The Master of Educational Leadership by Research is suited to the needs of professionals requiring some further research training and experience who are unable to devote the three or more years required to complete a PhD program. Candidtates would normally have completed an undergraduate degree at Honours level but those who have undertaken a Master degree in Educational Administration by coursework with superior results may be elibible for admission.

Students who complete the Master of Educational Leadership by Research program will be competent to carry out research in their chosen area.

Candidates are required to complete three coursework components relevant to their area of research and a thesis. The coursework components are selected after consultation with the supervisor. The program takes two years full-time or four years part-time. Courses offered by the School of Education in 2007 are:

For course descriptions, please refer to the Online Handbook - Postgraduate Coursework Study section (see Courses by Subject Area: EDST).

Optional courses for Postgraduate Research students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:

Interdisciplinary Faculty Courses
ARTS5020 Effective Interview Techniques
ARTS5022 Qualitative Research Methods
ARTS5024 Thesis Writing for Arts and Social Sciences Research Students
ARTS5026 Theories of Community and Difference
ARTS5060 Developing a Research Proposal

1. The degree of Master of Educational Leadership by Research may be awarded by the Council on the recommendation of the Research Committee of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (herein after referred to as the Committee) to a candidate who has satisfactorily completed a program of advanced study.

2. (1) A candidate for the degree shall:
(a) have been awarded an appropriate degree of Bachelor with Honours from the University of New South Wales at a standard not below Honours Class 2 or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution;
or
(b) have been awarded an appropriate award of Graduate Certificate at an average of Distinction from the University of New South Wales or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution;
or
(c) have had at least two years professional experience of a kind acceptable to the Committee AND have been awarded an appropriate degree of Bachelor from the University of New South Wales or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution,
and
(i) satisfy the Committee that the qualification is at a level and of a character indicating research potential;
or
(ii) submit other evidence satisfying the Committee of their research potential.
(2) In exceptional cases an applicant who submits evidence of such other academic and professional qualifications as may be approved by the Committee may be permitted to enrol for the degree.
(3) If the Committee is not satisfied with the qualifications submitted by an applicant, the Committee may require the applicant to undergo such assessment or carry out such work as the Committee may prescribe, before permitting enrolment.

3. (1) An application to enrol as a candidate for the degree shall be made on the prescribed form which shall be lodged with the Registrar at least two calendar months before the commencement of the session in which enrolment is to begin.
(2) To qualify for the award of the degree a candidate shall:
(a) undertake such formal courses and pass such assessment as prescribed;
(b) obtain 24 units of credit in approved coursework; and
(c) complete a thesis proposal;
(d) submit a thesis or project report demonstrating the capacity to conduct, under supervision, an original investigation on an approved topic;
(e) the research thesis or project report shall be completed in no fewer than two and no more than four sessions for a full-time candidate, or no fewer than four and no more than eight sessions in the case of a part-time candidate.
(3) No candidate shall be awarded the degree until the lapse of a minumum of three academic sessions from the date of enrolment in the case of a full-time candidate or six sessions in the case of a part-time candidate.

4.There shall be not fewer than two examiners of the thesis or project report, at least one of whom shall be external to the University unless the Committee is satisfied that this is not practicable.

5. A candidate shall pay such fees as may be determined from time to time by the Council.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html