Subject area: Education
Why choose Education at the University of Edinburgh?
UK students studying primary education with Gaelic or physical education are guaranteed a one-year teaching induction post in a Scottish school on the successful completion of their studies.
Our initial teacher education programmes are accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).
Our Childhood Practice programme is accredited by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).
All initial teacher education students will have placement opportunities in Scotland. This will enable you to gain real life understanding of teaching as a career.
Throughout school I recognised the vast impact particular teachers had on pupils. This taught me the value of what a teacher can do in a child’s life.
Introducing Education
We offer three main areas of study:
- teacher education
- community learning and development
- childhood practice
All our students have an interest in human relationships and are encouraged to develop professional values, including:
- trust
- respect
- integrity
- a clear commitment to social justice
On all our programmes you will explore innovative ways of working with a diverse range of learners to ensure you gain the knowledge, professional skills, and experience to excel in your career.
Teacher education
Our teacher education programmes provide an excellent foundation for a career in teaching and are accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).
After graduating, UK students will be guaranteed a one-year teaching induction post in a Scottish School.
General Teaching Council for Scotland
Physical Education
Our Physical Education (MA) programme is unique within the UK in preparing you to teach physical education to pupils across the age range of 3 to 18 years old.
Primary Education with Gaelic
Our two Primary Education with Gaelic (MA) programmes - one for learners and one for fluent speakers - prepare you to teach the full range of the pre-school and primary curriculum for children through the medium of Gaelic, as well as in English.
Mental health and wellbeing partnership
Student teachers at the University of Edinburgh also engage with our mental health and wellbeing programme.
This is provided through our unique partnership with children’s mental health charity Place2Be and helps you to support mental wellbeing in your classrooms and yourself.
Graduate teacher education
We offer primary and secondary teacher education for graduates via a one-year Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and a two-year MSc Transformative Teaching and Learning.
Full details of our graduate programmes are available in our Postgraduate Prospectus.
MSc Transformative Teaching & Learning
Childhood Practice
Our programme prepares you for a management role within the early childhood learning and care sector. It examines issues of childhood, including:
- education studies
- health education
- child development
- family studies
- social policy
Aspects of leadership, management and professionalism also feature prominently.
You will develop skills in communication and management, and learn about organisational development and inter-agency working.
Accredited by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), graduates of the programme are eligible to register with the SSSC as a lead practitioner/manager.
Learning in Communities
This programme offers an excellent route into the empowering profession of Community Learning and Development (CLD).
Approved by the CLD Standards Council in Scotland, and equivalent bodies in the rest of the UK, our degree produces practitioners who are:
- professionally competent
- ethically informed
- critical and reflective
The programme offers both:
- a well-rounded, rigorous academic grounding for your practice
- an appropriate professional preparation through part-time work-based placements
We have tailored our programme specifically to the needs of those who want to enter this sector of education.
Our staff have extensive knowledge and experience in fieldwork and research in a range of CLD settings.
Our degree is professionally approved and will prepare you well for employment.