Undergraduate Education 2026-2027

This course will give students an opportunity to reflect on their understanding of education through an examination of the origins, purpose and nature of education, both as it currently exists in Scotland and elsewhere. This course will allow students, through the study of comparative education, to consider the historical and political context of Scottish Education and gain insight into current issues, policy drivers and practices.

This course introduces MA Education students to the use of fictional stories in the Primary classroom for the teaching and learning of science.  Students will engage with a range of stories which relate to science concepts within the Scottish primary curriculum.  Students will then have opportunities to develop knowledge and understanding of these concepts prior to applying this new learning in a creative context. 

This course aims to develop students’ understanding of using digital technologies in the Primary classroom, by exploring key digital skills, pedagogies and the use of technology to support inclusion and assessment. This course will provide students with the opportunity to reflect upon their experiences of digital technology and how these have been used to enhance learning.

This course introduce students to the application of mindfulness and compassion to enhance mental and emotional wellbeing and resilience. Students will engage with a range of experiential practises and develop knowledge of the underlying principles, concepts and neurobiology within mindfulness and compassion. Students will then have opportunities to develop practical knowledge and understanding of mindful practises and how to apply them in their personal and professional environments.

This course aims to develop students’ appreciation of the qualities, dispositions and skills required of an inclusive teacher. Within this course, students will develop knowledge of key Scottish policies and an awareness of the socio-cultural contexts in which they will be teaching. Students will also develop an awareness of themselves as learners and beginner teachers.

This course aims to develop student teacher understanding about the roles and responsibilities of a primary teacher within Scotland. As part of this course, students will self-reflect upon their understanding of professional values, curriculum and the dispositions required for working within a professional setting. Through the completion of a 5-week placement in a First/ Second Level classroom, students will extend their skills at working with a group of learners, leading the learning within the three overarching curriculum areas for Literacy, Numeracy and Health & Wellbeing.  

This module invites students to consider playful approaches to early learning and how these shape the child’s play environment. You will:
• Design and deliver a play experience for young children, applying creative and inclusive strategies.
• Reflect critically on your approach, considering how your decisions influence young children’s engagement and development.
• Ground your work in current policy, research, and professional guidance, ensuring your practice aligns with play pedagogy.

By the end of the module, you will have developed practical skills in planning a play experience and deepened your understanding of reflective practice as a tool for professional growth.

This course is designed for students registered on the BA Childhood Practice degree with a focus on different learning environments for the child.  The aim of the course is to promote and encourage the use of workplace based activities as the basis for academic study.  This course is designed to meet the continuing professional development of individuals involved with working with children and students must be employed in a relevant educational setting for a minimum of 12.5 hours per week. 

Learn about natural and urban environments through your own personal engagement with outdoor environments. 

This course provides practitioners with the opportunity to explore a range of research and theory that encourages students to reflect on the leadership and management styles currently employed within their settings. Students will explore the theory and principles of leadership and management, considering the impact these may have, and those which they may wish to use when leading their own teams. Learning on this module will be underpinned by relevant policy, research, guidance documents and opportunities to reflect on their own practice whilst developing upon their own study skills.

This course aims to provide students with opportunities to explore research informed approaches to teaching and learning in and through languages. This will provide opportunities to explore mother tongue language acquisition, second language learning and bi or pluri-lingualism.  The course will also explore other forms of literacy. 

This course introduce students to the application of mindfulness and compassion to enhance mental and emotional wellbeing and resilience. Students will engage with a range of experiential practises and develop knowledge of the underlying principles, concepts and neurobiology within mindfulness and compassion. Students will then have opportunities to develop practical knowledge and understanding of mindful practises and how to apply them in their personal and professional environments.

This course aims to introduce students to the process of critical reflection from practice. In doing so, students will deepen their understanding of inclusive pedagogy in the core curricular areas of Literacy, Numeracy and Health & Wellbeing. As part of this course, students will have an opportunity to collaborate with other students to reflect upon the diverse range of school contexts and the implications of this for inclusive practice. Students will use wider reading and experiences from placement to extend their understanding of equity in the context of inclusion.

This course aims to develop student teachers’ knowledge and understanding of Technologies within the Primary Classroom. Through course inputs, students will be provided with opportunities to develop an awareness of the impact this area of the curriculum has for enhancing pupil learning and understanding about the world in which they live. Students will gain a variety of practical experiences to extend their understanding of professional pedagogy to ensure teaching practices support the development of learner experiences.

This course provides practitioners with the opportunity to explore a range of research and theory that encourages students to reflect on the leadership and management styles currently employed within their settings. Students will explore the theory and principles of leadership and management, considering the impact these may have, and those which they may wish to use when leading their own teams. Learning on this module will be underpinned by relevant policy, research, guidance documents and opportunities to reflect on their own practice whilst developing upon their own study skills.

This course is designed for students registered on the BA Childhood Practice degree with a focus on developing leadership and management competencies.  The aim of the course is to promote and encourage the use of workplace based activities as the basis for academic study.  This course is designed to meet the continuing professional development of individuals involved with working with children and students must be employed in a relevant educational setting for a minimum of 12.5 hours per week. 

This course explores the central role of language and literacy in learning and the teacher’s role in overcoming barriers to literacy. Students will examine research-informed approaches to teaching reading and writing, including the five pillars of effective reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension (Hattie, 2007). They will consider the connection between reading and writing, and develop their understanding of pedagogical approaches to literacy across the primary years. The course also addresses strategies to close the attainment gap and improve outcomes for all learners.

 

This course provide students with opportunities to explore how pupils can develop their conceptual understanding of maths. Key mathematical principles will be considered, alongside classroom pedagogies which are based around 3 main theoretical underpinnings. Students will be given opportunities to engage with these research informed approaches, and will be encouraged to reflect on the impact this has on their developing classroom practice.

 

This course aims to provide students with a broad and integrated knowledge of the value of Health and Well-being to children's lives and learning. Students will explore philosophical approaches to Health & Well-being as well as a range of ways that health and well-being can be integrated into the primary school curriculum with a specific focus on current educational issues in Scotland.

This course aims to provide students with opportunities to further develop their professional skills as emerging teachers. Students will gain practical opportunities to explore the classroom environment from a teacher’s perspective and to critically reflect on this experience. The course includes a five-week placement in school. Building on from School Experience 1, students will work towards planning and teaching for a whole class in the three core curricular areas of Literacy, Numeracy and HWB. Following placement, students will engage in deeper reflection and be encouraged to develop their understanding of praxis, connecting what they have observed in the classroom to key Scottish policies and wider academic literature.

This course is designed for students registered on the BA Childhood Practice degree with a focus on exploring the health needs of individual children and examining policy to support the health and wellbeing of young children.  The aim of the course is to promote and encourage the use of workplace based activities as the basis for academic study.  This course is designed to meet the continuing professional development of individuals involved with working with children and students must be employed in a relevant educational setting for a minimum of 12.5 hours per week.

This course is designed for students registered on the BA Childhood Practice degree with a focus on exploring the health needs of individual children and examining policy to support the health and wellbeing of young children.  The aim of the course is to promote and encourage the use of workplace based activities as the basis for academic study.  This course is designed to meet the continuing professional development of individuals involved with working with children and students must be employed in a relevant educational setting for a minimum of 12.5 hours per week.

This course is designed for students registered on the BA Childhood Practice degree with a focus on extending knowledge and understanding of child development.  The aim of the course is to promote and encourage the use of workplace based activities as the basis for academic study.  This course is designed to meet the continuing professional development of individuals involved with working with children and students must be employed in a relevant educational setting for a minimum of 12.5 hours per week. 

This innovative course is designed to promote students personal development and enhance their employability skills through undertaking a group consultancy project for a local engineering organisation. The course will enable students to learn more about the engineering sector, and develop their project management skills, students will also have the opportunity to reflect on learning to better equip them for future employment or postgraduate study.

This course aims to provide students with opportunities to develop a broad and integrated knowledge of the value of Health and Well-being to children's lives and learning. Students will explore a range of ways that health and well-being can be integrated into the primary school curriculum with a specific focus on current issues for Primary teaching and learning in Scotland.

This course explores child development from 0-18 through a theoretical and practical lens. Students undertake a placement a day a week throughout the course to explore their theoretical learning of child development in practice.

Religious and Moral Education is a core part of the curriculum in Scottish Primary Schools. This course will critically consider the role, purposes, status of Religious and Moral Education (RME) in schools, and approaches to effective teaching of this area of the curriculum. Students will consider and engage with key debates around RME in contemporary educational discourse. They will also explore a range of topics and pedagogical approaches to RME education and build skills in lesson planning around this core curricular area.

This course aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of the individual and additional needs of children.  Students will explore factors that give rise to the many different needs of children and different approaches to meeting them in a Primary classroom.

This course aims to provide students with opportunities to develop a broad and integrated knowledge of a range of theories relevant to early child development and explore approaches to the education and care of young children.   Students will also engage critically with factors that affect children’s learning and development such as the physical environment and socio-cultural context. They will explore the importance of play in early learning.

This course examines the links between mental health and education, and the contemporary theoretical and practice approaches to maintaining well-being for students.  Covering policy, pedagogical practice, and mental health interventions both locally and globally this module aims to provide critical insight into how educational context can provide a foundation for lifelong mental health.

Delving into theoretical underpinnings and research findings in counselling and psychotherapy, students explore a range of theories, and how these shape therapeutic practices and guide empirical studies. The course also emphasises applying research in counselling and psychotherapy, teaching students to evaluate research literature, identify gaps, and formulate research inquiries. Ultimately, it aims to produce well-rounded learners who can integrate theory, research, and practice in this field.

This course aims to provide students with opportunities to explore, in practice, the theories and understanding of different approaches to learning, including the play-based approach, in Nursery and P1.

 

This course aims to provide students with opportunities to develop a broad and integrated knowledge of Social Studies in the primary school curriculum. Students will explore research informed approaches to teaching and learning Social Studies in the primary school, and consider the implications of these approaches for classroom practice.  Students will also develop a critical understanding of how the local environment and community can support children’s learning.

This course is designed for students registered on the BA Childhood Practice degree with a focus on the child in the wider community.  The aim of the course is to promote and encourage the use of workplace based activities as the basis for academic study.  This course is designed to meet the continuing professional development of individuals involved with working with children and students must be employed in a relevant educational setting for a minimum of 12.5 hours per week. 

This course is designed for students registered on the BA Childhood Practice degree with a focus on using relevant principles to develop management competencies and understanding of the impact of change on professional roles and responsibilities within an Education and Childcare setting. The aim of the course is to promote and encourage the use of workplace based activities as the basis for academic study. This course is designed to meet the continuing professional development of individuals involved with working with children and students must be employed in a relevant educational setting for a minimum of 12.5 hours per week.

This course is designed for students registered on the BA Childhood Practice degree with a focus on utilising new learning to effect change in an Education and Childcare setting.  The aim of the course is to promote and encourage the use of workplace based activities as the basis for academic study.  This course is designed to meet the continuing professional development of individuals involved with working with children and students must be employed in a relevant educational setting for a minimum of 12.5 hours per week. 

This course is designed for students registered on the BA Childhood Practice degree with a focus on the need for action research to inform practice, the process of research and a small scale research study in the student’s work setting.  The aim of the course is to promote and encourage the use of workplace based activities as the basis for academic study.  This course is designed to meet the continuing professional development of individuals involved with working with children and students must be employed in a relevant educational setting for a minimum of 12.5 hours per week. 

This course aims to provide students with opportunities to develop a broad and integrated knowledge of the expressive arts as a pathway to creative teaching across the curriculum.  Students will consider the value of expressive arts as a medium for teaching and learning in relation to the whole curriculum including what has been called the ‘hidden curriculum’.

This course aims to provide students with creative and innovative opportunities to develop knowledge and understanding of science concepts through modelling of approaches which can be used in the Primary classroom.  Students will also develop an understanding of the challenges of learning science and the pedagogical approaches which will support learners.

This course aims to extend students’ experiences and opportunities for learning in semester one with further opportunities to develop a broad and integrated knowledge of a range of theories relevant to early child development and continue to explore approaches to education and care of young children.   Students will also engage critically with the many factors that affect children’s learning and development looking beyond the physical environment and socio-cultural context to formal and informal services available to children and families, ASN and ACE.

This course aims to provide students with a detailed knowledge of inclusion within the Scottish context. It will explore research on inclusion, policy documents and implementation over time. This will include specific additional support needs (ASN), including ADHD, Specific learning needs, Communication disorders and Social emotional behaviour needs.

This course aims to provide student with opportunities to develop a broad and integrated knowledge of the Expressive Arts in curriculum studies and in therapeutic work.

Teaching on this course is through practical workshops which explore the skills and content of the Expressive Arts can integrate with therapeutic practice.

This course involves students working together in a small group to undertake a consultancy-style project hosted by a micro-business, organisation, or charity. It exposes students to real-world tasks, enabling them to apply their transferable skills, for example project management, problem-solving, communication and leadership, in different contexts. The combination of on-campus employability workshops with project-based learning offers students an opportunity to engage with authentic, collaborative, and interdisciplinary learning to develop key workplace skills.

This course aims to provide students with opportunities to develop a broad and integrated knowledge of inter-disciplinary learning within the Primary School curriculum. Students will explore research informed approaches to inter disciplinary learning in the primary school, and consider the implications of these approaches for classroom practice and for addressing learner differences. Students will have opportunities to explore some ways of teaching and learning across the primary curriculum that are innovative, inter-disciplinary and inclusive. The focus will be on how to integrate areas to plan meaningful, real world, relevant learning experiences.

This course aims to provide students with an opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to undertake a small scale professional enquiry.  Students will explore the purpose of professional enquiry in Scottish education, consider related ethical issues, and be able to design a professional enquiry of their choice. 

This course aims to provide students with an opportunity to develop experience of working with children in the second level of primary school.   Students will critically reflect on their own practice, observe experienced teachers, document their own learning and the learning and progress of children and engage in the whole life of a Primary school to meet SPR.  Students will gather data for a small-scale professional enquiry.       

This course provides a range of learning contexts, delivered both through network days and online learning, to acquire knowledge and understanding of current issues in Scottish Education relevant to Early/First level.

Students will engage with educational theory, policy and literature in order to further underpin the development of professional practice.

This course will support students to develop the skills required to engage with practitioner research and enquiry.  

As part of the PGDE (Primary) programme, this professional placement provides an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge of issues in Scottish Education and pedagogical theory in a practical context within Upper Stages of Primary School.

This course provides a range of learning contexts, delivered both through on-campus and online learning, to acquire knowledge and understanding of current issues in Scottish Education. Students will engage with current policy and pedagogical theory in order to support the development of professional values and skills in preparation for School Experience 1.

This course provides a range of learning opportunities, delivered both through on-campus and online learning, where students will engage with contexts for learning across the curriculum in the Upper Stages of Primary School.

Students will develop a broad knowledge and understanding of the nature of curriculum, including subject specific content and skills. Approaches to planning for learning, teaching and assessment will be explored through core curricular areas, highlighting the importance of Literacy, Numeracy and Health and Wellbeing.

As part of the PGDE (Primary) programme, students will gradually build responsibility for teaching, learning and assessing though initially observing in the classroom context. With support students will then begin to gradually plan, implement and reflect on learning and teaching across the curriculum. The development of professional practice will be supported by engagement with policy, professional dialogue and enquiry.

As part of the PGDE (Secondary) programme, this professional placement provides an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge of issues in Scottish Education and pedagogical theory in a practical context.

As part of the PGDE Secondary programme, this campus-based course provides a variety of learning experiences which develop students’ knowledge and understanding of current issues in Scottish Education. Students will engage with pedagogical theory to support the development of professional values and skills in preparation for School Experience.

Through flexible modes of delivery, meeting the needs of participants, employers and/or professional bodies, the Professional Project course supports students in fostering a commitment to ongoing professional development and practice through processes of active learning. Engagement with this course supports the reconstruction of professional knowledge, involving cyclical processes of action and reflection to improve practice.

This course aims to provide students with an opportunity to further develop their knowledge, understanding and practical skills through experience of working with children in the Early/First Level of primary school.  

As part of the PGDE DLITE Primary programme this blended course provides a variety of learning experiences which develops, students’ knowledge and understanding of current issues in Scottish Education.   Students will engage with pedagogical theory to support the development of professional values and skills in preparation for School experience.

This course provides a range of learning opportunities, delivered both through on-campus and online learning, where students will engage with contexts for learning across the curriculum in the Upper Stages of Primary School.

Students will develop a broad knowledge and understanding of the nature of curriculum, including subject specific content and skills. Approaches to planning for learning, teaching and assessment will be explored through core curricular areas, highlighting the importance of Literacy, Numeracy and Health and Wellbeing.

As part of the PGDE DLITE (Primary) programme, this professional placement provides further opportunity for students to apply and develop their knowledge of issues in Scottish Education and pedagogical theory. Students will develop the skills to support them as a critically responsive practitioner as they transition into their induction year.

This course provides a range of learning contexts, delivered both through on-campus and online learning, to acquire knowledge and understanding of current issues in Scottish Education relevant to Early/First level.

Students will engage with educational theory, policy and literature in order to further underpin the development of professional practice.

This course will support students to develop the skills required to engage with practitioner research and enquiry. 

This course provides a range of learning opportunities, delivered both through on-campus and online learning, where students will engage with inter-disciplinary contexts for learning across the curriculum, including opportunities to explore diversity, global citizenship and sustainability.

Students will develop a broad knowledge and understanding of the nature of the curriculum in the early years, including subject specific content and skills, including the importance of play and active learning. Approaches to planning for learning, teaching and assessment will be explored through core curricular areas.

As part of the PGDE (Primary) programme, this professional placement provides further opportunity for students to apply and develop their knowledge of issues in Scottish Education and pedagogical theory. Students will develop the skills to support them as a critically responsive practitioner as they transition into their induction year.

As part of the PGDE (Primary) programme, this professional placement provides an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge of issues in Scottish Education and pedagogical theory in a practical context within Upper Stages.