Outdoor Education

Postgraduate Diploma in Personal and Social Outdoor Education

Mark at the beach

We are now accepting applications for this new pathway, the first of its kind in the sector. This pathway has been specifically designed to cater to practitioners who are working (or intend to work) in outdoor education programmes that have participants' personal and social development as their principal goal. Most academic courses have a practical focus and are taught from our Edinburgh base as well as our residential outdoor centre in the Cairngorms National Park.

A more intense programme than the Postgraduate Certificate, in terms of depth and breadth, the Postgraduate Diploma in PSOE comprises six academic courses. These courses are complemented with the Professional Development Programme (PDP), which consists of a five-week placement, a minimum of three week-long outdoor skills courses, and a two-week student-led expedition. All of these elements of the PDP serve to integrate academic study with practical skills, which can then be applied in outdoor education programmes that have participants' personal and social development as their principal goal.

Academic courses

Assessment

Academic courses are assessed by 4000 word assignment or equivalent.

Professional Development Programme

Progression diagram for the Postgraduate Diploma in Personal and Social Outdoor Education

These three Postgraduate Certificate in PSOE courses:

Diagram 1

Plus the following three courses:

Diagram 2

Plus the Professional Development Programme:

Diagram 2

Admission requirements

Applicants for our postgraduate programmes normally hold an undergraduate university degree or equivalent professional qualification. Those who do not hold first degrees but whose employment or other educational experience provides evidence of intellectual and professional ability of an equivalent standard are also encouraged to apply.

Cost

Please contact the Postgraduate Office for information on fees.

Duration

Full-time or part-time, 12-48 months.

Application procedure and deadline

There is no fixed deadline, but applications should be submitted as early as possible because places are limited. For general information and application forms the main point of contact is:

College of Humanities and Social Science
Postgraduate Office—Education
Room 1.11, First Floor, David Hume Tower
George Square
Edinburgh, EH8 9JX

email: linda.danczyszak@ed.ac.uk
tel: 0044 (0)131 650 3571
fax: 0044 (0)131 650 6536

Please direct any informal enquiries about this postgraduate programme to Dr Robbie Nicol.

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