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Interdisciplinary Futures

Course details
  • MA (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 08/09/2025
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Central area campus

Course summary

Edinburgh Futures Institute’s undergraduate degree programme places interdisciplinary learning and complex challenges at the centre of the learning experience.

Our approach begins with profound questions about the world we live in, questions about sustainability, inequality, global health, and conflict.

A sustainable, ethical and equitable future for society and the planet cannot be addressed within a single discipline or be superficially solved or fixed.

An approach that brings together people with diverse skills, experiences, interests and worldviews will help us create better futures and address personal, local and global challenges together.

Our approach equips you with the teamwork, critical and creative skills most valued by employers. You will:

  • Develop the confidence, knowledge, and skills to work, live, and make a difference in a rapidly changing world.

  • Gain key employability skills and collaborative experiences with different communities and partners “ preparing you for a career of your choice.

  • Access leading research and award-winning teaching from a wide range of disciplines and subjects at the University of Edinburgh.

  • Benefit from a choice of courses across subject areas, dedicated student support, and opportunities for personal development.

We feature a high level of support and guidance that is a core part of teaching and learning while ensuring that you will benefit from a self-directed approach.

This programme is a launching pad for developing confidence, taking risks, exploring uncertainty and challenges and applying critical thinking.

Reputation, relevance and employability

Learn to apply your knowledge to complex problems, and your skills and insight toward building better futures.

This degree programme, from the University of Edinburgh’s new Futures Institute, is designed so you can connect with the communities, businesses, employers and environments you will find in the professional world.

This means you are able to develop applied and practical skills that are valued by employers and an incredible network of support that will help you on your journey.

Our MA Interdisciplinary Futures moves from foundational to advanced levels of knowledge and research while giving you the skills required for interdisciplinary, team-based learning that is critical to modern workplaces and lives.

How to apply

This course has limited vacancies, and is no longer accepting applications from some students. See the list below for where you normally live, to check if you're eligible to apply.
  • EU has vacancies
  • does not have vacancies
  • does not have vacancies
  • International has vacancies
  • Scotland has vacancies
  • Northern Ireland does not have vacancies
  • Republic of Ireland does not have vacancies

Apply by
29 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
FIA1
Institution code:
E56
Campus name:
Central area campus
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff

Not accepted

A level

ABB
ABB. Required subjects: A levels: No specific A Level subjects required. GCSEs: English at C or 4.

Scottish Higher

ABBB
ABBB by end of S5 or AABB/ABBBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: Highers: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: English at C.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

34 points
34 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: English at 5.

Detailed entry requirements, including typical offer levels, and information about other qualifications we accept, are available on the University of Edinburgh’s website. You’ll also find important information on how to apply.

You must submit a fully completed UCAS application that includes details of the qualifications you are taking, including full predicted grades for qualifications not yet completed, your personal statement and your reference.

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

-

A level - ABB

Required subjects: A levels: No specific A Level subjects required. GCSEs: English at C or 4.

Scottish Higher - ABBB

ABBB by end of S6. BBB must be achieved in one year of S4-S6. Required subjects: Highers: no specific Higher subjects required. National 5s: English at C.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 34 points

34 points with 655 at HL. Required subjects: HL: no specific subjects required. SL: English at 5.

Find out more about minimum qualification requirements for this course.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5Total 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each component.We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
TOEFL (iBT)92Total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
Cambridge English AdvancedTotal 176 with at least 162 in each component.
Cambridge English ProficiencyTotal 176 with at least 162 in each component.
Trinity ISEISE II with distinctions in all four components.
PTE Academic65Total 65 with at least 54 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies. For SQA, GCSE and IB students, unless a higher level is specified in the stated entry requirements, a pass is required in English at the following grades or higher: SQA National 5 at C; SQA Standard Grade at 3; SQA Intermediate 1 at A; SQA Intermediate 2 at C; GCSE/IGSCE at C or 4; Level 2 Certificate Grade C or IB Standard Level at 5 (English ab initio is not accepted for entry). 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 degree you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL or Trinity ISE test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the degree begins, regardless of your nationality.

Full details of our English language requirements can be found on our website: https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/entry-requirements/english-language

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

The University of Edinburgh welcomes students from the UK and all over the world. We accept a wide range of qualifications and our policies support students with diverse backgrounds and experience. UCAS entry grade data is currently not available for our degrees but we publish admissions statistics on our website. We also provide information on widening access offers and entry requirements.

Learn more on the The University of Edinburgh website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not available

Historical entry grades data is not currently available for The University of Edinburgh - we are working with them to try and make it available soon - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
Channel Islands£9535Year 1
Republic of Ireland£9535Year 1
Scotland£1820Year 1
EU£28000Year 1
International£28000Year 1
England£9535Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535Year 1
Wales£9535Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Scottish students must apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for payment of their tuition fees.

EU On 9th July 2020 the decision was made by the Scottish Government to end free university tuition for European Union (EU) students starting in 2021-22. Funding policy for EU nationals and associated groups starting a course of study in academic year 2022-23 or later will be in line with international fees.

Full time international and EU students will pay a fixed annual fee rate for the duration of their programme

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