The MA Educational Leadership pre-service route is aimed at participants who are yet to accumulate a background in formal educational leadership roles It is targeted at participants with a strong commitment to developing a career in educational leadership across a range of contexts, roles and settings. The programme will enable you to reflect on relevant and contemporary theory, practice and evidence, supporting you to become an effective future leader of learning and change.

Modules on this programme are taught in a blended format, involving face-to-face and online attendance and interaction. Tuition involves some daytime engagement, as well as some evening sessions.

About this degree

You will explore and critique educational leadership and management theory, research and practice and be encouraged to identify and extend your personal leadership capabilities in the education sector. There is also a close focus on how you can improve the quality of learning and teaching for the student body you will be serving as an educational leader.

Who this course is for

You do not need previous leadership experience in education, but you must demonstrate a strong career interest in the education sector.

What this course will give you

The degree will explore and critique educational leadership and management theory, research and practice and encourage participants to identify, develop and extend personal leadership potential. This degree draws on the extensive knowledge and research base of the UCL Centre for Educational Leadership, part of IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society, ranked number one in the world for education for the last eight years (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2021). The degree is led and taught by experts in the field who apply their expertise and experience to support emerging educational leaders to become effective leaders of learning and change.

The foundation of your career

Although academic in focus, the programme is rooted in real-world issues related to the field of education. This programme will provide a grounding in matters such as understanding the role of leadership in education and impacts on children, young people and staff; enhance your understanding and evaluation of leadership efficacy; explore current and emergent student needs and how these can be impacted through leadership for improvement. This programme is committed to a research-informed approach and will support you in developing your abilities to assess research claims; explore research as a form of professional enquiry and development of professional practice; undertake appropriate research-engaged exploration in the field of education and leadership contexts.

Employability

The pre-service route is designed to allow candidates with little or no previous formal experience to develop careers within educational leadership. Deep engagement with the education leadership field will provide candidates with an excellent foundation for development and advancement of careers in educational leadership.