Education Leadership and Management - Online (MA)

About the Course

The postgraduate programme in Education Leadership and Management is designed for teachers, educators and others with a personal and a professional interest in the field of education. The programme offers an opportunity for engagement with the key theories, concepts and ideas in educational leadership and management.

This programme is designed to cultivate the knowledge, skills, and mindset essential for effective leadership and management in educational settings. You will explore key principles of educational leadership, including strategic planning and organizational dynamics. Emphasis will be placed on developing leadership strategies that foster innovation, equity, and continuous improvement in educational institutions. You will engage with contemporary issues in education policy and explore the ethical dimensions of educational leadership. By the end of the course, it is anticipated that you will be prepared to lead with vision, navigate complex educational landscapes, and contribute to the enhancement of learning environments at various levels of education.

This Masters course also has PGCert and PGDip entry routes available , should you be interested in exploring these options please contact the School of Education (pgsess@hope.ac.uk). However, please note the postgraduate loan is only available for the full masters (180 credits).

Curriculum Overview

The full masters programme (180 credits) will include the study of the following modules:

Modules

Module 1. Critical and Contemporary Issues in Education (30 credits)

The module will explore the multifaceted landscape of education, focusing on critical and contemporary issues that shape the field in the 21st century. Through an interdisciplinary lens, you will engage in deep discussions and critical analyses to develop a nuanced understanding of the education landscape. Some of the content students are likely to encounter in this course would include: examination of the influence of globalisation and current educational policies on various stakeholders in education, and the integration of technology in education, considering its impact on learners and learning environments. As the focus of the course is on contemporary issues the content of the course will evolve depending on the societal issues of prominence and significance for education at the time of teaching the course.

Module 2. Education Leadership and Management: Perspectives on Leadership (30 credits)

Recognising the challenges faced by those in leadership roles and the need to support the development of leadership capabilities at all levels, this module explores leadership, with a specific focus on leadership within different education contexts. In particular, the module explores the nature of leadership and management through a number of different thematic ‘lenses’ and considers the role leaders play within improvement and change programmes. Leadership theories such as transformational, relational and social leadership models will be explored and applied.

Module 3. Education Leadership and Management: Working Effectively with Others (30 credits)

This module takes as its focus the need for all those working within schools and other education institutions to develop positive and productive relationships with others. It has been designed to develop both functional knowledge and critical understanding of several key perspectives on human behaviour within organisations and on the nature and processes of organising human activity. This includes a particular focus on organisational culture and design. As such this module is designed not only to encourage the development of solutions to specific leadership and management problems but also to provide participants with insights into the complex nature of organisations and of organisational life.

Module 4. Free choice Module (30 credits)

Depending on whether you start the course in October or February you would have a free choice module which you could select from the modules available that semester. Depending on the module you choose to study, content covered could vary. Please note some modules may have specific entry requirements. The current offer includes modules covering aspects of Education Studies Special Education Needs or Disability Studies; Advanced Mentoring and Coaching or Early Childhood some of which need to be attended in person. If you are looking to only attend the course online your options for the free choice module might be limited.

Module 5. Dissertation in Education (60 credits)

You will consolidate the knowledge of your chosen disciplinary area in this module. In doing so you would draw on the knowledge of the different modules you have studied in this course, including the free choice 30 credit module, encouraging interdisciplinary work. With support from a supervisor, it is anticipated you will conceive, develop and complete a high-quality proposal followed by a dissertation within the field of education and aligned to the subject specialism you have opted to study. Emphasizing both theoretical foundations and practical application, this research phase will equip you with the necessary skills to engage in rigorous educational research and contribute meaningfully to the academic discourse.

Entry Requirements

A minimum of a Second-Class Honours degree in a relevant discipline awarded by a UK university, or an equivalent higher education qualification.

It is essential that students on this course have prior or ongoing experience in an educational setting. It is desirable that students on this course have some prior or ongoing experience of leadership. For instance, leadership of a course, pathway, phase, curriculum area, priority area (such as behaviour management, SEN, assessment, attendance), leading a room in an early years setting or managing a PVI nursery.

Please note that a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (formally the Criminal Records Bureau – CRB) is required for students where they are required to visit settings other than their own.

International Entry Requirements

This course is not available for international students requiring a visa. However, international students can access the course online in their home country provided they meet the entry requirement for the course.  

For students whose first language is not English there is a language requirement of IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 minimum of all components. In addition to this, we also accept a wide range of International Qualifications, for more information please visit our English Language Requirements page.

For additional information about country specific entry requirements visit the your country pages. 

*Part time study is not available for Non-EU International applicants

Teaching and Research

The structure of the programme is flexible both in content and delivery.

• Classes typically run in the evenings and /or weekends and you can join the course either in September or January
• The number of classes and days you attend classes will vary depending on whether you choose to do the course full time or part time
• Whilst the modules you would undertake as part of the PGCert are fixed you have some flexibility in the content you undertake as part of the Masters - one of the modules you study as part of the masters can be a free choice from the modules running that term barring any timetabling constraints

All our programmes are taught by tutors who actively research in the field. You will find that your postgraduate degree in the Faculty of Education and Social Sciences will align with one or more of the research groups/centres within the faculty.

Home Fees

Tuition fees for Home students starting in 2026/27 are £8,150

Tuition fees for Home students starting in 2027/28 are £8,550

International Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for International students starting in 2026/27 are £16,500

Tuition fees for International students starting in 2027/28 are £17,325

Learn more about your fee status and which tuition fees are relevant to you.

Funding your studies

If you're a UK national, or have settled status in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Loan to help with course fees and living costs. Liverpool hope University also offers a number of scholarships to help fund your Postgraduate Studies. Learn more about paying for your studies.

If you are an international student, visit our international scholarships pages.

Careers

You would be able to structure your award to enhance your personal interests, career opportunities and potential for promotion. The programme will enable you to undertake further research to enhance your current professional practice. Students completing this master’s would be well placed to go on to do a doctorate (EdD or PhD) at Liverpool Hope subject to meeting the entry criteria.

Please note - this course does not offer you a teaching qualification to teach in British schools but is an academic study of Education.