Education MSc Level: Postgraduate taught Subject: Education Year of entry: 2026 Study options Mode of study On campus Full-time MSc | 1 year | 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 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 The MSc Education is the flagship taught postgraduate degree of Moray House School of Education and Sport and one of its most popular programmes. It provides an ideal foundation for students who wish to work in education policy, research or practice, or who want to go on to doctoral-level study. Study options Gain a broad foundation on our general MSc Education, or specialise your degree by choosing a pathway in a particular area relevant to your educational and professional aims. You can specialise in one of the following areas:MSc Education (Child and Adolescent Psychology)MSc Education (Early Childhood Practice and Froebel)MSc Education (Philosophy of Education)MSc Education (Research)Through strategically designed compulsory courses and a wide range of options, paired with guidance from our staff and in a lively and supportive student community, you will take part in social and philosophical reflection on the nature, value and purposes of education. 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 I found the MSc programme stimulating, engaging and challenging. I found the lecturers and administrative staff incredibly helpful and encouraging and they managed to achieve a delicate balance between pushing me to achieve my potential without driving me over the edge! Sarah Grimson MSc 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 Education (Child and Adolescent Psychology) (1 year) tuition fees MSc Education (Early Childhood Practice and Froebel) (1 year) tuition fees MSc Education (1 year) tuition fees MSc Education (Philosophy of Education) (1 year) tuition fees MSc Education Research (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 If you receive an offer of admission, either unconditional or conditional, you will be asked to pay some of your tuition fees in advance as a deposit. This deposit is required to secure your offer. If you fail to pay your deposit by the stated deadline, your offer may be withdrawn.The deposit for this programme is £1,500.How and when to pay the deposit Costs Additional programme costs You may incur additional costs for fieldwork, if taking Environmental Education option courses.MSc Education fees and funding 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 worth £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 July 2026. Qualifications A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant discipline.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 each component 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 each component 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 each component. Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components. Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 7 in each component. Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 145 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 You will learn through a combination of:lecturesdiscussion-based workshopsstudent-led seminars/presentationspractical skills trainingproject workYou will complete compulsory courses and choose from a range of option courses totalling 120 credits. If you join a specialist pathway, compulsory and option courses will reflect your specialism.The Masters degree culminates in an independently researched dissertation for another 60 credits.Courses, course content and pathways are subject to change each year.Compulsory and option coursesFor a flavour of the taught courses you might take, the MSc Education general pathway includes four compulsory courses plus three option courses. Compulsory courses Education Policy and the Politics of EducationThe Philosophy of EducationSources of Knowledge: Understanding and analysing research literatureConceptualising research: Foundations, assumptions and praxis Option courses Optional courses are subject to change each year but have previously included:Autism and Developmental DisabilitiesChild and Adolescent DevelopmentChildren and TechnologyComparative Analysis in EducationEducation and ConflictEducation for the Environment and SustainabilityGifted and Talented YouthGlobal Childhoods and Human RightsPedagogy and Practice of Friedrich Froebel for the early yearsPsychology of Learning and TeachingQualitative Data ResearchQuantitative Data Analysis with SPSSSocial Inequalities in Education WorldwideThe Anthropology of Education and LearningThe Curriculum: Context, Change and DevelopmentThe Nature of EnquiryYouth 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 Education (Child and Adolescent Psychology) (1 year) (2025-2026) MSc Education (Early Childhood Practice and Froebel) (1 year) (2025-2026) MSc Education (1 year) (2025-2026) MSc Education (Philosophy of Education) (1 year) (2025-2026) MSc Education Research (1 year) (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 Teaching Compulsory courses consist mainly of lectures and related workshops. Many of our option courses are seminar style. In the workshops, you will work with a tutor in small groups to make sense of the ideas and practices introduced in the lectures. Our seminar-style courses are longer sessions that blend direct instruction and discussion.We record all lectures on compulsory courses so you can listen to them again to further and deepen your understanding. Assessment Typically, each 10-credit course has a separate piece of graded assessment. Our 20-credit courses usually contain two pieces of graded coursework. We carefully distribute assessment points throughout the programme to spread student workload and allow enough time for learning within courses before assessment. We have a range of tasks designed to assess our students' academic and professional knowledge and skills. Tasks include traditional essays (these will generally only make up part of the final grade), group presentations, digital portfolios that show engagement with education research and practice, collaborative video presentations using various forms of digital media, grades for class and online participation and course-related blogs. Across the programme, we provide you with appropriate but supported degrees of freedom to choose the topics you wish to explore in your assessed tasks. We want our tasks to be as meaningful as possible for students. The lecturers and tutors were amazing, friendly and helpful. The programme director helped me to shape my individual study programme. All teaching staff were open for discussions and always encouraged students to ask questions. Dina Kokina MSc Education graduate 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 Career opportunities This broad programme can open up a similarly diverse range of career opportunities.Past students have undertaken further study and doctoral research. Others have applied their knowledge and skills to a variety of education-related fields, including:educational policy and administrationschool teachingrecruitmentcharity-related educational researchpolitical advisory rolesYou will graduate with a highly-regarded degree and transferable skills in areas such as communication and project management, which can be applied to roles in any field.The following are examples of where our previous students have progressed to:work in educational policy (at local, regional, national and international level)work in educational administration (at local, regional, national and international level)advisors to politicians on educational mattersinternational recruitment for higher education institutions in Scotland and for institutions or agencies around the worldreturning to teaching - primary, secondary schools, physical education or within ‘additional support’ contextsresearch work for charitable agencies related to educationdoctoral research (PhD)community education practitioners 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 Hear what our graduates have to say 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.You should only apply for one programme. For example, you can apply on to the general route or one of the pathways but you should not apply to both of these, nor should you apply for more than one pathway. When to apply Programme start date Application deadline 14 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 Education (Child and Adolescent Psychology) (1 year)MSc Education (Early Childhood Practice and Froebel) (1 year)MSc Education (1 year)MSc Education (Philosophy of Education) (1 year)MSc Education Research (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 Life at Edinburgh What our students say Embrace the culture, embrace the climate--go for a walk in the rain! Go to events, visit a pub, walk down the Royal Mile and see everything that Scotland has to offer. Stephen Wilcox MSc Education graduate Our community Moray House staff and students have created a wonderful community and a range of events that anybody is welcome to come along to. Vanessa MSc Education 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 Daniel Shephard Programme Director School of Education and Sport (Moray House) Contact details Email: msc.education@ed.ac.uk Web: Staff profile Dr Patricio Troncoso Programme Director School of Education and Sport (Moray House) Contact details Email: msc.education@ed.ac.uk Web: Staff profile
