How can I tell whether an education postgraduate course is suitable for a career in educational research rather than school administration?
Assess the curriculum, assessment, and intended outcomes rather than relying on the course title. An education postgraduate course suited to educational research may include research design, qualitative and quantitative methods, data analysis, critical literature review, and a substantial dissertation or research project. A course focused on school administration may emphasise leadership, finance, governance, staffing, and policy implementation.
Key points
- Check whether academic staff supervise research in your area and whether the course offers research training or a pathway to doctoral study.
- Review module descriptions, dissertation requirements, assessment methods, and graduate destinations where these are published.
- Ask the course team how much independent research, data collection, and methodological training students complete.
Things to check
- Course structures and career outcomes vary by university, country, and programme, so confirm details in the official handbook and speak with the course team.
- A taught course can support research-related work, but a research-intensive career may require further study or relevant research experience.