Master of Educational Leadership
Course information for - 2025 entry
International
- Domestic
- International
- Domestic
- International
Offered at 1 locations
- Melbourne
- Melbourne
- Duration
- 1.5 years full-time or equivalent part-time
- CRICOS Code
- 084793M
- IELTS
- Overall score: 7.0. Individual score 6.0 in all tests
- Fees (first year)*
- $28728
Overview
Are you looking to lead and influence change in education?
The Master of Educational Leadership is for aspiring educational leaders with an appetite to develop and expand lead effectiveness. Designed to support participants with varying leadership and career ambitions, this tailored degree is taught by active researchers and experienced practitioners integrating theory, theology, ethics, philosophy and research to enable you to improve your educational leadership practice.
You will delve into new ways of thinking about the purpose and task of education, and contemporary Catholic education in particular, utilising philosophical and ethical tools and processes, exploring theories of educational leadership, management and administration, and how to apply them appropriately to your own school culture and context.
Students will graduate with the skills, knowledge and networks required to connect, inspire and shape changing educational environments in positive and inclusive ways.
The Master of Educational Leadership is not an initial teaching qualification.
Careers
Our graduates have pursued careers in:
- management and administration
- educational leadership
- policy development
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Master of Educational Leadership, a student must complete 120 credit points (cp).
Course map
Graduate statement
AQF framework
Exit Points
A student who has completed 40 cp with 20 cp from specified units in the Schedule of Unit Offerings may exit with a Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership
A student who has completed 80 cp with 20cp from Specified Units and at least 20 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings may exit with a Graduate Diploma in Educational Leadership.
Additional course information
On-campus units may be offered during regular semester or school holiday periods.
Entry requirements
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
International students need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites:
- A recognised teaching qualification and a minimum of 3 years teaching experience; OR
- A Bachelor degree and a minimum of 3 years relevant leadership experience.
Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2025 Admission.
View transparency admission information
Applicants with higher education study
You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If you have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above, we’ll assign you with a new selection rank that reflects your study level, duration, and grade point average.
If your prior study or relevant work experience has provided you with knowledge, skills or experience aligned with the learning outcomes of units in your new course, you may be eligible to gain credit for study or have your prior learning recognised. This means you may be able to complete your ACU course in a shorter timeframe.
You can use our credit search tool to see what you might be eligible for. For more information about credit and recognition of prior learning at ACU, follow the link below.
International applicants
Applicants must have completed the equivalent of a:
i. A recognised teaching qualification and a minimum 3 years of teaching experience; OR
ii.A Bachelor degree and a minimum of 3 years of relevant leadership experience.
International students need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
English language requirements
IELTS overall score of 7.0. Individual score of 6.0 in all tests.
Inherent requirement
There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of the course or unit. Learn more about inherent requirements and how they affect you, and explore the requirements for your course.
Pathways
Further study
Graduates of this course may be eligible for entry into further postgraduate coursework degree programs and/or research higher degree, doctoral programs.
Fees
Course costs
- Unit fee: $3591
- Average first year fee: $28728
- Estimate total cost: $43092
The Tuition fees quoted above are for commencing students in the current year who undertake a normal full-time load. The Unit Fee is based on a 10cp unit. Fees are reviewed annually.
Tuition fees for continuing students may increase by up to 3 percent each year for the minimum duration of the course as provided on your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE). Students who continue to study beyond the minimum duration will have the relevant annual commencing rate applied to their fees for subsequent study periods.
Payment options
You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support.
Scholarships
You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.
How to apply
International applicants
Direct application
Apply nowDeferment
Yes. See Defer your offer.
Students with a Student Visa will need to complete the program in minimum duration, study at least one subject on-campus each semester and must not undertake more than 33% of the program online.
Staff Profile
Dr Paul Kidson
Course Coordinator, National School of Education
Dr Paul Kidson is Senior Lecturer in Educational Leadership and the Head of Postgraduate Studies in the National School of Education. He has extensive school leadership and governance experience, including 11 years as a school principal, which informs the highly practical orientation of his academic research. In addition to his academic research and leadership, he is a member of Australian Council for Educational Leaders (NSW) Executive Committee, a Fellow of the Institute for Managers and Leaders, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute for Company Directors.
His research adopts holistic and interdisciplinary approaches, drawing on a range of academic disciplines and insights. Through this, he explores how school leaders work effectively within, and critically transform, their complex professional lives. This encompasses broader systems and policies which govern the work of educational leaders, as well as how school leaders develop and sustain their personal experience of leadership. He is part of a large-scale research projects on school leadership, and one of the lead researchers on Australia’s largest and longest running principal well-being research project, the Australian Principal Occupational Health and Well-being Survey.
Professor Amanda Telford
Head of Discipline Postgraduate Education, National School of Education
Professor Amanda Telford is a teacher and researcher in health, wellbeing and educational leadership within the National School of Education. She is currently the National Course Coordinator of the Master of Education and has over two decades experience in senior learning and teaching leadership roles as a former secondary teacher and academic across four universities including: Associate Dean (Education) Deputy Head of School (Learning & Teaching), Interim Associate Dean (Partnerships) and Director/course coordinator across three universities. These senior academic leadership positions have enabled her to develop a deep understanding of policy, processes and regulatory requirements of universities and governing bodies. Prof. Telford is a multi- award-winning teacher, researcher and author, she has co-authored over 100 learning and teaching publications including over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and over 45 textbooks and book chapters used nationally and internationally at secondary and tertiary level. She has collaborated on more than 40 research projects with a learning and teaching, physical activity, physical education and/or wellbeing focus. The CLASS instrument she developed as part of her PhD to assess children's physical activity and sedentary behaviour is used in over 40 countries. Prof. Telford was a Chief Investigator on the ARC funded 'Girls Get Going' study and more recently the NHMRC funded 'TransformUs' project designed to revolutionize the classroom through movement which has already reached over 500 schools.