Education Management and Leadership (MSc)

You’ll need a 2:1 degree, and will need to supply evidence that you have appropriate experience in education.

Find the equivalent international qualifications for your country.

English language requirements

If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:

We accept other English language tests. Find out which English language tests we accept.

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000

During this course, you'll study the following:

• 3 compulsory modules
• 2 pathway modules
• An optional module

The first semester sets out the theories of leadership to help you to sustain school improvement.You'll also learn about learning theories and how and when to use key research methods to develop good research practices.

In your second semester, you'll learn about managing education institutions and choose between learning about education and policy from a global perspective and learning about the social context of education and lifelong learning. You'll also prepare for, and write, your dissertation, which should focus on an area of educational leadership and management.

You can also attend a non-assessed enrichment programme, including study skills workshops, attendance at our professional themes lectures and research seminars.

Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.

Learning

Through group work you'll collaborate with other students to discuss research articles, produce a group report or presentation.

You'll also work on research and case-studies analysing research designs, taking part in decision making and problem-solving activities within the topics of each module you study.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed by a combination of the following methods:  

• written assignments
• academic posters
• research project reports
• dissertation

Explore course modules for full details of learning and assessment.

Dissertation

The dissertation builds on work undertaken across other modules and gives you an opportunity to take on a piece of independent research in a chosen topic. Normally, your dissertation will be individually supervised. The length of the dissertation will be between 15,000 and 17,000 words.

Academic Support

We can support your learning needs throughout your studies through an induction programme and individual support in study skills. You will also get a personal tutor to support your academic development.

Students who have completed the MSc in educational leadership and management have gone on to become educational practitioners, educational officers or senior academic leaders within their institutions both in the UK and internationally.

Careers services at Southampton

We're a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020). Our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes:

• work experience schemes
• CV/resume and interview skills workshops
• networking events
• careers fairs attended by top employers
• a wealth of volunteering opportunities
• study abroad and summer school opportunities

We have a thriving entrepreneurship culture. You'll be able to take advantage of:

• our dedicated start-up incubator, Futureworlds
• a wide variety of enterprise events run throughout the year
• our partnership in the world’s number 1 business incubator, SETsquared

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

• UK students pay £9,250.
• EU and international students pay £21,000.

Check fees for other versions of this course.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fee covers the full cost of tuition and any exams.

Find out how to pay your tuition fees.

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. Explore:

• accommodation costs

• living costs

• budgeting advice

Funding your postgraduate studies

A variety of additional scholarships, grants and bursaries may be available to help you fund your master’s study, both from the University and from other organisations.

Funding for EU and international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.

1. Use the 'apply for this course' button on this page to take you to our online application form.
2. Search for the course you want to apply for.
3. Complete the application form and upload any supporting documents.
4. Submit your application.

Application deadlines

Application assessment fee

We’ll ask you to pay a £50 application assessment fee if you’re applying for any postgraduate taught course that starts in or after September 2021.

This is an extra one-off charge which is separate to your tuition fees. It covers the work and time it takes us to assess your application. You’ll be prompted to pay when you submit your application which won’t progress until you've paid.

If you're a current or former University of Southampton student, if you're applying for a Master of Research (MRes) degree, or if you're applying for a PGCE course via UCAS, you will not need to pay the fee. Find out if you’re exempt on our terms and conditions page.

Supporting information

When you apply you’ll need to submit a personal statement explaining why you want to take the course. 

You’ll need to include information about: 

• your knowledge of the subject area
• why you want to study a postgraduate qualification in this course
• how you intend to use your qualification

You'll also need to send 2 academic references. 

Please include the required paperwork showing your first degree and your IELTS English language test score (if you are a non-native English speaker) with your application. Without these, your application may be delayed.

Learn more about how to apply with our postgraduate application guide.

What happens after you apply

You'll be able to track your application through our online Applicant Record System.

We'll assess your application on the strength of your:

• academic achievements
• relevant professional experience
• personal statement
• academic references

We'll aim to get back to you within 6 weeks with a decision about your application.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000