Comparative Education and International Development (CEID) MSc

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: Education

Year of entry: 2026

Study options

Mode of study

On campus

Full-time
  • MSc | 1 year | Start date: September 2026

Key facts

School

Moray House School of Education and Sport

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Study location

Holyrood campus

Accreditation

Not available

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About the degree programme

The MSc Comparative Education and International Development (CEID) programme provides you with both:

  • an academic foundation in the theories, issues, and current debates in comparative education and international development
  • the flexibility to follow your professional interests through a wide range of option courses

In the programme, we adopt a social justice perspective. Our expert faculty share cross-national and cross-cultural examples from around the world to help you understand how the global and local shape education policy, and the role education plays in various aspects of development, including health, peacebuilding and citizenship.

Exposure to experts across the University and practitioners in the field will allow you to further your networks and consider a multitude of post-graduation possibilities.

Programme benefits

At the end of this programme, you will have a more critical understanding of the policies, politics, histories, ideas and cultural practices that influence education.

The programme also builds on the University of Edinburgh's and Scotland’s desires to be responsible international actors. It takes advantage of Edinburgh as a capital city by connecting with the Scottish Parliament and local organisations in the CEID field.

The capstone approach to the dissertation allows you to apply to complete placement-based dissertations with local, regional or global organisations.

As a student in the MSc CEID Programme, you have the opportunity to participate in the dynamic CEID Community based at the Moray House School of Education and Sport. Beyond the MSc CEID programme, you benefit from:

  • access to the CEID Research Group, which brings together over 50 researchers across the University to learn from and share their research in the CEID field
  • the ability to join the CEID Student Society – one of the few student-run societies focused on the graduate student experience, holding regular social, academic and networking events

CEID Research Group

The best thing about my studies was finding people with the same interests and motivations [who are] willing to make this world a more just, inclusive and sustainable one.

Lara Perez MSc CEID graduate

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Full-time

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Deposit

You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme.

Costs

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.

Living costs include:

  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel, clothes, books and stationery
  • recreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)

Living costs

Accommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.

University postgraduate accommodation options and costs

Funding opportunities

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

The University is offering a new international scholarship for the most academically gifted Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Masters students applying from India. These awards cover £5,000 towards tuition fees for PGT Masters students studying on campus during the 2026/27 academic year. The Scholarships will be tenable for the first year of study only and will be automatically deducted from your student tuition fee balance. 

Value: £5,000 towards tuition fees
View details: India Merit Scholarship

One GREAT scholarship will be available to applicants from Nigeria who apply for 2025 entry. This award is for £10,000 towards postgraduate taught (Masters) degree tuition. Further details on eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found on the GREAT scholarship website.

Value: £10,000
View details: GREAT scholarship: Nigeria

The Commonwealth Scholarships provide talented and motivated individuals with the opportunity to enhance knowledge and skills in their given sector, in order to contribute to sustainable development in their home countries. Further details on eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found on the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships website.

View details: Commonwealth Shared Scholarships

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2026/27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027/28 academic year will be published on 1 July 2026.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant discipline such as Education, Demography, Global Studies, Public Policy, Regional Studies, Social Anthropology, Social Policy, Sociology, Liberal Studies, Political Science, International Relations, International Development, International Studies, Politics, Human Geography, Social Research, Economics, Public Health, Population Studies, Environmental Studies, or Environmental Sustainability. We may consider other subject areas if you have significant relevant work experience or a masters degree in a relevant subject area.

In exceptional cases, we may also consider your application if you have substantial relevant work experience in place of academic qualifications; please contact us to check before you apply.

Entrance to our MSc programmes is competitive. Relevant work experience or the completion of a masters degree is not required but is given substantial consideration and may increase your chances of acceptance. Preference will be given to those with qualifications above the minimum requirements, or those who have a competitive combinations of undergraduate, relevant masters degree, and substantial relevant work experience. 

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 7 in each component.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 145 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Trinity ISE
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

The programme is structured to provide you with an introduction to the foundational knowledge in comparative education and education and international development in your first semester, allowing you to follow your interests through our wide range of option courses.

To complete your MSc CEID, you need to:

  • successfully complete the required courses and three optional courses
  • progress to the dissertation
  • complete your dissertation with a mark of at least 50%

Compulsory courses

  • Introduction to Comparative Education
  • Introdution to Education and International Development
  • Sources of Knowledge: Understanding and Analysing Research Literature
  • Conceptualising research: Foundations, Assumptions and Praxis

Option courses

You will choose 3 option courses for 60 credits in total.

You can choose from the following CEID option courses:

  • Education Policy and the Politics of Education (20 credits)
  • Anthropology of Education and Learning (20 credits)
  • Comparative Analysis in Education (20 credits)
  • Education and Conflict (20 credits)
  • Social Inequalities in Education Worldwide (20 credits)
  • Global Governance and Education (20 credits)

In place of a CEID option course, you may choose a course offered by Moray House School of Education and Sport or another School within the University. The chosen course must be at level 11 and approved by the programme director.

Find courses for this programme

Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.

The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.

Full-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Disclaimer

Detailed programme information for 2026/27 will be published in Spring 2026. Option course availability and content may change from year to year. 

Placements

While you will be present on campus for the totality of your taught coursework (Semester 1 and 2), you may be interested in gaining experience in the field through completing a placement-based dissertation.

The placement-based dissertation is a competitive process for which you will be required to meet academic requirements and apply for placement.

On average, 20-30% of students participate in this opportunity and complete a placement as part of their dissertation. This unpaid opportunity is dependent on partner organisation demand and would entail placement with organisations working in the CEID field.

You would complete research as part of your dissertation for two months in the summer following your taught coursework.

In addition to completing the 12,000 to 15,000-word dissertation, you will have additional responsibilities, agreed upon with the host organisations, which may include the completion of a secondary output.

Your time with the organisation and this tailored output provides a further opportunity for you to draw on your knowledge and insights from courses taken in the CEID programme while strengthening skills in time management, collaborative problem solving and communicating with a variety of audiences.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

Teaching and learning in the MSc CEID programme is organised through weekly contact sessions.

Material is delivered through a variety of methods including:

  • lectures (live and recorded)
  • podcasts
  • readings
  • external events

In preparation for the weekly contact session, or workshop, most of your individual study time will be spent engaging with the required readings and organising and participating in study groups with peers.

Workshop activities vary across courses and include:

  • discussions on readings, debates, policy, data and media analysis
  • group presentations and problem-based learning
  • case studies

Learning outcomes

Following the MSc CEID programme, you will:

  • be able to evaluate the challenges of applying theory in practice and the debates around the global-local nexus
  • be able to identify and analyse the main theories and perspectives in comparative education and international development and critically engage with their underlying assumptions
  • have increased sensitivity towards and understanding of diversity, and an awareness of how a variety of contexts shape educational policies, practices and outcomes
  • have increased capacity to reflect on and consider your own perspectives and experiences and how these influence your understanding of education and international development
  • have improved your practical skills and expanded your network through the completion of applied activities and assessments and exposure to the broader Comparative Education and International Development Community at, and beyond, the University

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.  

How we support you

Career opportunities

As an academic programme, this degree has no fixed career trajectory, opening multiple potential possibilities.

You may find the MSc CEID a suitable qualification if you are seeking a career in:

  • research
  • higher education internationalisation offices
  • civil society and non-governmental organisations
  • international organisations
  • the public sector

In addition, the programme provides a good basis for you to continue your studies and pursue a doctoral degree.

Further study

After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.

Applying for research degrees

Moving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service)

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant.

When to apply

Programme start date Application deadline
14 September 2026 30 July 2026

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible so that we have enough time to process your application. This is particularly important if you are also applying for funding or will require a visa. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.

For an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including your transcripts.

If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, we will still review your application and issue a decision providing it is otherwise complete.

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

References

You do not need to provide a reference when you submit your application for this programme.

There may be certain circumstances when a reference will be required, for example if we need to verify work experience. If that is the case, we will contact you after we have reviewed your application to request a reference.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

What our students say

The city [of Edinburgh] is absolutely beautiful. The pictures did not do it justice! I'm really glad I had an opportunity to come here.

A'Shante Tassah O'Keiffe MSc CEID graduate

Our community

For me, the CEID community is what makes this Masters different from many others. Having a strong community of students, professors, and academics makes the experience of studying a Masters more enjoyable, supportive and rich. [I was able to] participate in a wide range of academic and social events [that] helped me to have a clearer idea of which career opportunities are available after finishing the Masters.  

Lara Perez MSc CEID graduate

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:

  • apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programme
  • accept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 July
  • study at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in September

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

We also offer accommodation options for couples and families.

Accommodation for couples and families

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

Societies

Sport Clubs

The city of Edinburgh

Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. 

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include: 

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustments

Health and wellbeing support services 

Disability and Learning Support

General enquiries

Contact our enquiry team about your eligibility or how to apply.

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Admissions Office

Academic contact

Dr Lindsey Horner

Programme Director

  • School of Education and Sport (Moray House)

Contact details

Address

Moray House School of Education and Sport
Old Moray House
Holyrood Campus
Edinburgh
EH8 8AQ

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