Key dates

These are the dates you are required to be in Edinburgh for the coming academic year, along with a short explanation as to why these dates are important to you.

Your Programme Induction

Monday 1 September 10:00 am to Wednesday 3 September 5:00 pm

IMPORTANT: Please note that our programme starts two weeks earlier than most others at the University.

Location: Thomson’s Land Quad (outside Thomson’s Land near picnic tables) then Paterson's Land 1.26

All new MSC Outdoor and Environmental Education students will meet for the first time on Monday 1 September 2025, at 10:00 am. Please arrive at the latest 9:45 am. 

Come along to our 3-day Induction from September 1-3. Meet the Outdoor and Environmental Education Staff team and your peers and start to get to know the programmes and local area. You will also have an opportunity to meet current students on the programme. More information about specifics will be provided through the Outdoor and Environmental Education (OEE) Programme's Learn site in August/September. We look forward to welcoming you and getting to know you!

Evening social event to take place on 2 September from 5pm-9pm in person in Edinburgh.

IMPORTANT: Information on your first course

Your first academic course is Foundations of Outdoor and Environmental Education.

Foundations of Outdoor and Environmental Education will start on Thursday 4 September, from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. (More information available via Learn.)

The room number will be confirmed during Induction. Please arrive well ahead of the start time (at the latest 8:45am).

Timetable

The google calendar timetable below is 'live' and will help you to plan your year. This timetable may change slightly before the start of the Programme, but any changes will be minor ones.

Please note that this is the most accurate and up-to-date timetable – more so than those to be found in Learn or elsewhere on the University systems.

As you can see from the calendar and information above, your programme begins earlier than most University Masters programmes and is taught in blocks. As such, your schedule may not necessarily align with the University's academic calendar. Below, you will find an indicative calendar for most other Moray House Masters programmes. These details below can provide you with some information on the University's Welcome Week activities, and graduation, should you wish to participate in these.

Welcome Week 2025 - Download the UoE Welcome Week app

8 - 12 September 2025

The standard University semester 1 opens with Welcome Week, the week before the first week of teaching. Typically students are recommended to arrive in Edinburgh a couple of days before the start of Welcome Week to settle in. 

Welcome Week is a key part of the undergraduate experience and participation is essential. It is an information-packed week with social and instructive activities planned by the School and the University. It is recommended that you download the University Events App where you will find all Moray House and University-wide welcome events. 

Industrial action during Welcome Week

Please note that the Edinburgh branch of the University and College Union have confirmed that strike action will take place from Monday 8 to Friday 12 September. We fully respect the right of our staff to take part in industrial disputes but will work hard to reduce the impact on our students. You can find more information on our website:


General School Induction Events

We encourage you to attend but please always prioritise your programme-specific induction session and your programme teaching should timings conflict.  Recordings will be made available and published on the Student SharePoint after the event. 

Please access links to all online and recorded sessions on the MHSES Student Hub Events page. 

View the Student Hub Events page

EventDateTimeLocation

Welcome to Moray House School of Education and Sport

This induction event will introduce you to Moray House, with a warm welcome from staff and an overview of the resources and support available to you as a student. It’s also a chance to learn where to go for advice and guidance throughout your studies.

Mon 8 Sept09:45 - 10:30Paterson's Land G1
Welcome CeremonyMon 8 Sept

11:30 - 12:30

2:30 - 3:30

McEwan Hall

MHSES School Community Fair

A chance for students to meet with students and staff involved in the School community and more importantly how you can get involved.

Wed 17 Sept10:00 - 12:00 noonON-CAMPUS (not recorded)

Academic Year 2025/26

1 September 2025 to 2 December 2025

​​​​Important:

Students must be fully matriculated to start their programme on 15 September. If you are not fully matriculated by this point, you may lose your place on your programme. 

  • Semester 1 is very demanding. Students will complete various forms of assessments, including individual tasks and group work.
  • Students are expected to attend all classes and registers will be taken at tutorials, seminars and workshops. If you are unable to attend a tutorial, seminar or workshop due to illness or for any other reason, you must email the tutor or lecturer in advance to explain why you will be absent.
  • Teaching ends on 28 November 2025 and the time remaining until the end of the semester is used to complete assignments and take exams.  Students will be advised of assignment deadlines by course organisers.   
  • If you are studying here on a Tier 4 visa, and move to Edinburgh, you must let us know in advance if you are going to be travelling away from Edinburgh for more than 5 days. Typically, students must stay in Edinburgh for the duration of their studies and you should advise staff if you wish to leave the country at any point.

For the MSc Outdoor and Environmental Education Programmes, please check the linked Google Calendar for actual dates of commitment during semester and before booking travel, confirm dates with the Programme Director (Gavin). 

View the Google calendar


22 December 2025 to 9 January 2026

If you are studying here on a Tier 4 visa, and move to Edinburgh, you must let us know in advance if you are going to be travelling away from Edinburgh for more than 5 days.

The University campus is typically closed for some period of time during the Winter holidays and staff and students will not be able to access campus facilities. The University is currently scheduled to be closed 23 December 2025 to 5 January 2026, reopening at 9 am on 6 January 2026, albeit these dates are indicative only.


12 January 2026 to 5 June 2026

  • Semester 2 is very demanding, especially as most students will spend time preparing for their Master's dissertation in Semester 2.
  • Students are expected to attend all classes and registers will be taken at tutorials, seminars and workshops.  If you are unable to attend a tutorial, seminar or workshop due to illness or for any other reason, you must email the tutor or lecturer in advance to explain why you will be absent.
  • Teaching for most courses ends on 3 April 2026, and the time remaining until the end of the semester is used to complete assignments and take exams. Students will be advised of assignment deadlines by course organisers.
  • If you are studying here on a Tier 4 visa, and move to Edinburgh, you must let us know in advance if you are going to be travelling away from Edinburgh for more than 5 days. Typically, students must stay in Edinburgh for the duration of their studies and you should advise staff if you wish to leave the country at any point.

For the MSc Outdoor and Environmental Education Programmes, please check the linked Google Calendar for actual dates of commitment during semester and before booking travel, confirm dates with the Programme Director (Gavin). 

View the Google calendar


July 2026 to November 2026

Programme Directors will advise students of the submission date for their dissertation.


  • Graduations are arranged by Student Administration
  • The majority of Masters students will graduate in the Winter Graduation, with some exceptions:
    • MSc Outdoor and Environmental Education students would typically graduate in the Summer Graduations held in July
    • Part-time students and those studying for a Postgraduate Research degree (PhD) or for a PG Certificate or Diploma may also graduate in the Summer Graduation depending on the timing of completion of their studies

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