Educational Leadership
Become a 21st century leader in education
This mid-career Master’s degree requires 2 years (24 months) of work experience after Bachelor’s.
The programme focuses on state-of-the-art skills and concepts of international educational leadership. You will develop necessary competences for leading the human and technological changes faced by educational institutions. You will gain a deeper insight into the successful Finnish education system to transfer best practices to your environment. You will also acquire practical tools and theories about motivating and leading yourself and other educators effectively and ethically.
With this master’s degree, you will have the skills needed to develop yourself to innovative future educational leader, change agent and policy maker. The degree programme provides you with knowledge and skills to work in complex and diverse public or private educational institutions, HR management, governmental positions or NGOs.
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Link to scholarship programme
Become a 21st century leader in education
- Learn the necessary competencies for leading the human and technological changes faced by educational institutions.
- Get direct personal contacts and deeper insight into the successful Finnish education system so as to transfer best practices to your environment.
- Learn practical tools and theories about motivating and leading yourself and other educators effectively and ethically.
- Benefit from our authentic learning approach, where all courses are designed to help you with your own development task, your Master's thesis.
- Become an internationally networked change agent that will make a difference.
The Master of Business Administration, Educational Leadership, is a professional higher education degree. The programme focuses on state-of-the-art skills and concepts of international educational leadership. It enables graduates to change and reform educational policy and practices in their own country in in international settings. The degree is focused on leadership and management with a specialisation of applying contemporary leadership skills in the context of education.
The degree complies with the criteria set by the Finnish national degree system as well as with the European framework for degrees and competences. The degree gives a qualification for a public appointment where a Master's degree is required.
As an applicant, you must have a feasible plan on a Master's thesis proposal which is submitted at the time of application.
This is a practical blended-learning full-time or part-time Master's Degree in Business Administration based on real life authentic learning for a variety of different educational contexts. Participants will learn from analysing and discussing real cases and real life problems. The programme has been designed with the most contemporary learning theories, allowing participants to apply knowledge to their particular context and attain positive student experiences. We want learning and studying in the programme to be both enjoyable and rewarding experience that will create long-term sustainable results.
This is a 90 ECTS credit programme with emphasis on studies required to develop and manage education programmes, institutions or organisations in the public or private sector. The estimated study time is 2 years for those working alongside their studies. The Master's thesis project (30 credits) includes online seminars and is supported by methodological studies.
The degree carries a tuition fee of EUR 10 800 / academic year for non-EU/EEA students. Applicants must submit relevant documentation together with their application. If you are unsure about whether you'd be subject to tuition fees, check the 'Am I required to pay tuition fees?' section on the Studyinfo.fi application site.
Scholarships
Early bird waiver: If the first academic year is paid in full before 31 May, the amount is reduced by -1 500 eur (total to be paid 9 300 eur)
Academic award waiver: If the student completes 60 cr in the first year = 50% reduction is given for the remaining study time (excluding overtime, which carries a separate fee). If the student completes 45 cr in the first year = 25% reduction is given for the remaining study time (excluding overtime, which carries a separate fee).
Academic excellence scholarship: At the time of graduation, students may be eligible for significant Academic Excellence scholarships. These scholarships are governed by the TAMK's R&D Fund. They can be based on final thesis quality, excellence in project work, exceptional practical training success or other grounds set by the Fund.
Timetable
The programme consists of collaborative online distance learning and 3 mandatory intensive weeks in Tampere, Finland:
Intensive week 1 in Finland: 15 – 19 August 2022
Intensive week 2 in Finland or online: 16 – 20 January 2023
Intensive week 3 in Finland or online: 14 – 18 August 2023
A fourth face-to-face meeting in Finland is optional during the last part of the studies. Should it not be possible to hold the intensive weeks at the campus for any reason, the intensive weeks will be held online. Information about this possible change will be given to the students well in advance.
The main part of the studies takes place collaboratively online in 10 online courses of 5 credit each, one of them being a free choice course. Each course lasts 7-8 weeks and there are two courses taking place at the same time. The Master’s Thesis is 30 credits.
First semester
During the first semester you will learn about financial management and leading change projects. You will also consider and reflect upon various theories of learning and how your own views about learning and assessment impact your leadership decisions. You will examine leadership issues in curriculum design and implementation.
Second semester
You will learn about modern theories and practices for leading individuals, teams and organisations. You will also consider the wider environment in which education takes place and its impact on educational policy. The impact of educational technology and the affordances, opportunities and challenges that it provides will be examined.
You will plan and further define your development task (Master’s Thesis) topic, objectives and timeline that will ideally be done within your own education institution. Academic research methods will help you to conduct a high quality empirical research.
Third semester and fourth semester
You will deepen your understanding of successful change management by learning more about communication, conflict management and diversity management. You will scrutinize the emerging trends in education. You will work on your development project and potentially implementing the change in your environment using the lessons learned from the Master’s program.
As an applicant, you must have a feasible plan on a Master's thesis proposal which is submitted at the time of application. The aim of this entity is to refine the initial practical development task into a disciplined final thesis based on the rules of academic writing. The writing of the final thesis is supported by the intensive weeks and online seminars where you have the opportunity to report the progress of your work and to get feedback.
Graduates qualify for leading positions in the field of education in multicultural environments. It is envisioned that graduates gain leadership positions in educational institutions in both the public and private sector. The degree provides graduates with the abilities and skills to work in governmental organisations, Ministries of Education and global NGO's.
Competencies
By the end of this program, participants will have:
- developed their skills in leading people
- a better understanding of self and values
- developed their communications skills
- developed trust building skills
- learned how to manage different stakeholders
- the ability to use new technologies when needed
- the ability to support diverse people
- considered when it is appropriate to use to use a business mindset in their educational context
- developed their own practical theories of learning and assessment
- understood the importance of evaluation and feedback in learning and leading
- evaluated technology from the standpoint of its ability to enhance learning
- understood the pedagogical foundations of successful and efficient learning technologies
- know-how to operate in a learning community interdependently
- an understanding of how educational policies can impact at the institutional level
- considered the formulation of education policy and its relationship with practice
- reflected upon the impact of politics and economics on educational policy
Participants, with a variety of cultural backgrounds and located in different countires, bring a truly international aspects to the degree. Application of learned content happens in the students' own environment and thus in a global context.
TAMK's master's degree certificate offers you the possibility to apply for doctoral studies in other universities according to their admission policy.
Päivi Mayor
Yliopettaja, LeadershipCarefully read through the general eligibility criteria and the programme-specific eligibility criteria and see whether you meet them.
For additional questions on applying, application documents and application process, please contact our Admissions services. For questions regarding the content of the programme, please contact mel.tamk[at]tuni.fi.
Apply in TAMK Direct Application for Master's programmes
The student selection has two phases: a compulsory pre-task, based on which the best-performing applicants are invited to an online interview. Admission is made based on the points received in the interview. Click to see the admission criteria.
Näytä
To be eligible to apply, you must
- hold a suitable higher education degree and
- have a minimum of two years' (24 months) work experience from the relevant field after completing the degree.
You have until 31 July 2022 to complete work experience requirement. Find more information from the section Work Experience.
Language skill requirements
Sufficient English language skills are required for degree programmes conducted in English. English language skills are evaluated as a part of the pre-task and interview.
Applicants with a refugee status
If you are a person with refugee status or an asylum seeker, you may apply and be accepted to study just as any other eligible applicant.
If you are a refugee, have a status comparable to a refugee or are an asylum seeker, and cannot thus verify your previous degree with relevant documentation, TAMK may still invite you to participate in an entrance exam. You must have a decision by the authorities concerning your refugee status. See instructions for the submission of the document at the section enclosures. In a situation like this, please be in touch with the TAMK's Admissions office before applying.
The 2022 intake for this Master's degree programme is 25.
The student selection has two phases. The first phase is a pre-task and the second is an online interview. Student selections are made based on the online interview.
Pre-task
Applicants must submit the pre-task by 26 January 2022 (3 pm Finnish time) at the latest.
The instructions for the pre-task will be published on TAMK website and Studyinfo.fi on 30 November 2021.
Online interview
The applicants invited to the online interview are selected based on the pre-task.
The interview will take place on 15-17 February 2022.
Please find more information on the online interview of this programme from the section Online interview.
Selection between applicants with equal points
If two or more applicants have the same points, they will be ranked by following criteria:
- pre-task points
- order of preference
If the criteria given above fails to produce a difference between tied applicants, the application system will automatically draw the order.
The pre-task and interview results are only valid for the one specific application period.
To be eligible, applicants must have 24 months (two years) of relevant work experience accumulated after the date of graduation (Bachelor’s/higher education degree) and no later than 31 July 2022.
As a relevant field is regarded both the field being applied to and the field of the previous higher education degree.
Work experience must be verified with a work certificate provided by the employer. Unofficial testimonials by email or hand-written documents cannot be accepted. A work certificate must indicate details such as the exact start and end dates of employment, the employer’s contact information, work duties, as well as working hours for part-time work. If the employment continues, the applicant should request a temporary work certificate from the employer.
Entrepreneurship will be accepted as work experience if the applicant can produce a certificate attesting that they are or have been covered by the statutory YEL or MYEL pension scheme. (YEL = statutory pension scheme for entrepreneurs; MYEL = statutory pension scheme for farmers, forest estate owners, fishers and reindeer herders and their family members). Entrepreneurship abroad should be substantiated with comparable official documents.
For applicants who have completed a vocational college degree or higher vocational degree in Finland (opisto- tai ammatillisen korkea-asteen tutkinto) before completing the required Bachelor's degree, work experience completed after the lower degree will also be accepted. Applicants are still required to have a minimum of two years' work experience, and it has to be from the relevant field. If the applicant has completed a vocational college degree or higher vocational degree in Finland (opisto- tai ammatillisen korkea-asteen tutkinto) before completing the required Bachelor's degree and has the required work experience between these degrees, the required Bachelor's degree must be completed so that the applicant can send a copy of the certificate to TAMK Admissions Office by 15 July 2022 at 15.00 Finnish time at the latest.
Instead of work experience, artistic activities of equivalent duration, verifiable by evidence such as a portfolio, may be required in the fields of Crafts and Design, Media and Visual Arts, Theatre and Dance, and Music (Act 932/2014).
Work experience must be informed as full months. Part-time work is converted into full-time such that 150 hours or 20 full working days (at least 7 hours per day) correspond to one month of work. Work experience does not have to be continuous or obtained with the same employer. The amount of work experience gained from simultaneous employment relationships may not exceed the amount of full-time employment. Work experience will only be accepted if it is verified by a work certificate provided by the employer.
Military or non-military national service, women’s voluntary military service or child-care leave will not be counted towards work experience.
Online Interview
Based on the pre-task points, 50 best-performing applicants will be invited to the online interview. Online interviews take place 15-17 February 2022. Invited applicants must book an interview time slot from the given schedule. Online interview is accessible globally over the internet. Applicants do not need to travel to Tampere for the online interview. The invitation emails to the online interview will be sent approximately on 11 February 2022.
The maximum score of the online interview is 50 points. A minimum of 10 points is required for the interview to be accepted.
The online interview is tied together with the pre-task and will test applicants' motivation and suitability for the field of study. Applicants must be prepared for interview (i.e. have a computer with a microphone and a camera available) at the time given. Please note, that interviews will be arranged during office hours Finnish time.
English language skills are evaluated as a part of the pre-task and online interview. There is no pre-reading material for the online interview.
Applicants must submit the pre-task by 26 January 2022 3 pm (Finnish time) at the latest. The instructions for the pre-task will be published on TAMK website and Studyinfo.fi on 30 November 2021.
Click here for the pre-task instructions.
The maximum score of the pre-task is 50 points. A minimum of 10 points is required for the pre-task to be accepted.
Individual arrangements for entrance examinations are practical arrangements made by TAMK to facilitate application in case of special needs. You can apply for the right to individual arrangements for entrance examinations / online interviews in using an online application (below). The deadline for applying for individual arrangements is 26 January 2022.
You need to describe your special needs and the grounds for individual arrangements in the application. You should enclose copies of the certificates to which they appeal. The certificates may not date back for more than 5 years. More detailed instructions on the attachments are provided on the online application. All documents supporting the applications are confidential and approved methods of administration are applied when processing these documents.
If you do not deliver the application in time, TAMK has no obligation to make any individual arrangements. If the need for individual arrangements arises or is discovered between the end of the application period and the online interview/entrance exam, you must submit the individual arrangement application without a delay to TAMK Admissions Office.
You will receive a notification (not a decision) concerning the individual arrangements before the entrance examination/online interview.
The individual arrangement decision only applies to one application round.
See more information about individual arrangements and submit the application.
Application step-by-step
- Check your eligibility for the degree programme of your choice
- Read admission criteria carefully
- Apply via Studyinfo.fi portal during 8 December 2021 - 19 January 2022 (3 pm Finnish time)*
- Prepare and send the pre-task by the deadline
- Upload requested attachments to your application
- Apply for special arrangements (only if needed)
- Take part in the online interview
- Accept the offered study place
- Pay the tuition fee if needed
- Register as present (you may register as absent for the first academic year for the legal reasons only)
- Join the TAMK community!
* You can find the direct link to apply this programme at the bottom of this page.
For detailed instructions please read Application Process.
1. Compulsory pre-task
When applying to TAMK's Master's Programme, you have to submit a pre-task by 26 January 2022 at 15.00 Finnish time at the latest.
The instructions for the pre-task will be published on 30 November 2021.
Click here for the pre-task instructions.
2. Application Documents
All applicants (regardless of the country of the educational background) must upload the school and work certificate copies on their application form by 26 January 2022 at 15.00 Finnish time at the latest.
The application documents you need to upload are:
- Bachelor's/higher education degree certificate
- Transcript of records of the degree
- Work certificates stating the minimum of 24 months of work experience after graduating to the degree
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Résumé
If your document is in other language than Finnish, Swedish or English, you also have to upload a copy of its authorised translation made by authorised translator. The translation has to be in Finnish, Swedish or English and it has to include the translator’s signature and stamp.
Work experience must be verified with a work certificate provided by the employer. Unofficial testimonials by email or hand-written documents cannot be accepted. A work certificate must indicate details such as the exact start and end dates of employment, the employer’s contact information, work duties, as well as working hours for part-time work. If the employment continues, the applicant should request a temporary work certificate from the employer.
The original certificates will be checked from admitted applicants at the beginning of the studies.
TAMK may withdraw the admission if you do not deliver the certificates by the deadline or if you have given false information.
3. Document proving identity and exemption of tuition fee
All applicants must upload a copy of an ID-document on their application form. The document is used to prove applicants identity during different stages of the admissions process (i.e. the online interview), and to establish their citizenship and/or residence status.
Students who are not citizens of countries of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, or are not holders of certain residence status in Finland are subjec to tuition fees. If you hold a residence permit, submit a copy of the residence permit card together with a copy of a passport.
All submitted documents must include a photograph and the applicant must be identifiable from the photograph. The copy must be fully legible.
Submit one of the following documents to prove your identity:
- Passport ID page or ID card of EU/EEA/Switzerland which states citizenship
- Passport ID page (all other citizenships)
- Finnish driving license (only Finnish citizens)
If applicable, submit also a copy of one of the following to prove exemption from tuition fee:
- EU Blue Card
- EU Family Member's Residence Card in Finland
- Type A permit (continuous residence permit in Finland)
- Type P permit (permanent residence permit in Finland)
- Type P-EU permit (EU residence permit for third-country citizens with long-term residence in Finland)
You must upload the copy/copies on your application form by 26 January 2022 at 3 pm (Finnish time).
Applicants with a refugee status
If you are a refugee, have a status comparable to a refugee or are an asylum seeker, and cannot thus verify your previous degree with relevant documentation, please be in contact to TAMK's admissions office before applying (admissions.tamk[at]tuni.fi).
You must have a decision by the authorities concerning your status (decision on asylum or residence permit on the basis of protection). A copy of the relevant decision must be submitted to TAMK's Admissions Office by 26 March 2022 by mail. If you have not yet been granted a decision, you may verify your status by presenting an identity card with their photograph granted by Migri and a fee-based (approximately €20) pending application by Migri that states that you are permitted to legally reside in Finland during the time when your case is being processed, i.e. until a lawful decision has been made on the case.
Results
The results for the August 2022 intake will be published around 4 March 2022.
All applicants
- See their results by logging in to Studyinfo.fi portal
- Receive an e-mail/a letter stating their result and points
Admitted applicants
- Receive a notice of admittance by e-mail
- Must confirm the offered study place in time
Confirm the offered study place in time
Admitted applicants must confirm their study place by 15 July 2022 3 pm (Finnish time) by logging into Studyinfo.fi portal. If the confirmation has not been done by the set date and time, the applicant will lose the offered study place.
Non-EU/EEA students: To qualify for the Early Bird -scholarship you must have accept the offered study place within 7 days of being accepted!
Confirmation of the study place is binding and cannot be altered or cancelled.
If you are later admitted from the waiting list, you have 7 days to confirm your study place. Please read your e-mail regularly in order to receive the possible admittance e-mail in time. The final day of admittance of new students is 2 August 2022.
Original certificates
The original certificates will be checked at the beginning of the studies. Student admission is conditional until TAMK has checked the admitted students' original school and work certificates at the beginning of the studies.
Original certificate submission instructions are given in the admission letter. TAMK may withdraw the admission if you do not submit the original certificates by the deadline or if you have given false information.
One study place
You can only accept one study place among Bachelor's/Master's degrees in Finland starting during the same academic semester (1 Aug-31 Dec/1 Jan-31 Jul). Even if you register as absent or quit your studies, you cannot accept another study place during the same academic semester.
You can only be admitted to one study programme at the TAMK Direct Application for Master's Programmes. After you are offered a study place, all your lower preferences will be cancelled, and you cannot be admitted to those. However, you may still be admitted to your higher preferences if study places become available from the waiting list. This is a national policy to ensure that as many applicants as possible get a new study place annually.
Enroll for studies
When accepting the study place, you also have to register as present or absent to your studies at TAMK on the Studyinfo.fi portal.
According to Finnish legislations, first-year student may register as absent for the first academic year for the following reasons only:
- Finnish military service under the Conscription Act (1438/2007), Non-Military Service Act (1446/2007), or Act on Women's Voluntary Military Service (194/1995);
- maternity, paternity or parental leave;
- the student cannot begin studies due to being incapacitated by personal illness or injury.
If you register as absent, you must prove the legal grounds for your absence. TAMK requires you to present these documents by 15 July 2022 3 pm (Finnish time). Documents must be delivered to TAMK Admissions Office.
If you register as absent in your first academic year, but fail to deliver sufficient clarification regarding the grounds for your absence within the deadline, you will lose your right to study.
Appeals
If you believe that there has been a mistake in the student selection or the set admission criteria have not been applied correctly, you can submit a written request for rectification of the student selection decision addressed to TAMK Board of Examiners within 14 days after the student selection results have been published.
Always check the admission criteria of the programme first and contact TAMK Admissions Office before writing the request. If the issue cannot be solved by the admissions officials, you are advised to submit a written request for rectification.
Form and content of request for an administrative review: The document requesting an administrative review shall indicate the particular decision for which the review is requested, the amendment that is being sought in the review requested and the grounds for requesting the review. (Administrative Procedure Act, Section 49d)
