational leadership positions with unwavering confidence.

We offer modules in both the daytime and evenings, so you can find a pattern of delivery that fits with your other commitments, whether you are working, volunteering or studying full time. In 2024-25 you can choose evening modules from: Coaching and Mentoring, Early Childhood, Leadership and Management or Social Justice and Community Engagement as well as the mandatory modules shared by all pathways.

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Choose your modules

For a full Masters degree, you'll study 180 credits over the duration of your course. Some programmes offer a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) qualification or a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) qualification. For a PGDip, you'll study 120 credits, and for a PGCert, you'll study 60 credits.

Contemporary and Critical Issues in Education: Theory, Policy and Context

This module forms an essential component of your Masters programme. It supports the development of key skills necessary for study at Level 7 including the development of core and essential skills relating to critical reflection and critical analysis, alongside an introduction to critical theory. It allows engagement with issues relating to specialist areas relevant to your programme of study, whilst also opening up avenues for broader exploration. Drawing on diverse perspectives from a range of global contexts it ensures that education is explored across broad and diverse perspectives.

Core•30 credits

Contemporary and Critical Perspectives on Leadership and Management

You will use a problem based learning approach to engage in activities to explore how social theories relate to educational leadership and to allow you to reflect to enhance your skills and abilities underpinning effective educational leadership. Guest speakers who are educational leaders will share and reflect upon their experiences in a meaningful and context relevant way. The module will prepare you to exercise leadership in educational contexts and to face the challenges this will bring.

Core•30 credits

Research Methodologies (Education)

You will explore cutting edge research methodologies used in education, developing your critical understanding of how they can be used to address real world problems. An inquiry-based teaching approach will enable you to work with peers to weigh the merits of each in terms of their suitability for particular contexts and issues.

Core•30 credits

Principles, Values and Ethics for Effective Leadership and Management

You will engage in problem-based learning activities and engage in activities to explore how social theories relate to leadership and management in education-related settings. This will provide you with opportunity for personal reflection to encourage the development of skills and abilities to underpin effective educational leadership. Guest speakers who are educational leaders will share effective practice and reflect upon their experiences in a meaningful and context-relevant way.

Core•30 credits

Extended Research Project (Education)

This module provides you with an opportunity to apply your knowledge and research skills in the field of education. Supported via dedicated course tutors, your dissertation supervisor and high-quality workshops and online content, you will undertake an independent research project on a topic related to your programme of study. This will allow you to apply your skills in real-world contexts and gain an understanding of conducting and reporting on research. This module will help you develop key transferable skills for both the workplace and further study.

Core•60 credits

5 Modules

Our academics

You'll benefit from the outstanding support of academic staff who are experienced education practitioners. 

We truly believe that education can challenge inequalities and injustices in society, and seek social and educational change to enhance fairness, equity, and social justice. 

See more academics for this subject

Featured academic

Dr Elspeth Nelson

Elspeth is a Lecturer in Education and Childhood at the University of Hull, teaching, supervising PhDs, and working with the Teaching Excellence Academy. She aims to broaden her research with local higher education in further education providers.

Featured academic

Carl Duck

Carl serves as a Lecturer in Education and fulfils the role of Placement Coordinator. His background includes prior experience as a Funding Manager for four nursery schools and providing support to small charitable organisations.

Entry requirements

UK
International

What do I need?

Typical offer

2:2 in relevant subject area

Additional entry requirements for this course

A minimum of 2.2 Honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject. If you have a 2.2 Honours degree in another subject area with evidence of relevant professional experience, this may be taken into account.

This degree is for anyone who is interested in Education in its widest sense; it will not qualify you to teach.

If you’re an undergraduate student at Hull, you’re guaranteed a fast-track route to this postgraduate degree, as long as you meet the entry requirements.

In order to ensure our students have a rich learning and student experience, most of our programmes have a mix of domestic and international students. We reserve the right to close applications early to either group if application volumes suggest that this blend cannot be achieved.

What do I need?

Typical offer

2:2 in relevant subject area

Additional entry requirements for this course

This degree is for anyone who is interested in Education in its widest sense; it will not qualify you to teach.

If you require a student visa to study or if your first language is not English you will be required to provide acceptable evidence of your English language proficiency level.

This course requires academic IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 5.5 in each skill. See other English language proficiency qualifications accepted by the University of Hull.

If your English currently does not reach the University’s required standard for this programme, you may be interested in one of our English language courses.

Visit your country page to find out more about our entry requirements.

Fees & funding

UK
International

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Your tuition fees will cover most costs associated with your programme. There are some extra costs that you might have to pay, or choose to pay, depending on your programme of study and the decisions you make:

Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
Optional field trips
Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
Student visas (international students)
Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PCs on campus, but you may want your own)
Printing and photocopying
Professional-body membership
Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

How much is it?

Additional costs you may have to pay

Books (you can borrow books on your reading lists from the library, but you may buy your own)
Optional field trips
Study abroad (incl. travel costs, accommodation, visas, immunisation)
Placement costs (incl. travel costs and accommodation)
Student visas (international students)
Laptop (you’ll have access to laptops and PCs on campus, but you may want your own)
Printing and photocopying
Professional-body membership
Graduation (gown hire and photography)

Remember, you’ll still need to take into account your living costs. This could include accommodation, travel, food and more.

How do I pay for it?

Our scholarships

We offer a number of awards, bursaries and scholarships for eligible students. They’re awarded for a variety of reasons including academic achievement and/or to help those on lower incomes.

Scholarships and bursaries are separate to student loans. And the best bit is, you don’t pay a penny back.

Find out more about our scholarships

Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship

University of Hull undergraduates progressing to a taught masters course may receive a 25% discount on the cost of their tuition fees.

Find out if you’re eligible by visiting the University of Hull Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship page.

International Scholarships and Bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries for international students.

To find out more and see if you're eligible, please visit the International Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Take a look at our facilities

Group Lecture Room

Collaborate in group lecture rooms working as part of our vibrant community of students and staff who all share an interest in developing excellent learning opportunities for others. 

Forest School Training Centre 

You could access our Forest School Training Centre with outdoor classroom, gardens, wooded areas and wildflower meadows. 

Brynmor Jones Library

Our seven-story library is a superb learning space. As well as more than a million books, there’s a variety of study areas, over 400 open-access PCs and one amazing view. 

Education Lecture Room

Study the theory in our lecture rooms – before you put your learning into practice.

See more in our virtual tour

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Future prospects

As a student in the MA Leadership and Management in Education course, you'll delve into contemporary educational practices and in-depth examination of pivotal issues and policies influencing the field.

Beyond expanding your knowledge, you'll also gain the practical skills that boost your role within your chosen learning community. This course can significantly improve your prospects for progressing into middle or senior leadership positions in schools, as well as in not-for-profit and public sectors.

Your next steps

Like what you’ve seen? Then it’s time to apply.

Make your application online now, and our admissions team will get back to you as soon as possible to make you an offer.

Apply now

How to apply

Not ready to apply?

We regularly deliver virtual and on-campus events to help you discover your perfect postgraduate course, whether it’s a subject you already love or something completely different. Our events are an opportunity for you to chat to tutors and current students and find out about the career options a postgraduate degree could lead to.

Discover more

Leadership and Management in Education

About this course

Choose your modules

Contemporary and Critical Issues in Education: Theory, Policy and Context