Program Location
Education Building
Start Term
Fall & Winter Semesters
Program Type
Coursework
Schedule
Part-Time
Credits
15 Credits
Average Duration
2.5 Years
Administered by
Department of Integrated Studies in Education (DISE)
The Graduate Certificates in Educational Leadership (GCEL) offer Quebec educators the opportunity to gain knowledge and insight into school administration and leadership roles in scholastic settings. The GCEL is a part-time stackable program (GCEL 1, GCEL 2, GCEL 3) which, upon successful completion, provides graduates with a cumulative Master of Arts in Educational Leadership.
Designed for in-service teachers, GCEL I and II are each comprised of five courses with students registering for one course per semester (Fall and Winter semesters only) thus taking two and a half years to complete each certificate. In addition to theoretical content and practical applications, these programs provide excellent networking opportunities within and across cohorts, which help leaders in their everyday activities.
Note that GCEL 1 and GCEL 2 courses are interchangeable; however, GCEL 3 courses can not be taken as part of the first two programs. See the details for each certificate below
Have questions?
GCEL 1 Details from the Course Catalogue
Educational Leadership 1 (Gr. Cert.) (15 credits)
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed (Faculty of Education)
Program credit weight: 15
Program Description
This 15-credit program addresses the needs of experienced and aspiring school leaders who are taking increased responsibility for the students and communities they serve. The management of schools is increasingly seen as making a major contribution to the learning and personal development of students. The professional development of school leaders, educational reform, and school partnership form the basis for the program.
Please click here for information on additional requirements for students pursuing this online program:
https://www.mcgill.ca/study/university_regulations_and_resources/graduat...
Course selection to be approved by Graduate Certificate Program Director.
Complementary Courses
15 credits from:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDEC 635 | Research Writing. | 3 |
Research Writing. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The course offers a research-led introduction to processes and practices of research writing. Working to develop their research writing projects, students learn to examine, critically reflect on, and participate in the research writing practices in their fields, guided by current research on the discursive construction of knowledge. | ||
| EDEM 610 | Leadership in Action. | 3 |
Leadership in Action. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Teaches the use of reflective practice to develop theories of leadership action in educational settings. Also provides students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to engage in processes to improve individual and organizational performance. Special emphasis will be given to communication, problem solving and decision-making. | ||
| EDEM 628 | Education Resource Management. | 3 |
Education Resource Management. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Explores the concepts and skills necessary to manage the human and financial resources of small organizations (schools, NGOs, departments). Among the areas explored are labour contracts, supervision, grant writing and fundraising, use of volunteers, managing site-based budgets. | ||
| EDEM 635 | Fiscal Accountability in Education. | 3 |
Fiscal Accountability in Education. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Focuses on accountability in schools and education systems, public responsibility, budgeting, and measures of educational performance. | ||
| EDEM 637 | Managing Educational Change. | 3 |
Managing Educational Change. Terms offered: Summer 2025, Winter 2026 Explores conceptual approaches to managing school improvement and organizational change with applications such as conflict management, action planning, coaching, shared vision-building and problem solving. Uses relevant case studies to bring theory into practice. | ||
| EDEM 644 | Curriculum Development and Implementation. | 3 |
Curriculum Development and Implementation. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Explores and critiques the processes of curriculum development, implementation and evaluation in relation to the field of curriculum studies. The focus will be on the role of the educator/leader as a curriculum professional in formal and non-formal learning environments. | ||
| EDEM 646 | Planning and Evaluation. | 3 |
Planning and Evaluation. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Focuses on contemporary approaches to planning, monitoring and evaluating programs across a range of contexts (K-graduation, college, non-governmental organization, adult education centre). Areas of study include adaptive and strategic management, results-based management, log frame analysis, systems assessment, stakeholder analysis, and fourth generation evaluation. | ||
Or other 500-level or higher courses approved by the Graduate Certificate Program Director.
GCEL 2 Details from the Course Catalogue
Educational Leadership 2 (Gr. Cert.) (15 credits)
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed (Faculty of Education)
Program credit weight: 15
Program Description
This 15-credit program explores more deeply leadership theory and educational issues and applications in a practicum. Candidates for the Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership 2 should normally have completed the first certificate. In combination, the two certificates allow school administrators to acquire the 30 graduate credits in the field of educational leadership required by the Quebec Ministry of Education.
Students in the online version of this program, please click here for information on additional requirements.
https://www.mcgill.ca/study/university_regulations_and_resources/graduat...
Course selection to be approved by Graduate Certificate Program Director.
No course taken in Certificate 1 can be repeated in Certificate 2.
Complementary Courses (15 credits)
15 credits from:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDEM 606 | Educational Leadership Issues. | 3 |
Educational Leadership Issues. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Focuses on the critical analysis and appraisal of leadership issues across geographic, linguistic, racial, gender and cultural contexts from a comparative perspective. Students will analyze their own experience. This is a co-constructed course designed to speak specifically to students’ realities and address areas of learning identified by the practitioner-learners in the class. | ||
| EDEM 660 | Community Relations in Education. | 3 |
Community Relations in Education. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Examines the role of school community relations to foster high quality learning environments. Explores and discusses methods for encouraging public involvement in education, the role of the leader in facilitating community engagement, and issues and dilemmas in community relations. | ||
| EDEM 664 | Education and the Law. | 3 |
Education and the Law. Terms offered: Fall 2025 The legal and institutional framework of Canadian education systems; legal terminology and the tools and methods of legal research; selected public and private law issues in Canadian education. | ||
| EDEM 671 | Role of the Leader. | 3 |
Role of the Leader. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Explores the roles, expectations and skills related to the task of the educational leader and the implications for school climate and effectiveness. | ||
| EDEM 673 | Leadership Theory in Education. | 3 |
Leadership Theory in Education. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Explores theory and research on leadership approaches (including leadership styles, strategies, and communication practices) and the role of leadership theory in educational settings. | ||
| EDEM 675 | Special Topics 1 in Educational Leadership. | 3 |
Special Topics 1 in Educational Leadership. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Explores important current issues in the field of Educational Leadership Studies. (Content varies from year to year). | ||
| EDEM 681 | Practicum - Administrative Studies. | 3 |
Practicum - Administrative Studies. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Focuses on field studies and applied research, including the preparation of a research report. Using case studies and problem-based learning, students will draw from practical and/or contextual examples to understand educational leadership in context. | ||
| EDEM 693 | School Improvement Approaches. | 3 |
School Improvement Approaches. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Focuses on the analysis of action and research approaches used to improve school performance. Explores the collection and use of data to improve decisions making; strategies for creating interventions to improve schools; and political and social facets of making good ideas become good policy and practice in schools. | ||
| EDEM 695 | Policy Studies in Education. | 3 |
Policy Studies in Education. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Focuses on issues in the field of policy studies with specific reference to the formulation, analysis, and assessment of educational policies. Particular focus on strategic policy implementation, analysis of unintended policy consequences and responsive policy-making. | ||
Or other 500-level or higher courses approved by the Graduate Certificate Program Director.
GCEL 3 Details from the Course Catalogue
Educational Leadership 3 (Gr. Cert.) (15 credits)
Offered by: Integrated Studies in Ed (Faculty of Education)
Program credit weight: 15
Program Description
The Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership 3 emphasizes applied research in educational leadership and ways in which educational leadership and associated theories can inform the design, implementation, and assessment of educational programs in schools. The program highlights applied research in the context of teaching and learning in Quebec elementary and secondary schools. No course taken in the Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership 1 may be repeated in Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership 2 or Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership 3. The Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership 3 may be offered on campus or online.
Students in the online version of this program, please click here for information on additional requirements.
https://www.mcgill.ca/study/university_regulations_and_resources/graduat...
Required Courses (12 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDEM 625 | Project 1. 1 | 6 |
Project 1. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Theoretical or practical project under the supervision of a departmental faculty member to explore and analyze an area of interest relevant to the concentration in leadership or curriculum. | ||
| EDEM 625N1 | Project 1. 1 | 3 |
Project 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Theoretical or practical project under the supervision of a departmental faculty member to explore and analyze an area of interest relevant to the concentration in leadership or curriculum. | ||
| EDEM 625N2 | Project 1. 1 | 3 |
Project 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. For description see EDEM 625N1. | ||
| EDEM 627 | Project 2. | 6 |
Project 2. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Extension of Project 1 or new project. | ||
- 1
Students take either EDEM 625 Project 1. or EDEM 625N1 Project 1. and EDEM 625N2 Project 1.
Complementary Courses (3 credits)
3 credits from:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDEM 690 | Research Methods: Theory and Practice. | 3 |
Research Methods: Theory and Practice. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Overview of the epistemological foundations of a range of research methods, including but not limited to quantitative, philosophical, qualitative, arts-based, and mixed methods. Students will learn techniques to conduct research and to develop a research proposal. | ||
| EDEM 692 | Qualitative Research Methods. | 3 |
Qualitative Research Methods. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Theoretical and practical exploration of the foundations of qualitative methods, with emphasis on underlying principles. | ||
| EDTL 640 | Teacher Inquiry and Action Research. | 3 |
Teacher Inquiry and Action Research. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Furthers students' understanding of teacher inquiry and action research. Students will make connections between their theoretical understandings of research and their own emergence as practitioner researchers in educational settings. Topics include: writing a focused literature review; collaborative and spectator forms of research; ways to identify problems to investigate; data collection and analysis; reflexive praxis; and ways to draw conclusions from research. The major assignment for the course will be the completion of the final written MATL capstone project or equivalent. | ||
Or other 500-level or higher research method courses approved by the Graduate Certificate Program Director.
Eligibility (Admission Criteria)
Applicants should meet the following requirements:
- Possess an undergraduate degree.
- A minimum CGPA of 3.0 out of 4.0, or a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.2 out of 4.0 in the last two years of full-time studies. International applicants can look up grade equivalencies on McGill’s Future Graduate Students website.
- Two (2) years of relevant leadership experience (not necessarily as a school leader).
- It is recommended although not required to apply to the Graduate Certificates in Educational Leadership in numeric order, that is, starting with GCEL1 and progressing to GCEL2 then GCEL3, as desired.
- Proficiency in English. Applicants to graduate studies whose mother tongue is not English and who have not obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction, or from a recognized institution in Canada or the US (anglophone or francophone), must submit documented proof of proficiency in oral and written English.
- IELTS with a minimum overall band of 7.0; (with a minimum writing score of 7.0); or
- TOEFL:iBT (Internet-based test) – total score of 92 with a minimum score of 22 each for the Writing and Speaking sections and a minimum of 20 each for the Reading and Listening sections and PBT (paper-based test) – 580
(The Department reserves the right to evaluate the applicant's language proficiency before initial registration and at the time of application.)
Application Process & Required Documents
All applications are done through McGill's Graduate Applicant Portal. The application steps and instructional video are on the University's Future Graduate Students website. The following documents must be part of your application: (Note that all uploaded documents to the portal must be in PDF format.)
- A complete application form (accompanied by your application fee payment).
- A current working CV/resume.
- A copy of your unofficial transcripts from all previous university-level studies (undergraduate and graduate). Official transcripts are required to be submitted by those who gain admission to the program. (Instructions on sending official transcripts will be sent upon acceptance.)
- Letters of Reference: Within the online application, applicants must provide valid institutional e-mail addresses for two (2) employer references (past or current) who can speak to your academic and leadership abilities as well as how you would fare as a graduate student. McGill University will contact the referees directly to submit their letters of reference.
- Personal Statement (2-page maximum, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12pt font, 1 inch margins). Applicants should demonstrate a clear motivation for pursuing their graduate certificate. If you are pursuing the Graduate Certificates in Educational Leadership to obtain the cumulative Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, please reflect this in your personal statement. Moreover, this letter of intent should specify your relevant academic and professional experience, particularly related to aspects of leadership.
- English Language Proficiency Test Score (if applicable): Please arrange for test scores (TOEFL, IELTS) to be sent to McGill directly from the testing agency. You must indicate the McGill University institution code: 0935.
Application Deadlines
Deadlines for GCEL I and II:
Fall Admission:
- March 1: International Applicants
- June 1: Canadian and Permanent Residents Applicants
Winter Admission:
- September 1: International Applicants
- October 15: Canadian and Permanent Residents Applicants
Deadlines for GCEL III:
Winter Admission:
- September 1: International Applicants
- October 15: Canadian and Permanent Residents Applicants
What to Expect After Submitting your Application
Recommended candidates will receive a "Recommendation of Acceptance" email according to the schedule below, confirming that their application has been reviewed and is being transmitted to McGill's Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS). Successful candidates will be contacted via email with an official offer of admission. Candidates are then required to confirm their acceptance via their Graduate Applicant Portal.
- Fall Semester admissions can expect a confirmation in July.
- Winter Semester admissions can expect a confirmation in December.
