Dr. Habsah Hj. Ismail mendapat pendidikan peringkat menengah di Kolej Tunku Kurshiah, Seremban dari tahun 1966 sehingga 1972. Beliau memegang ijazah bachelor dan Diploma Pendidikan dari Universiti Malaya dan ijazah Masters of Science (Ed.) dalam bidang pengkhususan Falsafah Pendidikan dari Indiana University, Bloomington, USA. Beliau memegang ijazah doktor falsafah daripada Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Beliau telah berkhidmat sebagai pensyarah di Fakulti Pengajian Pendidikan, Universiti Putra Malaysia pada tahun 1984 dan telah berkhidmat di UPM selama lebih 20 tahun. Beliau terlibat dengan aktiviti penyelidikan khususnya dalam aspek kepercayaan falsafah pendidikan guru dan amalana mereka di sekolah. Selain itu, beliau turut terlibat dalam penyelidikan yang meliputi aspek polisi pendidikan kanak-kanak berisiko di Malaysia, nilai dalam matematik, pendidikan guru dan pendidikan tinggi. Beliau turut juga terlibat dalam pembentangan kertas kerja di peringkat kebangsaan dan antarabangsa.

Dr. Habsah Hj. Ismail received her high school education at Tunku Kurshiah College, Seremban. She holds a Bacelor and Diploma of Education from University Malaya and Masters of Science (E.d) in the area of Philosophy of Education from Indiana University, Bloomington, USA. She holds the doctoral degree from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. She has been lecturer at the Faculty of Educational Studies, UPM for over twenty years. She had and is currently involved in researches particularly in her field of specialization such as teachers’ belief and practice. She is also involved in other areas of educational researches such as educational policies of children at risk in Malaysia, values in mathematics, teachers’ craft knowledge and higher education. She also addressed he views in seminars both at the national and international levels.