About

The MA Education (Leadership and Management) at University of Derby is designed for those who have experience of working in schools, colleges, universities or any education context, and who seek to develop a better understanding of how educational leadership influences the experiences of staff and students. The programme draws on research from the UK and internationally.

On this pathway you will:

• improve understanding of leadership practices in national and international social, cultural, political and policy contexts
• strengthen knowledge of leadership and change management
• explore existing and emerging international research-informed knowledge of educational leadership
• enable a deeper critical understanding of the organisation, and the environment in which course members operate
• critically analyse and evaluate their own and others' leadership practice

This Masters is ideal if you are already in a first position of responsibility within an education setting, seeking to enhance your skills and knowledge in a wide range of leadership and management theories and issues.

Our MA Education (Leadership and Management) is not a teaching qualification but previous students have benefited from this postgraduate degree, helping them to gain more senior roles, enriching their teaching, challenging their preconceptions and boosting their confidence.

Students frequently tell us that they most enjoy hearing the diverse mix of experiences, ideas and opinions brought by others taking the course, especially when that challenges their own thinking. Online discussion forums make this possible, and with such a wide variety of people on the course, from the UK and overseas, that’s not surprising. Our tutors have many years’ experience in the education sector themselves, so they understand your profession and are sympathetic to the pressures of balancing study with a busy teaching job.

Studying online gives you the flexibility to study at the most convenient time and place for you. The course is divided into modules which are scheduled over fixed trimesters so there will be deadlines to meet; however you can organise your study time around your work and personal commitments in order to complete each module within the set time parameters.

Online class discussions are largely focused on contextualisation of theory to practice, so it’s stimulating, engaging and highly relevant to your day-to-day, professional life.

This course can open doors for you in your career. It might make your CV stand out enough to get you an interview for a first managerial role or a more advanced leadership position you’ve been looking for. It may be that you simply want to further develop your skills, confidence and knowledge to apply for positions you wouldn’t otherwise have considered.

Previous students have also said that they have performed better at work as a result of this course – bringing greater recognition and respect from peers.

To give you an idea of the range of careers this MA relates to, some of our graduates have gone on to become advanced skills teachers, nursery managers, assistant head teachers, disability coordinators within universities and national trainers for charitable organisations.

You may also wish to go on to further study such as an MPhil, EdD or PhD.