MSc Professional Education and Leadership

Leadership matters in education. Strong leaders are needed to help institutions, systems and societies change for the better (UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report 2024/25). Our Masters in Professional Education and Leadership equips you with the advanced knowledge and leadership skills needed to drive change in educational settings. You’ll use these skills to lead and enhance the learning experiences of those you support. They might be pupils, students, trainees, or colleagues. The course is for anyone looking to enhance their leadership of learning within their own profession. It's not only for school educators. Enhance your educational leadership and management skills On this Professional Education and Leadership Masters degree you’ll: explore the complexity of professional learning in the context of your own profession critique how a curriculum is shaped and practised draw upon current research to support you in leading critical collaborative enquiries lead a group of colleagues to design and implement research-informed improvements for learning in your own setting. We work closely with partners across five Local Authorities in Scotland (Clackmannanshire Council, Falkirk Council, Perth and Kinross Council, Stirling Council and West Lothian Council) to continuously develop this highly regarded professional education course. Our modules are co-designed and co-developed in partnership with practitioners working in multiple professional education settings. The course content is continuously updated as national and local education policies evolve, including the General Teaching Council for Scotland’s (GTCS) Professional Standards Framework (2021) among others. Benefit from a supportive and flexible learning environment Our part-time professional educational leadership course follows a flexible, blended learning model. Most teaching is self-directed and online with monthly in-person teaching sessions held on campus on Saturdays to allow you to balance your studies with your existing professional and personal commitments. Be part of an active education community Professional Education and Leadership Masters students can attend continuing professional development (CPD) events. These include the Stirling Centre for Curriculum Research Seminar Series and the Professional Leadership Reading Group. They’re ideal opportunities for networking and skills development. In years one and two you will undertake a compulsory core module and select one of six option modules: Middle Leadership, Curriculum Leadership, Digital Leadership, Coaching and Mentoring, and Promoting Equity to meet your individual professional learning interests and career aspirations. In year three you will undertake the final two modules in the course, Leading Critical Collaborative Professional Enquiry 1 and 2. Through the work of these two modules, you will lead a group of colleagues in designing and implementing research-informed improvements for learning experiences (of learners, colleagues and wider education communities). You must successfully complete six modules (in specific routes) for the award of this Masters degree.

A minimum of a second class Honours degree (2:1 preferred) or equivalent. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.