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Education (Educational Leadership)

Overview

This page was first published on 13 November 2025 and was last amended on 20 November 2025.
View details of the changes below.

The Master of Education (Educational Leadership) is designed for anyone currently in or aspiring to a leadership position in an educational organisation. The course provides an understanding of leading and managing within educational contexts.

You will examine research-informed principles, trends, and issues of leadership in education from international perspectives, with a focus on ethics and social justice. We will explore the internal and external forces that influence the culture of educational organisations, and implications for contemporary contexts. The course will provide opportunities for you to reflect upon, analyse, and critique leadership policy and practice, relative to experience, within your own local and national context. As you develop skills in communication, knowledge, and influence, you will develop the capacity to connect theory with research and practice to understand organisations and systems. The course will support you to lead learning and to influence and impact contemporary practice in education today.

Participants in the program come from a wide range of backgrounds in Australia and overseas, including; primary and secondary schools, higher education institutions, other learning organisations, social work and human-resource development.

Admission criteria and course requirements

Please refer to the course resolutions in this handbook for information on the specific admission criteria and course requirements for different coursework award courses.

The table of units for this stream are available in the unit of study table.

Learning Outcomes

The Course Learning Outcomes for each level are available:

Contacts and further information

Dr Yara Hilal
Phone: 02 9351 6371
Email: yara.hilal@sydney.edu.au
Website: Sydney School of Education and Social Work

Post-publication amendments

Date Original publication Post-publication amendment
20/11/2025

Admission criteria and course requirements section published as:

Please refer to the course resolutions in this handbook for information on the specific admission requirements for different coursework award courses.

Master of Education (Educational Leadership)

To qualify for the award of Master of Education (Educational Leadership) candidates must complete 48 credit points, including:

  • 30 credit points from this stream, comprising:
    - a minimum of 18 credit points of core units of study;
    - a minimum of 12 credit points of elective units of study; plus
  • a minimum of 6 credit points of capstone units of study; and
  • a maximum of 12 credit points of postgraduate Education units of study chosen from any Master of Education program.

Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies (Educational Leadership)*

To qualify for the award of Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies (Educational Leadership) candidates must complete 36 credit points, including:

  • a minimum of 18 credit points of core units of study;
  • a minimum of 12 credit points of elective units of study; and
  • a maximum of 6 credit points of postgraduate Education units of study chosen from any Master of Education program.

* The Graduate Diploma is only available to candidates who commenced their studies prior to 29 April 2025.

Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (Educational Leadership)

To qualify for the award of Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (Educational Leadership) candidates must complete 24 credit points, including:

  • a minimum of 18 credit points of core units of study; and
  • a maximum of 6 credit points of elective units of study

Admission criteria and course requirements section amended to:

Please refer to the course resolutions in this handbook for information on the specific admission criteria and course requirements different coursework award courses.

The table of units for this stream are available in the unit of study table.

Learning Outcomes

The Course Learning Outcomes for each level are available: