Inclusive Education (Deaf/Visually Impaired Learners) PgDip (ICL) Level: Postgraduate taught Subject: Education Year of entry: 2027 Study options Mode of study On campus Part-time intermittent study PgDip (ICL) | up to 4 years | Start date: multiple dates 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 17 to 19 November 2026: Postgraduate Virtual Open Days Join us live to explore postgraduate taught and research study at Edinburgh and gain key insights before you apply. Browse sessions and register Overview About the degree programme The part-time Postgraduate Diplomas in Deaf or Visually Impaired Learners are for fully registered, practicing teachers who wish to become qualified to teach deaf or visually impaired learners. On this programme, you'll enhance your opportunities for employment or advancement in the education field and gain hands-on experience by completing a school placement. Once completed, you'll meet the Scottish government's mandatory qualifications for teaching deaf and/or visually impaired learners. Students on the Visually Impaired Learners pathway will also meet the qualifications to teach visually impaired learners in England. Study options The Postgraduate Diploma can be completed part-time over 2-4 years. Programme rankings Moray House is 1st in the UK for Education (Times UK University Ranking 2027 and Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026)Top 10 in the world for Education and Training (2026 QS World University Rankings by subject)See our latest rankings Programme benefits The programme is recognised by the Scottish Government as providing the necessary qualifications to teach deaf or visually impaired learnersThe Visually Impaired Learners pathway is recognised by the Department for Education in England as providing the mandatory qualifications to teach visually impaired learners in EnglandYou'll gain valuable real-world experience by completing school placements outwith your normal place of workStudents have access to our extensive library, and there are no additional costs for purchasing books 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) (up to 4 years) tuition fees PgDip (ICL) Inclusive Education (Visually Impaired Learners) (up to 4 years) 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 Additional programme costs All successful applicants to our Pg Diploma Deaf Learners Programme will be required to join Disclosure Scotland's Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme, or add to their existing registration, before starting the programme. Applicants to the Visually Impaired Learners pathway may also be required to join the PVG scheme. Joining the PVG scheme currently costs £59. Adding to an existing PVG membership costs £18. Accommodation and living costs Students on both the Visually Impaired Learners and Deaf Learners programmes will have to attend in-person classes at certain times throughout their studies. Unless the student is self-funded, accommodation, subsistence and travel costs associated with attending these classes are covered by their Local Authority. Self-funded students must cover their own costs. Funding opportunities The Society for the Education of the Deaf Scholarship This scholarship is for General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS)-registered teachers who wish to study the Postgraduate Diploma in Inclusive Education (Deaf Learners) beginning in January 2027. The award covers the full cost of the programme's tuition fees (Home/UK rate). Value: Covers tuition fees Eligibility: GTCS-registered teachers who have applied to study the Postgraduate Diploma in Inclusive Education (Deaf Learners) View details: Further information and eligibility Search for other funding opportunities Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study Entry requirements These entry requirements are for the 2027-28 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2028-29 academic year will be published in early Oct 2027. Qualifications A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant discipline.Only applicants who are fully registered teachers will be admitted. Teachers in Scotland must be registered with The General Teaching Council (Scotland). Teachers in England must be registered with the Department for Education and have a Teacher Registration Number. Teachers from other parts of the United Kingdom must be in good standing with their equivalent regulatory body.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 equivalent qualifications To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list. Where you studied - Select a country or region - Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia Democratic Republic of Congo Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Finland France Gabon The Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Guatemala Guinea Haiti Honduras Hong Kong-SAR China Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kosovo Kuwait Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Macau-SAR China Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Mauritius Mexico Moldova Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands, The New Zealand Nicaragua Nigeria North Macedonia Norway Oman Pacific Islands Pakistan Palestine Panama Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sudan Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United States of America Uruguay Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam West Indies and Caribbean Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe My 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 test (restrictions apply)a degree that was taught and assessed in English (restrictions apply)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 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) before 21 January 2026: 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. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition) from 21 January 2026: total 5.0 with at least 4.5 in writing and 4.0 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. Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 7 in writing, and 6 in all other components. We do not accept Oxford ELLT Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. 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)Oxford 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 A Postgraduate Diploma is made up of 120 credits. You will take:compulsory courses (100 credits)option courses (20 credits) 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) (up to 4 years) (2026-2027) PgDip (ICL) Inclusive Education (Visually Impaired Learners) (up to 4 years) (2026-2027) We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative. Placements You will complete a placement as part of your studies on the PgDip Deaf Learners or Visually Impaired Learners.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 PgDip Deaf or Visually Impaired Learners are qualified and equipped to teach learners who are deaf or visually impaired. You'll also gain a broad range of highly transferable skills, such as communication and problem solving, which can be applied to many roles in teaching and schools. 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 The British Association of Teachers of the Deaf has endorsed the PgDiploma Deaf Learners and supports the way it acts as a professional qualification.British Association of Teachers of the Deaf (BATOD)The Scottish Association for Visual Impairment Education (SAVIE) has endorsed the PgDiploma Visually Impaired Learners and supports the way it acts as a professional qualification.Scottish Association for Visual Impairment Education (SAVIE)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.NALDICAccredited Provider of the Mandatory Qualification for specialist teachers in EnglandOur PgDip Visually Impaired Learners is accredited by the Department for Education.Teachers who reside and work in England must hold a mandatory qualification in addition to qualified teacher status to teach learners with visual impairment. Read more about the Mandatory Qualification for Teachers of Children and Young People (CYP) with Vision Impairments.For those who reside elsewhere in the United Kingdom, the PgDip Visually Impaired Learners leads to becoming a Qualified Teacher of Children and Young People with Visual Impairment (QTVI). Career opportunities Suiting qualified teachers currently working with deaf or visually impaired learners, these Postgraduate Diplomas provide a qualification that can support a career in inclusive and special education or an advanced role in the field.Many graduates continue or go on to: leadership positions in educationfull-time specialist or peripatetic teaching posts in relation to visually impaired or deaf learners. Further study After completing the programme, you may wish to consider applying for a Master's programme.Postgraduate Taught DegreesMSc by Research (MScR) in Education 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. 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 You can apply to start the PgDip in either January or September.Programme start dateApplication deadline6 January 20277 December 202613 September 202730 July 202712 January 2028December 2027 We encourage you to apply as soon as possible so that we have sufficient 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. We aim to issue decisions within 6-8 weeks of receiving your completed application. During peak times it may take us slightly longer to issue your decision but please be assured we will confirm a decision as soon as we can. Application fee There is no fee to apply to this programme. What you need to apply a personal statementdetails of relevant knowledge/training skillsa reference from your current line managerYou 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. 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) (up to 4 years) PgDip (ICL) Inclusive Education (Visually Impaired Learners) (up to 4 years) 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 Students are required to attend in-person teaching in short blocks throughout the year. Students must arrange for their own accommodation in Edinburgh for the in-person teaching days. Accommodation, subsidence and travel costs will be covered by the student's local authority, unless the student is self-funded. Self-funded students must cover their own costs.Finding short-term accommodation 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 active wellbeing facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and none 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 servicededicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentsHealth and wellbeing support services Disability and Learning Support Contact Academic contact Elizabeth McCann Visually Impaired Learners pathway co-ordinator Moray House School of Education and Sport Contact details Email: elizabeth.mccann@ed.ac.uk Rachel O'Neill Deaf education pathway co-ordinator Moray House School of Education and Sport Contact details Email: rachel.oneill@ed.ac.uk
