MA Education with Leadership and Management
Leeds Beckett University
Course Overview
The MA Education with Leadership and Management is designed for educators, senior practitioners, and aspiring leaders who want to develop the knowledge, critical insight, and research skills required to lead and manage change within educational organisations.
Grounded in social justice and global perspectives, the course enables students to critically explore how leadership, management, policy, and power shape educational systems and outcomes. Students examine contemporary challenges in education and develop the capacity to influence practice, organisational culture, and strategic decision-making through research-informed leadership.
This pathway is ideal for professionals seeking to move into leadership roles or strengthen their impact within schools, colleges, training organisations, and educational institutions.
Academic Structure and Learning Experience
The programme carries 180 Level 7 credits and can be studied full-time over one year or part-time over two years, either via distance learning or on campus.
Students follow the core MA Education structure, with opportunities to shape their learning towards leadership and management through module selection and independent research. Core areas include:
- Global debates in education
- Theorising education
- Research methods
- A substantial independent dissertation
Optional modules allow students to explore themes closely aligned with leadership and management, such as social justice, voice, co-production, diversity, and organisational practice.
Teaching is delivered through lectures, seminars, tutorials, and online learning environments. Distance learners engage via recorded lectures, discussion forums, and online tutorials. Assessment is primarily coursework-based, culminating in a 12,000–15,000 word dissertation that enables students to investigate a leadership or management issue within their own professional context.
Recognition, Accreditation and Value
The course is awarded by Leeds Beckett University and leads to the Master of Arts in Education, a Level 7 postgraduate qualification recognised in the UK and internationally.
Students may also exit with a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma in Education, providing recognised interim awards and flexibility.
The qualification offers strong professional value for educators seeking progression into leadership, management, advisory, and strategic roles, as well as those aiming to influence policy, organisational development, and educational reform.
Flexibility, Support and Progression
Designed to support working professionals, the programme offers flexible study options, with full-time and part-time routes and both distance-learning and campus-based delivery.
Students benefit from:
- Access to experienced academic staff through tutorials and scheduled support
- Structured guidance in leadership-focused research and academic writing
- A dedicated dissertation supervisor supporting an applied leadership or management research project
Graduates are well positioned to progress into educational leadership and management roles, senior practitioner positions, consultancy, policy work, or doctoral study. The dissertation provides a strong foundation for further research or strategic leadership development.