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St Mary's University

Education: Leading Innovation and Change MA, PGDip, PGCert

Previous degree

2:2

Distance learning available

Yes

Student visa accepted?

Yes

Duration

1 year (full-time), 2 years (part-time)

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The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023 - Top 10 for Student ExperienceThe Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023 - Top 5 for Teaching Quality

Take the next step in your teaching career with a Master's degree that develops your education practice through innovation. 

  • Flexible degree allowing you to participate via school hubs, in person at St Mary's University or through the blended and online options.
  • Apply your learning to practical situations within your own school, using your learning to lead effective change.
  • Access to excellent tutorial and supervisory support.
  • Enables schools and staff to advance their professional skills and expertise in leadership through the development of a research culture.

If you currently work as a teacher or educational leader, our well-established Master's degree will ideally suit your professional development needs. It's also suitable for other education professionals, such as:

  • Business managers
  • Chaplains
  • Librarians
  • Data managers

The degree is designed to meet your needs, regardless of the educational phase you are working in or the stage of your career you're at.

It'll enable you, as a current or aspiring middle/senior leader, to reflect critically on your experience and understanding of leadership. You'll develop scholarly knowledge that allows you to link theory with your practice.

You'll have the opportunity to explore an area of interest and relevance to your professional role and career development as you undertake a small-scale practitioner research enquiry, leading to evidence-informed innovation.

Why St Mary's

We have a long and proud tradition of excellence in teacher education. You'll work with a group of experienced MA tutors who provide you with high-quality teaching. The team have experience in teaching, management and leadership, as well as research and consultancy.

Leading Innovation and Change offers you a flexible approach to obtaining Master’s degree. You can choose to attend monthly Saturday schools in person or via distance learning.

You'll apply your learning to practical situations within you own school, using your knowledge to drive effective change, whilst critically engaging with contemporary educational debates.

Studying this degree will give you access to excellent online learning resources and facilities.

Education degrees in London

This degree is one pathway from within our Education Master's programme, which includes:

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Matthew Dell

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Course content

Modules

The degree consists of five modules: four compulsory and one of our specialist optional modules. Your specialist module will allow you to focus on an area of interest within leadership or pedagogy.

Please note: it is possible that a module listed on the website will not be able to run due to reasons beyond our control. For more information please refer to our course information disclaimer.

Entry requirements

You will normally be expected to possess a good honours degree (2:2 or above) from a UK university or an equivalent qualification approved by the University.

2:2

Previous degree

Additional requirement information

Experience of working in an educational setting or a relevant professional interest is also required.

Accredited prior learning

Applicants with up to 90 Level 7 credits (for example from a PGCE, National Professional Qualification or National SENCo Award) are eligible to apply for exemption from up to three modules.

International Requirements

International students should check our country-specific pages for equivalents. If English is not your first language you will need to achieve an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any section.

We now accept IELTS Indicator test results as proof of your English language level.

The application process for international applicants will include an online interview.  

Further Information

For more information about entry requirements please email apply@stmarys.ac.uk.

Fees & funding

September

Home

£7,950

International

£15,750

Additional costs

Your tuition fees will cover the cost of all mandatory elements of your programme. Additional costs could be incurred depending on optional modules chosen and other projects undertaken.

For further information about additional costs please see our additional costs webpage

Alumni discount

A 20% tuition fee discount is available for our alumni (undergraduate and PGCE) planning to study this Master's degree. Those studying for a PGDip of PGCert are not eligible for the discount.

Funding

Government-funded loans of over £11,000 are available to many home postgraduate students. Home and international students may also be eligible for external sources of funding.  International students should check their eligibility for our International Scholarship.

For more information, please look at our postgraduate funding page.

How the degree is taught

Teaching methods

Teaching methods include a combination of lectures, group seminars, workshops and individual tutorials.

Modules are taught either at St Mary’s through intensive Saturday Schools (approximately monthly) or study days in school holidays or fortnightly twilight sessions.

Assessment methods

Learning is assessed through a variety of methods:

  • Reflective journals
  • Research proposals
  • Essays
  • Case studies
  • Portfolios
  • Seminar and conference presentations.

Career opportunities

This Master's programme supports your long-term career development. This is evident from the high proportion of graduates who achieve internal or external promotion to middle and senior educational leadership positions within a year of completing the programme.

Graduates of this programme are well placed to pursue doctoral studies on either a Professional Doctorate (Doctor of Education) or a PhD.

Apply now

Please note: you can select either full-time or part-time when completing the application form.

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Postgraduate events

We have a range of webinars and events to help you decide whether St Mary's is the place for you.

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Student life

Discover what life is like on our London campus.

Open Days

Open Days are a fantastic opportunity for you to meet academic staff. You'll also be able to look around the campus, speak to current students and find out more about services such as Accommodation, Student Wellbeing and Study Abroad.

Book your place now