Outdoor Education

Overview

The Certificate programme provides a broad theoretical coverage of the field of outdoor education.

The Diploma extends this with further academic study and a Professional Development Programme (involving field courses such as a canoeing, summer and winter hillwalking, sea kayaking and a placement), which provides a broad base for a professional career in outdoor education.

The Masters extends this further still with a dissertation.

The emphasis - whether Certificate, Diploma, or Masters - is on developing the knowledge, understanding, and judgement necessary to facilitate meaningful learning in, for, and through the outdoors.

In the Outdoor Education programme offered by The University of Edinburgh, you will develop your intellectual skills through critically assessing theoretical, professional, and academic issues surrounding outdoor education while honing transferable skills such as environmental literacy and oral communication.

You will also expand your understanding and personal practice of outdoor education through a range of professional development activities.

Courses take place at our Edinburgh campus and multiple bases in the Highlands of Scotland from where you will journey by boat or on foot to live and learn in the outdoors.

Career opportunities

Graduates are employed worldwide in all aspects of the Outdoor Education sector, such as in residential outdoor education centres, wilderness expeditions, and school, college, and university outdoor education programmes. Many of our graduates return to their previous profession, but move into a different aspect of that field as a result of their increased knowledge, experience and qualification.

Completion of the MSc degree will enable you to continue onto advanced research. You will also develop highly transferable skills, such as communication and project management, which can be applied in any field.

Examples of recent graduate roles include:

• conservation work (public and charitable organisations, UK and international),
• education/environmental policy development,
• environmental education programmes,
• management development,
• National Outdoor Leadership School,
• non-profit organisations (environmental and/or personal & social development focused),
• organisations working with marginalised young people,
• Outward Bound,
• self-employed in guiding/interpretation/education,
• summer camp organisations
• therapeutic work with young people and adults.

While the programme does not offer a formal teaching qualification, recent graduates have been successful in gaining accreditation by the General Teaching Council of Scotland to teach Outdoor Education in schools.