Education – Learning and Leadership MA
2 Years | Distance Learning | Upcoming Intakes: October 2025, January 2026, April 2026

Our MA in Education – Leadership and Learning is aimed at busy professionals who want to get to the next level in their careers, improve their teaching practice, and learn more about key educational topics in order to be at the forefront of the industry.  

If you’re looking to progress your teaching career, whether in the UK or internationally, without taking time away from your current job, this online Masters degree in Education is for you. It will develop your leadership skills, as well as helping you to critically reflect on, challenge and improve your practice so you’ll stand out to current and future employers. 

This course is also suitable for those in wider educational roles. You might be self-employed and interested in the theory behind education. Or you might be looking to develop your business opportunities and teaching practices within corporate learning and HR, museums, education administration, charities, or public departmental roles in education. 

15 hours is the recommended weekly study time for this course and you can access your learning on your own schedule. Our Masters will allow you, as a busy teacher or education professional, to balance your studies alongside personal and work commitments.  

Our distance learning delivery follows a flexible model, which lets you pay for modules in instalments. The full course fee is £7,950 (2022/23) and for students based in the UK and eligible, this can be covered by a UK Postgraduate Loan.  

We also have intakes throughout the year: January, April, July, and October. This means you can start when is convenient. The course takes around two years to complete (minimum), though it is possible to take a study break if you need to*. 

*Please note, any breaks will impact your graduation date and the full course must be completed within four years. 

At Northumbria University, we’re proud to offer online courses that are every bit as engaging and fulfilling for students as our on-campus programmes. Through our bespoke distance learning facilities, we’re able to deliver this Education MA course to students who either can’t travel into the University or are looking for the convenience of learning from home – saving both living and travel expenses.  

Upon graduating you’ll receive the same Masters degree qualification as you would if you were an on-campus student; there’s no mention of ‘online’ anywhere on your degree certificate.  

We’ve designed this Masters in partnership with digital learning experts to make sure you get the most flexible and engaging experience possible. We understand all our students are different and lead busy lives. That’s why our focus is on self-paced, interactive learning that will allow you the freedom to study whenever and wherever it suits you. The recommended study time for the course is around 15 hours a week.  

You will access all your learning materials through our eLearning portal, Blackboard Ultra. You study one 20-credit module at a time, each lasting 10 weeks (plus one week for assessment) as well as your final 60-credit Systematic Appraisal. The form of your assessments will vary between modules – it could be an essay or a multiple-choice exam – but all of them will be submitted online. There will be no need to come to campus at any point during your course.   

Each of our modules has been carefully designed to ensure you gain the necessary knowledge about that topic in the most engaging way. However, all the modules will be split into multiple sessions and follow a three-stage structure: Learn, Explore and Apply. 

In each teaching week, you’ll have the chance to engage with interactive tools and media, ranging from text-based to video/audio (“Learn”), as well as complete online readings (“Explore”) in your own time. There will also be the chance to test yourself and receive formative feedback.   

You’ll join a supportive, lively online community. Throughout the course, you will participate in virtual discussion boards with your academics and fellow students, sharing your thoughts, knowledge and experience with them as you learn (“Apply”). In addition, you will be able to attend live webinars on key aspects of the module and its delivery/structure, such as assessments. These sessions will offer you the chance to engage with your tutors in real time and ask any questions you have about the course. If you are unable to attend these scheduled sessions, they will also be recorded so you can watch them at a time that works for you.     

As well as the support of your module tutors and fellow students, you’ll have a personal Student Success Advisor who'll be on hand from day one through to graduation. Whether you need pastoral guidance, help with assessments or advice about fees, they will be with you at every step. Blackboard Ultra also offers 24/7 access to a range of advice and support services, such as Ask4Help, too.   

You will also be able to access over half a million books and e-books through our online University Library Services.

This online Education MA course is taught by research-engaged academics, who are also all experienced practitioners. The course and its modules have been informed by their real-world experience and ongoing research, ensuring what you learn is current and relevant to today’s industry. 

Northumbria has 100 years of experience in teacher training, and the faculty of Social Work, Education & Community Wellbeing carries a strong reputation. We are currently ranked in the top 25 for Education in the UK by The Complete University Guide 2022 and The Guardian University Guide 2022. 

Academics on our Masters in Education specialise in several key areas including: 

• Teaching methods 
• Inclusive education 
• Education of disabled children 
• Early intervention 
• Language acquisition 
• Social justice and class in educational contexts 

Learn more about our department’s academics and view their research profiles.

Northumbria University is a top 50 university in the UK (The Guardian University Guide and Complete University Guide, 2022) and research is embedded into every aspect of the Education Masters course.  

The faculty has extensive research experience, with strengths in educational leadership, curriculum innovation and the impact of educational initiatives on marginalised and vulnerable groups. Our research aims to make a positive difference to people’s lives and is based on the belief that overcoming challenges is best done by working collaboratively with individuals and their local communities. 

Students on this MA course will be supported and encouraged to hone their research skills throughout each module. This will culminate in a Systematic Appraisal, where you’ll you will learn how to use research to inform your specialist area of practice or policy. 

The ability to think critically and independently is essential in this MA, and we’ll help you develop a transferrable, Master-level skillset. 

Learning from tutors with real-world teaching experience puts students on our distance learning Education Masters in a great position for their future careers.  

You will graduate with knowledge of the very latest in education research, policy, and practice and how to apply this in your own work. Your understanding will be developed through critical discussion with your peers, colleagues, and lecturers.  

You’ll also be encouraged to critically reflect upon and challenge your own experience, while examining and contrasting different world views. Furthermore, you will develop skills in collaborative working and discipline-specific creativity. All of these are valuable to demonstrate to future employers.  

And your Masters degree certificate won’t mention your online or distance learning approach – you will earn the same degree as you would on campus. The advanced teaching skills you’ll build, combined with specialised leadership modules and research capabilities are transferrable throughout the education sector and beyond.  

Teachers who have their sights on a promotion will graduate with enhanced leadership, data evaluation and reflection abilities. Our cutting-edge modules, informed by ongoing research, will prepare our MA students to bring new techniques and methods into the classroom. A Masters degree in Education – especially one from a top 25 UK university in this area (The Complete University Guide 2022 and The Guardian University Guide 2022) – is an outstanding qualification for your CV, in particular if you are looking to teach internationally.  

Alternatively, if you work outside of a school, you will leave the course with a deep understanding of educational theory and practice, empowered to make change in your own organisation and ready to push your career to the next level. 

Successful completion of this course could also lead you to a Postgraduate Research Degree such as an MPhil, PhD and Professional Doctorate. 

Careers and Employment Service  

We offer a range of careers resources and support, available online and on a one-to-one basis, for you to tap into. Visit our Careers and Employment Service pages to learn more.