The UTS Online Master of Education (Learning and Leadership) is a postgraduate degree designed for professionals who want to lead learning, innovation and change across education, workplace and community contexts.

The course develops advanced capability in learning design, digital technologies, professional practice, educational leadership, evaluation and applied research, helping you strengthen how learning is designed, led and improved across different professional settings.

The UTS Online Master of Education (Learning and Leadership) is designed for professionals whose work involves learning, development, capability building or organisational change.

It can suit teachers and education leaders, learning and development professionals, instructional and learning designers, health and professional educators, policy and capability professionals, and leaders across corporate, government, community and not-for-profit settings.

No. A background in education is not essential.

The course is designed for professionals from a range of sectors, including education, health, corporate, government, community and not-for-profit settings. Current direct-entry requirements include a completed bachelor’s degree or higher qualification and at least two years of relevant professional work experience.

Applicants who do not meet the direct-entry requirements can explore the Graduate Certificate in Education (Learning and Leadership) or Graduate Certificate in Organisational and Workplace Learning as potential pathways.

You’ll build advanced capability in learning design, digital learning, professional practice, educational leadership, evaluation and applied research.

The course is designed to help you design and lead effective learning, evaluate learning initiatives, use research and technology to improve practice, communicate across diverse settings and lead change in ways that support professional and organisational growth.

The UTS Online Master of Education (Learning and Leadership) comprises 12 subjects totalling 72 credit points.

You’ll complete nine core subjects:
• Learning and Its Trajectories
• Designing Innovative Learning
• Leading Innovative Practices
• Learning with Digital Technologies
• Professional Learning and Practice
• Leading Learning
• Evaluating Learning and Innovation
• Research Practices for Professional Impact
• Investigating Learning and Innovation (Capstone)

You’ll also complete three elective subjects from the approved elective list.

Yes. The course is designed to let you connect your learning and assessment tasks with your own professional context and career goals.

You’ll also complete three electives, with current options spanning workplace learning, mentoring, data ethics, health policy, intercultural communication, psychology and leadership.

This allows you to build capability that is relevant to the learning, leadership or organisational challenges you want to address.

Educational management focuses more on administration, operations, processes and the day-to-day functioning of an educational organisation.

Educational leadership is broader and focuses on influencing people, improving learning, shaping direction, developing capability and leading cultural or organisational change.

The UTS Online Master of Education (Learning and Leadership) emphasises leadership that improves learning and professional practice across education and other organisational contexts.

No. The UTS Online Master of Education (Learning and Leadership) is not an initial teacher education qualification and does not lead to teacher registration.

It is designed for professionals who want to strengthen capability in leading learning, learning design, professional practice and organisational change. If your goal is to qualify as a teacher for the first time, you should explore an accredited initial teacher education course such as a Master of Teaching.

A Master of Teaching is an initial teacher education qualification designed for people who want to become registered teachers, subject to the relevant accreditation and registration requirements.

A Master of Education is generally designed for people who want to deepen or broaden capability in education, learning, leadership or related professional practice.

The UTS Online Master of Education (Learning and Leadership) does not qualify you as a teacher. It focuses on leading learning, innovation and professional practice across education, workplace and organisational settings.

The UTS Online Master of Education (Learning and Leadership) can be completed in a minimum of two years.

The course comprises 12 online subjects totalling 72 credit points, with students studying one subject at a time through the UTS Online study model.

Yes. The course is designed for professionals who want to complete postgraduate study alongside existing work and personal commitments.

You’ll study one subject at a time through structured online learning, and many learning activities and assessments can be connected to your own professional context.

How you balance work, study and personal commitments will depend on your individual circumstances, so it is important to plan for the weekly study requirements of each subject.

Yes. After completing at least one study period, you can apply for a Leave of Absence through the My Student Admin Portal.

Taking a study period off can extend the time it takes to complete the course, so check the current UTS leave requirements and course progression rules before planning a break.

No. The course does not include a formal work placement.

Instead, you are encouraged to draw on your own professional setting and career goals throughout the course. Many learning and assessment activities can be customised to your workplace context, helping you apply theory and research to real learning and leadership challenges.

Collaboration is part of the online learning experience, including peer discussion and interaction, but current course information states that there are no mandatory group assignments.

You’ll have opportunities to learn with peers from different professional backgrounds while completing assessment tasks that are aligned with your own professional context and goals.

Yes. Eligible applicants may receive Recognition of Prior Learning, or RPL, towards the UTS Online Master of Education (Learning and Leadership).

Current course information states that some applicants may be eligible for up to 24 credit points, equivalent to four subjects. Other RPL may be assessed on a case-by-case basis in line with UTS policy.

The amount of credit available depends on your previous qualifications, professional experience and individual circumstances.

Yes. Applicants who are registered with an Australian teacher education accreditation regulatory authority may be eligible for 24 credit points of Recognition of Prior Learning, equivalent to four subjects.

Current UTS information states that this credit comprises Designing Innovative Learning, Leading Innovative Practices and 12 credit points of electives. Evidence of current teacher registration must be provided as part of the application requirements.

Yes. The UTS Online Graduate Certificate in Education (Learning and Leadership) and Graduate Certificate in Organisational and Workplace Learning can both provide pathways into the Master of Education (Learning and Leadership).

Each Graduate Certificate comprises four subjects totalling 24 credit points. Eligible students who receive full credit for those subjects may have eight additional subjects remaining to complete the master’s degree, subject to current UTS credit rules.

The UTS Online Master of Education (Learning and Leadership) can support progression across education leadership, workplace learning, capability development, professional education and learning design roles.

Career directions identified by UTS Online include:
• Director of Teaching and Learning
• Head of Learning Strategy
• School Principal
• Educational Program Lead
• Learning and Development Director
• Curriculum or Learning Designer

Career outcomes will depend on your previous experience, sector and professional direction.

Whether the course is worthwhile depends on your professional goals, previous experience and the capability you want to build.

For professionals who lead or support learning, capability development or organisational change, the degree can provide a structured way to strengthen learning design, leadership, evaluation, research and digital learning capability.

The UTS Online course is designed to help you connect what you study with your professional context rather than treating learning and leadership as purely theoretical areas.

No. The UTS Online Master of Education (Learning and Leadership) is a domestic fee-paying course and does not currently offer Commonwealth Supported Places.

Eligible students may be able to use FEE-HELP to assist with tuition fees.

The current indicative tuition fee for the UTS Online Master of Education (Learning and Leadership) is $37,732 in total, with an indicative fee of $3,144 per subject.

Fees are indicative and subject to change. Your total course fee may vary depending on your study plan, Recognition of Prior Learning and the fees applicable at the time of enrolment, so refer to the UTS Online fees page for the latest information.

Yes. FEE-HELP is available to eligible students studying the UTS Online Master of Education (Learning and Leadership).

FEE-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that can help eligible full-fee-paying students cover some or all of their tuition fees.

Eligibility requirements apply, so check the current FEE-HELP information before enrolling.

UTS Online courses have six intakes per year, giving you multiple opportunities to commence the Master of Education (Learning and Leadership).

Intake dates can change from year to year, so refer to the course page for the next available intake and current application dates.

For a standard six-credit-point UTS Online subject, you should typically allow around 15–20 hours per week for study.

This can include working through weekly learning materials, completing readings and activities, participating in online discussions and preparing assessments. Your actual study time may vary depending on the subject, your previous experience and assessment deadlines.

UTS Online students generally study one subject at a time, helping you focus your study around your professional and personal commitments.

For more information, read our guide to study resources with an example study schedule.

Assessment in the UTS Online Master of Education (Learning and Leadership) varies by subject and is designed to connect research and contemporary learning theory with your professional context.

Depending on the subject, assessments may include interviews, blogs, digital artefacts, observations, evaluation and research proposals, presentations, capstone work and a capability portfolio. Current course information states there are no exams or mandatory group assignments.

Refer to the individual subject information in the UTS Handbook for current details.

The UTS Online Master of Education (Learning and Leadership) is delivered online through Canvas, with students studying one subject at a time through structured weekly modules. You’ll engage with practical activities, multimedia learning, peer discussions and assessments designed to connect your studies with real-world learning, leadership and professional education challenges.

Throughout the course, you’ll also have access to support including:
• A dedicated Student Success Advisor
• Academic and assignment support
• UTS Career Hub resources and networking opportunities
• Peer learning and presentation support
• Confidential health and wellbeing services

Here’s a video example showcasing key features of our online learning platform, including tools designed to enhance your study experience.

Or read our tips for balancing postgraduate study with work and life: https://studyonline.uts.edu.au/blog/balancing-postgraduate-study-and-life-commitments-practical-tips-success