Master of Education
Flexible degree pathways: full-time, part-time, coursework, project, or thesis
In-person
Coursework can be finished in 1 year full-time, thesis and project typically take 2 years (5 terms) full-time
Kingston, Ontario
Funding available for full-time thesis and project students
Spark. Question. Explore.
The Master of Education (MEd) at Queen's develops advanced skills in research, writing, teaching, and educational leadership, guided by experienced faculty and leading researchers in the field. Whether you are an experienced educator, a healthcare professional, an HR or training specialist, or new to education altogether, you will join a supportive learning community built around your goals.
Two things to know before you apply: you do not need a Bachelor of Education to be admitted, and the program does not include teacher certification.
Master of Education Highlights
- Choose your pathway: Complete the degree through coursework (10 courses), a project (8 courses + a project), or a thesis (6 courses + thesis). Each pathway leads to the same MEd degree.
- Study on your schedule: Full-time and part-time options are available, with daytime and evening courses in the fall and winter terms and condensed courses over the spring/summer.
- Shape your learning: One required research course and a wide range of electives let you build a program around your interests and career goals. Courses are seminar-style and delivered in 36 instructional hours. The Academic Calendar has a list of courses we offer.
- Work with support: Thesis and project students are admitted to the program with a supervisor. Course-based students are supported by the Graduate Studies Office. All students can access workshops in academic writing, research, career development, and knowledge mobilization.
- Put your learning into practice: An optional internship offers hands-on experience in diverse communities of practice. Students in all pathways can complete an internship.
- Join an active research community: Connect with faculty research groups, present at academic conferences, and contribute to research projects at Queen's.
- Funding for full-time thesis and project students: Eligible full-time students in the thesis and project pathways are considered for a funding package. Course-based and part-time students are not eligible for a package but may apply for teaching and research assistantships.
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| MEd Course Based | MEd Project | MEd Thesis | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program Structure | 10 courses | 8 courses + project | 6 courses + thesis |
| Part-time option | Yes (not funded) | Yes (not funded) | Yes (not funded) |
| Program length | Full-time: 1 year Part-time: 2-5 years | Full-time: 5 terms (around 2 years) Part-time: 3-5 years | Full-time: 5 terms (around 2 years) Part-time 3-5 years |
| Supervisor required? | No supervisor required | Strongly recommended before application | Strongly recommended before application |
| Funding | No funding package is provided, but students can apply to TA/RA positions, and Tri-Council Fellowships | Funding package available to full-time students | Funding package available to full-time students |
| Best suited for | Practitioners wanting to deepen knowledge | Those wanting hands-on research experience without a thesis | Students planning to pursue a PhD or research career |
Application Deadlines
All programs: January 15
Extended deadline: April 15 (domestic students only, space permitting)
Funding Note
Part-time students are not eligible for program funding in any stream.
Supervisor Tip
For Project and Thesis streams, securing a supervisor before applying strengthens your application and ensures faculty alignment with your research interests.
Research Expertise
Our faculty brings together diverse perspectives on education and fosters multidisciplinary expertise in the following areas:
- Arts Education
- Assessment and Evaluation
- Curriculum Studies
- Disability Studies
- Early Childhood Education
- Educational Psychology
- Exceptionalities
- History and Philosophy of Education
- Indigenous Education and Land-Based Learning
- International Education
- Language and Literacy
- Leadership and Policy Studies
- Math, Science, and Technology in Education
- Outdoor Education
- Social Justice and Inclusion
- Teacher Education
Admissions
All graduate program applications are made through the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs website starting in September for admission the following year.
Completed applications (including submission of transcripts and references) are due by January 15 to be considered for September admission. If you are planning to complete a project or a thesis, we strongly encourage you to reach out to potential supervisors.
Late Applications
Late applications will be accepted from domestic applicants until April 15, including the submission of all supporting documentation, if there is space remaining in the program. This extension does not apply to international applicants.
To be considered for admission to the Master of Education program, you must provide evidence of:
- A minimum of a mid-B average in a 4-year Bachelor's degree or its equivalent or
- A BEd degree, and a minimum of a B- average in a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent
Professional experience and/or an Honours degree are considered assets.
If English is not one of your native languages, you must obtain a passing score in one of the accepted tests of English language proficiency (can be found in Step 4 of the How to Apply section).
If you are unsure if you are eligible for admission to the MEd program, contact the Graduate Studies Office at the Faculty of Education.
If you are an international applicant, you must provide evidence of the following to be considered for our program:
- A four-year undergraduate degree in a field related to education, with a minimum average of 85%.
- Two or more years of full-time professional experience in the field of education.
- For the thesis and project track: Have research interests that align with the expertise of a potential faculty supervisor in the Faculty of Education. A strong match between an applicant’s proposed research and faculty research expertise is an important consideration in the admissions process. Applicants should clearly indicate in their online application which faculty member(s) they believe may be a suitable supervisor and explain why the Faculty is a good fit for their proposed research.
Language Testing Requirements
English is the language of instruction at Queen's. If your native language is not English, and you have not completed at least one full year of study at a post-secondary institution where English is the official language of instruction within 12 months of applying, you must submit results from an accepted English language proficiency test. Your application is not complete until those results are received. Accepted tests and minimum scores are listed in Step 4 of the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs How to Apply guide.
Only the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs can grant an exemption from the English language proficiency requirement.
Application Deadline
International applications are due on January 15. The extended deadline of April 15 only applies to domestic applicants.
Helpful links for international students
If you are interested in taking a graduate course without registering for a program, you can apply for Special Student Admission. To receive permission to take a graduate course as a Special Student, application must be made to and reviewed by the Faculty of Education and then approved by the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. Please contact the Graduate Studies & Research Office to request an application form.
Application Deadlines for Special Student Admission
| Term | Application Deadline |
| September | July 31 |
| January | October 31 |
| July | May 15 |
If the application deadline falls on a weekend, the deadline will be the following Monday. These deadlines are firm and include the submission of all supporting documentation. More information can be found under Special Student Admission.
Financing your Studies
Information on tuition, fees and costs as well as the financial support offered to graduate students from the University and external agencies is provided by the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs:
- How Funding Packages Work (Thesis/Project Students)
- Tuition, Fees and Cost of Living
- Funding for Queen's Graduate Students
Funding packages are awarded to full-time thesis and project students based on academic merit and may include a combination of scholarships, fellowships, internal and external awards, research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and Graduate Teaching Fellowships.
There is no minimum guarantee for MEd students but funding packages may range from $7,000-10,000 per year, for the first five terms.
To qualify for funding, students must:
- Remain enrolled full-time in all three terms (fall, winter, and summer)
- Apply for available teaching and research assistantships
- Apply for eligible external awards (SSHRC, OGS, etc.)
Exact funding package details are normally communicated to students in August.
The Faculty of Education has a number of internal awards available, including travel fellowships and awards.
Queen's School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs has more information about Awards & Bursaries.