University of Edinburgh Masters Degrees

Programme description

This programme is aimed at academic staff from the University of Edinburgh with teaching responsibilities.

It is designed to introduce staff to significant issues in relation to teaching, learning and assessment at a research-intensive institution, combine reference with theory and educational literature with practical application and make use of a wide variety of teaching and assessment strategies to demonstrate good practice.

It is primarily targeted at new lecturers wishing to develop their understanding of theoretical concepts as well as their practical skills required for creating effective learning environments for students.

However, experienced staff wishing to further enhance their existing knowledge and skill in selected aspects of teaching and learning are also eligible to enrol.

As such, the programme provides much needed CPD opportunities for all academic staff at the University (inexperienced and experienced).

Programme structure

The programme will be taught primarily through face-to-face teaching but will make use of some online learning activities.

Courses will employ a variety of teaching methods so as to model good practice. Lectures will be complemented by small- and large-group discussions and debates, various forms of group work in cognate and mixed subject areas, as well as independent project work.

Assessment will take place through formal course-work submissions. All course assessments contribute to the aims of the programme and relate directly to individual course learning outcomes. A considerable degree of choice is built into each of the assessments either by letting participants choose between two options or by allowing for substantial flexibility in how to approach the required assignment.

The final assessment requirement is a synoptic assessment, which course participants complete as part of the core option Developing My Approach to Teaching.

Learning outcomes

Students who follow this programme will be able to:

demonstrate a critical understanding of the key concepts and theories relating to teaching, learning and assessment in higher education
critically assess the extent to which present learning environments within their school are conducive to promoting high quality learning
have practical knowledge of how to design effective learning environments within research-intensive settings
have an advanced understanding of the various perspectives by which to explore differences among learners and the capacity to develop creative ways of working with different learners in a variety of contexts
demonstrate the ability to critically reflect on their own practice and as such, take an informed and professional approach to academic practice

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Programme description

This programme is a comprehensive and intensive investigation into key areas in accounting and finance. Designed for those with a quantitative background, it is both academically rigorous and closely in line with professional practice.

The MSc in Accounting and Finance is especially useful for those graduates with work experience in accounting looking to gain essential practical skills in finance - and, of course, vice versa. Although the compulsory core courses ensure a good balance between both accounting and finance study, the option courses give students the opportunity to specialise - tailoring their studies towards their chosen career.

Studying accounting and finance in Edinburgh gives students the opportunity to base themselves at the heart of the UK's second largest financial centre.

Many of Europe's leading financial institutions have their headquarters here, a fact that we make full use of on the MSc programme. We regularly bring guest speakers to the School to talk directly to accounting and finance students on real, current practice. The School also maintains good relationships with a number of accounting and finance professionals who will be on hand to provide advice on research and career opportunities. It is essential connections like these that characterise the dynamic nature of this strongly vocational programme.

Our strong connection to industry is exemplified by our work in the Centre for Financial Markets Research, and the Institute of Public Sector Accounting Research. Bringing together leading academics and practitioners, the centres are a keen theatre of debate, creating new thoughts, new ideas for both the theoretical study and practical application of accounting, finance and investment.

Programme structure

Learning will primarily be through lectures, set reading, class discussions, exercises, group-work assignments, problem solving in tutorials and case studies. Assessment methods include examinations, assignments, presentations or continuous assessment.

Learning outcomes

This programme enables students to analyse financial statements and to show the links between accounting statements, valuation methods and investment analysis.

Knowledge and understanding

Students will gain knowledge of global financial markets and the finance and investment industry – how different organisations interact, their roles, and factors behind success or failure. Students will learn how to estimate the fair value for an investment, to test assumptions and sensitivities, and to compare different investments.

Students will gain an understanding of the role of different asset classes, their behaviour in isolation and in relation to other asset classes, and an understanding of how portfolios of investments can be constructed and analysed.

Intellectual skills

Students will develop:

Critical analysis skills – an ability to assimilate new knowledge in the field of accounting and finance as well as the capacity to provide critical analysis of the field.
Research skills – an ability to identify and define pertinent research questions, to review the relevant literature, to define a proper methodology and to conduct research in the context of data analysis or experiments.
Discipline - a major difficulty in investment is removing emotion from the decision-making process. Study into behavioural finance shows that the desire of investors to follow consensus, and the ease with which they can misinterpret data, are obstacles to sound decision making. The programme will seek to imbue students with the discipline required to make good investment decisions.
Analytical and numerical skills - an ability to analyse and solve valuation and investment problems, to handle large volumes of numerical data and extract and manipulate relevant data in a meaningful manner.

Professional/subject-specific/practical skills

Students will develop:

An understanding of accounting, investment and risk management tools and databases such as Datastream, Reuters 3000Xtra, ThomsonOne Banker, CRSP, COMPUSTAT, London Share Price Database and WRDS.
An ability to: analyse and interpret financial data (such as financial statements); and to evaluate earnings quality and firm performance through individual and collaborative projects.
An understanding of analytical and problem-solving methods through the use of techniques such as discounted cash flow analysis.

Transferable skills

These include enhanced numerical skills and fluency in spreadsheet use and the ability to communicate challenging material both orally and in writing.

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Programme description

Taking the science of musical sound as your focus, you’ll work in a cross-disciplinary environment, using theoretical and experimental work to explore the musical, technical and multimedia applications of acoustics and audio technology.

The programme aims to:

provide a broadly based, scientifically oriented foundation in the area of music, acoustics and audio technology
develop skills in research, computation, design and analytical problem-solving
create a multidisciplinary learning environment that will prepare the student for careers in which a strong understanding of music/audio technology is required
develop an ability to appreciate, understand and develop the creative potential of sound design

The emphasis of this programme is on science and technology in the context of musical and multimedia applications.

Programme structure

The MSc is taught by a combination of lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical work. Courses are assessed through a combination of report submissions and written examinations. In the final three months, you will carry out an individual project, which is assessed by submission of a dissertation.

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this cross-disciplinary programme will develop skills in the area of music, acoustics and audio technology.

Graduates will have a thorough understanding of the appropriate technologies and the science underlying them, as well as an understanding of their role in a wider creative arts environment.

Career opportunities

A knowledge of the science behind music and music production can prove a great asset in your career. Qualified technicians and producers are in demand in all areas of music, as are acoustic scientists. The programme will provide you with the perfect foundation for further study if you’d prefer to continue on an academic path. The highly transferable skills you’ll gain in communication and project management will also take you further up whichever career ladder you choose to climb.

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Programme description

This MSc is an intensive language programme coupled with research. It will equip you to function in Arabic at a high level both orally and in writing. A unique feature of the programme is that spoken Arabic will be taught alongside Modern Standard Arabic.

You will acquire a strong understanding of a major spoken Arabic dialect, which is required to understand films, songs and an increasing amount of oral intellectual discourse. You will also develop your Modern Standard Arabic, enabling you to communicate as an educated native speaker of Arabic.

You will refine your abilities to engage critically and analytically with different aspects of the Arabic language and undertake a sustained piece of independent research that demonstrates the research skills, training and knowledge you have acquired.

You will also have the option of a course in Arabic pedagogy, which will equip you with the skills to teach Arabic to non-native speakers.

Programme structure

The language component of the programme will combine intensive class teaching with a wide range of activities including situational interpreting, listening and summarising and oral presentations. There will also be an e-learning element to the language learning.

The research and option pedagogy components will be delivered in the form of seminars and workshops.

The dissertation or language-based project will involve one-to-one meetings with supervisors and detailed feedback.

Career opportunities

The MSc in Advanced Arabic is both a professional and an academic qualification providing students with a solid linguistic as well as research foundation. You could use this qualification to continue in academic life either in teaching or research and the language skills gained will help you to use your Arabic in any professional capacity such as media, business, diplomacy, working for NGOs and other international organisations. Graduates are also in a good position to apply their language skills in various interpretive roles for organisations such as the International Red Cross.

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Programme description

This one-year programme at the University of Edinburgh will immerse you in the most current developments in chemical engineering, through a combination of taught modules, workshops, a research dissertation, and a number of supporting activities delivered by the key experts in the field.

The programme will develop from fundamental topics, including modern approaches to understanding properties of the systems on a molecular scale and advanced numerical methods, to the actual processes, with a particular emphasis on energy efficiency, to the summer dissertation projects where the acquired skills in various areas are put into practice, in application to actual chemical engineering problems.

Programme structure

The programme logically develops from a set of core courses in the first semester, with emphasis on modern computational techniques and research methods (50 credits of compulsory courses + 10 credits selected from a choice of three courses) to a broad selection of optional courses (60 credits must be selected from 140 available credits) with emphasis on energy efficient separation processes, interdisciplinary engineering and also complemented by a strong component in management.

Learning outcomes

-A working knowledge of modern modelling and simulation approaches to understanding properties of chemical systems at a molecular level.

-A working knowledge of advanced experimental techniques, such as for example particle image velocimetry, spectroscopy and infra-red thermography, as applied in engineering research and development.

-Ability to transform a chemical engineering problem into a mathematical representation; broad understanding of the available numerical tools and methods to solve the problem; appreciation of their scope and limitations.

-An understanding of the basic design approaches to advanced energy efficient separation processes.

-Ability to transfer and operate engineering principles in application to other fields, such as biology.

-Proficiency in using modern chemical engineering software, from molecular visualisation to computational fluid dynamics to process engineering.

On completion of the research dissertation, the students will be able to:

-plan and execute a significant research project
-apply a range of standard and specialised research instruments and techniques of enquiry
-identify, conceptualise and define new and abstract problems and issues
-develop original and creative responses to problems and issues
-critically review, consolidate and extend knowledge, skills practices and thinking in chemical engineering
-communicate their research findings, using appropriate methods, to a range of audiences with different levels of knowledge and expertise
-place their research in the context of the current societal needs and industrial practice
-adhere to rigorous research ethics rules
-exercise substantial autonomy and initiative in research activities
-take responsibility for independent work
-communicate with the public, peers, more senior colleagues and specialists
-use a wide range of software to support and present research plans and findings

Career opportunities

Our graduates enjoy diverse career opportunities in oil and gas, pharmaceutical, food and drink, consumer products, banking and consulting industries. Examples of the recent employers of our graduates include BP, P&G, Mondelēz International, Doosan Babcock, Atkins, Safetec, Xodus Group, Diageo, Wood Group, GSK, Gilead Sciences, ExxonMobil, Jacobs, Halliburton, Cavendish Nuclear to name a few. This wide range of potential employers means that our graduates are exceptionally well placed to find rewarding and lucrative careers. According to the Complete University Guide, the chemical engineering programme at the University of Edinburgh is ranked one of the top in the UK in terms of graduates prospects.

The MSc in Advanced Chemical Engineering may also lead to further studies in a PhD programme. With the 94% of our research activity rated as world leading or internationally excellent (according to the most recent Research Excellence Framework 2015), Edinburgh is the UK powerhouse in Engineering. As an MSc student at Edinburgh you will be immersed in a research intensive, multidisciplinary environment and you will have plenty of opportunities to interact with PhD, MSc students and staff from other programmes, institutes and schools.

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Programme description

Veterinary medicine is a rapidly evolving discipline, comprising a wide range of specialist areas. Research in veterinary medicine is directly relevant to the improvement of health and welfare of domestic animal species and the protection of public health.

The R(D)SVS has an international reputation, and its clinical services - Hospital for Small Animals (dog and cat and exotics, zoo and wildlife) and Large Animal Hospital (equine and livestock) - are among the most influential centres for clinical care in the UK and Europe. It is best placed to advance the skills of the sector due to the skills in primary, secondary and tertiary care medicine and surgery, and its extensive research activities in all aspects of veterinary medicine.

Veterinary practitioners are under pressure to maintain high standards of practice while also keeping abreast of the latest developments. In response to the increasing requirement for support in developing advanced clinical skills, this new distance learning programme is aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at veterinarians in practice.

The modular, portfolio approach allows the greatest flexibility to meet the needs of the modern practitioner. The goal is to provide the student with the skills and knowledge required to be highly effective practitioners and to enable them to act as leaders and mentors within the veterinary community.

Online learning

Online learning is aimed at people who want to study for a postgraduate qualification alongside ongoing work or other commitments. You can study at times most convenient to you. Most of our students continue in their employment while they study.

The courses are taught in distance learning mode and are completed entirely online. The teaching is quite varied, including: online lectures, tutorials, specialist external lectures, scientific group discussions, case studies, problem-based learning scenarios, literature based research, computer-assisted learning and quizzes.

Programme structure

The programme is delivered part-time by online distance learning over a minimum period of three years and a maximum period of six years. You may undertake the programme by intermittent study (flexible progression route), accruing credits within a maximum time limit of two years for the Postgraduate Certificate, four years for the Postgraduate Diploma and six years for the MVetSci.

In summary, the completion times are as follows:

PgCert: 12-24 months
PgDip: 24-48 months
MVetSci: 36-72 months

The programme is modular in structure, offering a flexible student-centred approach to the choice of courses studied. You can choose to take a particular species track in the elective course, ie courses focussed on companion animals, exotic zoo and wildlife, equine or production animals. Equally, you can choose to take a mixed-practice approach by selecting courses that meet your individual professional needs. If you choose a particular species track you will exit with a designated MVetSci in Advanced Clinical Practice, eg MVetSci in Advanced Clinical Practice (Companion Animal Medicine). You will have the option to select a final year project or fully-taught route to achieve the MVetSci.

Each year will consist of three 11-week terms structured into two blocks of five weeks of study with a week in between for independent study and reflection. One block of five weeks will equate to 10 credits of course material. This framework is designed to fit in with the part-time nature of the programme, giving you time to reflect on your learning and lessening the impact of the additional requirements that studying will place on the your working life.

Learning outcomes

This programme provides graduates with the scientific knowledge and practical skills to carry out the work of advanced veterinary practitioners.

The programme aims to support students as they:

acquire knowledge about advanced veterinary clinical research and developments
acquire specific veterinary skills applicable to an advanced practitioner in their chosen specialist area(s)
develop an understanding of how an evidence-based medical approach can be applied in a range of practical situations
learn to interpret and communicate scientific results and information in research and other forms of social debate, across other related scientific disciplines and to other stakeholders

Career opportunities

Enhanced promotion within the veterinary clinical practice sector.
Entry point for academic clinical positions coming from the private practice sector.
Veterinary-based industries particularly feed and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

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Programme description

Design informatics focuses on designing with data. This course is run in conjunction with Edinburgh College of Art through the Centre for Design Informatics.

On this programme you will learn how to build computational systems as well as the principles of design thinking and making.

Through case studies of real-life products you will apply your knowledge in a practical way, developing an understanding of what it takes to create, design and take a product to market.

Programme structure

Design Informatics: designing with data can be explored in most specialist areas of Informatics, but Design Informatics emphasises entrepreneurial product development.

In the first year you follow two semesters of taught courses, attending lectures, tutorials and group practicals to acquire the theoretical foundation to enable you to engage in independent research.

In the summer you have a commercial or public semester placement, where you will work on a project that will help you test and reflect on your knowledge and skills.

In the second year, taught courses focus on product design, and you will gain experience in leading a group, before completing a dissertation project.

Compulsory courses:

-Case Studies in Design Informatics 1
-Design with Data
-Design Informatics Project
-Histories and Futures of Technology
-Dissertation
-Placement

Option courses:

-Accelerated Natural Language Processing
-Computer Graphics
-Extreme Computing
-Introduction to Vision and Robotics
-Text Technologies for Data Science
-Automatic Speech Recognition
-Innovation Driven Entrepreneurship

Work placement/internship:
You will work on a project that will help you use your skills and knowledge during a summer placement with a commercial or public sector organisation.

Career opportunities

This degree will put you at the cutting edge of design technology and technology for design, opening a host of opportunities in the commercial sector.

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Programme description

This programme has been developed in response to the introduction of the Adult Protection and Support (Scotland) Act 2007 that puts at the forefront of contemporary professional practice and priorities, the importance of working with adults who are at risk of harm.

The programme is intended for experienced practitioners (minimum two years post-qualifying experience) from a range of relevant agencies providing services to adults at risk of harm.

Programme structure

You will study 12 taught days and eight days of online learning.

Learning outcomes

You will develop confidence and competence within the complex field of adult protection in order to practice autonomously and collaboratively with individuals from a variety of professional backgrounds.

Career opportunities

This programme is intended to build on your existing skills and improve your professional abilities. On completion, you will be better placed to take on more advanced roles within your existing workplace, or apply for those that offer a greater degree of responsibility.

Advanced study such as this also provides a range of highly transferable skills, such as communication and project management, which can be applied to your current role or used to enhance future employment prospects in any field.

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Programme description

This programme is the postgraduate qualification for qualified social workers wishing to practise as mental health officers (MHOs). It has been designed by, and is delivered in partnership with, 12 local authorities in the East of Scotland.

This programme focuses upon the role of the MHO in relation to relevant Scottish legislation. In addition to the taught elements, students undertake two periods of assessed MHO practice.

Under Section 32(2) of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 local authorities have a statutory duty to appoint and provide training for MHOs to undertake mandatory MHO responsibilities, enshrined in legislation: mainly the 2003 Act, but also the Adults with Incapacity Act 2000 and the Criminal Proceedings Act 1995.

This programme’s primary aim is to provide the required MHO qualification in partnership with the East of Scotland MHO Award Partnership.

Programme structure

The programme comprises 12 taught days and eight days of online learning over two semesters.

You will also undertake two periods of assessed MHO practice (thirty two days each), which are organised and supported by your employing local authority.

Learning outcomes

The programme aims to provide:

the knowledge, skills and competence required to undertake the role of the MHO
the opportunity for the development of academic study and specialist learning within mental health social work

Career opportunities

This qualification is for qualified social workers wishing to practise as mental health officers (MHOs).

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Programme description

This programme gives you skills in creating sustainable strategies through design. The programme is delivered in a series of studio design projects supplemented with workshops and seminars on aspects of sustainable design. There is an opportunity to study environmental simulation techniques and discover how these can influence wider issues in the built environment.

We address the relationship of design in the built environment to contemporary sustainable agendas and engage in cultural and professional debates that increasingly influence the production of architecture.

This programme is affiliated with the University’s Global Environment & Society Academy:

Global Environment & Society Academy

Programme structure

You complete your studies in one year.

The first semester is a combination of seminars and workshops on the theoretical underpinnings of sustainable design. Alongside this are a series of design projects at the scales of both settlement and building systems.

The second semester offers an immersive design project that allows you to form your own building programmes and test them in real contexts. You conclude your studies with a comprehensive dissertation research project based around your own interests.

Learning outcomes

Graduates of this programme will have:

-knowledge of the social, economic and legislative forces that are driving contemporary, sustainable agendas, and understanding of such agendas in relation to architectural cultures
-an ability to critically assess sustainability as a cultural, economic and environmental phenomenon
-the ability to interrogate site, programme and context in relation to the production of sustainable construction, engineering and architectural strategies
-the acquisition of trans-disciplinary skills in articulation of sustainable strategies in related industry sectors

As the call for a more sustainable built environment increases, architects, designers, engineers and planners who can produce solutions are in demand. With this qualification you’ll be best placed to embrace these opportunities and advance your career.

Even if you follow an unrelated path, the experience and skill development in communication, team work and project management that you’ll gain from the programme will be a valuable addition to your resume.

Our graduates work in specialist sustainable design consultancies, and design practice. Many of our students choose to continue their academic development through PhD study.

Fees and costs

Additional programme costs (APCs) are used by programmes in Edinburgh College of Art to cover associated costs such as: basic consumables; equipment purchase, hire and maintenance; computing hardware and software; field trip and excursion expenses; and programme specific events. More detail will be available in programme handbooks.

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Programme description

The field of nursing is ever changing and increasingly challenging. This programme will equip you with the skills for self-development to become leaders and competent decision-makers, professional nurses who understand the primacy of care, the promotion of health and the imperative of evidence to underpin best practice and how this is acquired.

The programme offers a variety of courses which reflect the key concerns in developing an effective and flexible workforce, with the ability to embrace and generate new approaches to care.

It aims, through a process of flexible and open learning, to develop self-directed and reflective nurses who have the potential to be future leaders in advancing nursing.

Programme structure

Whilst there are some core subjects, the programme is extremely flexible and is tailored to students' requirements.

This programme allows:

development of a portfolio for professional and personal development;
opportunities for the synthesis of theory, evidence and practice;
accessibility for all nursing disciplines, including managers, educators and clinicians;
enhanced international collaborations, developing a global network of leading nurses as part of our alumni.

The programme consists of two compulsory courses and your choice of option courses.

Compulsory courses

Research Methods in Nursing and Healthcare A
Professional and Personal Development

Option courses may include:

Clinical Decision Making and Professional Judgement
Leadership: Exploring Your Potential
Global Public Health.

It is also possible in some instances to take option courses from other subject areas outside of nursing studies.

Learning outcomes

The MSc in Advancing Nursing Practice enables students to:

develop their practice through engagement with research and scholarship in nursing studies
develop a focus on research and application of the evidence base through five themes: Research, Professional Development, Leadership, Clinical Decision Making and Health
develop the analytical skills required for professional development and reflective practice
develop the skills for the critical appraisal of the practice of nursing
develop a critical appraisal of promoting health

Career opportunities

Our programme meets with the needs outlined in the recent Postregistration Career Development Framework (2012). This Framework provides an interactive professional development tool which maps the key knowledge, skills and behaviours which practitioners need to progress through or up a level.

This programme is suitable for nurses looking to advance into senior clinical, educational, teaching and policy roles within the healthcare service, the independent sector, academia, a professional organisation or the voluntary sector.

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Programme description

The programme offers a unique combination of regional expertise with a focus on the theory and practice of international development.

International Development is concerned with the idea of good change, but who decides what constitutes ‘good change’? How should such change happen? What unintended consequences might the pursuit of change create? The MSc in Africa and International Development encourages you to critically explore these questions, in the context of Africa.

Our course offers you a unique opportunity to acquire a combination of interdisciplinary, regional expertise with a critical knowledge of international development theory and practice. With this grounding, many of our students have gone on to work in development for charities, government agencies, international organisations, think-tanks or advocacy groups. Our degree can also serve as a stepping-stone for a career in research or academia.

Online learning

We also run an online distance learning programme in Africa and International Development.

Programme structure

The programme is available on a full-time basis over one year or on a part-time basis over two years. Masters students are expected to complete six courses, and a dissertation.

Students can either complete their dissertation through independent study, or through a work-based placement. These work-based placements offer some students the opportunity to work in a wide range of development organisations across Africa for eight weeks, enabling students to apply academic training to real-world problems.

Work-based project

Students have the opportunity to apply for work-based projects, which offer an unique opportunity to partner with organisations worldwide as part of the MSc dissertation.

Our extensive network of partners in the UK and a large number of African countries (including Liberia, South Africa, Malawi, Kenya and Tanzania) includes NGOs, charities, social enterprise, think-tanks and government bodies, giving students the chance to acquire key skills and practical, first-hand experience of working in international development in the continent.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge of academic and policy debates about development interventions in Africa with a focus on sub-Sahara Africa.
Critical understanding of theories, concepts and the practice of development in Africa.
Detailed knowledge of case studies examining specific aspects of international development.
Ability to negotiate the challenges of inter- and multi-disciplinary research drawing in particular on political science, human geography, history and social-cultural anthropology.
Ability to critically evaluate and analyse empirical evidence on the implementation of development projects and policies.
Apply the critical analysis in writing, discussion and oral presentations as well as group exercises.
Ability to conduct independent empirical research in sub-Sahara Africa drawing on a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods.
Critical understanding of the challenges and realities of work in the field of international development.

Career opportunities

A qualification in Africa & International Development offers a multidisciplinary grasp of issues that will be of use when pursuing a career in development agencies, consultancy, the public sector and non-governmental organisations.

In addition, you will develop a range of transferable skills, such as communication and project management, which can be applied to roles in any field.

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Programme description

This programme is designed for those with an interest in international development who wish to develop analytical and theoretical skills along with an in-depth knowledge of development issues in the African continent.

International development in Africa raises a complex set of issues. In this programme, you’ll draw on our Centre of African Studies’ long-standing reputation as a global hub of Africanist expertise to develop a deeper understanding of these issues.

Suitable for both students and professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds, the programme combines theory and practice in seeking to contextualise and analyse the processes that have shaped poverty and underdevelopment in Africa, and the many responses to these issues.

This programme is affiliated with the University's Global Development Academy.

Online learning

You will study three courses over nine months. The courses are taught using a range of innovative interactive teaching methods.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this programme you will:

know and understand development issues (with a specific African focus) and international development in comparative perspective
be able to critically evaluate the factors shaping particular development processes and their outcomes
be able to appropriately apply theories and insights from scholarly research to practical issues and problems of development policy and practice

Career opportunities

A qualification in Africa & International Development offers a multidisciplinary grasp of issues that will be of use when pursuing a career in development agencies, consultancy, the public sector and non-governmental organisations.

In addition, you will develop a range of transferable skills, such as communication and project management, which can be applied to roles in any field.

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Programme description

This is an established and highly regarded programme that offers an intensive introduction to the study of Africa.

The MSc in African Studies provides the analytical tools and the empirical knowledge to understand some of the fundamental forces that are shaping Africa in the twenty-first century. It is the longest running programme offered by the Centre of African Studies, one of the world’s leading centres of Africa-focused knowledge and research, and has recently been restructured to meet growing student demand.

It retains its core strengths of anthropology, politics and history, but it now offers students a greater Africa-focused research component, along with a suite of exciting new option courses to better suit diverse research and employment interests. It also provides the research training necessary to progress to PhD study.

The programme is suitable for those students with some existing knowledge of the continent and who want to enhance their Africa-specific research skills. It is equally appropriate to those students whose existing knowledge of Africa is more limited.

Programme structure

You will complete three compulsory courses and three option courses (offered either by the Centre of African Studies, other subject groups in the School of Social & Political Science, or other Schools within the University). A weekly seminar series and other events will enhance your learning.

After the taught courses, you will work towards your independently researched dissertation.

Career opportunities

Past students have continued on to doctoral programmes in the UK and overseas, and to careers related to, or in, Africa with non-governmental organisations, international organisations, governments, universities and in the private sector.

In addition, you will develop a range of highly transferable skills, such as communication and project management, and research skills, which can be applied to roles in any field.

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Programme description

This MSc provides an introduction to advanced study in American history both to students who plan to embark on doctoral work and to students who simply want to spend a year pursuing intellectual interests developed as undergraduates.

The programme is distinctive in its breadth and diversity, both chronological and thematic. It draws on the wide range of American historical expertise available in the School.

You'll enrich your skills in independent research and gain an in-depth understanding of the key topics and historiographical debates of this young nation’s dynamic past, from the American Revolution to the Cold War.

The programme offers a challenging academic experience, particularly for those who wish to combine a small-scale research project with specialist methodological, theoretical, historical and historiographical training. You will attain a level of expertise and knowledge that will enable you to embark upon independent research at an advanced level in American history.

You'll be part of a vibrant research culture, one that encourages collaboration and includes regular lectures, seminars, and other events involving leading American historians.

The impressive resources of the University’s Main Library and the National Library of Scotland, home to one of the UK’s largest collections of Americana, will be on hand.

Programme structure

You’ll take two semesters of seminar-style courses in small groups. You will then apply your independent research skills in developing your own dissertation, under the supervision of our academic staff. This is your chance to be creative; our breadth of historical expertise means we’re open to almost any feasible area of interest.

Compulsory courses:
Historical Methodology
Historical Research: Skills and Sources
Themes in American Historiography

Option courses:
British Emigration, 1603–1914
Calvinist Theology and Piety in Britain and America, c1590–1660
Intellectual History of the American Revolution
American Foreign Policy
Slavery in the British Atlantic World, 1650–1834
The Civil Rights Movement
The United States and the Cold War
Conservatism in the United States, c1930–c1990

Career opportunities

The programme equips you to go on to advanced study. Equally, a graduate degree from Edinburgh will be respected by employers in many fields.

The combination of skills training courses, specialised seminars, and independent research provides you with a broad range of transferable skills that will be beneficial whatever path you choose.

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