Prepare for leadership positions with the UNSW Master of Educational Leadership. This postgraduate degree provides aspiring and current educational leaders with an understanding of theory, research, and practice in educational leadership.  

Gain the confidence to apply disciplinary principles and practices to complex educational environments as a school leader, principal or executive. Study the latest educational leadership theory and research at UNSW to deepen and expand your knowledge. Empower yourself with diverse practical and analytical skills for a range of educational leadership contexts.  

Key features:

Build on your experience
Tailor your coursework with a wide range of electives. Suit your interests and goals as an educator in diverse educational settings, whether within primary schools, secondary schools, universities, TAFE, or early childhood learning.  

Incorporate new leadership abilities related to your career goals, choosing from elective course options such as leading teacher learning, educational change, or coaching and mentoring other teachers; and leading as a teacher or instructor. 

Develop your specialisation 
With support from a supervising academic, you’ll undertake a self-directed capstone research project. The project consolidates your new knowledge and skills and applies them to a relevant vocational issue. You’ll develop real-world experience that’s key to professional learning and your career. 

Flexible study options 
You can study the UNSW Master of Educational Leadership through a range of flexible options, including online and blended courses, intensive school holiday courses, self-directed learning, and evening classes.

Subsidised course fees 
You may be eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in this degree. The Australian Government provides a limited number of CSPs to subsidise course fees for domestic students.   

Why study this degree at UNSW?

• We’re benchmarked with the highest global rating for Education research (Excellence in Research Australia)
• Be supported by our diverse, open and inclusive Arts, Design & Architecture community
• Learn through research-informed teaching
• Benefit from strong industry links and partnerships
• Access world-class alumni connections
• Join a community that’s part of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities

Depending on your experience, you can complete the Master of Educational Leadership in one, two, or 1.5 years. Below is an example of what you would study in a one-year, full-time program.

• 2 Core courses
• 2 Educational Leadership electives
• 1 Research Methodology course
• 1 Project or a Minor Thesis
• 1-2 Education electives

Full program structure:

Each university year at UNSW has three terms and an optional summer study period. You can study full-time or part-time. Depending on how you plan your study load, you can fit two or three courses into a term and one course in a summer term.

Below is an example of what you could study in a standard three-term, full-time year at UNSW if you choose to undertake the single-course Project, as opposed to the Minor Thesis.

Term one

• 1 Core course
• 1 Educational Leadership elective
• 1 Research Methodology course

Term two

• 1 Core course
• 1 Research Methodology course
• 1 Project

Term two

• 1 Educational Leadership elective
• 1 Education elective

For further information on full course listing, descriptions and timetables please see the UNSW Online Handbook. 

Graduates of the UNSW Master of Educational Leadership have gained positions as principals, deputy principals, head teachers and education authorities in government departments. 

The excellence of research produced by UNSW is widely recognised among our peers in Australia and beyond. In the field of education specifically, our research is benchmarked with the highest global rating of 5 by Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA), the highest possible rating and well-above world standards. The NSW Institute of Teachers also endorses all subjects and degrees taught by UNSW's School of Education. 

Career opportunities:

• Lead education in schools from all sectors

To gain entry into the Master of Educational Leadership, you’ll need: A recognised Bachelor degree and a postgraduate teaching qualification (e.g. Graduate Diploma of Education or Master of

IELTS: 7.0 overall (min. 6.0 in each subtest);

TOEFL IBT (Internet Based): 94 overall (min. 25 in writing, 23 in reading, listening and speaking);

Pearson (PTE - Academic): 65 overall (min. 54 in each subtest);

C1 Advanced Cambridge: 185 overall (min. 169 in each subtest);

C2 Proficiency Cambridge: 185 overall (min. 180 in each subtest);

UNSW Global University English Entry Course (UEEC): Successful completion with a minimum overall grade of B and a minimum grade of C in the writing component.