Social Justice and Community Action (Online Learning) MSc, PgDip (ICL), PgCert (ICL) Level: Postgraduate taught Subject: Education Year of entry: 2026 Study options Mode of study Online learning Part-time MSc | 3 years | Start date: multiple dates Part-time intermittent study PgDip (ICL) | 4 years | Start date: multiple dates PgCert (ICL) | 2 years | Start date: multiple dates MSc | 6 years | Start date: multiple dates Key facts School Moray House School of Education and Sport College College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Accreditation Available Apply now 15 October: Postgraduate Online Learning Essentials Find out what it’s like to study online at Edinburgh, with insights into learning, community and the support available to online postgraduate students. Register now Open Days on Demand Dive into an extensive selection of programme-specific session recordings hosted by our Academic and Professional Services staff. Watch the recordings Overview About the degree programme Our MSc/PgDip/PgCert in Social Justice and Community Action programme will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills to make positive social change. It is part-time and fully online, making it perfect for those who wish to combine study with busy lives.From a local and global viewpoint, you will explore the theories, politics and practices of social justice and community action, connecting ideas like liberty, equality, citizenship and democracy to real-world practices, such as:grassroots activismcommunity practicepublic policy development and implementationorganisational managementWe cover a wide range of topics, drawing insights from:critical educationpoliticssocial policysociologyanthropologypsychologyWe use digital tools to provide a flexible, high-quality, collaborative learning experience. Study options The flexibility of this programme means you can choose a pathway and study at a pace that suits you best. Study towards a:Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert)60 credits earned over 1-2 years (part-time intermittent)Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip)120 credits earned over 2-4 years (part-time intermittent)full Masters degree (MSc)180 credits earned over 3 years (part-time) or 3-6 years (part-time intermittent) Programme benefits Engage with the major debates and dilemmas regarding social justice, equality, democracy, citizenship and community action, both globally and locallyGain the skills and knowledge to apply social justice theories to real-world challengesCritically evaluate research, policy and practice evidence and claims regarding social (in)justiceDevelop the research and inquiry skills to investigate issues surrounding social justice, equality, democracy, citizenship and activism on all levels I began doing my Masters part-time three years ago. It’s been an amazing experience, and one I’ve hugely valued. There are times I’ve been incredibly productive and motivated, and times I’ve needed to step back and take time away from it. The flexibility of the programme supported that, and having everything online has been brilliant. The wonderful course organisers still manage to create a sense of community, even though learners are spread around the world. Chereen Rain 2025 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. Part-time MSc Social Justice and Community Action (3 years) tuition fees Part-time intermittent study PgDip (ICL) Social Justice and Community Action (4 years) tuition fees PgCert (ICL) Social Justice and Community Action (2 years) tuition fees MSc Social Justice and Community Action (6 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. 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 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarships Mastercard Foundation Scholarships are available for this programme. The postgraduate study scholarships for the 2026/27 academic year will accept applications from 1st October 2025 at 10:00 AM until 7th November 2025 at 5:00 PM (UK Time). Applicants must be citizens of an African country and residents in an African country. Applications from refugees and displaced people who have left their African home country to live elsewhere on the continent are also welcome.Please note: If the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is the only scholarship you are interested in applying for at the University of Edinburgh, please apply for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program scholarship only. If you receive a scholarship offer from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, you can then apply for the academic programme View details: Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 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 Online Learning Scholarships 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 substantial practice or research experience or other relevant qualifications; 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 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 Postgraduate Certificate includes two compulsory courses and one option course.The Postgraduate Diploma includes two compulsory courses and four option courses.To obtain the Masters qualification, you will complete three compulsory courses, three option courses, and a supervised dissertation or applied research project. Compulsory courses Theories and Politics of Social JusticeCommunity Engagement: Co-Constructing Knowledge with CommunitiesActivist Social Research (MSc students only) Option courses Organisational Management for Social JusticeWorking with Children and Young People for Social JusticePolicy Analysis for Social JusticeLearning for DemocracyPgDip and Masters students may choose additional option courses, including any of the above not yet taken, plus:Analysing DevelopmentPolitics and Theories of International DevelopmentKey Skills in Development PracticeDigital Education: PluriverseGlobal Development ChallengesAdditionally, they may choose from a wide range of online courses provided elsewhere in the University. For example:Child Migration and Mental HealthDynamics of African DevelopmentEducation, Data and ChangeGlobal Health GovernanceHealth Systems AnalysisMigration and Forced Displacement in a Digital AgePost-digital SocietySocial Inequality and Child and Adolescent Mental HealthStrategic Change Leadership for Creative Industries 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 MSc Social Justice and Community Action (3 years) (2025-2026) Part-time intermittent study PgDip (ICL) Social Justice and Community Action (4 years) (2025-2026) PgCert (ICL) Social Justice and Community Action (2 years) (2025-2026) MSc Social Justice and Community Action (6 years) (2025-2026) We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative. Teaching and assessment Assessment Courses will be assessed through a diverse range of methods and will support your development as an independent and critical learner. Course assessment is designed to align productively with your professional practice.Assessment methods include a number of traditional academic approaches such as essays as well as more innovative methods such as blogs, community case studies and a briefing paper on a policy issue. 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 Online learning How online learning works Delivered fully online, this programme gives you the opportunity to work closely with your fellow students and tutors in a supported, collaborative, vibrant online learning environment, studying at the times and in the places that suit you best.We deliver this programme through:live online lectures, pre-recorded lectures and podcastslive online tutorials and text-based discussion forumsreflective blogsindependent studygroup workSpecialist IT skills are not required.Studying online at EdinburghFind out more about the benefits and practicalities of studying for an online degree:Postgraduate online learning Learn more about how online learning works at the University of Edinburgh. Time commitment This programme is designed to be fully flexible to fit around your schedule. You can study in your own time and access all your learning resources, such as reading lists, discussion forms and slides from anywhere in the world. If there are live online sessions, you can watch a recording later in the virtual learning environment at a time convenient to you. Typically, you will need to dedicate around 10 to 20 hours per week to your programme although managing this is up to you. This may also vary from course to course, and the time commitment may increase when assignments are due. See 'Find courses' in Programme details for more information about study time commitment Equipment and software needs To study this online programme, you will need access to: a computer or laptop the internet the latest version of a web browser As an online student, you will have access to a range of software you can download to help you complete your coursework, including Microsoft Office 365. IT support is available if you have technical difficulties. IT and computing help Support for online students As an online student, you will have access to a range of support services throughout your time at university if you need them.These support services include:academic support servicesebooks and ejournals within the librarythe disability and learning support serviceEnglish language supportskills development courses on LinkedIn Learningemail-based sessions delivered by the Counselling Servicesupport for students who are parents Careers and further study Accreditation This programme is the flagship teaching initiative of the University of Edinburgh’s Global Justice Academy, a multi-disciplinary network of academics and research centres committed to global justice concerns. It is a joint initiative with the Moray House School of Education and Sport.Global Justice Academy Career opportunities This programme is ideal for professionals working on social justice issues in research and policy, grassroots practice and education. We also welcome recent graduates who wish to enter the social justice field.You will gain skills applicable to social justice work in the global public, third and private sectors. Graduates may find career opportunities, or opportunities for career advancement, in areas such as:grassroots community practice (community development, community organising, rights-based development work)education (formal, informal and non-formal)social and public policy developmentadvocacy and campaigningsocial research, consultancy and monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) in non-governmental organisations or in the public/private sectorstrade unionsacademia 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) Graduate profiles Melis Ariksoy Degree: MSc Social Justice and Community Action Year of graduation: 2025 Current work: Research I joined the MSc Social Justice and Community Action programme to deepen my understanding of systemic inequalities and explore practical ways to create inclusive change. The programme broadened my perspective on social justice frameworks and equipped me with tools I now use in my professional practice—particularly in local governance, gender equality, and participatory policy-making. My dissertation focused on the nexus between local government, organizational justice, and gender, and my long-term goal is to collaborate with local governments to apply my dissertation in real-life settings. 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. If you are intending to apply for a UK Postgraduate Loan, you should apply on the '3 Years (Part-time)' route. When to apply Programme start date Application deadline 7 January 2026 15 November 2025 14 September 2026 29 August 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. 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 Social Justice and Community Action (3 years)PgDip (ICL) Social Justice and Community Action (4 years)PgCert (ICL) Social Justice and Community Action (2 years)MSc Social Justice and Community Action (6 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 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 Callum McGregor Programme Director School of Education and Sport (Moray House) Contact details Email: socialjustice@ed.ac.uk
