It's time to lead in education
Education is increasingly under pressure to meet external demands, particularly with the rise of standardisation and teach-to-test approaches, which are shaping policy and placing significant pressure on educational leaders across the globe.
Our MA Educational Leadership in Practice will equip you with the skills and confidence to navigate these challenges and take a leadership role within education. Through your studies, you will build your intellectual and practical confidence to engage at higher levels, lead effectively and influence change within your organisation.
This master's has a strong international focus, ensuring that what you learn is globally applicable and connecting you with educators across the world.
Expertise in Research-Backed Education
Career Synchronised Learning
Build a Global Network of Educators
Accredited by
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Licensed by The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
Programmes accredited by the Commission for Academic Accreditation
Key Information
Qualification: MA
Duration: 24 months
Next intake: September 2026 | Future Education Leaders Bursary upto 25% off
Workload: Approx 20 hours per week
Programme Structure
Delivery
Where and when you will study
This online and blended, part-time master's means you can study from anywhere in the world and fit it around your day-to-day life. You will be expected to learn while you continue to work, and to use examples from your work throughout your study.
You will complete four taught units in year one, followed by two taught units and a research project in year two. You'll learn through a mix of interactive teaching and have plenty of opportunities to work collaboratively with your peers.
Structure
- The MA Educational Leadership in Practice programme caters to the training needs of professionals around the world, whether you're looking to enhance your skills in leadership within schools or further your career in this area.
- Successful leaders in education require a wide range of transferable skills and subject-specific knowledge in areas such as in education and social policy, leading organisational and educational change.
- At the start of your course in September, you'll have the chance to network with academics teaching the course, meet your peers and grow your network of global educational practitioners at a three-day workshop in Manchester. In your second year, you will have the opportunity to attend a workshop at a centre of your choice.*
- The Master's teaching comprises five core 20-credit units, one optional unit or apply for APL (see info below) and a 60-credit research project.
*Subject to availability and visa requirements. The advertised fee covers your tuition. It does not cover your accommodation, travel costs or any other expenses that you may incur when attending face-to-face workshops.
Course Units
Engaging with Research in Educational Leadership
In this unit you will learn about empirical literature base and develop skills to review this literature. You’ll also engage in theory and understand the impacts and uses of this research with an opportunity to reflect on your own practice.
Models of Educational Leadership
In this unit you will explore conceptualising educational leadership practice as models and consider what this means in diverse international contexts.
Leading Networks, Partnerships and Collaborations
This unit explores the principles, practices, and challenges of leading networks, partnerships and collaborations in educational settings. This unit equips you to critically analyse leadership theories and strategies used in collaboration.
Leading Educational Change
This unit critically explores the complexities of educational change, examining its ideological, political, and cultural contexts while equipping you with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives needed to lead and evaluate change that fosters equity and meaningful improvement in education.
Educational Policy and Leadership
This unit examines the interplay between global policy discourses and educational reform, exploring how policy is shaped, enacted, and influenced by welfarism, social democracy, and neoliberalism, while equipping you to critically analyse and navigate the role of leadership in driving or responding to these changes.
Optional Course Unit/Accreditation of Previous Learning
- Digital Technologies and Educational Leadership
This unit examines the impact of digitisation on educational leadership, equipping you to apply theoretical frameworks to evaluate technologies, foster reflective practice, and enhance both personal and institutional approaches to teaching, learning, and organisational change.
- Leadership of International Schools
This unit examines leadership in international schools, focusing on internationalism, equity, teacher retention, and transformative leadership through human rights and Global Citizenship Education.
Independent Supervised Study/Project
- Research skills and the application of research to professional practice
- Project-based enquiry
Fees & Entry Requirements
Please find below our tuition fees for the programme commencing September 2026. If you need assistance or want to speak to a course counsellor, please contact us; we will gladly help.
MA Educational Leadership in Practice - Total Tuition Fee - GBP £18,690 paid as follows:
MA Educational Leadership in Practice Fees
GBP 18,690
GBP 1,000
GBP 3,671
GBP 4,673
GBP 4,673
GBP 4,673
Discount Policy
20%
15%
15%
- Bursary
- Family Loyalty Discount
- Student Referral Discount
10-15%
10%
15%
10%
Student Referral discounts are for those new students who came as a referral from our alumni and current students.
Terms & Conditions
12.5% scholarship is going to be discretionary, subject to difficult conversions, i.e. when the candidate is either getting a better offer or having a financial restriction.
Discretionary discounts will be subject to available balance in the discount pot
Family Loyalty discounts are for Alumni and Students to be encouraged to refer their spouse and siblings
Student Referral discounts are for those new students who came as a referral from our alumni and current students
Supporting Documents
An essay of 300 words explaining why he/she should be granted the exceptional discount
Offer letter from the competition showing a further discount and thus a lesser tuition fee
Company sponsorship
Many companies sponsor employees for the MA Educational Leadership in Practice programme. We can help you put together a business case outlining the benefits to your organisation and schedule a meeting or call with your HR department to discuss the programme.
Further, we have Strategic Talent Partnerships with several organisations. Our STPs get a preferential rate. Click HERE to see if your organisation is an STP.
Easy Payment options at The University of Manchester - Dubai
Students can pay their semester or full tuition fees using an Emirates NBD or Emirates Islamic credit card. Click here for more information. Apart from this, you can also connect with a programme counsellor to discuss the available Payment Plan.
Entry Requirements
Standard Entry Requirements:
- A good honours degree (minimum 2:1) or the overseas equivalent with a teacher training qualification or with at least one year’s teaching or relevant professional experience in a public or private educational organisation.
- You should be currently working in an educational-related role.
Non-standard Entry Requirements:
- You should be currently working in an educational-related role
And
- Applicants with a 2:2 degree may be considered if they have at least three years of teaching or relevant professional experience in a public or private educational organisation.
Or
- A recognised degree (includes Masters, PGCert etc.) or international equivalent with at least three years of teaching or relevant professional experience in a public or private educational organisation and strong evidence of career progression.
Or
- A minimum of 8 years of relevant teaching or professional experience at a managerial level in a public or private educational organisation.
Supporting Documents:
- Two professional or academic references.
- A detailed CV outlining your complete work experience.
- A personal statement (approximately 500 words) explaining your motivation for choosing this course.
English Language Requirements
For Non-native English Speakers: You must meet one of the following:
- IELTS profile of 6.5 overall with no less that 6.0 in all components.
or
- TOEFL internet-based score of 90 or more overall, with no other section below 20.
Or
- Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) overall score of 176 or above, with no sub-section below 169
Or
- Grade C if taken before January 2015 (the Cambridge First Certificate in English is not acceptable).
Or
- Pearson test of English score of 59 or more overall, with no other subsection below 51
Test Validity:
English language test results must be valid on the course start date and are typically valid for two years. Ensure your test report is valid at the beginning of your studies.
Application Process and Selection
Application Deadline
Next intake: September 2026
Complete the Online Application:
- Start by registering and completing the online application form here
- Upload the required documents listed below.
Required Documents:
- Statement of Purpose (Essay): Detailing your motivations for applying.
- Academic Qualification Documents: Upload scanned copies of your degree certificate(s) and transcript(s). Provide a certified translation if the original documents are not in English. Include the grading scale if the degree is from a non-UK university.
- CV: Should be clear, well-formatted, and no longer than two pages, detailing your academic credentials and professional experience in reverse chronological order.
Details of all your qualifications, including your Bachelor's degree, any Master's degree, postgraduate diplomas/specialisations and professional qualifications.If you have work experience, please include the following: Each job you have taken since graduating from your undergraduate degree in reverse chronological order, starting with your current position. Include the month/year start and end date, company name and job title for each position undertaken.
- Reference: One reference is required at the time of application. You may provide contact details for two referees who can attest to your academic or professional capabilities.
If you do not have professional experience, choose two lecturers or professors at your last University who can provide an academic reference. If you have professional experience, you can select both referees from your work area or provide one academic and one work-related reference. If you cannot provide a reference when submitting your application form, we will send a reference template to your referees directly.
English Language Proficiency:
Ensure that you provide evidence of your English language proficiency as per the admissions requirements.
Consideration of Your Application:
- Your application will be reviewed once all documents are submitted, including your CV, transcripts, English language evidence, and at least one reference.
- The decision is typically within two weeks if the application is complete.
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL):
- You may apply for APL for a course unit if you have equivalent qualifications or professional experience (no older than 5 years) relevant to the learning outcomes of an optional course unit.
- A formal application, including a portfolio of evidence, is required. An academic panel will review it, and you may be called for an interview.
- Note: Credits from a University of Manchester degree cannot be used for APL without rescinding the prior degree.
If you need advice or assistance with our admissions process, contact us on our email or speak to our programme counselor.
Email: elip.me@manchester.ac.uk
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to already be in a leadership role to apply for the MA in Educational Leadership?
No. The MA Educational Leadership in Practice programme is open to educators at various career stages like teachers, department heads, curriculum leads, and coordinators are all strong candidates. What matters is that you are currently working in an education-related role with a genuine motivation to develop your skills through this master's degree in educational leadership.
Is this an online master's in educational leadership, or is in-person attendance required?
The programme is primarily an online master's degree in educational leadership, making it genuinely flexible for educators worldwide. It includes a three-day workshop in Manchester at the start of year one and an optional workshop in year two at a centre of your choice. Outside these residentials, all learning takes place online and fits around your working schedule.
How does this educational leadership course address challenges specific to international and Middle Eastern education systems?
This educational leadership course is explicitly international in focus. Units on education policy, leading change, and leadership as a social practice critically examine the forces shaping education globally, making the master's degree in educational leadership directly relevant for educators navigating multilingual, multicultural environments across the UAE, the wider Gulf, and beyond.
Can I pursue this online master's in educational leadership while continuing to teach full-time?
Yes, and that is precisely how the MA Educational Leadership in Practice is designed to work. The programme expects you to continue working throughout, using your professional environment as a live learning context. The master's degree in educational leadership is is delivered primarily online, with a three-day workshop in Manchester at the start of year one and a workshop at a centre of your choice in year two.
- Providing Food (Iftar) for people fasting
- 100 million meals drive.
- Food basket valued at AED200, AED500 or AED800
- Beit Alkhair Fasting Project (AED10 a meal)
Does the educational leadership course accept applicants who work in education but are not classroom teachers?
Yes. The MA Educational Leadership in Practice welcomes professionals working in a broader range of education-related roles beyond classroom teaching, including those in training, educational consultancy, or administration within public or private educational organisations. What matters is that you are currently working in an education-related role with a clear motivation to develop your leadership capability through this online master's degree in educational leadership.
What career progression can I expect after completing a master's degree in educational leadership?
Graduates of this master's degree in educational leadership move into roles such as school leadership, curriculum directorship, education policy, and institutional management, including international schools. Beyond new titles, many report a step-change in how they lead within their current roles, with the intellectual confidence and research-informed approach this educational leadership course distinctly builds.
- Rescue, rehabilitate and release back sea turtles into the wild
- Educates the public about sea turtle biology and conservation
- Tracks turtle movements via satellite to understand rehabilitation success.
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