MSc Comparative Education and International Development (CEID)

These entry requirements are for the 2026/27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027/28 academic year will be published on 1 July 2026.

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.

International qualifications

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Compulsory courses
Introduction to Comparative Education
Introdution to Education and International Development
Sources of Knowledge: Understanding and Analysing Research Literature
Conceptualising research: Foundations, Assumptions and Praxis
Option courses
You will choose 3 option courses for 60 credits in total.

You can choose from the following CEID option courses:

Education Policy and the Politics of Education (20 credits)
Anthropology of Education and Learning (20 credits)
Comparative Analysis in Education (20 credits)
Education and Conflict (20 credits)
Social Inequalities in Education Worldwide (20 credits)
Global Governance and Education (20 credits)
In place of a CEID option course, you may choose a course offered by Moray House School of Education and Sport or another School within the University. The chosen course must be at level 11 and approved by the programme director.