Comparative Education and International Development (CEID) MSc

The MSc Comparative Education and International Development (CEID) programme provides you with both:

• an academic foundation in the theories, issues, and current debates in comparative education and international development
• the flexibility to follow your professional interests through a wide range of option courses

Exposure to experts across the university and practitioners in the field will allow you to further your networks and consider a multitude of post-graduation possibilities.

You may find the MSc CEID is a suitable qualification if you are interested in:

• research
• higher education internationalisation offices
• civil society and non-governmental organisations
• international organisations
• public sector

In addition, the programme provides a good foundation for those that want to continue their studies and pursue a doctoral degree.

In the programme, we adopt a social justice perspective. Our expert faculty share cross-national and cross-cultural examples from around the world to help you understand how the global and local shape education policy, and the role education plays in various aspects of development, including health, peacebuilding, and citizenship.

At the end of this programme, you will have a more critical understanding of the policies, politics, histories, ideas and cultural practices that influence education.

The programme also builds on the University of Edinburgh and Scotland’s desires to be responsible international actors. It takes advantage of Edinburgh as a capital city by connecting with the Scottish Parliament and local organisations in the CEID field.

The capstone approach to the dissertation allows you to apply to complete placement-based dissertations with local, regional, or global organisations.

As a student in the MSc CEID Programme, you have the opportunity to participate in the dynamic CEID Community based at the Moray House School of Education and Sport. Beyond the MSc CEID programme, you benefit from:

• access to the CEID Research Group which brings together over 50 researchers across the university to learn from and share their research in the CEID field
  • CEID Research Group
• the ability to join the CEID Student Society – one of the few student-run societies focused on the graduate student experience, holding regular social, academic, and networking events

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 July 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant discipline such as Education, Demography, Global Studies, Public Policy, Regional Studies, Social Anthropology, Social Policy, Sociology, Liberal Studies, Political Science, International Relations, International Development, International Studies, Politics, Human Geography, Social Research, Economics, Public Health, Population Studies, Environmental Studies, or Environmental Sustainability. We may consider other subject areas if you have significant relevant work experience or a masters degree in a relevant subject area.

In exceptional cases, we may also consider your application if you have substantial relevant work experience in place of academic qualifications; please contact us to check before you apply.

Entrance to our MSc programmes is competitive. Relevant work experience or the completion of a masters degree is not required but is given substantial consideration and may increase your chances of acceptance. Preference will be given to those with qualifications above the minimum requirements, or those who have a competitive combinations of undergraduate, relevant masters degree, and substantial relevant work experience.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 65 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 7 in each component.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Trinity ISE, or Oxford ELLT test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the programme begins, regardless of your nationality. (Revised 14 January 2025 to include Oxford ELLT.)

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

As an academic programme, this degree has no fixed career trajectory, opening multiple, potential possibilities.

You may find the MSc CEID a suitable qualification if you are seeking a career in:

• research
• higher education internationalisation offices
• civil society and non-governmental organisations
• international organisations
• the public sector

In addition, the programme provides a good basis for you to continue your studies and pursue a doctoral degree.