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Educational Leadership and Management

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Why study this course

Develop leadership capabilities whether you're new to leadership or already established.

Study your way with our three flexible study modes that fit your lifestyle.

Build your confidence to make sound decisions in complex educational situations.

Course summary

Our MA Educational Leadership and Management is an exciting programme designed for ambitious professionals aspiring to develop their leadership and management skills. Available in three study modes—full-time (1 year), part-time blended (2 years), and part-time online (2 years)—this qualification sets you up to make meaningful impact within your professional context. You'll gain advanced knowledge of leadership theory and practice, develop a critical understanding of educational policy, and strengthen your research capabilities.

The course suits professionals across various educational settings, whether you are new to leadership roles, an experienced leader, or those aspiring to take on leadership positions in the future. This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to foster strong leadership within your area of interest and inspire the best outcomes from those you lead.

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Key facts

Award	MA
Duration	1 or 2 years
Mode of study	Full time, Part time, Online
Start date	September 2025
Award	Bishop Grosseteste University
Institution code	B38

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About this course

This master's programme helps you develop expertise in educational leadership and management practices. You'll explore key challenges within relevant professional contexts while reflecting on the influence of policy and examining the relationships between leadership theory and practice.

Full-time students

You will complete five modules over one year: two modules in your first trimester examining vision, practice, policy and effective leadership approaches; two modules in your second trimester covering leadership development and research skills; and a final research project in your third trimester.

Part-time blended students

You will study over two years, combining three on-campus MA Weekends each year (held in October, February, and June, typically on a Friday evening and Saturday) and online learning.

In your first year you will take one module per trimester starting with a core module on vision, practice and policy, followed by two specialist modules tailored to your interests. In Year 2, you will begin with a core module on research skills, then carry out your own research project across Trimesters 2 and 3.

Part-time online students

You will study over two years, with 100% online delivery designed to offer maximum flexibility. The learning is largely asynchronous, allowing you to study at times that suit your schedule. This study mode is ideal for practitioners in full-time employment, including those who are working outside of the UK.

What you will study

Students on this course currently study some or all of the following modules:

Course modules

This module explores key elements of effective practice, guiding learners to engage with contemporary and potential future challenges related to professional contexts.

You will reflect upon competing ideologies which shape and influence policy visions. By linking theory and practice, learners will develop strategies to address real-world challenges within a range of settings. The reflective nature of the module makes it highly relevant for professionals across various disciplines.

This module explores the practices of leadership and management. You will be introduced to a range of key concepts and perspectives to help you understand what makes for effective practice in education across a variety of contexts. By examining relevant theories and research, you will critique contemporary approaches and consider how different leadership and management practices can be utilised to maximise impact.

This module explores leadership development within educational settings. You will consider the opportunities and challenges involved in managing human resources and examine how high-quality professional development should be led. Drawing from relevant theories and research, you will apply your understanding to identify a range of approaches that can enhance organisational performance by bringing out the best in people.

This module explores a range of methodologies and methods frequently used in social science research, examining their potential strengths, limitations and the associated ethical considerations.

During the module, you will develop your understanding of research concepts such as reliability, validity, trustworthiness, credibility and generalisability You will also consider how to plan research using a suitable methodological approach, whilst taking into account the ethical issues you may encounter.

The module will facilitate learning and teaching in research skills. The module will lead to competence and confidence in what determines personal and professional standards for postgraduate research requirements.

The module develops you as an ethical researcher who will be able to undertake a suitable research project, develop realistic plans for disseminating your research findings to the wider academic and/or professional community. In addition, you will be supported to extend and deepen their understanding of the chosen area of investigation and will be able to design and carry out projects that are useful to your professional development and/or interests, and employability.

Entry requirements

Entry to the MA Educational Leadership and Management programmes typically requires a second-class degree (2:2 or above) in a relevant subject.

We assess each application individually, recognising that academic potential can be demonstrated through various professional and educational backgrounds. We value diverse professional backgrounds and recognise that valuable skills can be developed through various pathways.

For international applicants, English language requirements are IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6 in each component.

Full-time students are not required to undertake work-related learning.

Part-time blended and part-time online students are expected to hold a professional role (paid or voluntary) within an educational setting for the duration of the course, typically 5 hours a week.

If you have any questions about the entry requirements for this course, please contact our Enquiries team for advice on +44 (0) 1522 583658 or email courseenquiries@bishopg.ac.uk.

BGU is committed to widening access and participation and we adhere to a strict policy of non-discrimination.

Further information

Click here for important information about this course including additional costs, resources and key policies.

In accordance with University conditions, students are entitled to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning, RP(C)L, based on relevant credit at another HE institution or credit Awarded for Experiential Learning, (RP(E)L).

How you will be taught

Teaching methods vary across the three study modes and are designed to accommodate different learning needs. To support this, teaching methods vary across the three study modes, designed to accommodate different learning needs:

Full-time students will be fully engaged in a dynamic learning environment with our campus-based sessions. You will be encouraged to connect theory to real-world situations by reflecting on your own experiences, perspectives, and learning context. This reflective approach will deepen your understanding and ensure your learning remains meaningful and relevant to your professional development.

Learning takes place through a variety of activities, including lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials. You will take part in discussions with peers and tutors, complete independent tasks relevant to a range of topics, and receive individual supervision for your research project. Each module includes assignment workshops and tutorials where you can ask questions and receive guidance on your work.

Part-time blended students

During MA Weekends, you will take part in taught sessions, peer networking, and academic support activities. Between weekends, you will engage with online learning through the virtual learning environment, accessing pre-recorded materials, visual presentations, recommended readings, and interactive tasks. You will also have online or in-person tutorials to discuss assignments and receive feedback.

Throughout the programme, you will be encouraged to apply theory to practice by reflecting on your own professional experience and context. This reflective approach helps deepen your understanding and ensures your learning remains relevant and impactful.

Part-time online students

The interactive design of the course supports meaningful engagement with learning materials and encourages collaboration with peers from a wide range of educational settings and contexts. Learning materials include pre-recorded materials, visual presentations, recommended readings, and interactive tasks. You will also benefit from regular opportunities for personalised support, through Q&A opportunities, assignment webinars, and online tutorials. While most activities are asynchronous, occasional synchronous sessions help build connections and maintain a positive learning community.

Assessment

All delivery modes use similar assessment approaches, offering varied ways to demonstrate your skills, knowledge and understanding. Each assignment typically contains at least two related tasks, allowing you to meet learning outcomes while developing various academic skills. The different types of assessment include:

Portfolios
Presentations with Q&A sessions
Research method evaluations
Dissertations based on independent research projects

You will receive formative feedback during each module via tutorials, which will guide your development and allow you to refine your work before final submission.

Assessment deadlines are timed to coincide with academic holiday periods (January/May/August), making the workload more manageable for those with personal and professional commitments.

Careers & Further study

There is growing demand for professionals with expertise in leadership and management within educational settings. Many organisations now require staff in leadership roles to have specialist knowledge in this area.

Completing this MA positions you strongly for advancement in your career, whether you're seeking promotion within your current organisation or opportunities elsewhere. The qualification is particularly valuable for those aspiring to senior leadership positions or roles requiring strategic vision and people management skills.

Throughout the programme, you'll develop transferable skills including critical analysis, research competence, reflective practice, and decision-making in complex situations. You'll gain confidence in creating positive change and addressing challenges systematically and creatively.

This MA also provides an excellent foundation for those wishing to pursue further academic qualifications, such as the EdD (Doctor of Education) or PhD programmes.

What Our Students Say

Discover what life is like at Bishop Grosseteste University from our students.

Support

Studying at BGU is a student-centred experience. Whether you are on campus or studying online, you will be part of a friendly and supportive community where meaningful connections matter. You will get to know staff personally and feel confident reaching out for help and advice. No matter how you study, you will benefit from regular interaction with staff who recognise and value you as an individual with unique talents and interests.

We will be there to support you, personally and academically, from induction to graduation.

At BGU we have so much support available for our students, the type of support that has won us awards recently in the What Uni Student Choice Awards 2023, such as the Chaplaincy team, the Student Advice team, CELT, BGFutures and representatives at the Students’ Union.

Fees & Funding

A lot of student finance information is available from numerous sources, but it is sometimes confusing and contradictory. That’s why at BGU we try to give you all the information and support we can to help you throughout the process. Our Student Advice team are experts in helping you sort out the funding arrangements for your studies, offering a range of services to guide you through all aspects of student finance step by step.

Click here to find information about fees, loans and support which will help to make the whole process a little easier to understand.