Master of Educational Leadership
- Commencing Terms
- Term 1, 2 & 3
- Duration
- 1-2 years FT, 2-4 years PT
- Delivery Mode
- Face-to-face (includes blended), Online
- Campus
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Kensington
- Codes
- Program code 8963
- CRICOS code 110654B
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Commonwealth Supported Places are available for this program2026 Indicative CSP first year fee
- $4,500*
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2026 Indicative CSP fee to complete degree
- $9,500*
-
2026 Indicative first year full fee
- $47,000*
-
2026 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $98,500*
Entry Requirements
Fees
Fees
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Flexible study options
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Real-world experience
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Strong industry links
Admissions update for international students
Some programs are at capacity for 2026 intakes and new applications are closed to New Overseas Student Commencement (NOSC). Applications to all 2027 intakes are open.
Click to find our latest updates for international student admissions.
- Overview
- Entry requirements
- What will I study?
- Future careers
- How to apply
- Fees & Scholarships
Overview
Prepare for leadership positions within schools, government departments and universities with the UNSW Master of Educational Leadership. This master’s program provides aspiring leaders with a deep understanding of educational leadership in practice.
Develop advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills, learn how to communicate effectively to a range of audiences and navigate the complex values and ethical practices that shape education in Australia.
Whether you aspire to become a school leader, principal or executive – or you’re already in a leadership position and seeking professional development – the Master of Educational Leadership will position you for success in your next role. Study the latest educational leadership theory and develop diverse practical and analytical skills for a range of contexts.
Graduate with two master’s degrees by combining this program with another eligible Arts, Design & Architecture master’s degree in the Master of Arts and Social Sciences (Combined).
Key features
Interest-based electives
Tailor your coursework to match your interests and career aspirations. Choose from a wide range of electives from Motivation in Educational Settings to Coaching and Mentoring in Educational Leadership. There are electives suitable for diverse educational settings, including primary schools, secondary schools, universities, TAFE or early childhood learning.
Flexible study options
The UNSW Master of Educational Leadership is designed to fit around your work and life commitments. Study options include fully online and blended courses, intensive school holiday courses, self-directed learning and evening classes.
Real-world research
The UNSW Master of Educational Leadership includes a Work Integrated Learning capstone project, a minor thesis or a capstone research project. With support from a supervising academic, you’ll undertake self-directed research to consolidate your new skills and apply them to a relevant vocational issue. You’ll develop real-world experience that you can apply to your workplace right away.
Why study at UNSW?
Join a top university
Study at a global top 20 university (QS World University Rankings, 2024–2026). Join a community that’s part of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8) universities and benefit from our global reputation, strong industry links and partnerships and world-class alumni connections.
Learn through research-informed teaching
Our researchers engage across generations, continents, languages and cultures. Be inspired by game-changing research or take the lead in research of your own. Learn from and make connections with academics at the top of their fields as they work to shape the future of education in Australia and around the world.
Master your craft and maximise your earning potential
Unlock new career opportunities and improve your earning potential with the UNSW Master of Educational Leadership. UNSW is known for having the most employable students seven years in a row (AFR Top100 Future Leaders & Graduate Employers Awards, 2020–2026).
Entry requirements
Depending on your experience, there are three entry pathways to the Master of Educational Leadership.
One-year fast-track program
- A four-year bachelor’s degree or combined degree in education (including professional experience or practicum) equivalent to the qualifications required for graduate teacher status in NSW or other Australian jurisdictions, OR
- A recognised bachelor’s degree and a postgraduate teaching qualification (e.g., Graduate Diploma of Education or Master of Teaching) equivalent to the qualifications required for graduate teacher status in NSW or other Australian jurisdictions, OR
- A bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline*, plus three years of relevant professional experience and development**.
1.5-year program
- A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant discipline* with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%, OR
- A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification) in any discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65% plus three years’ relevant professional experience** and development, OR
- An honours degree or graduate diploma (or equivalent qualification) in any discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%.
Two-year program
- A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification) in any discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%.
* “Relevant disciplines” may include arts, humanities, media, psychology, social work, business, economics, languages, linguistics, communications, policy studies, behavioural sciences, and social sciences.
** “Relevant professional experience” may include roles such as teacher, trainer, coach, educational developer, languages teacher, lecturer, teacher of English to speakers of other languages, educational leader, and educational administration.
Credit transfer
You can apply to have credit points from previous studies applied to the Master of Educational Leadership. The maximum credit transfer you can apply for is 50% (24 units of credit, or three courses). Recognised courses must have been completed within the last ten years, provided the content is relevant and/or meet BOSTES requirements.
Alternative entry pathways
If you don’t meet the entry requirements for the Master of Educational Leadership, you may be eligible for the Graduate Certificate in Education or the Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership. These can provide a stepping stone to the Master of Educational Leadership.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
For more details, visit the English Language Requirements page.
Depending on your experience, there are three entry pathways to the Master of Education.
1-year fast track program
- A four-year bachelor’s degree or combined degree in education, including professional experience or practicum, equivalent to the qualifications required for graduate teacher status in NSW or other Australian jurisdictions, OR
- A recognised bachelor’s degree and a postgraduate teaching qualification (e.g., Graduate Diploma of Education or Master of Teaching) equivalent to the qualifications required for graduate teacher status in NSW or other Australian jurisdictions, OR
- A bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant discipline*, plus three years of relevant professional experience and development**.
1.5-year program
- A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant discipline* with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%, OR
- A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification) in any discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65% plus three years’ relevant professional experience** and development, OR
- An honours degree or graduate diploma (or equivalent qualification) in any discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%.
2-year program
A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification) in any discipline with a record of academic achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average of 65%.
* “Relevant disciplines” may include arts, humanities, media, psychology, social work, business, economics, languages, linguistics, communications, policy studies, behavioural sciences, and social sciences.
** “Relevant professional experience” may include roles such as teacher, trainer, coach, educational developer, languages teacher, lecturer, teacher of English to speakers of other languages, educational leader, and educational administration.
Credit transfer
You can apply to have credit points from previous studies applied to the Master of Educational Leadership. The maximum credit transfer you can apply for is 50% (24 units of credit, or three courses). Recognised courses must have been completed within the last ten years, provided the content is relevant and/or meet BOSTES requirements.
Alternative entry pathways
If you don’t meet the entry requirements for the Master of Educational Leadership, you may be eligible for the Graduate Certificate in Education or the Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership. These can provide a stepping stone to the Master of Educational Leadership.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
For more details, visit the English Language Requirements page.
Check the specific English language requirements for this program
What will I study?
UNSW is introducing a new academic calendar from 2028.
We are moving to a new flex-semester calendar. What does this mean for your studies?
Program structure
The UNSW Master of Educational Leadership includes a mix of core courses, electives, research methodology and a project or minor thesis. You’ll study recent developments in educational leadership theory, research and practice and hone your problem-solving and communication skills in a wide range of theoretical and practical settings.
Full program structure
Students must complete 96 units of credit (UOC). There are three ways to complete the Master of Education, depending on prior experience.
1-year plan: For students granted 48 UOC block credit on entry
If you have been granted 48 UOC of block credit for prior study or experience, you must complete a further 48 UOC of the following courses (equivalent to 1 year full-time):
- Educational leadership core courses (12 UOC)
- Educational leadership electives (12 UOC)
- Research methodology course (6 UOC)
- Project (6 UOC) and education electives (12 UOC) OR project (12 UOC) and education electives (6 UOC)
1.7-year plan: For students granted 24 UOC block credit on entry
If you have been granted 24 UOC block credit, you must complete a further 72 UOC of courses as follows (equivalent to 1.7 years full-time):
- Foundation courses (12 UOC)
- Educational leadership core courses (12 UOC)
- Educational leadership electives (12 UOC)
- Research methodology course (6 UOC)
- Project (6 UOC) and education electives (12 UOC) OR project (12 UOC) and education electives (6 UOC)
2-year plan: For students with no block credit on entry
Without any block credit on entry, you must complete 96 UOC (equivalent to 2 years full-time) of the following:
- Foundation courses (24 UOC)
- Educational leadership core courses (12 UOC)
- Educational leadership electives (12 UOC)
- Research methodology course (6 UOC)
- Project (6 UOC) and education electives (36 UOC) OR project (12 UOC) and educational electives (30 UOC)
For more information on the different program structures, please visit the Handbook.
Future careers
Graduates of the Master of Educational Leadership go on to work as school principals, deputy school principals, head teachers and education authorities in government departments. Demand for school principals in Australia is projected to grow by 11.5% over the next five years (Seek, 2026). The average salary of a school principal in Australia is $155,000 per year (Seek, 2026).
Some graduates transition into corporate education, taking on executive roles within professional learning and development teams, training organisations, education technology companies or large corporations, where they lead strategy, workforce capability and organisational learning initiatives. The UNSW Master of Educational Leadership can also be a stepping stone to the UNSW Doctor of Education.
Potential careers
- Deputy principal
- Director of teaching and learning
- Education consultant
- Education manager
- Education policy adviser
- Executive director (Education)
- Head teacher
- Learning and development manager
- Organisational learning and development lead
- Policy officer (Education)
- Principal
- Professional learning director
- Senior education adviser
- Training and development director
How to apply
Applications must be submitted through our Apply Online portal. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term. Some high-demand programs and faculties with limited places may have an earlier application deadline or commencement date. Find out more.
Ready to start your application?
For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.
Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For details, visit the international admissions information page.
Ready to start your application?
Fees & Scholarships
There are a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available for this degree/program. Your eligibility to receive a CSP will be automatically assessed when you apply, please ensure you preference the CSP code in UAC to be considered. Start your postgraduate application today with our guide on how to apply.
Please note that eligibility for Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) is competitive, with places awarded based on academic merit. To find out more about Commonwealth Supported Places visit Postgraduate Commonwealth Support.
Commonwealth Study Assistance such as Austudy, and Youth Allowance is available for some master’s degrees. For the most up-to-date information and list of degrees visit UNSW Current Student Financial Support.
*Fees are subject to annual review (or when required) by the University and may vary accordingly.
Indicative fees are a guide only and have been calculated based on the typical enrolment patterns of students undertaking the degree/program. The indicative fees listed here is an estimate for tuition only and excludes non-tuition fees and charges. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year of enrolment, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (48 units of credit (UOC) per year).
You should not rely on indicative fees as fee increases are assessed when required and may exceed the indicative figures listed here. Actual fees are calculated on enrolment. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
*Fees are subject to annual review (or when required) by the University and may vary accordingly.
The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average using historical student enrolment patterns for each program, which may change every year. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year you enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Indicative first year fees are for tuition only. Indicative fees to complete the degree/program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year and have been calculated based on percentage increase for every year of the degree/program, noting that actual fee increase may exceed the indicative figures listed here. Other fees and charges are not included. To find out more about other costs for international students, visit UNSW International.
Scholarships
At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.
Progress starts here – at a world-leading university
Top 20 Worldwide
UNSW is ranked #20 university in the world
QS World University Rankings, 2024–2026
Most Employable Graduates
Winner of the AFR Most Employable University Award seven years in a row
AFR Top100 Future Leaders & Graduate Employers Awards, 2020–2026
Australia's #1 for Innovation
Highest number of startups and spinouts from university-developed tech
SCOPR report, 2024
"I found that UNSW’s online courses had so much to offer. This meant that I could navigate my masters and continue my job."
Christine Castle
High School Principal
