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Overview
Get valuable sector experience and earn a Master's qualification on this 2-year MSc Educational Leadership and Management (with Professional Experience) degree.
During year 1, you'll study with us at University, learning how to rethink the practices of leadership and management in education. Alongside other students, industry specialists and our expert academics, you'll debate the big issues affecting the sector, such as school reform, policies and spending, and child development. You'll hone the critical perspectives you'll need to come up with fresh approaches to common challenges, such as accessibility, classroom management and budgeting.
In your second year, you'll apply your studies on an educational work placement, developing your management skills in a school or college, or within a setting such as early years, SEN or pupil referral.
You'll graduate with first-hand experience and the objective mindset needed to succeed as an educational leader. You'll be ready to take on senior management roles that improve the delivery of teaching and education for all.
Prefer to study without a work placement?
You can also study for this Educational Leadership and Management Master's in just one year without spending time building professional experience.
Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.
Course highlights
- Work for 8-10 months in an educational setting, such as a school, sixth form or independent training provider, applying your learning and building a professional network
- Learn to critique the hierarchies, structures and practices within education, exploring the gaps in a given argument in order to find new approaches
- Benefit from the rich industry knowledge and experience of teaching staff, and get theoretical knowledge and professional know-how on this industry led course
- Use the skills you acquire to ready yourself for promotion to senior leadership, change jobs or take your career overseas
- Debate and network with industry professionals from the education sector, guest lecturers and other students through events, lectures, seminars and social media channels
Accreditation
This is a dually accredited course by the CMI.
Number 4 in the UK for student support
Our education courses are ranked fourth in the UK for student support in the 2024 Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES)
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsEntry requirements
Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.
September 2025 entry
- A second-class honours degree in a Social Sciences, Business, Law or other relevant subject, or the subject specialism and professional experience of a qualified teacher now wishing to pursue the MSc Educational Leadership and Management.
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.
Applicants with pre-existing Masters credits will be considered for RPL depending on the direct relevance of prior study to the MSc Educational Leadership and Management course. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.
To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification.
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.0.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English speaking country
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees (September 2025 start)
- Full time: £10,900 (plus £1,900 for the work-based module/placement)
(including Transition Scholarship)
- Full-time: £10,900 (plus £1,900 for the work-based module/placement)
- Full time: £17,900 (plus £2,875 for the work-based module/placement)
University of Portsmouth graduates may receive a 20% alumni tuition fee discount.
Fees are subject to annual increase. Read our tuition fees terms and conditions.
You'll be able to pay your fees in instalments. Find out how to pay your tuition fees.
Funding your studies
Explore how to fund your studies, including available scholarships and bursaries.
If you're a UK student, you may be eligible for a Government Postgraduate Master's Loan, which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.
Loans, scholarships and bursaries
Browse funding such as the Government Postgraduate Loan, our scholarships for new and returning students, and subject specific loans.
Funding for international students
Learn more about sponsorships, scholarships and loans for students applying from outside of the UK.
Fees and funding for Master's courses
Explore Master's funding options, including loans, scholarships, bursaries and more.
Additional costs
These course-related costs aren't included in the tuition fees, so you'll need to budget for them when you plan your spending. Additional costs could include:
- Accommodation: Accommodation options and costs can be found on our accommodation pages.
- Recommended reading: You can borrow key texts from the library and if you choose to purchase these texts they may cost up to £60 each.
- General costs: Such as photocopying, memory sticks, printing charges, binding and specialist printing. We suggest budgeting £75 per year.
- Final project transport or accommodation: where necessary, which related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
Read more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Modules
Full-time
Core modules
You’ll gain insider perspectives on the policy-making process, from agenda-setting to real-world implementation.
Study change models, quality control approaches and evaluation methods driving systemic improvements.
You’ll explore motivating leadership styles that empower organisations and communities, and investigate education governance across institutional, local, national and global contexts.
You’ll design and write up an education research proposal for your dissertation.
You’ll start by thinking about any research skills you might need to improve on and develop ways to strengthen your skillset, through core training, chosen focus areas and applied learning.
Then, you’ll work on your own postgraduate research proposal planning out the specific research methods you’ll use and taking ethical issues into account. You’ll include clear objectives and document your literature and data sources.
You’ll explore key and contemporary human resource theory, focusing on employee motivation, capabilities development and organisational culture change.
You’ll consider educator identity, wellbeing, evaluation and support systems alongside leadership pipelines and approaches to talent optimisation.
Analyse real-world case studies investigating recruitment, professional learning, conflict resolution, team dynamics and resource constraints.
Optional modules
With academic guidance, you'll choose your own literature or empirical topic within a field of education that fits the parameters of your intended Master’s exit award.
You'll bring together everything you’ve learned to design and evaluate ethical methodologies, conduct systematic research, and communicate your ideas professionally in your dissertation or report.
With academic guidance, you'll choose your own literature or empirical topic within a field of study that fits the parameters of your intended Master’s exit award.
You'll bring together everything you’ve learned to design and evaluate ethical methodologies, conduct systematic research, and communicate your ideas professionally in your report.
For the first half of the module, you’ll cover a wide range of project management tools and techniques for managing different aspects of a project (for example time, cost, quality and risk).
The emphasis is on the ability to critically appraise and justify their use.
For the second half of the unit, you’ll take an in-depth look at the project management processes within the project life-cycle.
You’ll focus on the relationships between the key participants within the different project phases, using case studies drawn from real life.
You’ll review the importance of analytical frameworks in evaluating the business landscape and their importance in informing marketing strategies, considering stakeholder needs alongside practical constraints.
You’ll also focus on a case study of an educational organisation to evaluate its financial and marketing effectiveness and make appropriate recommendations for improvement.
You’ll learn how provision often reproduces societal norms and divisions by preparing students to fulfil their expected roles in society.
You’ll focus on the economic, social, cultural and political issues that impact societal norms, divisions and lives through education policies, curriculum and modes of learning.
You'll consider both what we know about how people learn languages and the practical considerations determined by the context in which the classroom teaching happens.
You'll learn about planning activities, lessons and courses for a variety of situations, as well as strategies for motivating learners.
Core modules
With support from our Placement and Careers teams, you’ll be responsible for securing your own professional experience opportunity - whether it's an internship or work placement.
You'll develop professional connections and employability skills while preparing for life after your degree.
Other modules you'll study
You'll also do a Placement Preparation module, which isn't worth any credits but gets you ready to identify, secure and apply for a relevant work placement.
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, course content is revised and regularly reviewed. This may result in changes being made in order to reflect developments in research, learning from practice and changes in policy at both national and local levels.
Career planning
During your course you'll have expert careers advice from our Careers and Employability Centre, your tutors and our Student Placements and Employability Centre. You can access support from our Careers and Employability Centre for up to 5 years after you graduate.
Joining us as an international student
You'll feel at home in our international community and our diverse city. You'll be joining over 5,000 international students from more than 150 countries who are studying with us.
Learn more about international student life and how we can help you with visas, applications, arrival and settling in.
How you'll spend your time
We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.
We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to be on campus and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change. You should receive your full timetable several weeks before you start with us.
Course structure
This Master's degree will take 2 years (1 year at University and 8-10 months gaining professional experience).
Year 1 – At University
You’ll be in timetabled teaching activities such as lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical classes and workshops for up to 10 hours each week.
The rest of the time (we recommend 18-23 hours a week) you’ll do independent study such as research, reading, coursework and project work, alone or in a group with others from your course.
Most timetabled teaching takes place from late afternoon to early evening, Monday to Friday. You may occasionally need to go to University and course events in the evenings. There’s usually no teaching on Wednesday afternoons.
Year 2 – Professional Experience
During the 8-10 months of your professional experience module, your work pattern and schedule will depend on your employer and role but will be a minimum of 20 hours (with a maximum of 25 hours if your placement is unpaid)..
Teaching
Master's study is deeper and more specialised than an undergraduate degree. This means you'll focus on something that really matters to you and your career as you work closely with academics committed to the subject.
You'll spend more time in independent study and research than you did for your undergraduate degree, but the majority of your teaching time will be in-person and face-to-face.
Teaching methods on this course include:
- seminars
- group work
- lectures
- student presentations
- one-to-one tutorials
Assessment
You'll be assessed through:
- essays
- digital presentations
- exam
- blogs
- research proposal
- dissertation
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
Teaching staff
These are some of the expert staff who'll teach you on this course:
Term dates
September start
The Master's academic year runs from September to the following September. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter. Over the summer you'll be writing your project/dissertation.
Career development
Careers this Master's prepares you for
A leadership role in education gives you the potential to be a 'leader of learning'. You'll be able to impart your vision, mission and values to all you work with. That includes teachers, support colleagues, governors, children and parents/carers.
This Master's in Educational Leadership and Management (with Professional Experience) will spark new perspectives and prepare you to tackle common problems affecting everyone in the education sector and beyond.
You'll develop the skills and experience that make an effective, open-minded leader in education. You can seek out ambitious job roles and take on new responsibilities in educational leadership and management across school, college and higher education settings. Or explore other fields, such as marketing, recruitment and policy-making.
Graduates of this course have gone onto work in areas such as:
- school management
- higher education institutions management
- teacher education
- course leading and management
You'll benefit from:
- Networking events
- Applied projects with companies such as IBM, Boeing and Hampshire County Council
- 1-to-1 appointments
- CV and cover letter advice
- Interview preparation and practice
- Workshops to enhance your employability skills
- Recruitment events including the Student and Graduate Opportunities Fair
- Support starting your own business
Placement year
The second year of this degree is dedicated to gaining professional experience.
You'll do this by doing either an 8-10 month work placement or professional experience programme, after you've completed your year of taught studies.
Work placement
A work placement gives you the opportunity to get valuable professional experience in the education sector.
You can begin looking and applying for placements after completing your first teaching block. You'll get support from the Careers and Employability Centre and the Faculty Placement Team in identifying and applying for suitable placements, and enhancing your employability skills.
Placement opportunities are likely to be in the following areas:
- primary or secondary schools
- early years care and education settings
- sixth forms or colleges
- higher education institutions
- pupil referral units
- SEN-specialist schools
- independent training providers
- voluntary/third sector education providers
- local authorities
Examples of likely placement roles include:
- project manager
- audit/quality manager
- setting administrator
- procurement manager
- human resource manager
- marketing executive
Note that work placements can't be guaranteed because it depends on their availability and the specific needs of placement providers. We'll give you information, advice and support so that you're able to secure your placement.
We can also support you to develop a plan for your own education-related business during your professional experience placement. You could spend time scoping the rationale for your business, identifying costs and potential growth opportunities, and visiting similar enterprises to gain experience and ideas.
Professional experience programme
If you're unable to secure a work placement, you'll complete a professional experience programme designed to meet your career aspirations.
You'll further develop your employability and teaching skills and prepare yourself for the workplace.
Supporting you
Master's study is more focused on independent learning than undergraduate study, but you'll get lots of support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to postgraduate study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your course.
As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.
You'll have help from a team of faculty learning development tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.
They can help with:
- Improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
- Delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
- Understanding and using assignment feedback
- Managing your time and workload
- Revision and exam techniques
During term time, Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions. These sessions are tailored to your needs.
Support is available for skills including:
- University study
- Getting into the right study mindset
- Note-taking and note-making skills
- Referencing
- Presentation skills
- Time management, planning, and goal setting
- Critical thinking
- Avoiding plagiarism
If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.
Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
They'll help you to
- discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
- liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
- access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
- liaise with external services
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
The Maths Café offers advice and assistance with mathematical skills in a friendly, informal environment. You can come to our daily drop-in sessions, develop your maths skills at a workshop or use our online resources.
If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.
How to apply
Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.
There's no deadline for applications to this course. We accept applications right up until the start date in September, as long as there are places available. If you wait until September to apply, you may find that the course is full.
If you're applying as an international student, remember that you'll need to leave plenty of time to get your visa organised.
You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. International students and current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth also have some different application options, which are detailed below.
Extra information for international students
If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.
You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.
If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Ready to apply?
Start this course in September 2025
I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate
If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2024, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:
- a shorter application form to complete
- access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
- a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses
After you apply
Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.
You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.
Learn more about how we assess your application.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.