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Physical Education at The University of Edinburgh - UCAS

Course summary

Our degree offers an excellent route into physical education careers both in the UK and abroad. After you graduate, you can register with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). Wherever you go on to work, our programme will leave you well-positioned to articulate, advocate and take action toward teaching for a better world. Mental health and wellbeing partnership Student teachers at the University of Edinburgh also engage with our mental health and wellbeing programme. This is provided through our unique partnership with children’s mental health charity Place2Be, which helps you to support mental wellbeing in your classrooms and yourself. Programme benefits

  • Our Physical Education (MA) programme is unique within the UK in preparing you to teach physical education to pupils across the age range of 3 to 18 years old.
  • We have over 400 passionate students currently studying Physical Education with us, the highest number of undergraduate PE student teachers in the UK.
  • Our dedicated staff and student teams work to promote a strong sense of community and belonging in our Physical Education cohort.
  • We embrace the University’s vision, fostering an environment where every student thrives.
  • We actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds, cultivating a rich and varied teacher workforce.

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Secondary

How to apply

Application codes

Course code:
XC61
Institution code:
E56
Campus name:
Central area campus
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Standard Qualification Requirements

It is important that applicants for teacher education degrees show commitment, motivation and suitability for their degree and the profession. This can be demonstrated in your personal statement by reflecting on relevant work experience, and explaining your understanding of the teacher's role. For more guidance please see the school website: https://education-sport.ed.ac.uk/ 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.

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

https://study.ed.ac.uk/programmes/undergraduate/352-physical-education

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Please click the following link to find out more about minimum qualification requirements for this course

https://study.ed.ac.uk/programmes/undergraduate/352-physical-education

Additional entry requirements

Health checks

There is fitness to practise guidance for people who wish to become teachers. We strongly advise you to make yourself aware of this before you apply. Consult the Higher Educational Occupational Physicians/Practitioners (HEOPS) website for fitness to practise guidelines for this degree. https://heops.org.uk/guidance/

Interview

Admission to this degree programme includes an interview process. Further details on the process will be sent to candidates shortlisted for interview.

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)

Other

It is important that applicants for teacher education programmes show commitment, motivation and suitability for their programme and the profession. This can be demonstrated in your personal statement by reflecting on relevant work experience, and explaining your understanding of the teacher’s role. For more guidance please see the University website.


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)92total 92 with at least 20 in each component. 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: SQA 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. We also accept other qualifications from around the world. 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. 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. 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.

Full details of our English language requirements can be found on our website:

https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry-requirements/english-language


Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
No data
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
No data
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Scotland £1820* Year 1
England £9535* Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535* Year 1
Wales £9535* Year 1
Channel Islands £9535* Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535* Year 1
EU £38900 Year 1
International £38900 Year 1

*This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

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

Scottish students must apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for payment of their tuition fees. Please note the 2026-27 fee rate is yet to be confirmed by the Scottish Government. England/Wales/Northern Ireland - The Rest of UK (RUK) rate is yet to be confirmed. The fee for 2025 entry was £9,535. For 2026 entry this may increase in line with inflation and will be subject to government limits . 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
Physical Education at The University of Edinburgh - UCAS