Education

MA Education programme

Your induction to the MA Education programme will commence on the week beginning Monday 15 September 2025. Across the University, this is Welcome Week for all new students starting at the University of Aberdeen. The University has a range of events organised for new students to attend.

During Welcome Week, the School of Education have organised a series of events for new MA1 Education students to attend to support starting your learning journey at university. Details about these events can be found below.

Monday 15 September 2025

MA1 Induction Lecture 

10.00am - 11.00am, MR051, MacRobert Building

This is the first session of your university studies. Information about the MA Primary Education programme, timetable and wider university groups will be shared with you.

MA1 Community Building Workshop

1.00pm - 3.00pm, MacRobert Building

This is a mandatory session to support all new MA1 students with their induction to the MA Primary Education programme. This session will provide a range of interactive experiences to get to know other students and work with our MA4 student teachers. We advise that you bring along a digital device to this session as well as some paper and pens.

Tuesday 16 September 2025

MA1 Support at University Lecture 

10.00am – 11.00am, MR051, MacRobert Building

This lecture aims to provide you with necessary information about how to access different forms of support while undertaking your studies on the MA Primary Education programme. During this lecture, you will hear from some guest speakers and key organisations with regards to the different forms of support available to our students.

MA1 Preparing for your studies Workshop 

12.00pm - 1.30pm, MR051, MacRobert Building

This workshop aims to provide you with some useful tips and guidance as you prepare to start your academic studies. This session will be interactive. We advise that you bring along a notepad and a pen.

MA1 Library Induction

2.00pm - 4.00pm, Sir Duncan Rice Library

The School of Education have partnered with staff in the Sir Duncan Rice Library to plan and prepare an introductory learning session for new students. This session will be active, providing lots of opportunities to meet new peers who are also studying on the MA Education programme. You will also have an opportunity to look at the Teaching Resource Centre which contains a variety of materials for use when on school experience placements.

To find out more information about the MA Education programme, please click on the link below to access a copy of our Induction Handbook. This contains a series of information about key contacts and education courses. 

Counselling Skills

Tuesday 16 September 2025

UG Elective Student's Induction 

10.00am - 12noon, 252, MacRobert Building

ISS Counselling Skills Students Induction 

MacRobert Building MR252, 6pm to 7.30pm

Wednesday 17 September 2025

Counselling Skills returning students – (Online) Induction 

6pm to 7.30pm  – (Online) Induction 

For further details on the Counselling Skills Inductions please email csk@abdn.ac.uk
Course Coordinator – Terpsi Kaltsouni  terpsichori.kaltsouni2@abdn.ac.uk

In addition to your 2 core Education Courses in Term 1 (September – December), you will also undertake 2 elective courses as well. At the University of Aberdeen, there are a wide range of electives choices available for you to select as part of your studies. Information about choosing electives will be sent out to you by the university before you start your studies in September. 

Within the School of Education, we offer a range of electives choices. These have been created to support your professional knowledge, understanding and pedagogical skills as emerging teachers.

Further information about course content, assessments and the range of elective courses available for study can be located on the Course Catalogue page of the university website.

Across the year, your engagement in your academic studies will be assessed in many different ways. Course assessments vary between courses and may include:

• academic essays/ reports
• group/ individual presentations
• participation in tutorial discussions
• School Experience Observations
• Academic posters

Every course will provide you with specific information about the course assessment. This information is included within individual course guides at the start of term.

Please also note that attendance at course lectures and tutorials is closely monitored by staff. Should your attendance drop without good cause, this may result in you attending a meeting with the Course Co-ordinator and Programme Director.

Starting university can be both a daunting but exciting time for you and your families. Please see below for some feedback from last year's MA1 Student Teachers about their time on the programme.

“I've really enjoyed my time on MA1. The range of tutorials and time on school experience has helped me learn more about becoming an effective primary school teacher.”

“In MA1, I really enjoyed the Early Years module. It really helped me find out more about child development which I have had very little experience of when I was on work experience in S6.”

“Having a School Experience placement in MA1 was a really good part of the course. It allowed me to find out more about the role of being a teacher and have an opportunity to work with different children in the class. My Supporter Teacher was very enthusiastic and gave me lots of advice to help me in my studies.”

“All the Tutors in the School of Education are very friendly and approachable. Any questions or queries are always well and answered.”

“My Tutors were very pleasant and were always eager to assist when I needed help.”

“I have found the whole MA1 course to be very engaging and rewarding. It can be challenging at times, but it pushes you to be the best teacher you can be.”

“I would definitely say the staff at the School of Education are a big highlight of the University of Aberdeen.”

“I can't compare to any other universities, but I already feel that studying at UoA will shape me into a strong educator with skills and ethics I may not have picked up at a different university.”

We are looking forward to welcoming you online to continue your learning journey with us.

You can get started now by working through the interactive modules on MyAberdeen course: Getting started at the University of Aberdeen which has been designed to take you through all of the essential information you will need for your student life. 

The programmes within the PGT and Pl portfolio are all unique and responsive to student needs, therefore they start at different dates and have different modes of delivery, please see MyAberdeen for the specifics for your programme.

Dr Charlaine Simpson
Head of Postgraduate Taught and Professional Learning
Charlaine.Simpson@abdn.ac.uk

Administrator
Rosemond Cochrane
Rosemond.cochrane@abdn.ac.uk

Archie Graham
PGR Co-ordinator

Administrator for Research
Email: soe-research@abdn.ac.uk

We are looking forward to welcoming you to campus to start your research journey with us. As a Postgraduate Research student you will have the opportunity to attend a University wide induction in addition to your school induction.

The University of Aberdeen Orientation programme has been designed to take you through all of the essential information you will need for your student life. You can get started now by working through the interactive modules.

There are a series of modules that you can work through before you arrive. Once you have registered you can access the remaining modules and complete your mandatory training programme through your bespoke PGR training platform on our virtual learning environment.

There will be a school welcome event for Postgraduate Research students. This will provide an opportunity to meet Postgraduate coordinators and PhD supervisors. There will also be time to answer any questions you may have.

Further details regarding the welcome event will follow in due course.

As a PGR student you may have the opportunity to audit Master's courses to augment your research training. Please discuss this with your supervisor and check out the postgraduate taught pages above.

The PGR College also offers a comprehensive training programme to support your research journey.

The PGR College training and development programme offers academic, professional, and personal development through a number of training workshops, resources and opportunities, all intended to support the PGR community at the University of Aberdeen.