Program Overview
The Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary) at The University of Edinburgh is a Postgraduate Diploma programme in Education over 12 months, delivered On-campus. This programme equips graduates with advanced knowledge and practical skills for professional and academic careers in the field.
Students gain a rigorous grounding in both the theoretical foundations and applied dimensions of education. The programme combines coursework, research components, and practical projects that develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and specialist expertise relevant to industry and research needs.
Graduates of the Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary) programme are well-prepared for careers in academia, industry, government, and the private sector across United Kingdom and internationally. The programme provides an internationally recognised qualification within the Bologna higher education framework.
Key Program Features
- Duration: 12 months
- Language of instruction: English
- Study mode: On-campus
- Location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary) programme are prepared for diverse careers in education:
- Teacher / Lecturer
- Educational Consultant
- Curriculum Designer
- School Administrator
- Education Policy Researcher
- Training Specialist
Program Curriculum
The PGDE Primary programme is structured around two types of courses.
University-based courses
Our University-based courses introduce you to and create space for you to intellectually problematise critical concepts in education. This will help you develop:
- your own identity and understanding of yourself as a beginning teacher
- the professional knowledge, skills and action necessary for the complex realities of teaching
The core values and commitments of the programme visions are explored through three conceptual themes, each with its own course:
- Dimensions of Teaching
- Making and Conceptualising Curriculum
- Pedagogies
Teaching in School courses
Our Teaching in School courses are designed to provide relevant site-based learning experiences for students. These courses will enable you to make sense of, further develop, and situate your professional knowledge, skills and actions you will have started to explore through the University-based courses.
These school experiences create opportunities for you to:
- develop professional relationships and teaching practices
- understand school communities
- learn with and from experienced school staff and other professionals
You will then bring your learning and insights from their site-based courses into your reflections and thinking through subsequent University-based courses.
Compulsory courses
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
We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.
Disclaimer
Detailed programme information for 2026/27 will be published in Spring 2026.
Placements
Professional Placements constitute approximately half of the programme, with students being allocated a placement within one of six key local authorities.
The professional experience and practice through the site-based courses allows for a deeper interrogation of complex issues through practice. It also enables students to develop their own professional actions
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent is preferred, and a high level of experience in a primary school classroom setting.
You should also hold SQA Higher English at minimum grade C or equivalent. National 5 Maths at minimum grade B or equivalent is also required.
Tuition & Financial Information
Detailed tuition information is not available. Please contact the university for the most current tuition and fee information.
Application Deadline
2015-01-18
About The University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
University of Edinburgh (Universitas Academica Edinburgensis) is a historic and globally respected public research university in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, founded in 1583, making it one of the...
University Profile- Application Deadline 2015-01-18
- Start Date 2018-09-01
- Language English
- Duration 12 months
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