Queen's University Belfast

MSc Educational Leadership

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. There is a growing recognition of the importance of being emotionally intelligent and the need to demonstrate integrity and authenticity alongside ethical practice.

The MSc in Educational Leadership recognises that schools and more broadly educational systems depend on leaders from all walks of life and all types of positions, regardless of assigned title. The programme has been designed to help teachers, middle and senior leaders to progress and professionally develop. The programme is also suitable for those who work at the educational authority level, policy makers and those with a direct interest or experience in education.

The programme focuses on three elements: leadership theory, issues related to leadership in practice and the role that leaders play in the process of managing change and encouraging improvement.

It is expected that graduates will be able to inform their professional practice with the latest research evidence in the field to nurture meaningful relationships in educational communities, address issues of equity and diversity, support teaching and learning, and ultimately ensure quality outcomes which are tailored to contextual needs within schools. We seek to develop in students the ability to critique current leadership practices and to enact changes that will improve education for all.

Closing date for applications: Friday 26th June 2026 at 4pm.

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.