Inclusive Education MSc, PgDip (ICL) Level: Postgraduate taught Subject: Education Year of entry: 2026 Study options Mode of study On campus Part-time intermittent study PgDip (ICL) | 4 years | Start date: multiple dates Part-time PgDip | 2 years | Start date: multiple dates 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 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 The MSc Inclusive Education is designed for graduates who want to make a difference to the lives of children and young people in education. Our distinctive approach presents a re-imagined future for learners and teachers, where responding to human diversity is recognised as the point, not the problem, of education.On this programme, you'll enhance your opportunities for employment or advancement in the education field, particularly concerning educational and social disadvantage, additional support for learning and other specialist areas. If you are a graduate in education, psychology and related social science backgrounds you will find that the programme builds on your previous study.You will compare inclusive educational practices in Scotland, the UK and across the world, studying particular approaches to removing barriers to learning and including all children. Study options The programme offers a number of routes, including Postgraduate Diploma specialist pathways designed primarily for people who are teaching or who want to teach in these specialist areas:Postgraduate Diploma (visually impaired learners)Postgraduate Diploma (deaf learners) 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. Part-time intermittent study PgDip (ICL) Inclusive Education (Deaf Learners) (4 years) tuition fees PgDip (ICL) Inclusive Education (Visually Impaired Learners) (4 years) tuition fees Part-time PgDip Inclusive Education (Visually Impaired Learners) (2 years) tuition fees PgDip Inclusive Education (Deaf Learners) (2 years) tuition fees Full-time MSc Inclusive Education (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 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 GREAT scholarship The University offers GREAT scholarships 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 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, in a relevant discipline.Protecting Vulnerable GroupsAll successful applicants for our PG Diploma Inclusive Education Deaf Learners Pathway will be required to join Disclosure Scotland's Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme, or add to their existing registration, before starting the programme. Applicants who don't live in the UK, or who have spent more than a year abroad, will need to provide equivalent verification from the relevant national authority. 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 We cover topics from education, sociology, psychology, disability, and childhood studies to help improve your understanding of inclusion issues.The Masters degree culminates in an independently researched dissertation for another 60 credits.Specialist Pathways for TeachersOur part-time specialist pathways offer practising teachers a Postgraduate Diploma in teaching deaf or visually impaired learners. You will meet the Scottish and English governments' mandatory qualifications for teaching deaf and visually impaired children.Courses particularly aligned to these pathways include:Cerebral Visual ImpairmentIssues and Strategies for Teaching and Learning (visual impairment)Promoting Achievement and Curriculum Access to Deaf LearnersDeaf StudiesProfessional Placement Compulsory courses Sources of KnowledgeConceptualising ResearchAnd one of the following:Collaborative Working in Children’s ServicesEducation for AllInclusive PedagogyTeachers as Agents of Change Option courses You will choose around four option courses (80 credits). Option courses are subject to change each year but have previously included:ADHD, Dyspraxia and Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties: An IntroductionAssessing Pupils/Students with Visual ImpairmentAudiology and AudiometryAutism and Developmental DisabilitiesAutism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Language Disorder and DyslexiaCollaborative Working in Children's ServicesComparative Approaches to Inclusive and Special EducationEducation for AllInclusion of Children with Visual Impairment: Policy and PracticeInclusive PedagogyLanguage and CommunicationMultilingual Learners and Additional Support NeedsMultilingual Learners and Specific Learning DifficultiesTeachers as Agents of ChangePlacement / Inclusion (for teachers of deaf children)Specific Learning Difficulties: DyslexiaAn option course worth up to 40 credits from within Moray House School of Education and Sport or from elsewhere in the University (at SCQF level 11), subject to approval 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. Part-time intermittent study PgDip (ICL) Inclusive Education (Deaf Learners) (4 years) (2025-2026) PgDip (ICL) Inclusive Education (Visually Impaired Learners) (4 years) (2025-2026) Part-time PgDip Inclusive Education (Visually Impaired Learners) (2 years) (2025-2026) PgDip Inclusive Education (Deaf Learners) (2 years) (2025-2026) Full-time MSc Inclusive Education (1 year) (2025-2026) We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative. Placements Students on the PgDip Deaf Learners or Visually Impaired Learners will complete a placement as part of their studies.Internal placement with deaf children / young people (10 credits)External placement with deaf children / young people (10 credits)Placement (inclusion of pupils with visual impairment) (10 credits) Teaching and assessment Teaching You will be taught through a combination of:workshopslecturesseminarsproblem-based learning activitiesdebatespeer group learning Learning outcomes Graduates of the MSc Inclusive Education are equipped to:develop and appropriately apply knowledge, skills and attitudes relevant to inclusive education and the contexts in which it takes placereflect critically on the relationships between theory and practice and explore issues in the implementation of educational and social principles and idealsengage with and where appropriate influence policy issues and the practice of professionals in relation to the delivery of inclusive educationdevelop extended skills in research and enquiry, including the use of literature, reviewing evidence, gathering, organising and evaluating data, responding to evidence and providing critical comment 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 AccreditationThe British Association of Teachers of the Deaf has endorsed the PgDiploma Inclusive Education (Deaf Learners) pathway and supports the way it acts as a professional qualification.The Scottish Association for Visual Impairment Education (SAVIE) has endorsed the PgDiploma Inclusive Education (Visually Impaired Learners) pathway and supports the way it acts as a professional qualification.Colleagues from NALDIC, the subject association for EAL, contribute to learning and teaching on the Inclusive Education Multilingual Learners courses, as we jointly seek to promote educational excellence and equity for all pupils, across the UK and internationally.Accredited Provider of the Mandatory Qualification for specialist teachers in EnglandFor teachers who reside and work in England, to teach a class of pupils with hearing impairment (HI), vision impairment (VI), or multi-sensory impairment (MSI), a teacher must hold a mandatory qualification in addition to qualified teacher status.To offer the mandatory qualification in sensory impairment (MQSI), providers must be approved by the Department for Education. Our MSc Inclusive Education (Visually Impaired Learners) is accredited by the Department for Education.Mandatory qualifications for specialist teachersFor those who reside elsewhere in the United Kingdom, this qualification is recognised as leading to the Qualified Teacher of Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (QTVI) qualification. Career opportunities Suiting newly qualified teachers and experienced practitioners alike, this programme provides a qualification that can open doors to a new career in inclusive and special education or an advanced role in the field.Many graduates continue or go on to become teachers in schools and further/higher education, taking on leadership positions in education, or specialist or peripatetic teaching posts in relation to visually impaired or deaf learners. Some work with NGOs and third sector organisations, in policy positions in education, or go on to doctoral-level research.It can also provide the foundations for a career in policy formation and development, as well as a broad range of highly transferable skills, such as communication and project management, which can be applied to roles in any field. 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 7 January 2026 31 October 2025 14 September 2026 30 July 2026 6 January 2027 7 December 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 marksreferencesevidence 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 unless you are applying for the Deaf Learners or Visually Impaired Learners pathways.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 -PgDip (ICL) Inclusive Education (Deaf Learners) (4 years)PgDip (ICL) Inclusive Education (Visually Impaired Learners) (4 years)PgDip Inclusive Education (Visually Impaired Learners) (2 years)PgDip Inclusive Education (Deaf Learners) (2 years)MSc Inclusive Education (1 year) 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 Protecting Vulnerable Groups If we offer you a place for the Inclusive Learning - Deaf Learners pathway, 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 website Life at Edinburgh 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 Lisa Fernandes Programme Co-Director School of Education and Sport (Moray House) Contact details Email: inclusiveeducation@ed.ac.uk Dr Martin Toye Programme Co-Director School of Education and Sport (Moray House) Contact details Email: inclusiveeducation@ed.ac.uk
