Outdoor and Environmental Education (MSc)

Study outdoors from Edinburgh to the Scottish Highlands at one of the world's best Schools of education and sport.

For over 50 years, the Outdoor and Environmental Education programmes have been about learning, living and educating in the outdoors. As we continue a legacy of excellence and innovation, we are reshaping our offering to adapt to the needs of our changing world and the pressing issues of environmental sustainability, justice and activism.

The MSc Outdoor and Environmental Education programme preserves the quality and depth of education provided by a world-ranked University and prepares you for a future where environmental consciousness is at the forefront of global priorities. The programme focuses on historical and contemporary approaches to outdoor, environmental, adventure and sustainability education.

Outdoor and Environmental Education is a broad inter-disciplinary field with many potential directions and career opportunities in the sector. The programme aims to train graduates for a growing range of careers in the public, charitable and commercial sectors, and for formal and informal education in the UK and overseas.

Apply now

Applications are open for September 2025 entry.

Visit the University’s Degree Finder for detailed entry requirements, fees, international grade equivalency, language requirements and to apply.

Apply now: Outdoor and Environmental Education

What you will study

You’ll take a range of compulsory courses, a professional development programme, along with a final dissertation or applied project, to complete 180 credits.

Taught courses take place in Edinburgh and at bases across Scotland. From these bases, you will live and learn in the outdoors. 

Learning takes the form of lectures, seminars, group discussions, student presentations, field courses, residential courses, self-study and work experience or practicum.

This Masters programme culminates in the opportunity to undertake a dissertation or applied research project, where you will have the chance to identify and deeply examine a topic which interests you.

The OEE program is about the journey, rooted in feelings and concepts of becoming - making space for growth and reckonings about oneself, philosophies of outdoor education, and the world that weren’t even in my initial realm of possibility. Connections run true and deep. And, to top it all off, we get to play outside - a lot!

Compulsory courses

Course Descriptions (2025-26)

Professional Development Programme

The Professional Development Programme (PDP) is an integral part of the Masters programme. It combines the theory and practice of outdoor and environmental education in residential, journeying and workplace situations. It also offers unique opportunities to live and learn in Scotland’s land and seascapes.

Core elements may include:

Canoeing
Summer hill-walking
Winter hill-walking
Sea kayaking
Placement (20-day)
Rock climbing
Firbush Outdoor Centre
First Aid

Professional Development Programme page

Dissertation or Applied Project

All of our Masters students will complete a dissertation or project that allows you to demonstrate your ability to reflect on and apply the knowledge you have gained through the programme.

Career opportunities

The modern world is changing rapidly, but our commitment remains strong: to deliver high-quality education and practical experiences in Scotland’s inspiring landscapes. Your journey with us is not just about what you learn today, but how you help us to shape tomorrow.

Together we will work towards forging a path toward a sustainable future, informed by 50 years of experience and fuelled by a shared commitment to our planet.

Our programme is directed towards those interested in environmental and sustainability education, teaching in the outdoors, adventure education, expeditions, and personal and social development through outdoor experiences, conservation work, informal and non-formal sectors.

Explore careers in Outdoor and Environmental Education

Using the outdoors as a teaching and learning environment while promoting sustainable thinking and practice has never been more important and this course has given me the skills and confidence to feel that my practice in this area will help make a positive difference.

Our community

Students range from young adults who have recently completed undergraduate degrees to professionals returning to study after several years, and in some cases even decades, working in the field.

Our graduate network is a diverse, global community of over 800 alumni working and making an impact in a wide range of roles in the outdoor and environmental education sector.

Some Masters students go on to PhD study and collaborate with us in their research.

PhD community

Meet our students

Reshna Alex

'The programme was more than technical skills, focusing on the foundations of what it means to be an educator. We experience, reflect and learn as individuals and as a group. There is a lot to learn and knowledge within the diverse group. The programme team is supportive and encourages you to explore as much as you can during this process.'

Charlotte Megret

'The combination of academic courses and practical courses (especially residential ones) created plenty of opportunities to observe and reflect on different teaching practices. The courses were all very different, and I thoroughly enjoyed that diversity as I believed they helped me reflect and improve my own practice.'

Peter Wooding

'The course has given me the confidence to challenge old, outdated practices. I have refined my critical thinking, and this has influenced the course I now design, plan and teach.'

Reegan Beagley

'When I started on the program, I didn’t realize just what kind of community I would become a part of. Everyone I have met as part of my program is kind and genuine, and the instructors help facilitate a deep level of intellectual stimulation and curiosity that I hadn’t anticipated experiencing but greatly appreciate. I wouldn’t trade my time here for anything!'

Ronak Bhatnagar

'This course is cozy. It's not a word which carries much severity, but I can't think of one that better encapsulates the community. The warmth everyone brings, the vulnerability we are able to show each other, students and staff alike. Perhaps how small the word seems is the point, we celebrate the little things, and don't get lost in the larger chaos.'

Taylor Halik

'I didn't know what to expect coming into this program. The uncertainties of moving to a new country and preparing to meet new classmates all seemed a bit daunting. What awaited me across the pond was better than I could have ever imagined. The OEE program is fitted with incredible professors, an encouraging learning environment, and ample opportunities to grow in the classroom, down the rivers, and amongst the hills of the Highlands.'

Hear from more of our students

50 years of expert teaching

2022 marked the 50th anniversary of the Outdoor and Environmental Education postgraduate programmes at the University of Edinburgh. This has been a springboard for the development of wider engagement and alumni activities.

Fees and funding

Details of our tuition fees, as well as the scholarships and funding available to help you pursue your ambitions.

Tuition fees and costs

Annual tuition fees are listed on the Postgraduate Study Programme Fees pages related to your desired exit level and duration of study.

MSc Outdoor and Environmental Education - (Full-time)

Scholarships and funding

Scholarship opportunities are subject to change each year. Students are encouraged to seek out funding opportunities from the University and external funding bodies. More information about available scholarships and funding can be found on our Scholarships and Studentships page.

Scholarships and studentships

You can search for scholarships using the University's Scholarship Search tool.

Scholarship search

Programme director and teaching team

Gavin Mackenzie

Programme Director, Outdoor and Environmental Education

Contact details

Email: gavin.mackenzie@ed.ac.uk

Web: Staff profile

The faculty in the MSc programme were instrumental in my career development. They challenged me to think more critically about our field and my own practice. I frequently refer back to the lessons I learned at Edinburgh as I plan and facilitate my own courses.