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Learning in Communities

  • Master of Arts (with Honours)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-Time
  • 13 September 2027
  • Undergraduate
Central area campus
More about The University of Edinburgh

Course options

2026-20272027-2028
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Course summary

Do you want to work alongside young people and adults in communities?

Do you have a desire to help communities reach their full potential and promote social justice?

This programme offers an excellent route into the empowering profession of Community Learning and Development (CLD). CLD brings together community-based adult learning, youth work and community capacity building.

Our programme produces practitioners who are:

  • professionally competent

  • ethically informed

  • critical and reflective

Our graduates go on to work in CLD roles in several areas, including:

  • community-based adult learning

  • youth work

  • criminal justice

  • community capacity building

  • community development

Our approach

When studying with us, you will:

  • gain a well-rounded grounding in education and the social sciences

  • learn different educational concepts and approaches in your practice

  • get professional practice experience through work-based learning placements

  • develop the skills to help people build vibrant communities and work towards social justice

  • build your understanding of the relationship between theory, policy and practice

Programme benefits

  • Moray House School of Education and Sport has been contributing to the field of education for almost 200 years.

  • The school has included community learning and development since 1961. Our degree builds on this extensive expertise.

  • We have strong links with more than 30 Community Education providers.

  • The programme is professionally approved and tailored specifically to the needs of those who wish to enter this sector, so you will be well prepared for a rewarding career in Community Education.

  • Our staff have extensive knowledge and experience in fieldwork and research in a range of CLD settings.

  • As a professionally approved degree, our degree will prepare you well for employment.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Central area campus

Study options

  • Master of Arts (with Honours) • Full-Time • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 13 September 2027

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
X321
Institution code:
E56
Campus name:
Central area campus
Points of Entry:
Year 1

How to apply

Apply by
13 January 2027

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
X321
Institution code:
E56
Campus name:
Central area campus

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level
ABB

Required subjects: A Levels: no specific A Level subjects required. GCSEs: English at C or 4.

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

Scottish Higher
ABBB

ABBB by end of S5 or AABB/ABBBB by end of S6 (Standard). ABBB by end of S6 (Minimum). BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: English at C.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Offer: 34

34 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: English at 5.

We welcome applications from mature students and accept a range of qualifications. You are generally considered to be a mature applicant if you will be aged 21, or over, at the start of your degree programme.

You will need to meet the standard entry requirements unless you are also an adult returner.

We will consider you to be an adult returner if: you have had a break of at least 3 years in your formal education, and you do not have an undergraduate degree, and you have completed relevant accredited study within the past 3 years (for example, a SWAP programme, HNC/HND, or an access to HE diploma).

https://cahss.ed.ac.uk/adult-returner-applicants

If you are unable meet our minimum entry requirements for mature students, for example your qualifications are more than three years old, we may consider your application if you are able to provide substantial and relevant evidence that you have the potential to succeed on this degree. More information is available on the University of Edinburgh website.

Detailed entry requirements, including typical offer levels, and information about other qualifications we accept, are available on the University of Edinburgh’s website. You’ll also find important information on how to apply.

You must submit a fully completed UCAS application that includes details of the qualifications you are taking, including full predicted grades for qualifications not yet completed, your personal statement and your reference. https://study.ed.ac.uk/programmes/undergraduate/2027/667-learning-in-communities?utm_source=ucas&utm_medium=programme&utm_campaign=ug_institution_profiles&utm_content=listing

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Typical qualification requirements

A level ABB

Required subjects: A Levels: no specific A Level subjects required. GCSEs: English at C or 4.

Scottish Higher ABBB

ABBB by end of S5 or AABB/ABBBB by end of S6 (Standard). ABBB by end of S6 (Minimum). BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: English at C.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Offer: 34

34 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: English at 5.

Additional entry requirements

Interview
You will need to attend an interview as part of the selection process for this programme. You will receive further details on the process if you are shortlisted for an interview.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component.We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
TOEFL (iBT)total 92 with at least 20 in each component (before 21 Jan 2026); total 4.5 with at least 4.0 in each component (from 21 Jan 2026). We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
Cambridge English Advancedtotal 176 with at least 162 in each component.
Cambridge English Proficiencytotal 176 with at least 162 in each component.
Trinity ISEISE II with distinctions in all four components.

You must prove that you can read, write, listen and speak in the English language at a level that will allow you to succeed in your studies. This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals. You can meet our English language requirements with qualifications from school or an English language test. We accept any of the following, at the specified grade or higher: National 5: English at C; GCSE: English at C or 4; Level 2 Certificate: English at C; International Baccalaureate (IB) Standard Level: English at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry). Before you apply, check the required subjects for this programme, as you may need a higher English grade to meet the academic requirements. If you don’t have school qualifications that meet our requirements, we accept any of the English language tests, at the specified grade or higher, as detailed above. We also accept other English language tests and qualifications from around the world. Qualifications from the following English language tests must be no more than two years old from the start date of your programme, regardless of your nationality: IELTS, TOEFL, Oxford ELLT, Oxford Test of English Advanced, Trinity ISE. All other types of English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of your programme. If you are a national of a majority English-speaking country or region, as defined by UKVI, there is no time limit on how old these other types of English language qualifications can be.https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry-requirements/english-language

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

The University of Edinburgh welcomes students from the UK and all over the world. We accept a wide range of qualifications and our policies support students with diverse backgrounds and experience. UCAS entry grade data is currently not available for our degrees but we publish admissions statistics on our website. We also provide information on widening access offers and entry requirements.

Learn more on the The University of Edinburgh website

International entry requirements

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry-requirements/international-qualifications

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not available

Historical entry grades data is not currently available for The University of Edinburgh - we are working with them to try and make it available soon - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
Scotland£1820
England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland£10050
EU & International£31100

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Scotland - Scottish students must apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for payment of their tuition fees.

England/Wales/Northern Ireland - The Rest of UK (RUK) students commencing or continuing their studies in September 2027, the tuition fees will be £10,050.

EU On 9th July 2020 the decision was made by the Scottish Government to end free university tuition for European Union (EU) students starting in 2021-22. Funding policy for EU nationals and associated groups starting a course of study in academic year 2022-23 or later will be in line with international fees.

Full time international and EU students will pay a fixed annual fee rate for the duration of their programme

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