Online MA Educational Leadership: Lead With Impact | Walbrook

Get your Master’s in Educational Leadership, the Walbrook Way

Study 100% online, from anywhere
- Graduate in as little as 1 year.
- Start any month from September 2026.
- Competitive tuition – £6,960 total.
12th in UK for employment and further study
- Beating Russell Group unis on career outcomes*
- Shaped by practice, grounded in research.
- Career support and a 24/7 job portal.
For educators balancing work, home and life
- Study flexibly within a weekly structure.
- Flex between full and part-time.
- Online learning for busy educators.

MA Educational Leadership online degree

Head teacher salaries in the UK reached an average of £83,464 in 2025/26, reflecting how schools are continuing to invest in educational leaders. The sector needs people with strategic leadership skills who have a deep understanding of the systems and educational institutions they're working within. Our MA Educational Leadership degree is designed to develop exactly that kind of leader – one whose thinking shapes the experience of everyone in their care.

Why this master's degree?

The education sector depends on senior leadership roles to implement evidence-based change and sustain improvement.
Designed for teachers and education professionals inspired to move into an education leadership position.
Created in London, by educators advising UNESCO, ministries, and global organisations.

Headshot of Prof Robert White with the quote "Few master's degrees in education ask the big questions: what education is for, who it serves, and how it could be reimagined to expand human potential."

Your online MA Educational Leadership degree at a glance

Location:

‣ 100% Online, distance learning

Start dates:

‣ Start any month from September 2026

Duration:

‣ Full-time: 1 year or 13 months

‣ Part-time: 2 years

Tuition fees and funding:

‣ Total programme cost is £6,960

‣ Secure your place by paying for your first one or two modules, depending on whether you choose full-time or part-time study.

Entry requirements:

‣ 2:2 honours degree and above (or equivalent)

‣ Alternatively, you can apply with 2+ years’ relevant professional experience in one or more education-related roles.

Tuition fees for your online MA Educational Leadership degree

The prices shown below are for our online MA Education degrees only. They are inclusive of your first module(s) payment and don't include any reductions.

Total programme cost
Full-time: 1 year or 13 months | Part-time: 2 years

£6,960
in total
You'll study 10x 15-credit modules and 1x 30-credit Dissertation module in total (approx. 17-30 hrs/week).
Apply now
Cost per module
Full-time: 1 year or 13 months | Part-time: 2 years

£580
per 15-credit module
You'll study 10x 15-credit modules. Your final 30-credit Dissertation module will be charged at £1,280.
Apply now

Total tuition fees: £6,960.  You can pay for your MA Educational Leadership degree per module, or in full before you start your studies. 

If you choose to pay in full, you’ll receive a 15% reduction on your total tuition fees.

If you choose to pay per module, your payment schedule will depend on whether you choose full or part-time study:

If you apply as a full-time student, you’ll need to pay for two modules upfront to confirm your place, then continue to pay in two-module instalments as you progress.
If you apply as a part-time student, you’ll pay for one module upfront, then continue to pay per module before each one begins.

If you’re a UK student, you may be eligible for a government master's loan from Student Finance England for our online master's degrees. The Student Loans Company (SLC) will pay the loan directly to you after you start your studies. So, it’s your responsibility to make your module payments to us directly. Find out more about funding your Walbrook master's with a UK master's loan >
Want to see exactly when payments are due? Open the payment schedule for our next two start dates below.

September 2026 start date
- Full-time payment schedule – September 2026
- Part-time payment schedule – September 2026
October 2026 start date
- Full-time payment schedule – October 2026
- Part-time payment schedule – October 2026
Alumni receive a 10% tuition fee discount. If you’re eligible, our enrolment team can provide your personalised payment schedule.

Entry requirements for your online MA Educational Leadership degree

Every application is different. If you’re not sure whether you meet the MA Educational Leadership entry requirements, or you have any questions, contact us for advice.

To apply, you’ll need to meet the following entry requirements:
- A UK honours degree at 2:2 or above (or equivalent international qualification).
Or
- 2+ years’ relevant professional experience in one or more education-related roles.
Thinking of transferring institutions or have you studied before? You can apply to transfer up to 60 credits towards your master's degree. Please note that credits can’t be awarded for the research module of this programme.

These credits must be relevant, current, and aligned with the subject matter of your chosen MSc Computer Science pathway.
- Review our recognition of prior learning process.
- Speak to our Enrolment Team.
- Submit a recognition of prior learning form alongside your application.
Overseas qualifications may be accepted and will be subject to evidence of equivalency normally verified through ECCTIS (UK ENIC).
If English is not your first language, you’ll be asked to provide proof of your English language proficiency. Ideally, your test should be no more than two years old when your course begins. If your test is older, please still apply and our admissions team can review your circumstances.

Alternatively, you may be accepted if you have previously studied in English at an appropriate level and attended a recognised institution.

IELTS
- Evidence of a score of IELTS Level 6.0 or above with no element below 5.5.
TOEFL iBT®
- Evidence of a score of 79 overall (with 18 in reading, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking and 21 in writing).
Duolingo
- Evidence of an overall minimum score of 110 with no component score below 100.
Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English
- Evidence of a score of 170 overall, with 160 in each component.

I would say just go for it. I am currently in full time employment, so being able to study at my own time and being able to be in control of my own studying was really important, and Walbrook provided that as part of their online degrees.

Aleksandra Anastasova
Walbrook online master's student

The course content is engaging and easy to follow, and the lecturers are really responsive, which makes a huge difference when you’re studying online. I like that there’s pacing built in to keep you on track, but also the flexibility to fit around work, life and kids. I’ve really learnt a lot that I can already put into practice in my role at work. 

Hayley Coates
Walbrook online master's student

MA Educational Leadership programme details

Walbrook’s MA Educational Leadership postgraduate degree is designed for teaching professionals who want to lead with both insight and confidence. You’ll explore what effective leadership looks like in real education settings – not as a checklist, but as a way of understanding how schools, trusts, and wider educational organisations operate.

You’ll engage with key theories, look at how organisational culture shapes decisions, and learn to recognise the political, cultural, and structural factors at play in any educational organisation. Reflective practice runs throughout the programme, with tasks that connect your learning to real-world challenges in your own setting. The course ends with a dissertation based on your professional context, giving you the chance to turn everyday questions into research that can make a meaningful difference for future students and school leaders.

On this online MA Educational Leadership programme, you’ll study a series of carefully designed modules. With flexible monthly starts, you’ll join the next available module and study alongside a cohort of master's level students learning the same subject at the same time.
- Leadership in Complex Educational Systems
  Leadership isn't charisma or technique – it's about understanding systems. You'll engage with instructional, distributed, transformational, ethical, and critical leadership theory, and use systems thinking to see how your organisation works as an interconnected educational environment.
- Change, Implementation and Systems Thinking
  Many changes fail at the implementation stage. You’ll critically examine challenges like resistance, accountability, and sustainability, and create a research-informed plan that works in your professional context
- Education, Ethics and Human Purpose
  What is education actually for – and who does it serve? This module explores the philosophical and ethical foundations of educational practice, helping you think more clearly about purpose, fairness, and responsibility, and develop principled positions on the big questions.
- Global Education Systems and Policy Context
  Why do education systems look so different around the world? You'll examine how politics, governance, and economics shape schools and policy across the UK and internationally, building the critical thinking tools to assess what educational reform actually achieves.
- Learning, Knowledge and Pedagogical Practice
  What gets taught, why, and by whose authority? You'll explore how decisions about knowledge, curriculum, and assessment affect learners, developing the confidence to make and defend your own professional judgements with clarity.
- Education Policy and Reform
  Policy shapes classrooms, but policy implementation is rarely simple. Drawing on political theory and policy sociology, you'll examine how education reform is made, contested, and put into practice across national and international contexts.
- Curriculum Theory and Design
  Curriculum is more than just a list of topics. A good curriculum reflects social, political, and ethical priorities. You'll explore how knowledge is chosen, ordered, and assessed, and gives you the tools to design the right curricula for your students.
- Education, Power and Social Justice
  On this module, you'll develop a critical understanding of how race, class, gender, and inequality play out in education systems, and build the skills to respond in ways that are grounded in educational research and ethics.
- Research Methods in Education
  Good research skills start with good thinking. This module takes you from the fundamentals of research process and design (including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods) through to a full, coherent research proposal ready to take into your dissertation.
- Research Development
  This module bridges your taught study and your dissertation. You'll refine your research question, build your conceptual framework, review the literature on your topic, and develop a full research proposal.
- Dissertation
  This is your chance to investigate a topic within educational practice that genuinely matters to you. An independent research project, you'll design and execute original research aligned to your professional context and your own interests within education.

Your module schedule depends on the month you start, and whether you study full or part-time. You'll study each module once, completing all taught modules before moving on to your final two modules: Research Development and Dissertation.

Full-time students: start a new 8-week module every month.
Part-time students: start a new 8-week module every other month.

Module start date	Module name	Assessment details
7 September 2026	Education, Ethics and Human Purpose	1. Philosophical Position Paper - 20% 2. Applied Ethical Case Evaluation - 30% 3. Integrative Contested Issue Essay - 50%
5 October 2026	Global Education Systems and Policy Context	1. Comparative Policy Commentary - 20% 2. Governance Analysis Report - 30% 3. Reform Impact Evaluation - 50%
2 November 2026	Learning, Knowledge, and Pedagogical Practice	1. Epistemological Commentary Essay - 20% 2. Curriculum and Assessment Coherence Analysis - 30% 3. Pedagogical Judgement Synthesis Paper - 50%
7 December 2026	Education Policy and Reform	1. Policy Formation Analysis - 20% 2. Implementation Case Study - 30% 3. Reform Evaluation Paper - 50%
4 January 2027	Curriculum Theory and Design	1. Curriculum Theory Critique - 20% 2. Curriculum Coherence Analysis - 30% 3. Curriculum Design Justification Project - 50%
1 February 2027	Education, Power and Social Justice	1. Theoretical Framing Essay - 20% 2. Institutional Equity Analysis - 30% 3. Integrated Social Justice Position Paper - 50%
1 March 2027	Research Methods in Education	1. Research Article Critique - 20% 2. Comparative Methods Analysis - 30% 3. Critical Analysis of Research Methods in Education - 50%
5 April 2027	Leadership in Complex Educational Systems	1. Change Theory Analysis - 20% 2. Improvement Barrier and Systems Analysis - 30% 3. Strategic Improvement Design Proposal - 50%
3 May 2027	Change, Implementation and Systems Thinking	1. Leadership Theory Analysis - 20% 2. Systems Mapping and Institutional Analysis - 30% 3. Leadership and Systems Evaluation Paper - 50%
7 June 2027	Education, Ethics and Human Purpose	1. Philosophical Position Paper - 20% 2. Applied Ethical Case Evaluation - 30% 3. Integrative Contested Issue Essay - 50%
5 July 2027	Global Education Systems and Policy Context	1. Comparative Policy Commentary - 20% 2. Governance Analysis Report - 30% 3. Reform Impact Evaluation - 50%
2 August 2027	Learning, Knowledge, and Pedagogical Practice	1. Epistemological Commentary Essay - 20% 2. Curriculum and Assessment Coherence Analysis - 30% 3. Pedagogical Judgement Synthesis Paper - 50%
6 September 2027	Education Policy and Reform	1. Policy Formation Analysis - 20% 2. Implementation Case Study - 30% 3. Reform Evaluation Paper - 50%
4 October 2027	Curriculum Theory and Design	1. Curriculum Theory Critique - 20% 2. Curriculum Coherence Analysis - 30% 3. Curriculum Design Justification Project - 50%
1 November 2027	Education, Power and Social Justice	1. Theoretical Framing Essay - 20% 2. Institutional Equity Analysis - 30% 3. Integrated Social Justice Position Paper - 50%
6 December 2027	Research Methods in Education	1. Research Article Critique - 20% 2. Comparative Methods Analysis - 30% 3. Critical Analysis of Research Methods in Education - 50%
3 January 2028	Leadership in Complex Educational Systems	1. Change Theory Analysis - 20% 2. Improvement Barrier and Systems Analysis - 30% 3. Strategic Improvement Design Proposal - 50%
7 February 2028	Change, Implementation and Systems Thinking	1. Leadership Theory Analysis - 20% 2. Systems Mapping and Institutional Analysis - 30% 3. Leadership and Systems Evaluation Paper - 50%
6 March 2028	Education, Ethics and Human Purpose	1. Philosophical Position Paper - 20% 2. Applied Ethical Case Evaluation - 30% 3. Integrative Contested Issue Essay - 50%
3 April 2028	Global Education Systems and Policy Context	1. Comparative Policy Commentary - 20% 2. Governance Analysis Report - 30% 3. Reform Impact Evaluation - 50%
1 May 2028	Learning, Knowledge, and Pedagogical Practice	1. Epistemological Commentary Essay - 20% 2. Curriculum and Assessment Coherence Analysis - 30% 3. Pedagogical Judgement Synthesis Paper - 50%
5 June 2028	Education Policy and Reform	1. Policy Formation Analysis - 20% 2. Implementation Case Study - 30% 3. Reform Evaluation Paper - 50%
3 July 2028	Curriculum Theory and Design	1. Curriculum Theory Critique - 20% 2. Curriculum Coherence Analysis - 30% 3. Curriculum Design Justification Project - 50%
7 August 2028	Education, Power and Social Justice	1. Theoretical Framing Essay - 20% 2. Institutional Equity Analysis - 30% 3. Integrated Social Justice Position Paper - 50%

Final research modules

Module name

Assessment details

Research Development

1. Research proposal – 45%

2. Critical literature review – 55%

Dissertation

1. Dissertation – 100%

Across your MA, you’ll complete a mix of assessment methods designed to stretch your thinking, strengthen your communication skills, and bring your learning to life. Each module (except your final research modules) includes three assignments – helping you build confidence, test ideas and apply theory in more than one way.

Here’s a snapshot of the main types of assessments you’ll complete across your core modules.
- Critical commentary or theoretical analysis: examine a key concept, framework, or tradition in depth while evaluating its assumptions, strengths, and limitations within educational contexts.
- Case study or contextual analysis: apply theoretical frameworks to a specific institution, policy, reform, or setting. You'll interrogate what's actually happening in the case study, and why.
- Comparative analysis: look at two systems, methodologies, or approaches and construct an evidence-informed evaluation of what distinguishes them and why it matters.
- Position paper or argument essay: develop and defend a theoretically grounded position on a complex or contested issue in education – integrating multiple perspectives and demonstrating clear analytical judgement.
- Curriculum or professional learning design: produce a structured proposal (for a curriculum framework, professional learning strategy, or improvement plan) grounded in research and justified through theory.
- Research proposal: start planning your dissertation by identifying a research problem, shaping your ideas, and designing a study that fits your professional practice.
- Critical literature review: explore the research around your topic, identify key themes and gaps, and build the critical awareness and foundation for your dissertation.
- Dissertation: your final independent research project that brings together theoretical perspectives and future practice, showing your understanding of research methodology in your chosen area.

How you'll study

Studying online with Walbrook is designed to be flexible and engaging, giving you access to everything you need to succeed:

Full-time students should set aside around 30 hours per week.
- You'll start a new 8-week module each month, so while you’re beginning your learning in one module, you’ll be preparing for assessment in the other.
Part-time students should set aside around 17 hours per week.
- You'll start a new 8-week module every other month, making it easier to fit your studies around work, family and everyday life.
Your self-study will include:
- Engaging programme content delivered via our online study platform.
- Case studies and applied tasks that link theory to real business scenarios.
- Preparation for assessments including reports, proposals and project work.
Our support is built around you and your success. From enrolment to graduation, you’ll have access to digital academic tools that help you study in a way that works for you, and people who are here to help.

You'll benefit from:
- Digital learning materials including key readings, videos, and research resources.
- Access to a digital library to support your independent research.
- Support to help you stay on track and direct you to the right teams when needed.

Apply to start your MA Educational Leadership this September

Applying to study an online master's at Walbrook is simple, and you can do it directly.

1. Check programme entry requirements
Review our entry requirements to make sure you meet them.
2. Complete your application online
Apply through our secure online application portal and upload your documents as you go.
3. Accept your unconditional offer
By paying for your first module (part-time) or first two modules (full-time).

Contact us about our online degrees

Any questions about our online degrees or studying at Walbrook? Our Enrolment Advisors are here to help.

Our office is open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 5.30pm UK time (excluding UK public holidays).

contact-image-enrolment-team

Career opportunities: MA Educational Leadership

Leadership roles across state-funded nursery, primary, and secondary schools typically offer salaries between £60,000 and £70,000 (School Teachers' Review Body, 2025). And many leaders stay and progress in these roles – 79.3% of primary headteachers and 64.7% of secondary headteachers remain in the same or a more senior position after three years (Department for Education, 2025). The sector is investing in leaders who can make an impact and build for the long term.

The MA Educational Leadership is designed to help you become that kind of leader. You’ll develop leadership practices shaped by clear purpose, with a real understanding of how the systems around you work. Whatever your career aspirations, whether that’s moving into your first senior role, becoming a headteacher, or strengthening your effective leadership, this programme builds the judgment to lead well and supports your growth alongside your practical experience. Here are some of the careers your studies, combined with your experience, could lead to as you apply and build on the skills you learn. Please note that this MA does not award qualified teacher status or professional accreditation – but it can strengthen your expertise and support progression when combined with relevant experience and any role-specific requirements.

Headteacher
Average UK salary: £83,464 (Department for Education, 2025)

Headteacher: job description

Lead a whole school community, shaping its culture, curriculum, and standards, and the experience of every student. This programme helps you build strong leadership practices, understanding educational environments as connected systems rather than simple structures. Modules such as Leadership in Complex Educational Systems and Change, Implementation and Systems Thinking develop the judgement needed for real improvement, combining leadership and management in everyday decisions. Education, Ethics and Human Purpose supports your professional identity and keeps your focus on why the work matters.

Average UK salary: £83,464 (Department for Education, 2025)
Director of Education
Average UK salary: £83,758

Director of Education: job description

Set the vision and direction for a multi-academy trust, local authority, or regional body through strategic leadership. Following successful completion of the MA Education Leadership programme, you’ll be able to critically analyse policy, data, and provision with confidence. Modules such as Education Policy and Reform and Global Education Systems and Policy Context help you understand how decisions play out in practice, while Education, Power and Social Justice strengthens your ability to assess whether systems are working fairly.

Average UK salary: £83,758
Academic Programme Director
Average UK salary: £105,620

Academic Programme Director: job description

Lead the direction, quality, and structure of an academic programme. This programme builds the leadership and management skills needed for curriculum development, alongside the ability to critically analyse and support teaching teams. Curriculum Theory and Design helps you decide what should be included in a programme and why, while Learning, Knowledge and Pedagogical Practice strengthens the judgement behind effective leadership. Research methods give you the tools to review and improve your programme over time, wherever you are in your professional journey.

Average UK salary: £105,620

FAQs: Why study for an MA Educational Leadership online degree?

The MA Educational Leadership is Walbrook's only online MA Education programme focused specifically on leadership theory, governance, and organisational change. It builds the strategic judgement needed to drive sustainable improvement across schools, trusts, and education systems through two unique modules: Leadership in Complex Educational Systems and Change, and Implementation and Systems Thinking.

Walbrook's other online MA Education programmes take different specialist directions:
- MA Education: a broad, comparative programme for those working across international contexts
- MA Early Childhood Education: focused on early years pedagogy, curriculum, and policy
- MA Special and Inclusive Education: grounded in rights-based, equity-informed practice
Wherever you want to go next in education leadership, this programme is built to help you get there.

If you're aiming for a senior school role, that might mean:
- headteacher, assistant headteacher, or deputy headteacher
- multi-academy trust CEO
- director of education at trust or local authority level
If you're drawn to specialist or advisory work, you could move into:
- school improvement adviser
- Ofsted inspector
- education consultant
- policy analyst
- programme officer at an NGO, think tank, or government department
If you're interested in research, the programme also sets you up for:
- doctoral study (EdD or PhD)
- research leadership within a school, trust, or education organisation
And just as importantly, career progression doesn't have to mean moving on. Many students use the MA to become significantly better at the role they already hold – bringing sharper strategic thinking, stronger research literacy, and a clearer ethical compass to the decisions you make every day.
Education is a moral and human practice, not a technical one – and leadership carries that responsibility in concentrated form. As Prof. Robert White (Academic Lead at Walbrook) puts it: "There are plenty of master's degrees in education. Few ask the big questions: what education is for, who it serves, and how it could be reimagined to expand human potential."

That impact shows up in specific ways:
- Schools where staff feel trusted, supported, and retained
- Strategic decisions grounded in evidence rather than fashion
- Provision that genuinely serves the students most at risk of being overlooked
The thinking you develop on this programme shapes the conditions you create for everyone around you, for the rest of your career.
Place-based inquiry means taking your own educational setting as the site of genuine research. Rather than importing solutions that worked somewhere else, you investigate what's actually happening in your own practice, why, and what a principled response might look like.
Yes – and the online course is designed with exactly that in mind. There are no fixed timetables, live online lectures, or classes to attend, so you can fit your studies around work and family commitments. You study when it suits you, within a clear weekly structure and assessment schedule that keeps you on track.

Part-time study takes 2 years, with around 17 hours per week and one new module every other month. Full-time study takes around 1 year, with around 30 hours per week and one new module every month, with some assessment deadlines overlapping.

Depending on your start date, the full-time programme might require 13 months of study instead of 12. This is because the schedule of modules differs with each start month, and if your schedule places one of the modules that directly informs your research at the end of your taught stage, you'll finish it in full before moving into the Research Development and Dissertation modules.
No – a teaching qualification isn't required, which makes our online course accessible if you've come into leadership through non-traditional routes. The standard entry requirements are a good first honours degree (2:2 or above, or international equivalent), or 2+ years' relevant experience.

If you don't hold a 2:2 undergraduate degree or you're not sure whether your background meets our requirements, we still encourage you to get in touch.
Your master’s degree is delivered through an online study platform, where you’ll study either one or two modules at a time depending on your study mode. Full-time students take two modules in parallel (with a short gap between start dates), while part-time students complete one module at a time.

Here’s what you can expect:
- Weekly learning units to guide your progress
- Readings and case studies
- Videos and narrated presentations (mini-lectures)
- Online discussion forums
- Quizzes and tasks to check your understanding
You’ll have the freedom to plan your study time around work and life – but within a guided schedule that helps you stay focused, connected, and on track to succeed.
Yes – both home and international students are welcome to apply. If your first language isn’t English, you’ll need to meet our English language requirements – further information can be found in the 'entry requirements' section above. This 100% online learning MA Educational Leadership programme allows international applicants to study from anywhere in the world, connect with a diverse network of fellow students, and develop skills to make a real difference in the leadership of education in your country.

The Walbrook Way: Digital from day one. Designed for your career.

Graduate in as little as 1 year, or flex to part-time.
Ranked 12th for employment outcomes in the UK*
Total fees: £6,960 – pay in full or pay per module.

Request information

Request information

Walbrook: recognised for education excellence

Hi there, do you have any questions? Our Enrolment Advisors are here to help.