Completing a Master of Education (MEd) degree does not lead to teaching certification.
Applicants to the Master of Education degree program are not required to have a Bachelor of Education degree.
Join a dynamic learning community at Queen’s Faculty of Education and take the next step in your professional journey. Our Master of Education (MEd) program is designed to help you build advanced skills in research, writing, teaching, and educational leadership—guided by renowned faculty and leading experts in the field.
With flexible study options—whether full-time or part-time—and the ability to choose a course-based, thesis, or project pathway, you can customize the program to fit your goals and schedule.
Whether you're an experienced educator, a healthcare professional aiming to enhance your assessment skills, an HR specialist exploring adult learning, or someone just beginning their journey in education, Queen’s offers a supportive and inclusive environment where you can thrive.
Research with us!
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
Overview
- Flexible degree pathways: Choose from a fully course-based program (10 courses), a research-based thesis (6 courses + thesis), or practice-driven project (8 courses + project).
- Choose the schedule that works for you: full-time study (with funding opportunities available) or part-time. Courses are delivered in convenient three-hour slots once a week in the fall/winter terms, with options offered both during the day and in the evening to suit your lifestyle. We also have condensed summer courses available over the summer term.
- Course structure: Our courses are seminar style and consist of 36 instructional hours.
- Courses that interest you: All students are required to take EDUC 890: Introduction to Educational Research. All other courses are electives and include titles like: Psychology of Exceptionalities, Indigenous Languages Revitalization, Gender & Sexuality in Education, Decolonizing and Indigenous Research, Creativity in Educational Research, Teaching in the Anthropocene, Improving the Art of Teaching, Development of Language and Literacy, Culture, Power, and Knowledge: Looking to Possibility, Social Inequity in Education: A Global Perspective. You can find course descriptions on the School of Graduate Studies calendar.
- Support and guidance: If you choose the research-based thesis or the practice-driven project, your supervisor will help guide your progress and ensure your success throughout the program. All students have access to a wide range of workshops focused on academic writing, career development, knowledge mobilization, research, collaboration, and more.
- Put learning into practice: Our optional internship offers hands-on experience in diverse communities of practice, allowing you to apply your skills in real-world settings and deepen your professional expertise.
- Gain valuable teaching and research experience: Full-time thesis and project students have the opportunity to work as teaching assistants in our Bachelor of Education program and/or collaborate on research with faculty members. These roles not only provide hands-on experience but also provide funding.
- Join an active research community: As part of your MEd, you will be immersed in an active research community with opportunities to work in research groups and attend academic conferences.
- Find out: what our graduate students have been funded to research this year.
| MEd Course Based | MEd Project | MEd Thesis | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Courses | 10 courses | 8 courses + project | 6 courses + thesis |
| Part-time available? | Yes (not funded) | Yes (not funded) | Yes (not funded) |
| Supervisor | No supervisor required | Strongly encouraged before submitting an application | Strongly encouraged before submitting an application |
| Applications Due | January 15 - late applications accepted until April 15 if there is space remaining | January 15 - part-time students can apply until April 15 if there is space remaining | January 15 - part-time students can apply until April 15 if there is space remaining |
| Future implications? | Recommended for people interested in learning more about research in education | Recommended for people interested in doing some research but not interested in a thesis | Recommended for those interested in pursuing a PhD |
Join us for a Webinar
Want to learn more about our programs?
- Online - Friday, June 13, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST
How to Apply
Applications to all graduate programs are made through the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affair website starting in September for admission the following year.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the Master of Education program, applicants 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.
Applicants whose native languages do not include English must obtain a passing score in one of the accepted tests of English language proficiency. Information can be found in the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies here: International Students.
Persons who are uncertain if they are eligible for admission to the MEd program are encouraged to contact the Graduate Studies Office at the Faculty of Education.
Application Information
Completed applications (including submission of transcripts and references) are due by January 15. Students are considered for September admission. We strongly encourage applicants to reach out to potential supervisors.
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 competitive for admission to the MEd program, applicants who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada must provide evidence of:
- Successful completion of a four-year undergraduate degree program related to the field of education with no less than a grade point average of “A” or 85%.
- Two or more years of full-time professional experience in the field of education.
- Have research interests in an area that matches the core faculty research interests at the Faculty of Education. Please clearly indicate in your online application why you consider the Faculty to be a good fit to pursue your proposed research.
- At Queen's University English is the language of instruction and communication. Proficiency in English is, therefore, a prerequisite for admission. Applicants whose first language is not English or who have not recently studied for at least one complete year at a post-secondary institution where English is the official language of instruction, will be required to obtain satisfactory results in an English language proficiency test, as part of the application process, and before their application will be considered complete.
Language Testing Requirements
Please note that only the School of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Affairs (SGSPA) at Queen’s University can grant an exemption to the English language proficiency requirements. Please direct these requests to the Director of Admissions, School of Graduate Studies.
For details and English language proficiency requirements, please refer to the SGSPA website.
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.
For additional information, see: Graduate Studies Calendar: Special Student Admission.
English is the language of instruction at Queen’s University and applicants who are non-native speakers of English must have achieved the required level of proficiency on one of the tests of English language listed below.
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based. Required test scores: 580 (paper-based) / 237 (computer-based) / 92 Internet-based). To be competitive applicants should also achieve a minimum of 4.5 on the Test of Written English (TWE).
- The International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Required test scores: a minimum of Band 7.
Additional information on language proficiency tests is available on the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs website.
Applicants are responsible for all arrangements and costs associated with completing the English Facility test.
Our Faculty brings together diverse perspectives on education, fostering multidisciplinary expertise with an active collaborative research community. Our research leads to new knowledge and understandings of teaching and learning, and progressive changes in educational policies and practices.
Financing Your Studies
Funding Packages
Funding packages are awarded to students based on academic merit and they may consist of a combination of the following: scholarships, fellowships, external awards the student may bring with them, internal awards, research assistantships or teaching assistantships.
There is no minimum guarantee for MEd students; however, funding packages may range from $7,000 - $10,000 per year (first five terms).
Normally, if students apply for and successfully obtain a teaching or research assistantship the average funding for eligible MEd students is approximately $10,000 per year.
Minimum funding offers are communicated to applicants when they receive an offer of admission.
Tuition, Fees and Costs
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:
Awards
There are a number of internal awards available to our MEd students including travel fellowships and awards.
Teaching Assistant
Graduate students who want to be considered for a teaching assistant position as part of their funding package are required to apply for one or more of the postings listed under Work at Queen's.