Name: Physical Education & Leadership, MA
Price: £9,450 per year GBP

Interested? See

Attendance

Campus

Start

Duration

1 year

Start

September 2025

Delivery

In-person

Want to take your education career to the next level? Our MA Physical Education and Leadership programme gives you the skills to lead and innovate in PE teaching and education.

This course is for educators ready to advance their careers in Physical Education and Leadership, ideal for

New or aspiring teachers
PE specialists and generalists
Current or future leaders at different levels.

The programme provides a clear, personalised path to help you reach your professional goals. With hands-on learning and reflection, you’ll explore your values and beliefs to enhance your professional practise.

Looking at PE and Leadership from social, political and cultural perspectives, you’ll have a greater understanding of the sector. This will help you to create positive change in your chosen industry.

You’ll also have the chance to conduct research on topics of your choice within Physical Education and Leadership. Areas include teaching:

Philosophy
Sociology
Educational politics
Social justice
Inclusion.

With a focus on student wellbeing and a team of seasoned educators, you'll gain key skills essential for success in today’s field of education.

Why study with us

Our programme is adaptable, student-centred, and therefore relevant to your goals. You’ll help shape your own assessment topics, ensuring that your Master’s journey is meaningful and tailored to you.
Join an inclusive learning community led by a research-active faculty with extensive industry connections. You’ll benefit from both academic insight and experience, alongside real-world expertise.
You'll learn about foundational concepts and current issues in the field. This will help you build critical self-awareness and craft your own personal vision as a future leader.

Interested?

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What you'll do

You will study a range of crucial areas relating to Physical Education and Leadership, including curriculum and pedagogy, leadership, sociology, philosophy and politics.
You will have the freedom to explore a topic that interests you personally or professionally on your own.
You will work with research-active staff with industry experience , gaining critical insights from those within the field.

Modules

Effective strategic leadership is essential for success in sports organisations and educational settings. This module helps you understand the challenges and opportunities of driving change in dynamic environments with multiple stakeholders. You’ll learn how culture can either support or resist change and see the importance of developing interpersonal excellence, and building relationships within and outside your organisation.

Module code: TL4064

This module will help you understand key theories and concepts in educational leadership and management, along with how they interact.

Using complex case studies, you'll learn to create solutions to challenging problems, identify important change factors, and make evidence-based decisions with clear justifications.

This foundation will support you in developing and sharing a strong, informed leadership philosophy for modern education.

Module code: TL4069

This module will help you develop the skills to analyze the social and cultural aspects of physical education (PE) within the wider educational landscape.

You'll use research-based, theoretical approaches to examine educational principles, policies, and practices, building an understanding of the main trends and issues affecting PE environments.

You'll also gain insight into the role of self-reflection in PE settings.

Module code: TL4070

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of our published course information. However, our programmes are subject to ongoing review and development. Changing circumstances may cause alteration to, or the cancellation of, courses. Changes may be necessary to comply with the requirements of accrediting bodies or revisions to subject benchmarks statements. As well as to keep courses updated and contemporary, or as a result of student feedback. We reserve the right to make variations if we consider such action to be necessary or in the best interests of students.

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tom-finney-exterior-sky — Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre

Academic expertise

If you'd like to discuss the course please contact course leader Andrew Sprake by email.

Dr Andrew Sprake

Lecturer in Sport and Physical Education

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The support and professionalism of the staff will always stay with me. Amazing facilities and opportunities to travel internationally to gain more industry experience made UCLan stand out.

Jayne Emmington

BA (Hons) Sports Coaching graduate

Applicants should hold a 2:2 degree or equivalent professional experience or learning in a related field
Applications from all candidates will be considered on their merits in the light of the nature and scope of the programme
IELTS: Score of 6.5 or above with no component score less than 6.0 to have been taken within two years prior to the course commencement date

Not got the grades?

Our courses with a foundation year could be exactly what you're looking for. They provide an alternative route to study for this degree.

Find out more about our courses with a foundation year.

Fees and funding

2025/26

Full-time£9,450 per year

International

Full-time£17,900 per year

Scholarships and bursaries

We have a wide range of bursaries, scholarships and funds available to help support you whilst studying with us.

Select your country to see eligibility information and how to apply by selecting more info on the cards below.

Select your country/region

Dependants Bursary
Students with financially dependent children may be eligible for our Dependants Bursary as part of our financial support package. 
Find out more about Dependants Bursary
Carers Bursary
If you need extra support because you have unpaid caring responsibilities alongside your studies.
Find out more about Carers Bursary
Sports scholarships
We offer student athletes support and opportunities for their playing careers whilst they study a high-quality degree.
Find out more about Sports scholarships
Alumni Loyalty Discount
UK students with a previous award from us will receive 20% tuition fee discount.
Find out more about Alumni Loyalty Discount

Future careers

MA in Physical Education and Leadership students have gone on to secure excellent career opportunities across the education and sport sector.

This course is largely taught in-person on campus, with extra online learning activities to support you. When possible, in-person sessions will be recorded.

On-campus sessions are hands-on workshops that include discussions and activities led by teachers or classmates. You’ll have the chance to do some preparation before workshops as well as follow-up activities. Each workshop includes materials and activities to help you with your assessments.

For further information please contact Dr Andrew Sprake.

Our Masters degree has strong national and international links with a range of relevant professional bodies, including:

The Association for Physical Education (afPE) (Institutional Membership)
afPE Quality Mark Validator – Dr Andrew Sprake
The North Western Counties Physical Education Association (NWCPEA) - Dr Andrew Sprake (Executive Committee Member)
The European Physical Education Review - Dr Andrew Sprake (International Editorial Advisory Board)
International Society of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise – Dr Jess Macbeth (Member)
The International Physical Literacy Association - Dr Andrew Sprake (Special Interest Group for Education)
International Federation of Physical and Sports Education (FIEPS) – Dr Andrew Sprake (English National Delegate)
The European Council of Research in Physical Education and School Sport (CEREPS) – Institutional Member
School Governance - Dr Alan Thomson and Dr Andrew Sprake (School Governor)
The Football Association (FA) – Dr Cliff Olsson (FA Mentor and Coach Education Tutor)
English Basketball Association – Dr Craig Wright (Level 3 Coach)
Professional Football Scouts' Association – Craig Lawlor (Certified Member)
National Paralympic Heritage – Dr Jess Macbeth (Independent Trustee)
British Psychological Association - Helen O’Donnell (Member)
The UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) – Dan Orwin (Member)
UK Coaching – Dan Orwin (Member)
England Rugby – Dan Orwin (Coach Educator and Coach Mentor)
Higher Education Academy (HEA) – All staff are Fellows/Senior Fellows of the HEA

This course will be taught in-person on campus, with some online learning activities available for support. Where appropriate and required, some in-person classes will be recorded so you can watch them later if attendance is not possible.

You must complete assessments for all course modules you are registered in.

We are committed to inclusive and flexible learning. Authorised extensions and adjustments may be available in some cases. You are expected to manage your time well to meet deadlines and complete any required tasks or readings for the modules.

Interested?

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This course is delivered by the School of Health, Social Work and Sport

For information on possible changes to course information, see our essential and important course information

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at the University of Central Lancashire on our student contract page

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Physical Education & Leadership

Why study with us

What you'll do

Modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

View the course facilities

Academic expertise

Hear from our students

Entry requirements

Not got the grades?

Fees and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

Dependants Bursary

Carers Bursary

Sports scholarships

Alumni Loyalty Discount

Future careers

Physical Education & Leadership

Why study with us

What you'll do

Modules

Year 1

View the course facilities

Academic expertise

Hear from our students

Entry requirements

Not got the grades?

Fees and funding

Additional costs

Scholarships and bursaries

Dependants Bursary

Carers Bursary

Sports scholarships

Alumni Loyalty Discount

Future careers

Delivery

Industry links

Learning and assessment

Pathway opportunities