Career opportunities
Our graduates are qualified to teach and eligible for provisional registration from the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). Eligible graduates may join the Teacher Induction Scheme, a guaranteed, paid one-year probationary teaching post, or take up a Flexible Route.
The programme aims to prepare teachers to transform the learning and future outcomes of children and young people in Scotland. To this end, once you complete the programme you will:
- Have significant knowledge in either a secondary subject or in nursery/primary education, together with the ability to teach across the P5 – S3 transition phase
- Have specialised knowledge in teaching literacy and numeracy
- Understand the politically contested notions of social justice and sustainability, and be able to draw on this knowledge in complex professional settings
- Employ systematic, evidence-based practice in your teaching, demonstrating the ability to creatively assess and adapt your own and others’ practices to make a positive impact on learners’ development and attainment
- Be digitally and statistically literate and able to use these skills to enhance educational practice and communication with pupils, parents, colleagues and other professionals
- Be able to lead on innovative practice in your chosen field, adopting an activist orientation to teaching
- Have a global outlook and critical awareness of international perspectives on education and schooling.
Career opportunities
Successfully completing this MSc will confer professional registration with the GTCS. This is a requirement for teachers in all state schools and most independent schools in Scotland.
Many countries outside of Scotland recognise that professional registration with the GTCS is an indicator of high quality. However, you should seek guidance from the education authorities in countries outside of the UK to determine whether this MSc will enable you to teach there.
As a graduate of this programme, you will gain both a Master's degree and professional registration allowing you to work across the primary-to-secondary transition, enhancing your employability both within and outside Scotland.
You may also enter a range of careers related to school teaching. These include informal education and education development and policy.
Teacher Induction Scheme
Students from Scotland, other parts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland, who are studying at a Scottish Higher Education Institution are eligible to join the world-renowned Scottish Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS), a guaranteed and paid one-year probationary teaching post, organised by the General Teaching Council for Scotland.
Students from the European Union (EU) are also eligible if they hold settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) or have applied for settled or pre-settled status but have not yet received a decision.
Participation in this scheme is not compulsory and some may choose to follow the alternative Flexible Route which is less structured and may better suit personal circumstances. Students from overseas countries who study on a teacher education programme with us can also follow the Flexible Route to complete their probationary service if they are able to remain in Scotland on completion of their studies.
Find out more about the Flexible Route
Preference Waiver Payment Scheme
Eligible graduates may also join the GTCS's Preference Waiver Payment Scheme. Joining the scheme means you agree to work in any Scottish local authority for your induction post. By joining, you receive £8,000 if you are a secondary teacher, or £6,000 if you are a primary teacher.
You must remain in your allocated local authority for the full Teacher Induction Scheme year to receive payment.
Careers Service
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.
Suzanne Agnew
Careers Consultant, Moray House
Contact details
- Web: Careers Service