Working with our outstanding researchers and experts in education, you will develop innovative research, writing, teaching and leadership skills. Our MEd program gives you the flexibility to choose your research focus. We offer a diverse range of courses and, as a researcher in our community, you will have opportunities to to engage in outreach initiatives in the community and in local, national, and international partnerships.
Research with us!
Research Expertise
Our faculty brings together diverse perspectives on education and fosters multidisciplinary expertise in the following areas:
- Assessment and Evaluation
- Curriculum Studies
- Early Childhood Education
- History and Philosophy of Education
- Language and Literacy
- Leadership and Policy Studies
- Math, Science and Technology in Education
- Social Justice and Inclusion
- Special Education
Fast Facts
- Flexible degree pathways: Choose a research-based thesis (6 courses + thesis) or practice-driven project (8 courses + project).
- Timetable that fits your life: Choose from full-time study (funding available) or part-time study options.
- Courses that interest you: Our courses are seminar style and consist of 36 instructional hours. To view our courses, visit the School of Graduate Studies calendar.
- Support and guidance: You will be provided with an academic advisor and supervisor to support your progress and success in the program. Many academic, writing and collaborative workshops are offered.
- Engage with new communities: Check out our optional internship opportunity that helps you gain experience with new communities of practice and enhance your skills through field application.
- Study abroad: In your first year, you can switch to our Master of Education Dual Degree program and study in China.
- Gain Teaching and Research Experience: Most of our graduate students have the opportunity as a Teaching Assistant to teach within our Bachelor of Education programs and gain experience and funding in the process.
- Join an Active Research Community: As part of your MEd, you will be immersed within an active research community with opportunities to work in research groups and attend academic conferences (some funding for conferences provided if presenting).
How to Apply
Applications to all graduate programs are made through the School of Graduate Studies website starting in September for admission the following year.
Admission Requirements
- Professional experience, a BEd degree or its equivalent, and a minimum of a B- (70-72.9%) average in a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent, or
- Two years professional or industrial experience, and a minimum of a B- average in a Bachelor's Honours degree or its equivalent, or
- BEd degree, and a minimum of a mid-B (73-76.9%) average in a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent
Application Information
Completed applications (including submission of transcripts and references) are due by January 15. Students are considered for September admission. Though not required, we strongly encourage applicants 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 in 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 (SGS) 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 SGS website.
Helpful links for international students
- Awards and fellowships (Please note that there are very few awards available for international students and applicants are encouraged to seek funding from government ministries and educational agencies in their home countries.)
- UHIP mandatory health insurance for international students
- Information about applying for Canadian permits and visas
- Queen’s University International Centre
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. 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 website.
Applicants are responsible for all arrangements and costs associated with completing the English Facility test.
If you have questions, please contact the Graduate Studies & Research Office.
Financing Your Studies
Funding Packages
Funding packages are awarded to students based on academic merit and they may consist of any or a combination of the following: scholarships, fellowships, external awards the student may bring with them, internal awards, research assistantships, teaching assistantships or graduate teaching fellowships.
There is no minimum guarantee for MEd students; however, funding packages may range from $7,000 - $10,000 per year (first six terms).
Normally, if students apply for and successfully obtain a Graduate Teaching Fellowship, Teaching and/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:
Awards
There are a number of internal awards available to our MEd students including travel fellowships and awards.
Teaching Assistant or Graduate Teaching Fellow
Graduate students who want to be considered for a teaching assistant or graduate teaching fellow position as part of their funding package are required to apply for one or more of the postings listed under Work at Queen's.
Research With Us
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. As a researcher in our community, you will have opportunities to engage in outreach initiatives in the community and in local, national and international partnerships.
Personalized Research Focus
Our MEd program gives you the flexibility to choose your research focus. Our program does not require you to select a concentration. Instead, we offer a diverse range of courses and connect you with a program advisor to design a program meet your specific research interests. Your advisor will help you find a supervisor to support the completion of your Master's thesis or project.
Build Professional Experience
The majority of our graduate students have an opportunity to work as a paid Teaching Assistant and/or a Research Assistant, providing excellent opportunities for career development during their graduate studies.
You will also have the opportunity to complete an optional professional internship as part of your degree. The internship opportunity, which normally takes place outside the university campus, will provide you with an authentic work experience opportunity and experiential learning. The internships can be in a variety of research, teaching or professional contexts to provide you with practical learning that directly relates to your program of study.
We also encourage our graduate students to build their professional networks by engaging with the larger academic community by presenting work at conferences such as the Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE) and the American Educational Research Association (AERA). Some funding for conference travel is provided.