- Critical Thinking and Analytical Approaches: review and evaluate a range of policy measures and initiatives and critique these in the context of the school improvement and effectiveness
- Demonstrate a well-developed understanding of the limits, contradictions and emerging issues related to leadership.
- Demonstrate the skills of interrogating practice using theoretical perspectives, thus generating new ideas and/ or reformulating existing ideas and practises in relation to professional roles.
- Evidence an enhanced aptitude for continued self-directed learning as well as collaborative learning in professional settings.
- Evidence the significance of reflection in the development of expertise and innovative practice thus providing leadership within schools and the wider education community.
- Indicate a more in-depth knowledge and more critical engagement with the foundational disciplines of education to enhance and enrich the expertise acquired in undergraduate studies and subsequent professional experience.
- Leadership and Development Theories: critically explore and interrogate prominent leadership theories and apply these theories in the course of addressing a variety of organisational issues and problems.
- Make explicit connections between module content, coursework and professional practice.
- Research skills and competence: engage in exploring a range of research methods within both quantitative and qualitative paradigms and critically evaluate these in the context of the work of school leadership in the development of research/ evidence informed practice for school development.
- complete a leadership-focused study that will provide an opportunity for graduates to demonstrate with the ability to engage in primary research and consolidate the learning outcomes achieved in the other modules on the programme.
- demonstrate a thorough understanding of key theories of organisational behaviour and change and how to apply these theories in an organizational setting.
- reflect purposefully and critically upon their own skills and limitations as leaders, evidenced by their performance in working with groups and their overall learning outcomes on the programme.
This course is available through the following application route(s)
The MEd (Leadership) deploy a broad concept of leadership that can be applied to teachers at different stages of their career within schools as organisations. The Professional Diploma in Educational Leadership (PDEL) is aimed at primary and post-primary teachers in the Irish education system.
- Include some face-to-face sessions (typically on Saturdays to accommodate travel and attendance from all corners of the country).
- Our experience is that the combination of on campus days and online teaching and learning provide a dynamic and transformative learning experience for all students
- We are committed to developing our students’ critical voice through reading, discussion, peer learning, presentations and critical review. Furthermore, these participative learning experiences will ensure that high quality learning outcomes are achieved.
The application for this programme has a rolling deadline meaning that applications will close when all places have been filled. For this reason, early application is advised. This course tends to be oversubscribed annually.
About This Course
Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.
Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.
| Trimester | Credits | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of: MEd Leadership students in their first year must select the following three modules. |
EDUC41620 | Contemporary Issues | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of: MEd Leadership students in their first year must select the following three modules. |
EDUC41640 | School leadership and the quality of teaching and learning: actors, agency, activities | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - A)3 of: MEd Leadership students in their first year must select the following three modules. |
EDUC41800 | School Transformation | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D)4 of: Students who have completed the UCD PDEL or Year 1 of the MEd Leadership should select the following four modules. |
EDUC42890 | Research Methods (Blended) | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D)4 of: Students who have completed the UCD PDEL or Year 1 of the MEd Leadership should select the following four modules. |
EDUC43270 | School Effectiveness | Autumn | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D)4 of: Students who have completed the UCD PDEL or Year 1 of the MEd Leadership should select the following four modules. |
EDUC42910 | Research Methods 2 (Blended) | Spring | 10 |
Stage 1 Options - D)4 of: Students who have completed the UCD PDEL or Year 1 of the MEd Leadership should select the following four modules. |
EDUC42050 | Thesis: School Leadership | Summer | 30 |
MEd Leadership (W328) Part Time
EU Year 1 - € 4010 dd
EU Year 2 - € 7870 dd
dd"Please note that Year 2 MEd Leadership fees quoted are valid only for students entering Year 2 in the academic year 2025/26. Year 2 fees for subsequent years are subject to change."
***Fees are subject to change
EU Year 1 - € 4010 dd
EU Year 2 - € 7870 dd
dd"Please note that Year 2 MEd Leadership fees quoted are valid only for students entering Year 2 in the academic year 2025/26. Year 2 fees for subsequent years are subject to change."
***Fees are subject to change
Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see International Scholarships.
Applicants to the MEd Leadership must have a recognised teaching qualification and have relevant teaching experience. Students who have already successfully completed the online/blended Professional Diploma in Education Studies (Leadership) may carry their 30-credits from the Diploma into the Masters Programme and complete the remaining 60 credits.
You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information.
Part Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: No
Applicants must hold an honours degree at undergraduate level (or equivalent) from a higher education institution, a recognised teaching qualification and have a minimum of three years’ teaching experience in either the primary or post-primary sector in Ireland.
We are offering direct entry to Year 2 of the MEd Leadership programme (W328) for recent graduates of the UCD Professional Diploma in Educational Leadership (W342) who have achieved a 2.1 grade or higher. This pathway is only recommended for graduates of the Professional Diploma in Educational Leadership W342 who have completed the course in the last five years. Students who have already successfully completed the blended Professional Diploma in Education Studies (Leadership) at UCD may carry their 30-credits from the Diploma into the Masters Programme and complete the remaining 60 credits.
If you have any queries on the PDE/MEd Leadership, please do not hesitate to contact us at educationenquiries@ucd.ie.
How to Apply
General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Leadership:
| ROWCLASS | Apply to | Application Type | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | W328 Leadership Master of Education |
Part-Time Commencing September 2024 |
Graduate Taught | Not available to International applicantsClosed |
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | W328 Leadership Master of Education |
Part-Time Commencing September 2025 |
Graduate Taught | Not available to International applicantsApply |
* you can change options at the top of the page
Additional special entry route(s) to Leadership:
These options have additional eligibility requirements to cater for specific applicant cohorts. You should not apply via these routes before consulting the requirements or contacting the responsible UCD office.
| ROWCLASS | Apply to | Application Type | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| showAudience-audienceEU | W328 Leadership Master of Education |
Part-Time Commencing September 2025 |
MEd Leadership Year 2 |
Apply |