Areas of study

MEd Critical Enquiry

The MEd Critical Enquiry is a three-year, part-time online programme for professionals working in education settings. Participants build on their skills in reflective practice to critically engage with educational theory, research, policy and complex professional issues.

The programme utilises a collaborative approach to online learning, with learning activities designed to develop teacher agency, support professional dialogue and develop critical enquiry to inform practice. Participants choose the focus of their work on each module to fit with their professional interests and responsibilities. The collaborative learning activities support participants to work together on practice and develop creative responses to professional issues.

MEd Specialist Qualification in Headship and MEd Educational Leadership

Both the MEd Specialist Qualification in Headship and the MEd Educational Leadership are three-year, part-time online programmes for aspiring school leaders. The programmes connect directly with local authority and national leadership programmes. The first year of both programmes focuses on Middle Leadership, the second year offers the national Into Headship programme, and the third year offers either the national In Headship programme for those in post as a headteacher to qualify with the MEd Specialist Qualification in Headship, or an alternative pathway for those in curriculum leadership to complete the MEd Educational Leadership.

The programme utilises a collaborative approach to online learning, with learning activities designed to develop teacher agency, support professional dialogue and develop skills in strategic leadership. You will choose the focus of your work for each module to fit with your professional role and responsibilities, whilst the collaborative learning activities support you and your fellow participants to work together on leadership practice and develop creative responses to leading change.

Study options: full or part-time

Our Masters level programmes are studied part-time, over three years. There is no full-time option.

Course structure

MEd Critical Enquiry (part-time over three years)

MEd Specialist Qualification in Headship and MEd Educational Leadership (both part-time over three years)

Prior learning

UHI PGDE graduates can transfer 40 credits at SCQF level 11 into year 1 of the MEd Critical Enquiry programme against Policy and Practice, and Collaborative Enquiry. Graduates from other PGDE programmes can transfer up to 60 credits at SCQF level 11 into year 1 of the MEd Critical Enquiry.

Teachers holding SCQF level 11 credit from other universities can apply to transfer up to 60 credits into the MEd Critical Enquiry programme.

Teachers who holding SCQF level 11 credit in leadership from other universities can apply to transfer up to 60 credits into the MEd Educational Leadership programme.

Teachers can apply for recognition of prior learning for work completed in local authority programmes where it aligns with the content of current modules in the MEd Critical Enquiry or MEd Educational Leadership programmes.

Costs

MEd Critical Enquiry

The current module fees can be found on the university website.

There are sometimes funded places available through the Scottish Government funding for Masters-level learning for teachers. These are advertised to teachers through our local authority partners.

MEd Specialist Qualification in Headship and MEd Educational Leadership

Places on the Into Headship and In Headship programmes are awarded to individuals nominated by their local authority and funded by the Scottish Government.

The other modules on this programme are open to any applicants. There are sometimes funded places available through the Scottish Government funding for Masters level learning for teachers. These are advertised to teachers through our local authority partners.

Postgraduate Loans (Scottish Awards Agency Scotland)

Loans for tuition fees are available from SAAS for eligible Scotland-domiciled and EU students, and loans for living costs for eligible Scottish students.

Application process

All teachers should apply through the UHI course website for each programme:

MEd: Critical enquiry 

MEd: Specialist Qualification in Headship and MEd: Educational Leadership