Educational Leadership & Management MSc: Online distance learning

The Masters in Educational Leadership & Management will provide you with opportunities to develop as a confident, ethical and evidence-informed leader for a rapidly changing global education landscape. The programme is designed for aspiring and current leaders, bringing together leadership and management theory and applied learning to strengthen your capacity to lead improvement across diverse educational contexts.

Online distance learning
Academic contact: michalis.constantinides@glasgow.ac.uk
Teaching start: September

Online
: 24-36 months part‑time

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Why this programme

Develop ethical, inclusive and evidence‑informed leadership capabilities through a distinctive programme focused on real‑world educational challenges.
Flexible online delivery enables you to study alongside professional and personal commitments while engaging with a diverse international learning community.
Responds directly to global skills gaps in educational leadership, including data literacy, collaborative professionalism and ethical system design.
Grounded in a situated learning approach that connects theory to practice through reflective enquiry and problem‑focused coursework.
Draws on the University of Glasgow’s world‑leading research strength in Education, consistently ranked among the top institutions globally and in the UK.
Prepares leaders to operate across schools, higher education, policy, international and non‑formal education settings.
Watch: Educational Leadership & Management programme overview

Programme structure

This programme is delivered fully online and can be completed two years part-time. An optional third year may be taken solely for the purpose of completing the dissertation, where an extension is required.

You can opt to undertake a traditional research dissertation or the challenge-based dissertation, which allows you to apply independent academic research to a real‑world organisational or social challenge.

As part of the challenge-based dissertation, you will produce a short policy brief and presentation designed to communicate your findings and recommendations clearly to a non‑academic audience. You may choose to work with an external organisation, or to design your policy brief for a professional audience of your choice.

Year 1

Year 2

Research project

Education Dissertation or Challenge-based dissertation

In addition to direct entry into year 1, the programme offers advanced routes for those holding nationally recognised Headship qualifications (see entry requirements for details). Year 2 entry is not available for September 2026.

Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.

Career prospects

You will be equipped with the tools, knowledge, and attitudes to lead improvement efforts in a variety of educational contexts. The degree will support your career development as a school and system leader in state, independent and international schools, educational government agencies and organisations.

Typical career pathways include:

Headteachers, deputy headteachers and department heads
Educational consultants and advisers
Policy officers and civil servants
Curriculum designers and developers
Learning and development managers
Educational administrators in schools, colleges and universities
Leadership roles in private, public and international education organisations

The programme also provides a strong foundation for further postgraduate study, including doctoral research, for those wishing to pursue academic or policy‑focused careers.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2027-28

MSc

Part-time online distance learning only:

Home & RUK: TBC by UK Government
International & EU: £1,667 per 20 credits

Fee status

Fee status guidance

Additional fees

Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
Registration/exam only fee: £170

Entry requirements

2.2 Hons (or non-UK equivalent) in a subject related to Education. A BA in Childhood Practice is also accepted.

We may also accept applicants with lower grades, or a degree in a non-related subject, where there is at least 2 years of work experience in an educational setting. Please upload a CV.

English language requirements

For applicants from non-majority English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

Accepted English Language Tests

We accept a wide range of English language tests for entry to this programme. Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date, and requirements must be met using a single test.

IELTS Academic/IELTS Academic for UKVI/ IELTS Academic online

6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
We do not accept General Training

TOEFL iBT (including MyBest and Home Edition)

Test taken up to 20 January 2026

90 overall with no subtest less than Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21

Tests taken from 21 January 2026

92 overall with no subtest less than 4.5

PTE Academic (test centre only)

65 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 60; Speaking 65; Writing 60
We do not accept the online PTE Academic

Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency

176 overall with no subtest less than 169

Oxford ELLT

7 overall with no subtest less than 6

LanguageCert Academic/Academic SELT/ Academic Online

70 overall with no subtest less than 65

Password Skills Plus

6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0

Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II

96 overall with no subtest less than 90

Kaplan Test of English

Any two subtests at 480 or higher, and any two subtests at 450 or higher

PSI Skills for English

B2 Pass with Merit

Duolingo English Test

120 overall with writing at 120 and no subtest less than 110

Oxford Test of English Advanced

140 Overall with any two subtests at 126 or higher, and any two subtests at 136 or higher

Alternatives to English Language test

Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)

students must have studied for a minimum of their final year at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within 6 years of programme start.

TNE degree from UK university taught at a campus outside of the UK

students must be awarded the degree by the UK university and must have completed the degree within 6 years of programme start.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study and remain valid for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Our courses give you:

direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS);
essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University;
flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.

For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/mlc/eas/pre-sessionalcourses/

We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:

Heriot Watt
Kingston Upon Thames
Middlesex University
Manchester University
Reading University
Edinburgh University
St Andrews University
UCL
Durham

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.

Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.

Documents

As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:

A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
One reference letter on headed paper
Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
A copy of the photo page of your passport

You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.

You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.

For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree

Guidance notes for using the online application

These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form.

If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help.

Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.

Reference: Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.

Application deadlines

For entry in September 2027

Applications for this online programme will be accepted up until it starts.