Postgraduate Taught
The School of Health in Social Science deliver postgraduate taught programmes which span across Nursing Studies, Clinical and Health Psychology, Counselling and Psychotherapy, and Applied Social Sciences.
We offer taught and vocational postgraduate degrees, including those that provide the opportunity for professional registration at the point of completion. Our postgraduate taught programmes give you the opportunity to learn from experts in your field while developing your skills and boosting your career prospects in research or industry. We offer professionally-accredited and non-accredited programmes, enabling you to choose the learning pathway that best suits your goals.
Many of our postgraduate taught programmes are designed to be flexible, enabling you to take them full-time or part-time to suit your needs. A number of our programmes are available online offering intermittent part-time learning that fits around your commitments and responsibilities.
Why choose postgraduate study in the School of Health in Social Science?
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As a postgraduate student you will have access to a wide range of research resources and first-class facilities, including our dedicated student study space, research labs, research centers, and clinical facilities
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You will benefit from the diverse expertise and backgrounds of staff across the School and our highly interdisciplinary teaching portfolio, covering a broad range of disciplines and qualifications
The University is consistently ranked as one of the top 50 universities in the world, and 12th in the world for Arts and Humanities (THE World University Rankings 2024). The University is ranked 4th in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021 THE Ranking) and is consistently ranked in the top 10 in the UK for graduate employability. We are well regarded by recruiters seeking talented graduates, with High Fliers Research ranking us as the 9th most targeted university in the UK for 2021/22, and our graduates are ranked 25th in the world by employers (QS World University Rankings 2022).
Student support and community in the School of Health in Social Science
We have a dedicated team of student advisers who are available to support you throughout your study. We also offer many student community events throughout the year, providing opportunities for you to mingle and make connections with your peers outside of the classroom.
What can I study?
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
Doctorate in Psychotherapy and Counselling
Master of Counselling
Master of Counselling (Interpersonal Dialogue)
Master of Nursing with Pre-Registration (Adult)
MSc Advanced Nursing
MSc Advanced Nursing (Online)
MSc Applied Psychology (Healthcare) For Children and Young People
MSc Counselling Studies
MSc International Counselling and Cross-Cultural Counselling
MSc Mental Health in Children and Young People: Psychological Approaches
MSc Mental Health in Children and Young People: Psychological Approaches (Online)
MSc Psychology of Mental Health (Conversion)
MSc Psychological Therapies
MSc Planetary Health
Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Studies
Postgraduate Certificate in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) (Online)
Postgraduate Certificate in Neurological Rehabilitation and Care (Online)
Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling
What is a PgCert?
'PgCert' stands for Postgraduate Certificate. You may also see it abbreviated as: PGCert, PGC or PgC.
A PgCert is a taught postgraduate award over 60 credits in a specific area. It is generally delivered part-time to suit professionals studying alongside work, and takes on average 1-2 years to complete. A PgCert can also be used to work towards a PgDip or a Masters degree, if you decide that you wish to continue your studies.
What is a PgDip?
‘PgDip’ stands for Postgraduate Diploma. You may also see it abbreviated as: PGDip, PG Dip.
A PgDip is a postgraduate degree over 120 credits in a specific area. It is especially well-suited to those students who are interested in career development and want to enhance their CV in a shorter space of time compared to a full Masters programme. A PgDip can be used to work towards a Masters degree, if you decide that you wish to continue your studies.
What is a Masters?
An MSc or Masters degree is a postgraduate qualification which typically requires you to write a dissertation in your final year. Masters programmes are designed to give you in-depth knowledge and expertise in a particular field of specialisation.
The length of a taught Masters degree varies depending on whether you choose to study full-time or part-time. A full-time Masters usually takes 12 months to complete, with some programmes giving you the opportunity to study over 2 years part-time, and are generally run in-person on campus. Online Masters degrees generally take 3-4 years to complete, but some programmes offer the chance to study over a longer period of time .
How and when do I apply?
Before you apply for any of our postgraduate programmes, you should check that you meet the entry requirements and you should have all your supporting documents ready.
Applications for most of our postgraduate programmes are made online through the degree finder. Each programme may operate differing application deadlines based on a number of factors. To apply for a programme or to find out the application deadline, look up your chosen programme in the degree finder.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees vary between degree programmes. Find the specific fees for your chosen programme in the degree finder.
Like other universities in the United Kingdom, we set different tuition fee rates for students whose status is 'home' (United Kingdom) and those whose status is 'overseas'. All online learning students pay the same rate.
Further information
Find out more about studying a postgraduate programme at the University of Edinburgh, including information about open days, entry requirements, student life, and beyond: