Dance Science and Education (MSc)

Gain a foundation in the science that underpins all forms of dance training and enhance your understanding of dance as an art form.

It’s crucial for dance professionals to have a solid foundation in the science of dance. To ensure the future growth and development of dance performance, training and research, dance professionals should be well-equipped, motivated and encouraged to explore existing boundaries and create new ones.

Our programme provides a strong understanding of the science that supports and optimises various aspects of dance education, performance and research and contributes to the evolution of dance as an art form. 

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Visit the University’s Degree Finder for detailed entry requirements, fees, international grade equivalency, language requirements and to apply.

Expertise, facilities and resources

The  MSc Dance Science and Education is well positioned for research and scholarship. The University of Edinburgh and the Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences (ISPEHS) have a long history of education in physical activity, including dance. More recently, they have incorporated research in sports science and medicine. 

ISPEHS staff have expertise in dance and the related movement sciences. Our facilities include dance studios, a dance research room with an extensive archive and BASES-accredited scientific research laboratories.  

Because of the University's historic and well-founded reputation in dance education, students can access numerous resources related to the fields of dance and medical practice in the University's libraries. 

Institute for Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences

Dancers performing at Edinburgh Futures Institute
Student performance: AI and Choreography

What you will study

The programme is taught full-time in blocks of teaching. You will take both core and option courses and complete a dissertation. 

Masters degrees at the University of Edinburgh comprise 180 credits. The first 120 credits are made up of taught courses. Students who achieve an average mark of 50% or more can continue to the final 60 credits of the programme. This is the dissertation component. Successfully completing the full 180 credits leads to the award of MSc. 

Courses

You must complete four core courses and a further 40 credits’ worth of option courses. 

Instructors deliver the core courses in intensive blocks of study. 


You will choose 40 credits of option courses from a range offered by the School. These may include: 

You may choose additional options from courses offered by other relevant Schools within the University, subject to approval. 

Please note that courses and course content may change each year. 


Once you successfully complete your courses,  you may progress to the MSc. To complete the MSc, you will produce an independently researched dissertation. 


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 Advisor in your first few weeks at Edinburgh. 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.

Support for your studies

Careers

Graduates from our programme are equipped for a variety of roles in dance, including as teacher, practitioner or researcher. Key industry leaders speak highly of graduates of our Dance Science and Education programme.

Roles our students have taken up include:

  • dance instructors
  • dance teachers in schools at all levels
  • dance performers at all levels
  • researchers in the areas of dance, sport science and medicine

We are keen to show our students what it is like to work in a high-quality research environment, and we provide a good introduction for anyone interested in pursuing research at PhD level.

The University of Edinburgh's Careers Service supports all current students (and graduates for up to 2 years) to develop their potential and achieve satisfying and rewarding futures.

Join in and make use of:

  • individual appointments
  • group sessions
  • wider campus-based activity
  • online services and resources

We also deliver a diverse programme of face-to-face and online events throughout the academic year.

Visit the Careers Service website


Our students

Students and graduates on the MSc Dance Science and Education programme at Moray House provide insights into the programme.

I very much enjoyed the opportunities for interdisciplinary study as part of the MSc Dance Science and Education. Opportunities to study sport science, for example, were a useful supplement to my MSc and made my work far more accomplished than it would otherwise have been.

Holly Byron-Staples

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees are listed on the Postgraduate Study Programme Fees pages related to your desired exit level and duration of study.


Scholarship opportunities are subject to change each year. We are pleased to offer a number of School-specific scholarships, but students are encouraged to seek out opportunities from the University and external funding bodies.

More information about available scholarships and funding can be found on our Scholarships and Studentships page.

Scholarships and studentships


If you plan to complete this programme in 2 years or under, you may qualify for a government-supported Professional and Career Development Loan (PCDL). A number of banks are involved in the scheme, and the loans are granted at the discretion of the individual banks. Remember that you have to consider tuition fees as well as your living costs. If you decide to take out a loan to cover all or part of your postgraduate education, think very carefully about what you hope to gain from your studies and how you intend to pay off your debt.

Professional and Career Development Loans (on Gov.uk website)


Contact us

Programme-specific enquiries

For programme-specific enquiries, contact the Programme Director. 

Heather Rikic

Programme Director

  • Moray House School of Education and Sport

Contact details

The Dance Science and Education team

Our academic staff bring together rich and varied international experience in the field. Details of their specific research expertise and professional qualifications are available in their staff profiles.

Heather Rikic, Programme Director

Siân Salmon

Dr Wendy Timmons

Questions about your application or how to apply

For enquiries about your application or how to apply, contact the Postgraduate Admissions office.

Postgraduate Admissions Office (Education)

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHSS)

Contact details

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