Postgraduate study
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Leadership and Learning MEd

Awards: MEd

Study modes: Part-time Intermittent Study

Programme website: Leadership and Learning

You can earn the Masters of Education in Leadership and Learning through completing a mixture of Postgraduate Certificates (PgCert).

The programme has been developed by the Teacher Education Partnership with funding from the Scottish Government.

Postgraduate Certificate

The Teacher Education Partnership has developed a number of Postgraduate Certificates (PgCert), each available to take on their own.

Successful completion of one of these courses of study will award a Postgraduate Certificate:

  • Postgraduate Certificate: Core Processes for Leadership and Learning (60 credits)
  • Postgraduate Certificate: Middle Leadership & Management (with Standard for Middle Leadership) (60 credits)
  • Postgraduate Certificate: Into Headship (with Standard for Headship) (60 credits)
  • Postgraduate Certificate: Growing Professional Learning (60 credits)

Postgraduate Certificate: Into Headship is currently the pathway for new and aspiring school head teachers to achieve the standard for Headship which is now mandatory for all newly appointed head teachers in Scotland.

Applications for this Certificate are managed by Local Authorities and Education Scotland.

Postgraduate Diploma

To earn a Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) in Leadership and Learning, in addition to one of the above Certificates, you will complete a further 60 credits, either by way of another Postgraduate Certificate from the list above, or either of:

  • Postgraduate Certificate: Leadership and Learning: Extended work-based project
  • 60 credits from any relevant University of Edinburgh masters programmes (including the option for 60 credits Accreditation of Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) for Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) Level 11 credits)

If you are exempt from taking any of the courses on this programme by way of previous professional learning, there may be an opportunity for you to gain recognition for your prior learning to contribute towards your award. Please contact us for further information.

Masters

To earn the Masters of Education (MEd) in Leadership and Learning, you will complete an additional 60 credits from the above options, ensuring this includes the Postgraduate Certificate Leadership & Learning: Extended work-based project.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MEdLeadership and LearningUp to 6 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyProgramme structure 2023/24

This programme cultivates:

  • high-quality professional dialogue
  • a critical and informed reflection on your teaching and leadership practice
  • a comprehensive introduction to different aspects of practitioner enquiry/teacher leadership

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant discipline.

As this is a professional programme and practice-focused, all applicants must be working in a relevant professional context in Scotland.

We may also consider your application if you have relevant employment or experience; please contact us to check before you apply.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 62 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MEdLeadership and LearningUp to 6 YearsPart-time Intermittent StudyTuition fees

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • Moray House School of Education and Sport
  • Old Moray House
  • Holyrood Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 8AQ
Programme start date Application deadline
1 August 2024 6 June 2024

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

You must submit one reference with your application.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • Moray House School of Education and Sport
  • Old Moray House
  • Holyrood Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH8 8AQ