The Master of Education in Educational Studies - Leadership in Métis Education supports Métis teachers and school leaders to be change advocates, supporting robust learning communities at every level and in every community, enriching a culture of informed practice.

Over the course of two years, Métis education professionals will develop leadership capacity and advance Métis-led educational improvement across Alberta. In addition, participants will:

  • build their Métis cultural knowledge and identity through foundational knowledge, land-based learning, and Michif language experiences;
  • develop leadership and facilitation skills (workshops, PD sessions, coaching, and ongoing learning in schools and districts);
  • apply their learning through workplace-based inquiry and a final capstone synthesis that contributes to students, schools, and communities.

To optimize the learning experience, students in this cohort will be taught primarily by Métis faculty, focusing on Métis pedagogies and research methodologies.

Notes:

  • Rupertsland Institute will review applications and you will be notified upon acceptance into the program.
  • The program will start in January 2027, pending sufficient enrollment.

The MES consists of ten graduate-level, 3-credit courses which are completed in sequence with your cohort: eight core courses, including four courses specific to Métis education, and two leadership courses which fulfill the academic requirement for leadership (LQS) certification in Alberta. Four of the core courses are delivered in-person; the remaining courses are delivered online in the fall, winter, and spring semesters with both online (Zoom) meetings and self-directed or group work components.

Notes:

  • Any online (Zoom) meetings are in Mountain Time (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). Dates and times are determined by the course instructor and posted on Canvas.
  • Course offerings are dependent upon sufficient enrollment.

Note: you must take a course in the term for which you apply. Course offerings are dependent upon sufficient enrollment.

Year I

Winter Term, January - April

EDSL 520 Foundations of School Leadership ★3
Explore the foundational dimensions of school leadership including instructional leadership, fostering effective relationships, supporting the application of foundational knowledge about Indigenous Peoples, visionary leadership, leading learning communities, modelling continuous professional learning, developing leadership capacity, understanding the social context influencing schooling, and managing school operations and resources.

Online (Zoom) meetings are included; attendance is required.

Note: This course is partial fulfillment of the academic requirements for leadership certification through Alberta's Leadership Quality Standard (LQS). EDU 521 is also required (see below).

Spring Term, May - June

EDSL 521 School Leadership: Theory and Practice ★3
Examines the historical context of current thinking about educational leadership, how leadership literature informs practice, and critically examines associated literature from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Analyzes values and ethical principles in school leadership and complex dilemmas of educational leadership.

Summer Term, dates TBA, FULL TIME

EDST 597 Michif Language Revitalization for Educators ★3
This course supports educators to engage with Michif language revitalization through land-based, community-guided learning. Working alongside fluent Michif speakers and language carriers, students will participate in hands-on activities grounded in Métis histories, relationships, and protocols. The course introduces key concepts in language reclamation and revitalization, explores the diversity of Michif, and strengthens educators' confidence to support Michif in respectful, meaningful ways within K-12 and community learning spaces.

EDST 597 Métis Foundational Knowledge for Teachers and School Leaders ★3
This course invites educators to engage with Métis acimowina (stories), tapwewina (truths), and ways of being to deepen their knowledge of how Métis tell their stories, and in how they can share Métis knowledge in a good way in their own learning communities. This course is designed to explicitly support teachers and school leaders to meet Alberta’s Teacher & Leadership Quality Standard (TQS/LQS), with special attention to areas about the Métis.

Fall Term, September - December

EDST 597 Michif in the Classroom ★3
Course description to come.

Year II

Winter Term, January - April

EDST 510 Fundamentals of Educational Research ★3
Explores the findings of educational research, and works to apply the results of research to educational problems. Focuses on conceptualizing methods of educational research to specific and individual educational sites and issues.

Spring Term, May - June

EDST 597 Supporting Educator Professional Development ★3
Course description to come.

Summer Term, first three weeks of July on-campus, FULL TIME

EDST 514 Planning for Educational Change ★3
Explores how educational research can enhance educational change toward school improvement and focuses on utilizing appropriate research methods to create a site-based research proposal for a specific site.

Fall Term, September - December

EDST 515 Applying Educational Research ★3*
A supervised research assignment to develop and apply knowledge and skills related to data collection, data analysis techniques and research report presentation.

Winter Term, January - April

EDST 900 Program Synthesis ★3*
Explores the findings of educational research, and works to apply the results of research to educational problems. Focuses on conceptualizing methods of educational research to specific and individual educational sites and issues.

Ethics Requirement

In addition to the core and elective courses, all Master's students are required to take INT D 710: Ethics and Academic Citizenship.

  • 6 hours
  • Online
  • Asynchronous
  • Credit/No Credit

Students will be enrolled automatically in the summer or fall term. This requirement must be completed prior to taking EDST 515.

Grading

The program uses the University of Alberta's 4-point scale grading system. For more information about the University of Alberta grading system, see the grading system at the Office of the Registrar.

In order to be considered for this MES program, you must meet the following minimum criteria:

  • A citizen of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government within Alberta, and resident of Alberta.
  • A four-year baccalaureate degree from a recognized university with a 3.0 GPA on the last 60 credits of course work (6.5 on the 9-point scale).
    Note: For lower GPAs, admission may be granted based on work experience - see Guidelines for Considering Life Achievement.
  • Two+ years of teaching experience.

Domestic Tuition

2026-27 tuition for domestic students (Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents) is $1,820.32 per course (subject to change). Tuition is assessed each semester, by course.

Fees and Other Costs

  • Non-instructional fees are assessed by the university
    Note: students can opt out of the Students' Union Health and Dental plans.
  • Course readings - these costs are not prohibitive as most texts are available in digital format, and available to borrow from the University of Alberta library system; some may be used for more than one course.

Accommodations for Summer
Some students stay with friends or family members over the three-week period. If you require paid accommodation, a number of options are available, including nearby hotels and Bed & Breakfasts. Should you wish to stay on campus - only steps away from your classes - there are two options:

Financial Support
Rupertsland Institute will offer financial support to program participants, with the intention that the program be fully funded. Additional information will be provided to successful applicants.

Applying for this program is a two-step process.

Step 1: Eligibility Screening (Rupertsland Institute)
To complete Step 1, please upload all required documents through this Google Form by September 25, 2026.

  • A Letter of Intent (about 1000 words) outlining your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree and area(s) of interest as potential research topics
  • A 1-2 page résumé outlining teaching experience and other relevant experience.
  • A scanned copy of your OMG Métis Citizenship card.
  • Unofficial copies of your postsecondary transcripts.

Download this checklist for full details on these required documents.

Step 1 is to confirm that you meet Rupertsland Institute funding requirements, not provide a detailed review of your application. If your documents meet the criteria, Megan will reply to you and the MES team. They will provide a link to the University of Alberta’s Graduate Studies Application Centre (GSAC) and provide detailed application instructions.

Note: An invitation to apply through to the U of A does not guarantee admission. Final admission decisions are made by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Questions? Contact Megan Tipler at education@metis.org. 

Step 2: Apply to the University of Alberta

Full information on how to apply will be provided for those invited in Step 1.

These are the documents you will be required to upload to your application:

1. A Letter of Intent outlining your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree and area(s) of interest as potential research topics

2. A 1-2 page résumé

3. Two References: the names and email addresses of two people who will provide letters of professional recommendation, attesting to your academic aptitude and commitment to your profession. A link will be sent to your referees that will allow them to upload their letters.

4. Scanned, up-to-date transcripts from all of the post-secondary institutions you have attended (including incomplete studies, exchange and transfer credit courses). Note: your application will not be processed until up-to-date transcripts from all post-secondary institutions are provided.

  • Up-to-date is defined as transcripts dated or issued in the fall/winter session of the year of application (if currently registered) or within a year of the term for which you are applying (if not currently registered). For example, if you are a new student applying for the Fall term, the print date on your transcript must be no later than September 1 of the previous year.
  • The transcript must be scanned legibly and in its entirety (front and back pages), including the transcript legend typically printed on the back of the transcript. Ensure that no information is cut off during scanning.
  • The following are acceptable for uploading to the GSAC:
    • PDF copies of transcripts that have been mailed to you from the issuing institution, scanned front and back
    • PDF copies from Bear Tracks for U of A students
    • PDF copies from other institutions' student portals (must have the institution's URL clearly visible)
    • PDF copies from MyCreds (email to yourself, then upload).

Please review the Application Requirements for Academic Documents page to ensure that your transcripts meet ALL of the listed requirements.

When you receive your letter of admission from the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), you will be asked to send official transcripts directly to them. Instructions will be provided in the letter.

Do these courses count toward the TQS salary scale?
Yes. Each graduate-level course counts as 0.125 years on the TQS salary scale. More information is available here (see section 15.02).

How will a break in my studies affect my program?
In most cases, you have 6 years to complete the MEd. However, course availability is dependent upon sufficient enrollment. If you intend to interrupt your program for any reason, contact us to discuss your options.

What grading system does the program use?
These programs use the University of Alberta's 4-point scale grading system (graduate).

What if I don't quite meet all of the requirements?
Contact us to discuss your options.

Questions? Contact mesinfo@ualberta.ca.