Inclusive Education (MSc/PgDip)

The MSc Inclusive Education is for graduates who want to make a difference to the lives of children and young people. Our distinctive approach presents a re-imagined future for learners and teachers, where responding to human diversity is recognised as the point, not the problem, of education.

This programme addresses the need for professionals who can respond to the increasing cultural, linguistic and developmental diversity of school communities. They must also be able to manage the pressure to achieve high academic standards for all while also including those at risk of being marginalised or excluded. 

Three key points, distinctive to this MSc, define the programme’s approach and provide the context for deeper study within specific courses:

  • Everybody’s different: We present a new way of thinking about diversity, beginning with the idea that difference is an ordinary aspect of human development, and every person is unique, with multiple overlapping identities. 
  • The transformability of people’s capacity to learn: We recommend rejecting notions of fixed ability. Learning is a social activity where teachers can and do act to enhance participation and achievement.  
  • New ways of working: We explore the roles of professionals and stakeholders in the widest sense of the context of meeting children’s and young people’s needs. This includes sharing specialist knowledge to enhance education for all and ensure no learners are marginalised or stigmatised. 

Apply now

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

Specialist pathways for teachers

Postgraduate Diplomas (for practicing teachers)

What you will study

In this MSc, you will develop your knowledge, understanding, and ability to critique research, policy, and practice relevant to social and educational inclusion. We cover topics from education, sociology, psychology, disability, and childhood studies to help improve your understanding of inclusion issues.

This Masters degree is taught full-time and comprises 180 credits. For the first 120 credits, you will take compulsory and option courses. 

Course descriptions (2024-25)

I chose to study the MSc Inclusive Education as the programme responds to the increasing cultural, linguistic and developmental diversity of school communities in an increasingly globalised education system.

Michelle Mackay MSc Inclusive Education graduate

In addition to the compulsory courses, you will take 80 credits of option courses. Option courses change every year but have previously included: 

You may also choose any of these which you have not already selected as your compulsory course as an option course: 

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change each year. Those provided hereare indicative only. 

N.B. If taking the programme on a part-time intermittent basis, courses from outside the School may have different fees.  


We teach through a combination of workshops, lectures, seminars, problem-based learning activities, debates and peer group learning. Some courses have online as well as face-to-face teaching. We create the timetable to accommodate part-time students wherever possible. This means we may teach some courses in the evenings or at the weekend. 

Our assessment methods give you the chance to develop your academic and professional skills and graduate attributes. These methods include:  

  • essays 
  • presentations 
  • placement observations and portfolios (on the PgDip specialist pathways)
  • a dissertation if you choose to progress to the MSc 

Assessment includes both formative feedback and summative assessment or examination. All courses offer feedback on an early piece of work. This often focuses on supporting academic writing. 

Sessions for the MSc Inclusive Education were interactive and course organisers valued students’ opinions and encouraged discussion in group and whole-class contexts. Course organisers always created a safe space for students to have the confidence to share their opinion. 

 -Michelle Mackay, MSc Inclusive Education graduate


Once you successfully complete your taught courses, you may choose to progress to the MSc. This involves producing an independently researched dissertation. 

You will have one-to-one supervision while working on your dissertation. 


Specialist pathways for teachers

Our part-time specialist pathways offer practising teachers a Postgraduate Diploma in teaching deaf or visually impaired learners. Taught by qualified practitioners, graduates of these pathways will meet the Scottish and English governments' mandatory qualifications for teaching deaf and visually impaired children. 

You can take the Postgraduate Diploma route on its own, or progress on to the MSc Inclusive Education by completing a dissertation. 

Postgraduate Diploma routes are only available by part-time study. Therefore, they are only available to UK/EU students due to visa restrictions. 

Two deaf children playing

Deaf learners

This specialist pathway is designed for teachers who wish to gain the competencies for qualified teachers of deaf children. 

Young girl wearing glasses and playing

Visually impaired learners

This specialist pathway is designed for teachers who wish to gain the competencies for qualified teachers of visually impaired children.

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

Our graduates use the skills and knowledge they’ve gained with us to pursue a range of careers. Many go on to teach in schools and further or higher education, taking on leadership, specialist or peripatetic posts with visually impaired or deaf learners. Some work with NGOs and third-sector organisations, in policy positions in education, or go on to doctoral-level research. 

By the time you graduate, you’ll be able to:

  • develop and apply knowledge, skills and attitudes relevant to inclusive education and the contexts in which it takes place
  • reflect critically on the relationships between theory and practice and explore issues in implementing educational and social principles and ideals
  • engage with and, where appropriate, influence policy issues and professional practice in developing and sustaining inclusive education
  • develop research and enquiry skills, including using literature; reviewing evidence; gathering, organising and evaluating data; responding to evidence and providing critical comment

I’ve extended my expertise on the issues of Inclusive and Special Education, which are enormously vital in my current work at the Department of Education in Kazakhstan.

Maiya Temirbayeva MSc Inclusive Education graduate

General Teaching Council for Scotland - Professional Recognition

The General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) has accredited all the courses in our Inclusive Education programme.

If you hold GTCS registration, you can use what you learn on this programme to reflect and self-evaluate against professional standards as required by the GTCS to gain recognition of your studies. 

Professional Recognition with the GTCS is an award that recognises the enhanced, significant, sustained and reflective enquiry you have undertaken as a teacher. It also recognises the development of your professional learning that your postgraduate study has provided.

General Teaching Council for Scotland Professional Recognition

Qualified status as teachers of deaf or visually impaired children

Qualified teachers who take the PgDiploma part-time over two years may also be able to gain qualified status as a teacher of deaf or visually impaired children. This involves periods of supervised placement in more than one educational setting. 

Please note that the PgDiploma route is only available to students who do not require a visa to study in the UK, due to visa restrictions on part-time study.

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

Our programme gathers a diverse community of international and local students from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds, including teachers, professionals from various education services, governmental agencies or international organisations. 

Novia

video

'I really enjoyed rummaging through the bookshelves in the Moray House Library to find resources and references for my study [...] I felt like I wanted to explore and read them all!'

Michelle

'Studying at Moray House provided me with a range of opportunities which have encouraged me to critically reflect on my teaching practice, engage with other teaching professionals and develop my academic writing skills.'

Maiya

Maiya Temirbayeva

'I was lucky to study within an international group of students, who also made the programme special by making their own contribution to the issues of Inclusive and Special Education, brought from their own experience in different parts of the world.'

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.

If you register to study on a 'part-time intermittent study' basis you will pay the academic tuition fees on a course-by-course basis, rather than paying for the entire programme at the outset. As fees change each year, your total cost will depend on the length of time taken to complete your programme.


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


Contact us

Questions about the programme

For programme-specific enquiries, contact the Programme Co-Directors.

Dr Lisa Fernandes

Programme Co-Director

  • Moray House School of Education and Sport

Contact details

Dr Martin Toye

Programme Co-Director

  • Moray House School of Education and Sport

Contact details

You will be taught by staff actively researching many aspects of Inclusive Education, many of whom have also taught in schools or educational settings with a wide range of learners. Details of their specific research expertise and professional qualifications are available in their staff profiles.

Dr Lisa Fernandes, Programme Co-Director

Dr Martin Toye, Programme Co-Director

Rachel O'Neill, Deaf Learners pathway coordinator (Rachel is a fluent British Sign Language (BSL) user)

Elizabeth McCann, Visually Impaired Learners pathway coordinator

Dr Audrey Cameron

Professor Lani Florian

Dr Yvonne Foley

Dr Debi Fry

Dr Holly Linklater

Dr Gale Macleod

Dr Imran Mulla

Professor John Ravenscroft

Dr Julie Ross

Professor Sheila Riddell

Dr Dimitra Tsakalou


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

This article was published on