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Educational Leadership (Pre-service) MA

London, Bloomsbury

The Educational Leadership (Pre-service) MA 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 course will enable you to reflect on relevant and contemporary theory, practice and evidence, supporting you to become an effective educationalist and future leader of learning and change. Modules on this course 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.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£14,200
£7,100
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£35,400
£17,700
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 calendar year
2 calendar years
5 calendar years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
Applicants who require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 26 Jun 2026

Applications closed

Applicants who do not require a visa: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

a minimum of a second-class Bachelor's degree from a UK university or overseas qualification is required. Applicants are not required to have previous leadership experience.

The English language level for this course is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

This course is suitable for international students on a Student visa – study must be full-time, face-to-face, starting September.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

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

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.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

Educational Leadership (Pre-service) MA 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 UCL Institute of Education (IOE), ranked number one in the world for last twelve years (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025). 

The degree is led and taught by experts in the field who apply their expertise and experience to support emerging educational leaders aspiring to future education careers in practice, policy and academia.

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Although academic in focus, the course is rooted in real-world issues related to the field of education. This course will provide a grounding in matters such as understanding the role of leadership in education and impacts on children, young people and staff; discussing the role of emergent leaders, including Gen Z; 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 course 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 leadership experience to develop careers within education at a range of practice and policy levels disciplines. Deep engagement with the education leadership field will provide candidates with an excellent foundation for development and advancement early career stage.

Networking

UCL has a rich range of student societies and clubs and hosts a range of social and educational talks, exhibitions and events all year round. Within the Department for Learning and Leadership, there are limited opportunities to undertake a local school visit and some further opportunities for a limited number of students to undertake mentee placements in local schools.

Teaching and learning

This course is delivered through face-to-face tuition, and activity-based learning, with elements of one-to-one and small group meetings online. Each module is supported by materials on our virtual learning environment.

Across the course, students are assessed by essay, usually alongside an individual presentation or viva.

Formative feedback on draft work is provided and can take the form of oral feedback from staff,  written feedback on a draft and peer feedback. 

Summative feedback on your final draft is presented in the form of written feedback and a percentage grade. 

This is a taught face-to-face course with additional pre-structured online (individual and group) activities and individual fieldwork to prepare for the final assignment. You will spend about a third of your time in lectures or engaging in directed online activities and the remaining two thirds of your time working with other students, undertaking field work, doing independent study and preparing the assessment tasks.

For full time students, there are typically 6 hours contact in Term 1 and between 3 - 6 hours in each of Term 2 and 3. Self-directed student consists of approximately 25+ hours per week. Part time students will engage in class and self-study for up to half of the full time hours depending on module selection.

Modules

All taught modules and recommended optional modules from the IOE leadership suite are taught in a blended format. This includes in-person as well as some online tuition. Your studies are further supported with a virtual learning environment dedicated to the course and each module that you are undertaking.

You will be assigned a Personal Tutor. The Personal Tutor will offer guidance and support, and may also signpost you to wider resources and services, in relation to your academic progression and individual wellbeing.

In term 1, you will complete 'Introduction to Educational Leadership' (30 credits) and 'Doing and Using Research Methods in Education' (30 credits).

In term 2, you will begin the compulsory dissertation (60 credits). Many students on this course also undertake 'Leadership for the Learning Community' (30 credits) during this period. 

In term 3, you will continue with your dissertation. Most students on this course study 'Leadership in Diverse Cultures and Communities' (30 credits) during this time.

All taught modules in the IOE leadership suite primarily include in-person tuition and may also include some further elements of online tuition. Your studies are further supported with a virtual learning environment dedicated to the course and each module that you are undertaking.

You will be assigned a Personal Tutor. The Personal Tutor will offer guidance and support, and may also signpost you to wider resources and services, in relation to your academic progression and individual wellbeing.

In Year 1, it is advised that you complete three modules accumulating in a total of 90 credits.

In Year 2, it is advised that you complete the dissertation (60 credits) and one module (30 credits), accumulating in total of 90 credits.

Most students undertake a final dissertation (60 credits). In rare circumstances and in consultation with the course leader you may take an additional optional module (30 credits) plus a final research report (30 credits).

All taught modules and recommended optional modules from the IOE leadership suite are taught in a blended format. This primarily includes in-person tuition and may also include some further elements of online tuition. Your studies are further supported with a virtual learning environment dedicated to the course and each module that you are undertaking.

You will also be assigned a Personal Tutor. The Personal Tutor will offer guidance and support, and may also signpost you to wider resources and services, in relation to your academic progression and individual wellbeing.

Students on the modular flexible route can spread their learning across a minimum period of two years, to a maximum period of five years.

You should discuss with your Course Leader the anticipated duration for completion of your studies. Each year, you will have opportunity to confirm which modules you will complete. This should be based on a viable balance between your professional, personal and academic commitments.

All students undertake a final dissertation (60 credits). In some circumstances and in consultation with the course leader you can take an additional optional module (30 credits) plus a final research report (30 credits).

Compulsory modules






Optional modules




Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded an MA in Educational Leadership (Pre-service).

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

Visit us

All open days and events

Online - Open day

Graduate Open Events: Educational Leadership and Management

Do you want to be an effective leader of learning and change? UCL Institute of Education prides ourselves on the quality, depth and breadth of our research in Education and Leadership. You will meet our academics, hear about the courses you are interested in and have the chance to ask any questions you might have.

Watch on demand event

Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time Part-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £14,200 £7,100
Tuition fees (2026/27) £35,400 £17,700

Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Postgraduate Taught students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Where the course is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a fee deposit will be charged at 2.5% of the first year fee.

For full-time and part-time offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a fee deposit will be charged at 10% of the first year fee.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of UK, a £350 deposit will be charged.

For modular/flexible offer holders with a fee status classification of Overseas, a £500 deposit will be charged.

Further information can be found in the Tuition fee deposits section on this page: Tuition fees.

Students are responsible for covering any travel, accommodation, and other expenses involved in conducting research for their dissertation or report. There are also some opportunities to undertake local school visits involving local transportation costs up to £100, sudents should account for these costs when planning their finances.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

There is an application processing fee for this course of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Educational Leadership (Pre-service) at graduate level
  • why you want to study Educational Leadership (Pre-service) at UCL
  • how your academic and professional background relate to this challenging course
  • where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this course match what the course will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Learning and Leadership
Learning and Leadership

ioe.ma.leadership@ucl.ac.uk

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