Overview
This Masters in Professional Education and Leadership is designed to impact educators' learning and leadership practices to the benefit of their learners (who could be pupils, students, trainees and/or colleagues). You will explore the complexity of professional learning in the context of your profession and colleagues, your workplace and career-stage, and your regulatory standards and policy frameworks. This exploration involves critiquing the ways in which a curriculum (its content, pedagogy and forms of assessment) is shaped and practiced so that you can lead others in discerning the need for change and the best, research-informed way of achieving it. The Professional Education and Leadership team in the Faculty of Social Sciences has worked in partnership with local authorities and other stakeholders over a number of years to develop this highly regarded professional education course. Originally designed for educators working with learners 3-18, most often in schools, educators from other professions have also chosen this masters through which to develop their leadership of learning in, for example, the police, armed forces and paramedic professions.
This course draws upon current research to support education practitioners in leading critical, collaborative and enquiring approaches to improving professional practices in education contexts. Each module is an opportunity to explore professional values, commitments and standards (e.g. General Teaching Council for Scotland’s (GTCS 2021) Professional Standards) recognising that leadership of learning is accomplished at all levels and stages.
The benefits of this course extend beyond individual participants to include their colleagues and wider learning communities, facilitating the development of strong professional networks within and beyond the course. Additionally, in joining this programme of study, participants (and their colleagues) have access to, and often advance notice of, our research and CPD events (e.g. Professional Reading Group; Stirling Centre for Curriculum Research Seminar Series).
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email profeduc@stir.ac.uk to discuss your course of study.
If you’re interested in studying a module from this course, the Postgraduate Certificate or the Postgraduate Diploma then please email Graduate Admissions to discuss your course of study.
Research conducted by members of the Professional Education and Leadership team has impacted directly on teachers’ professional learning and on the national policies that support it. Additionally, our research has been instrumental in shaping curriculum policy and practice in Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, Educational research at the University of Stirling was ranked top 20 in the UK for impact and research environment, with 100% classed as either world-leading or internationally excellent. Our expert teaching team are on hand to introduce you to cutting-edge empirical and theoretical research in a multi-disciplinary and professional environment.
Entry requirements
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.
Students on the course must have access to, or be employed in an appropriate work environment, e.g. a school.
If you’re an international student and applying with a Student visa, we cannot accept your application for this course as it falls into the category of being part-time, delivered online or a distance learning course.
International entry requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 62 overall with 60 in each sub-skill.
- IBT TOEFL 80 overall with 18 in reading, 23 in writing, 19 in listening and 21 in speaking.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses.
Course details
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.
Modules
The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the academic year that starts in September 2024. Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.
Course Details
The modules will be delivered through a blended learning format designed to facilitate both individual and collaborative work. The format is a mix of:
- face-to-face seminar days on campus,
- guided self-study,
- online and work-based learning.
Dr Gary Husband
Dr Terrie Lynn Thompson
Professor Mark Priestley
Dr John I’Anson
Fees and funding
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Eligible students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
If you need to extend your period of study, you may be liable for additional fees.
If you are studying part time, the total course fee will be split over the years that you study. The total fee will remain the same and will be held at the rate set in your year of entry.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
| UK and Republic of Ireland students | International (including EU) students | |
|---|---|---|
| 20-credit module fee | £505 | £1,010 |
| 40-credit module fee | £1,010 | £2,020 |
| UK and Republic of Ireland students | International (including EU) students | |
|---|---|---|
| 20-credit module fee | £530 | £1,060 |
| 40-credit module fee | £1,060 | £2,120 |
You will be liable to pay tuition fees for every module you enrol on.
Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course. If you need to extend your period of study or repeat study, you will be liable for additional fees.
This fee is charged as a module fee. For more information on courses invoiced on a modular fee basis, please read our tuition fees policy.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
This course is eligible for a postgraduate tuition fee loan from one of the UK’s governments. See the Scholarships and funding section, below, for more details.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Funding
If you have the talent, ability and drive to study with us, we want to make sure you make the most of the opportunity – regardless of your financial circumstances.
Learn more about available funding opportunities or use our scholarship finder to explore our range of scholarships.
Postgraduate tuition fee loans
Scottish students may be eligible to apply to the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for loans of up to £11,500 to cover tuition fees and associated living costs.
English students can apply for a loan of up to £12,167 each year as part of the Postgraduate Masters Loan Scheme.
Welsh students can apply for financial support of up to £18,770 as a combination of grant and loan from Student Finance Wales.
Northern Irish students can apply for a postgraduate tuition fee loan of up to £6,500 from Student Finance NI.
International students may be able to gain additional funding from loan providers.
Scholarships
Eligible international students could receive a scholarship worth between £4,000-£7,000. See our range of generous scholarships for international postgraduate students.
University of Stirling alumni will automatically be awarded a fee waiver for the first year of Masters studies through our Stirling Alumni Scholarship.
Applicants from the UK or Republic of Ireland who hold a first-class honours degree or equivalent will automatically be awarded a £2,000 scholarship through our Postgraduate Merit Scholarship.
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay
After you graduate
This Masters offers high-quality professional learning for professional educators. Our graduates tell us that the work-based nature of this masters enhances their development as a professional, often into their next career stage. We are proud that our graduates are using their experiences on this masters to the benefit of learners in a range of expected and surprising contexts.
The course is designed and kept up-to-date in partnership with local authorities - the main employers for teachers and school leaders in Scotland. In consequence, this course is likely highly relevant for furthering careers in those settings.
