Professional Practice: Leadership in Emergency Services (LES) (Part-time) (MA)
The Professional Practice: Leadership in Emergency Services (LES) (Distance Learning, Part-Time) is a specialised master’s programme designed for professionals working in emergency services, disaster response, crisis management, and public safety.
This fully online, work-based degree is tailored to help firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and emergency planners develop strategic leadership skills while continuing their vital work.
Through a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical application, students will explore crisis response, risk management, inter-agency collaboration, and resilience planning. This degree enables learners to apply contemporary leadership strategies directly to their roles, improving decision-making and operational efficiency in high-pressure environments.
The programme is highly flexible, allowing students to choose modules relevant to their specific emergency services sector. A key advantage is the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathway, which acknowledges previous training and operational experience, allowing students to gain credits and accelerate their studies.
Students will engage in research-led teaching, case studies, and leadership development projects, collaborating with emergency services organisations to tackle real-world challenges. Graduates will leave with advanced leadership skills, critical thinking abilities, and crisis management expertise, equipping them to lead emergency response teams, develop policy initiatives, and improve crisis preparedness strategies.
If you’re looking for a flexible, sector-specific master’s degree that enhances leadership in emergency response and public safety, the MA Leadership in Emergency Services at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø is the ideal choice
Course details
- Part-time
- English
- Welsh
£43.33 per credit
£5 per credit for experiential learning
Why choose this course?
What you will learn
This programme develops strategic leadership, crisis management, and risk assessment skills for emergency service professionals. You’ll engage with:
- Leadership and decision-making in emergency contexts.
- Multi-agency collaboration and resilience planning.
- Crisis communication and risk management strategies.
- Ethical and professional considerations in emergency services leadership.
The programme structure is designed to support emergency services professionals through flexible study.
Core Modules:
- Leadership in Crisis and Resilience (30 credits)
- Risk Management in Emergency Services (30 credits)
- Strategic Decision-Making in Emergencies (30 credits)
- Work-Based Research in Emergency Services (20 credits)
Optional Modules (examples):
- Inter-Agency Collaboration in Emergency Response (30 credits)
- Managing Operational and Tactical Leadership (30 credits)
- Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Planning (30 credits)
- Leadership in Fire and Rescue Services (30 credits)
- Emergency Services Policy and Governance (30 credits)
Students must complete a total of 180 credits to graduate with an MA.
Optional
(20 credits)
(15 credits)
(20 + (40-160 credit claim))
Optional
(30 credits)
(20 credits)
(30 credits)
(15 credits)
(20 credits)
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
(20 credits)
Optional
Year 2
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The modules outlined above provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this course based on recent academic teaching. We continuously review our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
You’ll typically complete 120 credits per year of study on a full-time course. For more information visit our Student Agreement.
Year 3
Further information
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A good undergraduate degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent professional qualification
Applicants without a degree but with substantial relevant work experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) options available.
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- Work-based projects
- Written assignments
- Research-based reports
- Reflective portfolios
- Presentations
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There are no additional required costs for the course. There is the option to undertake an Insights Psychometric assessment.
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You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit our Scholarships and Bursaries section on our website.