Learn to navigate and shape the future of digital education.
Join a digital education degree with a difference.
In this flexible online MSc, you’ll go beyond integrating new technologies into your teaching.
You’ll also address the socio-cultural and ethical challenges of emerging technologies, learning to critically evaluate their impact.
At the core of the MSc is a strong emphasis on digital equity, inclusivity, and social justice in education, as well as innovative future-oriented practices.
Whether you’re looking to enhance your current teaching methods, integrate new digital strategies, or reimagine future learning environments, we’ll empower you to be at the forefront of educational innovation.
With expert guidance, you’ll learn to:
- design and implement digital-learning experiences for diverse educational needs
- evaluate the ethical implications of digital tools in educational settings
- develop curricula that incorporate digital literacy, e-learning strategies, and new media
- take unique approaches to imagining educational futures, from posthumanism to global perspectives.
Who can join this online digital education degree?
This distance-learning MSc is for educators, educational professionals, and individuals enthusiastic about advancing their expertise in digital education.
It’s designed as a pathway to advanced roles in educational technology, instructional design, and leadership.
This qualification is valuable for:
- teachers and school administrators seeking to enhance their digital-teaching skills
- education policymakers interested in staying ahead of digital-education trends
- instructional designers aiming to develop innovative learning experiences
- professionals in educational technology or e-learning industries looking to deepen their knowledge
- individuals aspiring to pursue further academic research or career advancement in digital pedagogy.
Choose the University of Aberdeen for online digital education degrees
Fits around full-time work
This degree fits around full-time work, with flexible hours and 24/7 study access.
You’re in expert hands
We’ve been delivering online and distance learning for decades.
20% alumni discount
University of Aberdeen alumni receive 20% off fees for this online degree.
What you’ll study
You’ll study the following courses that make up the 180 credits of this Masters degree.
You can also choose to exit early, earning a:
- Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits), or
- Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits).
How you’ll study
Online learning
This distance-learning digital education degree is delivered flexibly, 100% online.
You can learn with us anywhere, no student visa required, and manage your study hours to suit you.
Your teaching
Teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.
You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of online resources available, including:
- video lectures
- interactive modules
- live online sessions
- readings and assignments
- discussion forums with your tutors and peers
- online access to our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library.
Teaching is delivered through a combination of asynchronous and synchronous learning activities, designed to offer flexibility and engagement.
You’ll be able to engage with content at your own pace, with clear deadlines for assessments.
Experiential learning
Enjoy problem-based and project-based learning that gives you plenty of hands-on experience, ensuring you can apply theoretical knowledge to real-world educational challenges.
Live online teaching
Teaching will feature live online sessions, where you can interact live with your tutors and peers, taking part in real-time discussions. While live attendance is encouraged, it is not mandatory due to the flexible nature of the programme.
Your tutors
This online degree is delivered by our School of Education.
You’ll learn from a team of highly experienced academics, including Senior Lecturers, active researchers, and industry professionals.
You’ll benefit from the expertise of educators who are at the forefront of digital pedagogy research and innovation, including:
Dr Murat Oztok
Murat is Senior Lecturer and active researcher with expertise in digital education, curriculum studies, and critical pedagogy.
His research addresses the sociocultural dimensions of online learning, digital education inequities, and postcolonial perspectives within educational contexts.
With a strong focus on fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in online education, Murat’s work challenges the conventional views of digital spaces and aims to promote more just and accessible learning environments.
View Murat’s profileThis degree is assessed online.
We’ll use several types of online assessment throughout your studies, including:
- multiple-choice quizzes
- short-answer tests
- essays, and
- presentations.
Hours for taught courses
You’ll study part-time, taking 30 credits per term.
30 credits
- Around 300 hours of study and assessment time to complete.
- You’ll study 15 – 20 hours per week per term, plus more at assessment times.
This is an indicative guide to the time required for a student at this level to achieve the learning outcomes. This includes time for independent study, as well as teaching and assessments.
You can largely set your own study hours each week to cover the materials. MyAberdeen is available 24/7, so you can log in and study when it suits you.
Activities at fixed times
There will be some activities scheduled at fixed times each term. These include online meetings with your tutor and assessments with deadlines.
Hours for 60-credit projects
A 60-credit project is around 600 hours of study time.
You’ll carry out your project part-time, spreading the hours you dedicate to it over two terms.
Our first-class support structure will ensure that you aren’t alone in your studies. You’ll have contact with your coordinator via email, MyAberdeen and Microsoft Teams. You can use social media and discussion boards to chat with your fellow students too.
We provide a wide range of services to support you in your studies and beyond:
- Careers and Employability Service
- Disability support
- IT support
- Library support
- Student Support Service – help with finances, stress, wellbeing and non-academic issues
- Student Learning Service – study support, with advice sessions available via phone or Skype
- Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA) – run by students for students
- Toolkit – clever apps and free training that can make your study life easier
Wherever you are in the world, you’ll feel part of our very special Aberdeen learning community.
We’re a member of the Access scheme run by the Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL).
Access study spaces, books and journals in your area
The SCONUL Access scheme allows you, as a University of Aberdeen student, to access books and resources at university libraries across the UK and Ireland, or visit them for a quiet place to study.
You’ll be able to use study spaces, books and journals at over 150 university libraries which belong to the scheme.
Your support team
Our friendly team are here to answer any queries you have before, during and after your studies.
Dr Murat Oztok
Murat is the degree coordinator. He’ll be on hand to answer questions about degree content before you start and to help you throughout your studies.
Rosemond Cochrane
Rosemond is part of the School’s support team. She and her team will be there throughout your studies to answer your non-academic queries.
Get in touch
The online education team is here to answer any questions you have right now about this qualification, or about studying online.
Ask us a questionWhere this will take you
Your MSc qualification
You’ll graduate with a respected MSc in Digital Pedagogy and Educational Futures from the University of Aberdeen, one of the UK’s six ancient universities.
You’ll receive exactly the same degree qualification online as you would on campus. Your degree title will not mention online or distance learning.
Your MSc qualification will be recognised by employers and educational institutions around the world, opening up international opportunities.
Careers in digital education
This degree provides a pathway to advanced roles in educational technology, instructional design, and leadership.
Increased employability in a growing field
As the demand for digital-education professionals rises globally, this degree equips you with sought-after skills in e-learning design, educational technology, and digital pedagogy.
These competencies are critical for advancing in roles within schools, universities, and corporate training environments.
Leadership and innovation skills
This degree fosters your ability to lead digital transformation initiatives, giving you a competitive edge in leadership positions where you can drive innovation in educational practices and technology adoption.
Career paths
This qualification will help you to progress within or towards roles including:
- Digital Learning Designer – equipped to design, implement, and manage online learning experiences using cutting-edge educational technologies
- Educational Technologist – with a deep understanding of digital tools and pedagogical practices, providing technical and strategic support to schools, universities, or other learning organisations
- Instructional Designer – creating educational content and developing online courses that cater to diverse learning needs
- E-Learning Consultant – offering consultancy services to educational institutions, businesses, or NGOs, advising them on how best to integrate digital-learning solutions.
Further study
You can also use this degree as a stepping stone into further academic research, via a PhD or EdD in our School of Education.
Lifelong career support
Our career support doesn’t stop when you graduate.
You have access to our free careers service while you study, and beyond.
- 1:1 appointments
- CV checks
- Interview prep
- Job opportunities
Fees and funding
The fee quoted above is based on you starting your studies with us in the 2024/25 academic year.
We have confirmed that our fees will rise by 5% for the 2025/26 academic year. Our indicative cost includes a 5% fee rise each year.
Pay as you go
This is a pay-as-you-go degree.
You do not have to pay the full tuition fee upfront.
You can spread the cost and pay as you go, term by term.
How it works
- You decide how many credits to study for each term.
- At the start of term, you pay only for the credits you’re taking that term.
- This gives you control over your costs and workload for each term of your degree.
Learning resources
Access to all the books and resources you need are included in your tuition fee. They’ll be made available to you online and you do not have to buy your own copies.
Printing
You may wish to set aside a small budget for printing, depending on how you like to work.
There are several ways you may be able to get help funding your studies:
- Employer sponsorship – we accept full and partial fee payments from sponsors
- Student loans
- Scholarships – search our funding database for scholarships
Find out more about funding options.
Student card
All our students are entitled to a University of Aberdeen student card. This gives you access to a range of student discounts around the city and online.
Entry requirements
MSc, PgDip, PgCert
The minimum entry requirements for this course are:
- a 2:2 UK honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject.
You’re also welcome to apply if you have:
- other relevant qualifications, and
- professional experience with supportive references.
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world.
See the minimum entry requirements above. If you do not have qualifications from the UK, check equivalent qualifications from your country.
Visa requirements
You do not need a student visa to study online with us.
English language requirements
Teaching is delivered in English.
If English is not your first language, use our English requirements checklist to see if you need to provide evidence of your English language skills when you apply.
English language tests and scores
If you do need to provide English language test scores, these are the tests and minimum scores we accept.
These are our Postgraduate Higher requirements.
IELTS Academic, IELTS UKVI Academic, and IELTS Online (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training)
- 6.5 overall
- 5.5 for listening and speaking
- 6.0 for reading and writing
TOEFL iBT and TOEFL iBT Home Edition
- 90 overall
- 17 for listening
- 21 for reading
- 20 for speaking
- 21 for writing
- TOEFL DI code is 0818
Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency
- 176 overall
- 162 for listening and speaking
- 169 for reading and writing
LanguageCert Academic/LanguageCert Academic SELT
- 70 overall
- 60 for listening and speaking
- 65 for reading and writing
LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator (Written and Spoken) – Online / In-centre
- Overall High Pass
- 33 for listening, reading and speaking
- 38 for writing
Oxford ELLT Digital – English Language Level Test Online
- 7.0 overall
- 5.0 for listening and speaking
- 6.0 for reading and writing
PTE Academic (online test not accepted)
- 62 overall
- 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing
Duolingo – tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward
- 120 overall
- 95 for listening and speaking
- 105 for reading and writing
University of Aberdeen English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE)
- Pass
- Valid for one year. Refresher can be offered if out of date
Pre-sessional academic English preparation programmes undertaken at other UK universities
- Pass at an equivalent of 6.5 (C1)
- B2 in all four skills
- Certification must be within one year prior to the start of your course
For more information about language qualifications see our English Language Requirements page.
You apply through our online Applicant Portal. It allows you to upload relevant qualifications and documents.
There is no application fee for our online degrees.
What you need to apply for this degree
- Degree transcript
- Personal statement
- CV / Resume
- References x2
References
You will need two reference letters. One should be from your university discussing your academic ability. If you have been out of education for a long time, you can use your current or most recent employer, or other professional individuals.
Apply now
Start with our step-by-step guide. It explains degree transcripts, what to write in your personal statement, and how to use our Applicant Portal.
You will need access to:
A computer (PC, laptop or Mac) operating on either:
- Windows 10 or later
- macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later.
Most teaching materials are smartphone- and tablet-friendly. But we recommend a proper laptop or desktop for completing assignments comfortably.
Reliable internet access
We recommend:
- a wired connection
- a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps so you can take part fully in live sessions.
Speakers or headphones
- We recommend a headset with built-in microphone and earphones if you’re likely to study in an environment with background noise.
- A webcam is optional, but you may like to use one for some interactive sessions.
Software
We’ll give you access to Office365 applications. This means you can use online versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and install these programs on up to five personal devices.
If your course requires specialist software, we’ll provide you with access to this and a licence that lasts throughout your studies.
See our detailed IT requirements for more information.
Master of Science
180 credits
£6,530
This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over three years, starting in January 2025.
Apply for this programme
- Start month
- January
- INDICATIVE COST
- £6,530
This indicative cost is based on 180 credits of study over three years, starting in January 2025.
Apply via our Applicant Portal