Educational Leadership

Course Outline

Our Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership at UCC is a one-year, part-time postgraduate course which supports the professional growth of current and aspiring leaders in education, enabling them to contribute effectively to the improvement of practice in their own professional settings and the wider professional community.



This diploma will enable participants to develop the means of using critical reflection to enhance their own and others’ professional practice. The course responds to the need for an updated conception of leadership along with coaching and mentoring in education. Leaders in organisations need to be able to motivate, coach and mentor staff in rapidly changing environments with limited resources – a theme increasingly emphasised by the Teaching Council of Ireland. In this course, you will learn about a variety of leadership styles as well as how to identify and develop personal, professional and pedagogical strengths and abilities to be an effective leader. We place great emphasis on transformational leadership and team capacity-building.

Modules

Students take the following 60 credits over the year:

ED6510 Organisational Management of the School (15 credits)

ED6511 Effective Leadership in Education: Theory and Practice (15 credits)

ED6512 Leading Learning and School Improvement (15 credits)

ED6513 Mentoring and Coaching Practicum in Educational Leadership (15 credits)



The focus of this programme is on effective leadership and schools as organisations: we explore the discourse related to leadership at all levels. Our leadership modules are designed to support the development of leadership and management practices in individuals as this will contribute to career-long professional learning and school improvement.



The coaching and mentoring component focuses on supporting the professional learning and growth of colleagues; developing the knowledge, understanding and skills required to use a coaching and mentoring approach to developing capacity and capability in others.

Requirements

Candidates must have:

A primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) and three years or more relevant professional experience in education or cognate field.

Relevant professional experience, equivalent to five full years, may be considered as an honours equivalent.



It is desirable that candidates also have the following:

- Gained some professional experience in educational leadership.

- A clear sense of professional purpose (demonstrated via a 750-word statement of purpose submitted with the application).



For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.



International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.



- In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.



- Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.

English Language Requirements



Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

Closing Date: 26th May 2025.



Important Note

Early applications are advised. Applications for this programme are assessed as they come in, therefore the programme quota may be achieved before the closing date. Applicants that meet the programme entry criteria, but who submit after the programme has been filled, will be placed on a waiting list for spaces that may open up due to withdrawals or cancellations.



Deferrals: Deferrals are not permitted on this programme.

1 year part-time.

Start Date: 13th September 2025.

Skills and Careers Information

The course is focused on leadership development and is aimed at those with some experience of leadership in an educational setting. This course will develop practices in individuals to contribute to career-long personal professional learning and the development of others. It will focus on the followership/mentorship aspects of leadership.