Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary) PGDE Level: Postgraduate taught Subject: Education Year of entry: 2026 Study options Mode of study On campus Full-time PGDE | 1 year | Start date: August 2026 Key facts School Moray House School of Education and Sport College College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Study location Holyrood campus Accreditation 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 PGDE Primary is for graduates who wish to enter the teaching profession at primary school level. This programme is one route to qualified teacher status in Scotland.The PGDE programme is academically and professionally focused, drawing upon the expertise of its faculty and institute. The programme is located within the Institute for Education, Teaching and Leadership (IETL). The Institute draws on a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, through the strength of the relationships with our partners, both locally and globally.In particular, the Institute has expertise and professional impact in:the changing role of teachers and leaders in a contemporary worldlearning for sustainabilityoutdoor learningwidening participationdigital literaciesareas of curriculum development like STEM and STEAM education, all of which align with the GTCS Professional StandardsThis is an intensive programme of study with half of this time spent in placement schools and the other half spent studying on University of Edinburgh campus. Through graduate-level study of education and professional placements, you will engage in being and becoming a teacher in Scotland.The programme is designed to develop critically informed and confident teachers to meet the needs of our children and young people in the 21st Century. The PGDE programme aims to capture an interdependent view of the world and a deep commitment to sustainability and social justice for all. To achieve this, the pedagogies employed aim to provoke a cultural shift away from transmissive teaching to something more agential and socially transformative.Through our university-led and school-based placement, our teaching and learning aim to engage with and challenge assumptions. We encourage and support our PGDE students to look inwards to their beliefs and assumptions and outwards to wider educational practices and policies, both nationally and globally. 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 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 PGDE (1 year) 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 PGDE follows the undergraduate model and your tuition fees and the amount of help you can get with these and other costs will vary depending on your fee status.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 your studies Saroj Lal Scholarship One scholarship will be awarded to an applicant accepted onto a PGDE programme from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) background. View details: Saroj Lal Scholarship Search for other funding opportunities Other funding for PGDE programmesSearch for scholarships and 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 July 2026. Qualifications A UK undergraduate degree, or its international equivalent, and a high level of experience in a primary school classroom setting. Please contact the admissions office for further advice.You should also hold the following:SQA Higher English at grade C or GCSE English Language AND GCSE English Literature, both at grade C/4SQA National 5 Mathematics or Applications of Mathematics (formerly Lifeskills Maths) at grade C or GCSE Mathematics at grade C/4Please contact the admissions office for advice on equivalent qualifications.futurestudents@ed.ac.ukWe also expect you to have experience of working with children in formal or informal settings (both employment and volunteering roles will be considered) and an ability to reflect thoughtfully on that experience. You should have some knowledge and understanding of the Scottish curriculum.Selection involves a professional interview. 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 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component. Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components. Oxford ELLT: total 7 with at least 6 in each component. Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 145 with at least 135 in each component. 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 The PGDE Primary programme is structured around two types of courses.University-based coursesOur University-based courses introduce you to and create space for you to intellectually problematise critical concepts in education. This will help you develop:your own identity and understanding of yourself as a beginning teacherthe professional knowledge, skills and action necessary for the complex realities of teachingThe core values and commitments of the programme visions are explored through three conceptual themes, each with its own course:Dimensions of TeachingMaking and Conceptualising CurriculumPedagogiesTeaching in School coursesOur Teaching in School courses are designed to provide relevant site-based learning experiences for students. These courses will enable you to make sense of, further develop, and situate your professional knowledge, skills and actions you will have started to explore through the University-based courses.These school experiences create opportunities for you to:develop professional relationships and teaching practicesunderstand school communitieslearn with and from experienced school staff and other professionalsYou will then bring your learning and insights from their site-based courses into your reflections and thinking through subsequent University-based courses. Compulsory courses Making and Conceptualising CurriculumDimensions of TeachingTeaching in School 1Teaching in School 2Teaching in School 3Pedagogies 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 PGDE (1 year) (2025-2026) 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. Placements Professional Placements constitute approximately half of the programme, with students being allocated a placement within one of six key local authorities.The professional experience and practice through the site-based courses allows for a deeper interrogation of complex issues through practice. It also enables students to develop their own professional actions and identity as a beginning teacher.It is important to recognise the symbiotic and deeply interrelated nature of the site-based and University-based learning contexts. These operate together, with concepts interweaving and evolving throughout. This, in effect, creates a progressive and ‘spiral’ curriculum. This privileges neither the school nor the University, but rather seeks to create authentic and meaningful learning contexts to develop the depth of knowledge, skills and expertise required of a beginning teacher.It is through the combination of University-based and school-based learning that the PGDE seeks to develop future teachers who are equipped with appropriate social, cultural and linguistic skills to enable them to work with their pupils across cultural and linguistic boundaries towards a just and sustainable future. Teaching and assessment 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 Careers and further study Accreditation Graduates are qualified to teach and eligible for provisional registration from the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). GTCS awards full registration once teachers complete one satisfactory probationary year of teaching at primary education level.Eligible graduates can apply for a probationary teaching role through the GTCS's Teacher Induction Scheme or the Flexible Route. Career opportunities On successful completion of this programme, students are recommended to contact the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) for provisional registration. Full registration is awarded on the completion of one satisfactory year of teaching the subject(s) for which qualification has been gained through this programme.Eligibility for Teacher Induction SchemeStudents from Scotland, other parts of the UK (RUK), and Ireland who attended a Scottish Higher Education Institution are eligible to join the Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS). TIS is a guaranteed, paid one-year probationary teaching post, organised by the General Teaching Council for Scotland.Preference Waiver Payment SchemeIf you join the General Teaching Council’s Preference Waiver Payment Scheme - which means you agree to work in any Scottish local authority for your induction post - in return, you will receive a £6,000 payment made if you complete your Teacher Induction Scheme year in the local authority to which you were allocated. 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 As this programme is for initial teacher education, it is processed by the Undergraduate Admissions Office.You apply to this programme through UCAS.UCAS: How do I applyFor more information please contact the CAHSS UG Admissions office.Contact the central admissions team When to apply The equal consideration application deadline is 14 January 2026.The programme starts in August 2026.We do not accept applications for deferred entry to this programme. Application fee To send your application through UCAS, you will need to pay an application fee.This fee is £28.95 for 2026 entry. What you need to apply Where possible, opportunities should be sought to gain experience in contexts which involve working with children and/or young people. Where this is not possible, Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) will take particular care to explore potential student teachers’ suitability to work with children and/or young people as a part of the admission process.As part of your UCAS application, you will submit a personal statement outlining your commitment, motivation and suitability. The information in your personal statement will be considered alongside all the other information you supply in your application.Guidance on writing your personal statement is available on our PGDE web pages:Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) Interview If successful at the first stage of application, you will be invited to interview. This is an opportunity for you to showcase your passion for teaching and your subject, and for you to meet tutors. You will also be expected to discuss your understanding of the Scottish Curriculum. Further information about what to expect at the interview will be included in the invite to interview email. Apply Apply for this programme on the UCAS website: After you apply After you apply, we will be in touch with an initial decision either via UCAS Track or an email from our admissions team.If successful at the first stage of application, you will be invited to interview.We will be in touch with a decision as soon as possible after interview. Protecting Vulnerable Groups If we give you an offer, you will need to join Disclosure Scotland's Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme before you start this degree programme.We will send you information on how to join the PVG scheme.PVG scheme information on the Scottish Government websiteIf you live outside the UKIf you live outside the UK, or have spent more than one year living outside the UK, then you will need to provide proof from the relevant national authority. Life at Edinburgh What our students say I know I will stay in touch with the friends I’ve made for a long time – not just because they are colleagues who share educational interests and values. Isabel Braadbaart PGDE Primary 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 Dr Sue Chapman-Kelly Programme Director School of Education and Sport (Moray House) Contact details Email: EdPGDEp@ed.ac.uk Web: Staff profile
