Mentoring, Management & Leadership in the Early YearsMeantóireacht, Bainistíocht agus Ceannaireacht sna Luathbhlianta

The MA in Mentoring, Management & Leadership in the Early Years (MML) commenced in January 2017 and is a 90 ECTS credit programme with an exit award of a Post Graduate Diploma on completion of 60 ECTS credits.

This course is aimed at professionals working in the Early Childhood Education and Care sector who are currently in a management or leadership position, or for those who wish to progress their careers.

For details on how the course is set up and what is contained in each module, view or download our programme brochure.

The programme entry criteria are a minimum award of a 2.2 BA in Early Childhood Education (Level 8) or equivalent; and a minimum of two years’ experience in team leading and/or management experience in the early years.  

If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website. You must have an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no less than 6 in each component (or equivalent).

The programme will be offered in a HyFlex mode where face-to-face and online teaching will be utilised simultaneously. Students have the choice to attend in person or join the classroom virtually. The students joining virtually are not just listening in but actively participating.  Some classes (about 20% for each module), due to the content, will be delivered only face-to-face. Students will be informed of these at the beginning of the semester. Please note that the optional module that is taken in Year 2 is likely to be delivered only face-to-face.

Semester 1

• Perspectives on Mentoring in Early Childhood Education
• The Role of Quality in Early Childhood Education

Semester 2

• Management in Early Childhood Education Services
• Childhood in Context

Semester 3

• Leadership & Organisational change
• Research Methods

Semester 4 (MA)

• Optional module
• Dissertation

For details of each module, please see the student handbook on our School website.

Applications will open in February 2025.

Non-EU Students

Non-EU students, not resident in Ireland, are not eligible to apply for part time programs that are delivered on-campus. Applications for part time courses that require on-campus attendance will not be processed and the application fee will not be refunded. 

I was working in a community based childcare centre as a room leader of an ECCE preschool group when I began the MA in Mentoring, Management and Leadership in the Early Years. The course was extremely accessible to me. I live outside Dublin, and I was able to attend the lectures ‘virtually’ most weeks. Although I was online, I felt like I was in the lecture room with my classmates, and I was freely able to take part in the conversations happening in the lecture. I was working full time while completing the MA, and the HyFlex model of delivering lectures made this much more manageable for me. The modules were varied, and I particularly enjoyed the mentoring module. This module, and the course as a whole, has equipped me with the skills and knowledge needed to advance in my career. Since completing the Masters, I have taken up a role with Better Start as an Early Years Specialist. I would recommend this course to anyone with a passion for the Early Years, wanting to advance in their career.

Lynne Walsh, Early Years Specialist