Program Overview
Share Facebook Linkedin Email Postgraduate Taught 2026 autism-practice-msc robotics-artificial-intelligence-msc artificial-intelligence-pgcert history-pgdip engineering-energy-economics-the-environment-pgcert applied-cyber-security-pgcert data-analytics-pgcert technology-management-msc sound-music-pgcert sound-music-pgdip masters-law-mlaw international-commercial-business-law-llm cancer-medicine-mscres public-health-mph education-computingit-digital-skills-creative-enterprise-pgce public-health-systems-policy-theory-into-practice-pgcert international-political-economy-msc sound-music-ma public-health-sciences-pgcert public-health-data-systems-research-pgcert substance-use-substance-use-disorders-msc substance-use-substance-use-disorders-pgcert substance-use-substance-use-disorders-pgdip english-creative-writing-ma data-analytics-msc english-creative-writing-pgdip advanced-healthcare-practice-msc law-technology-llm intellectual-property-law-llm palliative-care-pgdip irish-studies-ma digital-marketing-analytics-msc conflict-transformation-social-justice-ma global-security-borders-ma molecular-biology-biotechnology-msc ecological-management-conservation-biology-msc one-health-parasitology-infection-biology-msc supply-chain-analytics-msc accounting-finance-analytics-msc actuarial-science-msc advanced-clinical-pharmacy-practice-msc advanced-clinical-pharmacy-practice-pgcert advanced-clinical-pharmacy-practice-pgdip advanced-food-safety-msc advanced-healthcare-clinical-practice-msc advanced-pharmacy-practice-msc advanced-social-work-children-young-people-families-msc advanced-social-work-children-young-people-families-pgcert advanced-social-work-children-young-people-families-pgdip ai-business-msc animal-behaviour-welfare-msc anthropology-ma anthropology-pgdip applied-behaviour-analysis-msc applied-cyber-security-msc applied-cyber-security-professional-internship-msc applied-developmental-psychology-msc applied-digital-construction-management-msc architecture-march 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independent-prescribing-pgcert industrial-pharmaceutics-msc international-business-msc international-human-rights-law-llm international-public-policy-msc international-public-policy-pgdip international-relations-ma international-relations-pgdip interpreting-ma law-llm leadership-sustainable-development-msc leadership-sustainable-rural-development-msc linguistics-ma linguistics-pgcert linguistics-pgdip management-msc marketing-msc master-business-administration-internship-mba master-business-administration-mba mechanical-engineering-management-higher-level-apprenticeship-msc mechanical-engineering-management-industrial-internship-msc mechanical-engineering-management-msc mechanical-engineering-management-pgcert mechanical-engineering-management-pgdip mechanical-engineering-pgcert media-broadcast-production-ma media-broadcast-production-pgdip mental-health-mental-capacity-law-msc mental-health-mental-capacity-law-pgdip mental-health-pgdip midwifery-msc net-zero-engineering-distance-learning-msc net-zero-engineering-msc net-zero-engineering-year-industry-msc pharmaceutical-analysis-higher-level-apprenticeship-msc pharmaceutical-analysis-industrial-placement-msc pharmaceutical-analysis-international-industrial-placement-msc pharmaceutical-analysis-msc philosophy-ma philosophy-pgdip planning-development-higher-level-apprenticeship-msc planning-development-msc planning-development-pgcert politics-ma politics-pgdip prescribing-pharmacists-pgcert professional-nursing-adult-nursing-msc professional-nursing-children-young-people-msc professional-nursing-learning-disabilities-nursing-msc professional-nursing-mental-health-nursing-msc professional-practice-architecture-pgcert psychological-science-msc public-history-ma social-science-research-mres social-science-research-pgdip sociology-global-inequality-msc software-development-msc software-development-part-time-msc specialist-cognitive-behavioural-therapy-msc sustainable-energy-systems-management-msc sustainable-energy-systems-management-pgdip systemic-practice-family-therapy-msc systemic-practice-family-therapy-pgcert systemic-practice-family-therapy-pgdip systemic-psychotherapy-msc teaching-english-speakers-other-languages-applied-linguistics-msc translation-ma violence-terrorism-security-ma violence-terrorism-security-pgdip youth-justice-msc youth-justice-pgdip zero-carbon-engineering-pgcert Share Facebook Linkedin Email Undergraduate 2025 MSc | Postgraduate Taught Educational Leadership Apply now Register Interest Entry year Academic Year 2026/27 Entry requirements 2.2 Attendance 1 year (Full-time) 3 years (Part-time) Places available 50 (Full Time) 50 (Part Time) Overview Course content Modules Entry requirements Careers Fees and funding Apply Leadership in schools is associated with fostering an environment where students can achieve their full potential and where educational staff are supported, motivated and can professionally develop. Effective school leaders are often described as having the capacity to transform and motivate others, they are traditionally seen as those able to communicate vision and strategy, they are typically experienced and viewed as having accrued knowledge and expertise over time which positions them as being able to lead. This course takes the view that effective schools have leaders that can be found throughout a school and not necessarily confined only to those formally assigned to senior positions. Key ideas explored in this course are that leadership should be adaptable and distributed across schools; that interaction, collaboration, and networks are important and that leaders are those that manage change and help schools transform and improve. Leaders are those who manage conflict and resistance to change.
Key Program Features
Educational Leadership highlights
Student Experience
Students are actively involved in sessions (student-led) and there are opportunities for small group work and presentations.
Assignments are tailored to topics of interest to each individual student.
There is an international outlook on leadership issues.
The local and international mix of students enables exchanges of knowledge, experience, and perspectives.
Credit transfer Students who have completed other master's-level awards, e.g., PGCE or Professional Qualification for Headship (PQH) within the last 10 years are eligible to credit transfer. The credit transfer application must be submitted at the same time as the online programme application as retrospective applications are not accepted.
The programme is tailored to working professionals and as such a blended learning approach is used. Modules are made up of face-to-face lectures and online sessions. Lectures at Queen’s take place in the evenings and online sessions can be completed off-campus. Part-time students can remain in their workplace during their studies and directly apply new knowledge in their settings. Practice based assessment options are available for those who are practising teachers.
“I am an English Language teacher and I have taught for 17 years in India. I was looking for training for a leadership position in education and when I looked up the MSc Educational Leadership at Queen’s I found it perfect. It offered all the components of leadership that I was interested in.” Anshu, former student https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi39EuloFlU
Career Opportunities
Career Prospects
Introduction
Some graduates have found this degree beneficial for improving leadership practice in their workplace. Others have found it beneficial in expanding the roles they undertake at work, and in gaining employment or promotion. Some progress to doctoral-level studies and research. Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally.
Prizes and Awards
Teachers working on classroom-based dissertation projects may apply for the Northern Ireland Centre for Educational Research (NICER) award.
Program Curriculum
Course Structure
Students may enrol on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (3 years) basis. Part-time students typically complete one or two modules per semester. Full-time students typically complete three modules per semester. Two optional taught modules may be chosen from the Educational Studies (MEd) programme. Dissertation – 60 CATS (15,000 words max.). Students choose to work on a topic of interest under the supervision of an academic member of staff. The MSc is awarded to students who successfully complete six taught modules (120 CATS points) and a 15,000 word research dissertation (60 CATS points). Exit qualifications are available: students may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership by successfully completing 120 CATS points from taught modules or a Postgraduate Certificate in Educational Leadership by successfully completing 60 CATS points from taught modules. We've made it easy to study for a master's module as a short course. If you would like to apply for a short course, please contact the Education Secretary (ssesw@qub.ac.uk) for advice.
People teaching you Dr Gavin Duffy Programme Director SSESW Email: g.duffy@qub.ac.uk
Admission Requirements
How to Apply
Apply using our online Queen's Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply .
Terms and Conditions
The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study. Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions .
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 15,200/year (international)
Tuition Fees
| Northern Ireland (NI) 1 | £7,700 |
| Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 | £7,700 |
| England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 | £10,400 |
| EU Other 3 | £23,000 |
| International | £23,000 |
1 EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.
2 EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.
3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.
All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. Tuition fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.
More information on postgraduate tuition fees .
Additional course costs
There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Financial Aid & Funding Opportunities
A range of funding options may be available to students enrolling at Queen's University Belfast. Explore all options early — many scholarships have deadlines months before programme start.
- University Scholarships: Queen's University Belfast may offer merit-based, need-based, or programme-specific scholarships for postgraduate students. Contact the international or financial aid office for current awards.
- Government Scholarships (): National governments often fund outbound and inbound student mobility. Check your home country's government scholarship schemes (e.g., national student loan bodies, ministry of education awards).
- International Scholarships: Major funders include: Commonwealth Scholarships, Fulbright (USA programmes), Chevening (UK), Erasmus+ (Europe), DAAD (Germany), Campus France, Australia Awards, and many more.
- Employer Sponsorship: Professionals returning to study may negotiate tuition sponsorship with their employer, particularly for MBA or executive programmes.
- Graduate Assistantships / Fellowships: Some universities offer funded research or teaching assistant positions that include a stipend and partial or full tuition waiver.
- External Foundations: Rotary Foundation, Aga Khan Foundation, Ford Foundation, and many discipline-specific bodies fund postgraduate study globally.
- Payment Plans: Flexible instalment plans may allow you to spread tuition payments across the academic year.
About Queen's University Belfast
Queen's University Belfast
Botswana, Botswana
Visit the university profile page to learn more about this institution.
University Profile- Start Date 2017-09-25
- Language English
- Duration 12 months
- Credits 60 ECTS / 180 credits (1-year programme)