Outdoor and Environmental Education MSc Level: Postgraduate taught Subject: Education Year of entry: 2026 Study options Mode of study On campus Full-time MSc | 15 months | 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 Apply now 19 to 21 November 2025: Postgraduate Virtual Open Days Join us live to explore postgraduate taught and research study at Edinburgh and gain key insights before you apply. Register now Overview About the degree programme Study outdoors, from Edinburgh to the Scottish Highlands, at one of the world’s leading schools of education and sport. Unique in Europe, and one of only a few in the world, our internationally renowned MSc programme allows you to develop a holistic approach to outdoor education, with a focus on environmental and sustainability education.For over 50 years, our programmes have been centred around living, learning and educating in the outdoors. Building on this legacy of excellence and innovation, we are reshaping our offering to meet the needs of our changing world and address the critical issue of environmental sustainability.This programme prepares you for a future where environmental consciousness is at the forefront of global priorities. It equips you for a career in which you will facilitate learning that focuses on themes of environmental, sustainability and ecological education.Moray House began offering a Postgraduate Diploma in Outdoor Education in 1972. Since then, we have been at the international forefront of providing postgraduate degrees in all aspects of outdoor, environmental and sustainability education.Our philosophy and history Programme rankings Moray House is one of the top 20 Schools in the world for Education and Training (2025 QS World University Rankings). We rank 4th in the UK for Education in both the 2025 Times Good University Guide and the 2025 THE World University Ranking.See our latest rankings The OEE program is about the journey, rooted in feelings and concepts of becoming - making space for growth and reckonings about oneself, philosophies of outdoor education, and the world that weren’t even in my initial realm of possibility. Connections run true and deep. And, to top it all off, we get to play outside - a lot! Olivia Sackler MSc Outdoor and Environmental Education graduate Fees, costs and funding 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 MSc Outdoor and Environmental Education (15 months) tuition fees 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:foodutility billstravel, clothes, books and stationeryrecreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)Living costsAccommodation 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 moneytaking out a loanfamily supportpersonal savingsincome from workemployer sponsorshipscholarshipsExplore sources of funding for postgraduate study India Merit scholarship 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 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 Entry requirements 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 Oct 2026. Qualifications A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent.We may also consider your application if you have relevant employment or experience; please contact us to check before you apply. International qualifications To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list. Where you studied - Select a country or region -AfghanistanAlbaniaAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLithuaniaLuxembourgMacau-SAR ChinaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMoldovaMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPacific IslandsPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTogoTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanZambiaZimbabweMy country or region is not listed 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 testa degree that was taught and assessed in Englishcertain 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 writing, and 6.0 in all other components. 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 writing, and 20 in all other components. 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 writing, and 169 in all other components. Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components. Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 7 in writing, and 6 in all other components. Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 145 in writing, and 135 in all other components. How old your English language tests can be Tests no more than two years oldThe 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 AcademicTOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)Trinity ISEOxford ELLTOxford Test of English AdvancedTests no more than three and a half years oldAll 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 countriesWe 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-MESCHow old your degree can beIf 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 Programme details What you will study This programme consists of 180 credits in total.You will complete:a range of compulsory coursesa professional development programmea final dissertation or applied projectTaught courses take place in Edinburgh and at bases across Scotland, where you will live and learn in the outdoors.Dissertation or applied projectAs a Masters student, you will complete a dissertation or applied project that allows you to demonstrate your ability to reflect on and apply the knowledge you have gained throughout the programme.Professional Development ProgrammeThe Professional Development Programme (PDP) combines the theory and practice of outdoor and environmental education in residential, journeying and workplace situations. It also offers unique opportunities to live and learn in Scotland’s land and seascapes.Core elements may include:canoeingsummer hill-walkingwinter hill-walkingsea kayakingplacement (20-day)rock climbingFirbush Outdoor Centrefirst aid Compulsory courses You will take compulsory courses, including:Foundations of Outdoor and Environmental EducationOutdoor Environmental Education: Concept-Based PracticePlace-Based Education and Outdoor Learning in the CityEducation for Environmental CitizenshipOutdoor and Environmental Education PraxisEcology and Field Studies 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 MSc Outdoor and Environmental Education (15 months) (2025-2026) We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative. Placements To facilitate and broaden direct experience of teaching outdoors, you will complete a 4-week (20 day) professional placement.Placements take place at a stage in the programme when you can effectively contribute to the agencies you choose to work with, relating your experience to the theoretical material covered in class.You may work with:environmental education organisationsinner-city projectsspecial needs organisationsmanagement trainingoutdoor education centres Teaching and assessment Teaching Teaching methods include:lecturesseminarsgroup discussionsstudent presentationsfield coursesresidential coursesself-studywork experience or practicum Learning outcomes This programme emphasises:developing knowledge, understanding and judgement for facilitating meaningful outdoor learningexploring a range of connected subject areas and the particular demands of teaching in a variety of settingsdeveloping your intellectual skills through critical assessment of theoretical, professional and academic issuestransferable skills such as environmental literacy and oral communicationexpanding your understanding and personal practice of outdoor education through a range of professional development activities 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 Where you will study Study location Courses take place at our Edinburgh campus and multiple bases in the Scottish Highlands. From these locations, you will journey by boat or on foot to live and learn in the outdoors. Careers and further study Career opportunities Students who complete this MSc degree can continue onto advanced research (PhD) and a possible academic career.You will also develop highly transferable skills, such as communication and project management, which can be applied in any field.Graduates are employed worldwide in areas such as:residential outdoor education centreswilderness expeditionsenvironmental education programmesschool, college and university outdoor education programmesExamples of recent graduate roles include:conservation work (public and charitable organisations)education and environmental policy developmentnon-profit organisations focused on environmental and/or personal and social developmentorganisations working with marginalised young peopletherapeutic work with young people and adultsself-employed in guiding, interpretation and educationsummer camp organisationsNational Outdoor Leadership SchoolOutward Boundmanagement development Further study After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.Applying for research degreesMoving 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 strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisions Visit the Careers Service website Applying 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 1 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: a personal statementdetails of relevant knowledge/training skillsYou will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:copies of your degree certificates and academic transcripts that confirm your current or final marksevidence you meet the English language requirementscertified translations if your original documents are not in EnglishWhen you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.ReferencesYou 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. Select programme - Select a programme -MSc Outdoor and Environmental Education (15 months) 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 applicationWe 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 decisionWhat to do if you receive an offer:Receiving an offerAccepting an offerSubmitting supporting documents Life at Edinburgh What our students say I didn't know what to expect coming into this program. The uncertainties of moving to a new country and preparing to meet new classmates all seemed a bit daunting. What awaited me across the pond was better than I could have ever imagined. The OEE program is fitted with incredible professors, an encouraging learning environment, and ample opportunities to grow in the classroom, down the rivers, and amongst the hills of the Highlands. Taylor Halik MSc Outdoor and Environmental Education student Our community When I started on the program, I didn’t realize just what kind of community I would become a part of. Everyone I have met as part of my program is kind and genuine, and the instructors help facilitate a deep level of intellectual stimulation and curiosity that I hadn’t anticipated experiencing but greatly appreciate. I wouldn’t trade my time here for anything! Reegan Beagley 2025 graduate This course is cozy. It's not a word which carries much severity, but I can't think of one that better encapsulates the community. The warmth everyone brings, the vulnerability we are able to show each other, students and staff alike. Perhaps how small the word seems is the point, we celebrate the little things, and don't get lost in the larger chaos. Ronak Bhatnagar 2025 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 programmeaccept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 Julystudy at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in SeptemberUniversity accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaWe also offer accommodation options for couples and families.Accommodation for couples and familiesIf 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.SocietiesSport 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 Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities that you might find useful day-to-day, including:sport and exercise facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) 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 adjustmentsHealth and wellbeing support services Disability and Learning Support Contact General enquiries Contact our enquiry team about your eligibility or how to apply. College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Admissions Office Academic contact Gavin Mackenzie Programme Director School of Education and Sport (Moray House)
