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Explore how and what you will learn on your selected programme and how it connects with the big challenges of our time.
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How you’ll learn at Edinburgh Futures Institute
At Edinburgh Futures Institute, your learning experience is designed to be flexible, future-facing, and truly global. You’ll learn in new ways, connect with people from around the world, and shape your own path through your programme.
Our Fusion model blends real-time teaching with flexible, self-paced activities. You’ll take part in:
- synchronous sessions: live, scheduled classes where on-campus and online students collaborate in real time (usually via Microsoft Teams)
- asynchronous activities: tasks and resources you complete in your own time, designed to help you engage deeply and reflectively
You’ll be part of a learning community that is connected across time zones, locations, and disciplines.
Take a 360-degree tour of a fusion classroom
Fusion Familiarisation
Many Edinburgh Futures Institute courses follow a five-week intensive model, designed for focused, flexible learning that fits around other commitments. All intensives blend live teaching, self-paced activities, and applied work, but the structure varies depending on whether a course is worth 10 or 20 credits.
Here’s how each format typically runs:
10-Credit Intensive Courses
- weeks 1 and 2: pre-intensive activities, self-paced prep, readings, and small group tasks
- week 3: two consecutive full-day intensive sessions (9am–5pm, Edinburgh time)
- weeks 4 and 5: follow-up work, assessment tasks, reflection, or applied project work
20-Credit Intensive Courses
- weeks 1 and 2: fusion-style live sessions (typically 3 hours each)
- weeks 3 and 4: one full-day intensive workshop per week (9am–5pm, Edinburgh time)
- week 5: post-intensive activities, assessment, project development, or reflection
Courses may overlap, so in any given week, you might be preparing for one intensive while reflecting on another.
Collaboration is central to teaching at the Futures Institute. You’ll regularly work in small groups that bring together students from diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and locations. Our approach is designed to help you develop skills in communication, teamwork, and co-creation, skills you’ll use across sectors from creative industries to data science, policy, and beyond.
Edinburgh Futures Institute’s postgraduate MSc programmes are designed to be project-led
– they include the requirement to complete a project, which you will work on over the period
of your studies. This project will be in a topic or challenge area you care about and will offer
you a chance to develop your thinking in a structured way over an extended period of time.
For most programmes you can choose to define your own project.
Your project could be:
- shaped by your professional interests
- developed in partnership with your employer or one of Edinburgh Futures Institutes’ industry, government, or community collaborators
- aligned to one of our research themes or initiatives.
Challenge projects are interdisciplinary by nature, and we encourage you to explore bold ideas that connect data, creativity, and purpose.
Find out about Student Challenge projectsEvery MSc is built around four core components:
- EFI shared core: weekly, interdisciplinary courses taken by students across all EFI programmes.
- programme core: courses specific to your MSc, typically delivered in the five-week intensive model (see the structure above for 10- vs 20-credit formats).
- electives: a chance to personalise your studies. You can choose from a wide range of future-facing topics, including options from across the EFI portfolio. The list evolves each year to reflect emerging themes and student interests.
- final project + KIPP: a 40-credit capstone project shaped around your interests, and a 20-credit KIPP course (Knowledge Integration & Project Planning) to support you throughout.
You’ll also find full course listings for each programme and credit information in the DRPS.
Important: all courses listed at the link below are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change for academic year 2025/26.
View all programme coursesStudying at Edinburgh Futures Institute means joining a connected, global learning community, with the support you need to thrive. Whether you’re learning online or on campus, you’ll have access to:
- academic support: you’ll be taught by academics who are also researchers, bringing current thinking and real-world insight into the classroom. While styles and formats vary, teaching at Edinburgh is shaped by intellectual curiosity and a commitment to student learning.
- student advisers: dedicated support for your wellbeing, progress, and practical questions throughout your degree.
- technical help: whether you’re joining from campus or online, there’s support available for the digital platforms you’ll use.
- peer community: many courses include group work, and there are opportunities to connect with classmates across EFI through shared core courses and student-led initiatives.
You’ll also have access to the wider University of Edinburgh’s support network, including:
- disability and inclusion support
- careers service
- wellbeing support
- IT and library services (including digital access for online students)
MSc Creative Industries
This programme is designed for proactive and motivated students passionate about tackling real-world issues. You’ll graduate equipped to work on complex problems that require critical thinking, novel approaches, teamwork, and collaboration. This programme is for recent graduates and career professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds, areas of study and skill sets.
Dr Giovanni Formilan is a Lecturer in Creative Industries in the University of Edinburgh Business School.
Find out more
“One of the most exciting and distinctive aspects of the Creative Industries programme is our partnering with cultural and creative organisations on live case studies to solve real world challenges so that students are able to develop their leadership and collaborative skills”
Giovanni Formilan, Programme Director, Creative Industries
This programme combines shared core courses, programme-specific content, and flexible electives. Courses are delivered using EFI’s distinctive Fusion approach, which blends live sessions with self-paced learning. Many are taught in a five-week intensive format. Read the Learning Experience section for more information.
The course list linked below reflects what is currently planned for the 2025/26 academic year. Our portfolio evolves regularly to reflect new thinking, research insights, and the challenges shaping our world. Being part of EFI means joining a learning community shaped by curiosity, change, and the world ahead.
Programme pathway
If you’ve been offered a place on the full-time MSc, you can view the core structure and courses :
Other EFI study options
Studying part-time, or taking a different route? Use the full course directory to explore all available EFI pathways:
The challenges of the modern world and our rapidly changing environment demand new ways of working that can disrupt the status quo and challenge established ways of thinking.
Studying the MSc Creative Industries at Edinburgh Futures Institute will help you develop:
- Data skills: learn to collect, manage, use and analyse data ethically. Note, this programme does not require pre-existing data skills or qualifications.
- Key concepts and principles of the creative industries and a diverse range of applications, from local to global scale.
- How creative organisations and businesses can use data to generate new opportunities and strategies and add value.
- Professional and leadership skills: you will work directly with world-class cultural organisations in the City of Edinburgh.
- Creative problem solving and specialist skills: use innovative, collaborative, analytic, and creative approaches to communicating and understanding issues, and developing creative opportunities, products and solutions.
- Cross-disciplinary insights: to help you approach challenges and issues from multiple perspectives.
Our distinctive postgraduate programmes and interdisciplinary approach benefit graduates in a number of ways that support future employability and development.
The Creative Industries programme provides core knowledge and ability – for example in marketing, digital strategy and consumer and audience engagement – that you will be able to apply to real, live challenges faced by the cultural sector.
It will prepare you to take up leadership and management roles in a variety of creative and cultural sectors such as:
- the creative industries
- arts management
- cultural heritage
- cultural tourism
For mid-career professionals, the programme offers the opportunity to expand, deepen and apply knowledge to new contexts, strengthening existing skills and developing new approaches which can be applied in professional work.
The core elements of the programme address the data and higher-order skills we know are important for the future of work, confident and critical citizenship, and a thriving, just society.
MSc Cultural Heritage Futures
This programme is designed for proactive and motivated students passionate about tackling real-world issues. You’ll graduate equipped to work on complex problems that require critical thinking, novel approaches, teamwork, and collaboration. This programme is for recent graduates and career professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds, areas of study and skill sets.
Dr Arturo Rey da Silva is a Lecturer in Cultural Heritage; a maritime archaeologist and heritage researcher in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology.
Find out more
Dr Chiara Bonacchi is a Chancellor’s Fellow in Heritage, Text and Data Mining and Senior Lecturer in Heritage in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology.
Find out more
“Our degree draws from world-leading expertise in cultural heritage futures and offers students the possibility to connect with the Heritage Minds Lab. The Lab investigates new, data-rich approaches to heritage research and practice and explores how encounters with the past shape contemporary values, decision-making and future-thinking in an increasingly digital world.”
This programme combines shared core courses, programme-specific content, and flexible electives. Courses are delivered using EFI’s distinctive Fusion approach, which blends live sessions with self-paced learning. Many are taught in a five-week intensive format. Read the Learning Experience section for more information.
The course list linked below reflects what is currently planned for the 2025/26 academic year. Our portfolio evolves regularly to reflect new thinking, research insights, and the challenges shaping our world. Being part of EFI means joining a learning community shaped by curiosity, change, and the world ahead.
Programme pathway
If you’ve been offered a place on the full-time MSc, you can view the core structure and courses :
Other EFI study options
Studying part-time, or taking a different route? Use the full course directory to explore all available EFI pathways:
The challenges of the modern world and our rapidly changing environment demand new ways of working that can disrupt the status quo and challenge established ways of thinking.
Studying the MSc Cultural Heritage Futures at Edinburgh Futures Institute will help you develop:
- Data skills: learn to collect, manage, use and analyse data ethically. Note, this programme does not require pre-existing data skills or qualifications.
- Contemporary concepts and principles of understanding heritage, conservation and culture and a diverse range of applications, from local to global scale.
- How to use data to help cultural and heritage organisations to decolonise collections and sites and contribute to local economies.
- Professional and collaborative skills: working with heritage organisations in Scotland, the UK and internationally.
- Creative problem solving and specialist skills: use innovative, collaborative, analytic, and creative approaches to communicating and understanding issues, and developing creative opportunities and solutions.
- Cross-disciplinary insights: to help you approach challenges and issues from multiple perspectives.
Our distinctive postgraduate programmes and interdisciplinary approach benefit graduates in a number of ways that support future employability and development.
The MSc Cultural Heritage Futures will open a premium route to a PhD in Heritage or in other related subject areas. The programme will also position students to work as private consultants, or employed officers, researchers, and managers for local, national and international heritage bodies and agencies.
The core elements of the programme address the data and higher-order skills we know are important for the future of work, confident and critical citizenship, and a thriving, just society.
Potential career roles could be held in areas such as:
- heritage governance
- interpretation, public engagement and outreach
- digital curation, digital policy
- conservation policy, and policy research and evaluation
Possible employers may include:
- universities and research organisations
- national and international heritage management agencies
- heritage sites and museums
- archives and libraries
- archaeological units
- cultural and social policy consultancies and charities (e.g. NESTA)
- local and national governments
MSc Data and Artificial Intelligence Ethics
This programme is designed for proactive and motivated students passionate about tackling real-world issues. You’ll graduate equipped to work on complex problems that require critical thinking, novel approaches, teamwork, and collaboration. This programme is for recent graduates and career professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds, areas of study and skill sets.
Professor Shannon Vallor is the Baillie Gifford Chair in the Ethics of Data and Artificial Intelligence at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, she is also a Professor in the School of Philosophy. She is Director of the Centre for Technomoral Futures, and co-Director of the BRAID (Bridging Responsible AI Divides) programme.
Find out more
“Our interdisciplinary degree draws from the University’s world-leading expertise in the ethics of data and AI. It leverages the research power of the Futures Institute’s Centre for Technomoral Futures, which promotes sustainable, just and responsible technology and meets the growing demand for ethical skills in the AI and data workforce.”
This programme combines shared core courses, programme-specific content, and flexible electives. Courses are delivered using EFI’s distinctive Fusion approach, which blends live sessions with self-paced learning. Many are taught in a five-week intensive format. Read the Learning Experience section for more information.
The course list linked below reflects what is currently planned for the 2025/26 academic year. Our portfolio evolves regularly to reflect new thinking, research insights, and the challenges shaping our world. Being part of EFI means joining a learning community shaped by curiosity, change, and the world ahead.
Programme pathway
If you’ve been offered a place on the full-time MSc, you can view the core structure and courses :
Other EFI study options
Studying part-time, or taking a different route? Use the full course directory to explore all available EFI pathways:
The challenges of the modern world and our rapidly changing environment demand new ways of working that can disrupt the status quo and challenge established ways of thinking.
Studying the MSc Data and Artificial Intelligence Ethics at Edinburgh Futures Institute will help you develop:
- Data skills: learn to collect, manage, use and analyse data ethically. Note, this programme does not require pre-existing data skills or qualifications.
- Complex cognitive and collaborative skills: what you need to become knowledgeable and competent in responsible and ethical data and AI development, use and governance.
- Understanding of the ethical, legal, policy and design values, principles and practices that enable responsible use of data and AI.
- Practical experience: you will work and communicate about AI and data ethics with other stakeholders and practitioners across sectors, disciplines and publics
- How ethics intersects with other forms of technology governance such as law, policy, design and professional standards. And how ethics relates to broader political and cultural contestations of algorithmic, corporate and state power and influence
- Creative problem solving and specialist skills: use innovative, collaborative, analytic, and creative approaches to communicating and understanding issues, and developing creative opportunities and solutions.
- Cross-disciplinary insights: to help you approach challenges and issues from multiple perspectives.
Our distinctive postgraduate programmes and interdisciplinary approach benefit graduates in a number of ways that support future employability and development.
The MSc Data and Artificial Intelligence Ethics programme has the potential to fill a substantial skills gap in the existing labour market that is increasingly recognised by institutions; namely, the need for skills in ethical design, development and governance of emerging AI and data-intensive technologies. Many organisations struggle to manage the ethical risks associated with these technologies, which call for new expertise and skillsets beyond legal compliance or business risk management in the conventional sense.
Depending on their other skillsets (for example in data science, machine learning, health, finance, law, policy or business), students who have acquired this degree are likely to find expanded career opportunities across the public, private and third sectors, in areas such as:
- policy
- compliance
- privacy
- trust and safety
- information services and security
- responsible innovation
- product management
- regulatory oversight
- non-profit research and advocacy
MSc Data, Inequality and Society
This programme is designed for proactive and motivated students passionate about tackling real-world issues. You’ll graduate equipped to work on complex problems that require critical thinking, novel approaches, teamwork, and collaboration. This programme is for recent graduates and career professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds, areas of study and skill sets.
Dr Ian Russell is a Lecturer in African Studies and International Development in the School of Social and Political Science.
Find out more
Dr Marlee Tichnor is a Chancellors Fellow in the School of Social and Politcal Science and a medical anthropologist.
Find out more
In this programme we explore how data relations are fundamentally power relations. Asking: who gets to decide what metrics and forms of data collection are used? Whose data is collected and why? Who is excluded or misrepresented?”
Dr Ian Russell, Programme Director, Data, Inequality and Society
This programme combines shared core courses, programme-specific content, and flexible electives. Courses are delivered using EFI’s distinctive Fusion approach, which blends live sessions with self-paced learning. Many are taught in a five-week intensive format. Read the Learning Experience section for more information.
The course list linked below reflects what is currently planned for the 2025/26 academic year. Our portfolio evolves regularly to reflect new thinking, research insights, and the challenges shaping our world. Being part of EFI means joining a learning community shaped by curiosity, change, and the world ahead.
Programme pathway
If you’ve been offered a place on the full-time MSc, you can view the core structure and courses :
Other EFI study options
Studying part-time, or taking a different route? Use the full course directory to explore all available EFI pathways:
The challenges of the modern world and our rapidly changing environment demand new ways of working that can disrupt the status quo and challenge established ways of thinking.
Studying the MSc Data, Inequality and Society at Edinburgh Futures Institute will help you develop:
- Data skills: learn to collect, manage, use and analyse data ethically and critically. Note, this programme does not require pre-existing data skills or qualifications.
- Key concepts and principles of how we build and sustain more equitable societies, from local to global scale.
- Professional and collaborative skills: to help you work efficiently on complex projects of inclusion, together with teams that are diverse and values-driven.
- Creative problem solving and specialist skills: use innovative, collaborative, analytic, and creative approaches to developing solutions to improve the inclusiveness of programmes, projects, and policies, across sectors.
- Cross-disciplinary insights: to help you approach and analyse challenges and issues from multiple perspectives and different viewpoints in order to design more inclusive solutions.
Our distinctive postgraduate programmes and interdisciplinary approach benefit graduates in a number of ways that support future employability and development.
All students undertaking the MSc Data, Inequality and Society will develop a solid understanding of data-driven decision-making in international and local development. They will possess the analytic, research, and creative skills to approach challenges in new, robust, and data-informed ways.
Recent graduates will be well placed to enter the job market as ‘translators’ between data scientists and people operating at strategic or operational levels. Likely roles include private, public, and third sector project, programme, and policy advisers, analysts, and coordinators.
For students with prior professional experience, the programme will support career development (and transition) as leaders in new or existing projects with a strong data and/or inclusion aspect.
The core elements of the programme address the data and higher-order skills we know are important for the future of work, confident and critical citizenship, and a thriving, just society.
MSc Education Futures
This programme is designed for proactive and motivated students passionate about tackling real-world issues. You’ll graduate equipped to work on complex problems that require critical thinking, novel approaches, teamwork, and collaboration. This programme is for recent graduates and career professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds, areas of study and skill sets.
Dr Seongsook Choi, is a Senior Lecturer and Head of Institute of Education, Community and Society in the Moray House School of Education and Sport.
Find out more
“On this programme we are really thinking about how education is shaped by society and politics, by culture, by climate crisis, by all kinds of factors that mean that education will look quite different in the future than it does now.”
Dr Seongsook Choi, Programme Director, Education Futures
This programme combines shared core courses, programme-specific content, and flexible electives. Courses are delivered using EFI’s distinctive Fusion approach, which blends live sessions with self-paced learning. Many are taught in a five-week intensive format. Read the Learning Experience section for more information.
The course list linked below reflects what is currently planned for the 2025/26 academic year. Our portfolio evolves regularly to reflect new thinking, research insights, and the challenges shaping our world. Being part of EFI means joining a learning community shaped by curiosity, change, and the world ahead.
Programme pathway
If you’ve been offered a place on the full-time MSc, you can view the core structure and courses :
Other EFI study options
Studying part-time, or taking a different route? Use the full course directory to explore all available EFI pathways:
The challenges of the modern world and our rapidly changing environment demand new ways of working that can disrupt the status quo and challenge established ways of thinking.
Studying the MSc Education Futures at Edinburgh Futures Institute will help you develop:
- Data skills: learn to collect, manage, use and analyse data ethically and critically. Note, this programme does not require pre-existing data skills or qualifications.
- Critical concepts, methods and principles: to examine and understand education’s role in shaping and responding to global challenges and social, political, cultural, and environmental change, as well as how global processes are shaping education.
- Links between education and data-driven innovation: explore the geographies, mobilities, values, ethics, and measurement that accompany innovation, resistance to, and reliance on data.
- Creative problem solving and specialist skills: use innovative, collaborative, analytic, data-led and creative approaches to understand and explore possible futures for formal and informal education.
- Cross-disciplinary insights: to help you approach and analyse challenges and issues from multiple perspectives and different viewpoints in order to address societal challenges relating to education futures.
Our distinctive postgraduate programmes and interdisciplinary approach benefit graduates in a number of ways that support future employability and development.
The MSc Education Futures programme is aimed at both professionals and recent graduates who work in, or are seeking to build a career in, either formal or informal learning and training sectors. Future opportunities may include education-related roles in:
- higher education
- further education
- community and cultural settings
- schools
- training organisations
- private, government and voluntary sectors
Whether your role or interest is in policy, learning design, teaching and delivery, or educational research, you will find courses and modes of study that will help you develop your career, and position you for roles in a range of education and learning organisations in a range of sectors.
The programme will be of particular interest to those who are preparing for or beginning leadership roles where a focus on developing future educational provision, policy, technologies and practices is key.
The core elements of the programme address the data and higher-order skills we know are important for the future of work, confident and critical citizenship, and a thriving, just society.
MSc Future Governance
This programme is designed for proactive and motivated students passionate about tackling real-world issues. You’ll graduate equipped to work on complex problems that require critical thinking, novel approaches, teamwork, and collaboration. This programme is for recent graduates and career professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds, areas of study and skill sets.
Professor Cristian Vaccari is Chair in Future Governance, Public Policy and Technology in the School of Social and Political Science.
Find out more
“New technologies and data sources are revolutionising how public and private institutions make decisions that impact our daily lives and the future of our planet. The Future Governance programme equips students with a distinctive skill set to navigate and shape governance in this rapidly evolving landscape, preparing them to lead in a world where change is the only constant.”
Professor Cristian Vaccari, Programme Director, Future Governance
This programme combines shared core courses, programme-specific content, and flexible electives. Courses are delivered using EFI’s distinctive Fusion approach, which blends live sessions with self-paced learning. Many are taught in a five-week intensive format. Read the Learning Experience section for more information.
The course list linked below reflects what is currently planned for the 2025/26 academic year. Our portfolio evolves regularly to reflect new thinking, research insights, and the challenges shaping our world. Being part of EFI means joining a learning community shaped by curiosity, change, and the world ahead.
Programme pathway
If you’ve been offered a place on the full-time MSc, you can view the core structure and courses :
Other EFI study options
Studying part-time, or taking a different route? Use the full course directory to explore all available EFI pathways:
The challenges of the modern world and our rapidly changing environment demand new ways of working that can disrupt the status quo and challenge established ways of thinking.
Studying the MSc Future Governance at Edinburgh Futures Institute will help you develop:
- Data skills: learn to collect, manage, use and analyse data ethically and critically. Note, this programme does not require pre-existing data skills or qualifications.
- Critical concepts, methods and principles: to help you examine and understand the role of data, new technologies, and the need for methodological excellence in shaping future governance and democracy.
- Data literacy and confidence: explore how to handle new and big data sources and learn to confidently identify the appropriate technologies, data and methods to solve problems, understand and support data-driven decision and policy making.
- Creative problem solving and specialist skills: use innovative, collaborative, analytic, data-led and creative approaches to understand and explore possible futures for governance in professional and team-based settings.
- Cross-disciplinary insights: to help you approach and analyse challenges and issues from multiple perspectives and different viewpoints in order to address key challenges and communicate in range of contexts.
Our distinctive postgraduate programmes and interdisciplinary approach benefit graduates in a number of ways that support future employability and development.
Future Governance graduates will have a robust understanding of data-driven decision-making in governance processes. They will be ready to make positive change in the decision-making environment. The core elements of the programme address the data and higher-order skills we know are important for the future of work, confident and critical citizenship, and a thriving, just society.
Our data-literate graduates will be well placed to offer the cross-disciplinary skills that are in demand from decision-makers and researchers in the public, private and third sectors. We expect our graduates to take up posts or to seek promotion in these sectors, equipped to carve out a niche in the rapidly transforming field of governance.
For mid-career professionals from the private, public, and third sectors, the programme will support them to become leaders on new or existing governance projects with a strong data aspect or to transition to such careers and/or seek promotions within their own institutions.
MSc Future Infrastructure, Sustainability and Climate Change
This programme is designed for proactive and motivated students passionate about tackling real-world issues. You’ll graduate equipped to work on complex problems that require critical thinking, novel approaches, teamwork, and collaboration. This programme is for recent graduates and career professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds, areas of study and skill sets.
Sean Smith is a Professor of Future Construction and Director of the Centre for Future Infrastructure, within the School of Engineering and Edinburgh Futures Institute. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Acoustics, Fellow of the RSA and an Honorary Fellow of RIAS.
Find out more
“This programme is built around interdisciplinary thinking, developing creative and critical approaches to building and adapting future infrastructure, recognising the data skills needed to address complex social challenges, and the application of knowledge to live projects.”
Professor Sean Smith, Programme Director, Future Infrastructure
This programme combines shared core courses, programme-specific content, and flexible electives. Courses are delivered using EFI’s distinctive Fusion approach, which blends live sessions with self-paced learning. Many are taught in a five-week intensive format. Read the Learning Experience section for more information.
The course list linked below reflects what is currently planned for the 2025/26 academic year. Our portfolio evolves regularly to reflect new thinking, research insights, and the challenges shaping our world. Being part of EFI means joining a learning community shaped by curiosity, change, and the world ahead.
Programme pathway
If you’ve been offered a place on the full-time MSc, you can view the core structure and courses :
Other EFI study options
Studying part-time, or taking a different route? Use the full course directory to explore all available EFI pathways:
The challenges of the modern world and our rapidly changing environment demand new ways of working that can disrupt the status quo and challenge established ways of thinking.
Studying the MSc Future Infrastructure, Sustainability and Climate Change at Edinburgh Futures Institute will help you develop:
- Critical concepts, methods and principles: understand possible climate futures, climate change, and adaptation challenges for infrastructure and society and the future policy and innovations required to address them.
- Knowledge and confidence: explore ethical dilemmas, social responsibility, and sustainability issues and understand related adaptation and resilience requirements for careers in industry, government or public sectors.
- Creative and collaborative problem-solving skills: apply analytical, data-informed, creative and innovative thinking to complex climate infrastructure challenges and develop appropriate sustainable solutions.
- Cross-disciplinary insight and analysis: confidently address challenges and issues from multiple perspectives, viewpoints, and sources within infrastructure and related sectors, understand the significance of transport, energy and society, planning and development for net zero.
- Core data skills: learn to collect, manage and analyse data ethically and critically. Note, this programme does not require pre-existing data skills or qualifications.
Our distinctive postgraduate programmes and interdisciplinary approach benefit graduates in a number of ways that support future employability and development.
Global and national activities to deliver more sustainable infrastructure and address climate change challenges are creating exciting career opportunities in industry (local to multi-national), local and regional government, NGOs and international bodies and organisations.
The core elements of the programme address the data and higher-order skills we know are important for the future of work, confident and critical citizenship, and a thriving, just society. The multidisciplinary nature of the learning and core courses of this MSc mean graduates have a wide range of skills to address the challenges of the modern world and our rapidly changing environment.
Graduates with essential skills from this MSc Future Infrastructure, Sustainability and Climate Change will be well equipped to enter the job market and meet the needs of this growing and vital area. Careers may include roles in areas such as:
- policy
- innovation
- consultancy
- legal
- banking and investment
- economic development
- planning, delivery, and critical infrastructure
MSc Narrative Futures: Art, Data and Society
This programme is designed for proactive and motivated students passionate about tackling real-world issues. You’ll graduate equipped to work on complex problems that require critical thinking, novel approaches, teamwork, and collaboration. This programme is for recent graduates and career professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds, areas of study and skill sets.
Dr Lynda Clark is a Lecturer in Creative Writing at Edinburgh Futures Institute.
Find out more
“Our programme looks back on narrative traditions in order to look forward to new storytelling methods and technologies. By unpicking narratives found in politics, in economic data, in the world around us, we can reshape the stories we tell about issues that matter to us and to society.”
Dr Lynda Clark, Programme Director, Narrative Futures: Art, Data, Society
This programme combines shared core courses, programme-specific content, and flexible electives. Courses are delivered using EFI’s distinctive Fusion approach, which blends live sessions with self-paced learning. Many are taught in a five-week intensive format. Read the Learning Experience section for more information.
The course list linked below reflects what is currently planned for the 2025/26 academic year. Our portfolio evolves regularly to reflect new thinking, research insights, and the challenges shaping our world. Being part of EFI means joining a learning community shaped by curiosity, change, and the world ahead.
Programme pathway
If you’ve been offered a place on the full-time MSc, you can view the core structure and courses :
Other EFI study options
Studying part-time, or taking a different route? Use the full course directory to explore all available EFI pathways:
The challenges of the modern world and our rapidly changing environment demand new ways of working that can disrupt the status quo and challenge established ways of thinking.
Studying the MSc Narrative Futures: Art, Data and Society at Edinburgh Futures Institute will help you develop:
- Data skills: learn to collect, manage, use and analyse data ethically and critically. Note, this programme does not require pre-existing data skills or qualifications.
- Critical concepts, methods and principles: to understand story generation and interpretation across a range of traditional and digital creative media (including AI), and the uses and abuses of narrative in various spheres of society and life.
- Develop creative practice and data skills: to analyse existing narratives and the development of new narratives. You will use different disciplinary understandings and methods to gain insights into the possibilities of storytelling and narrative.
- Data literacy and confidence: explore the frontier of technological developments in areas such as artificial intelligence and data analysis.
- Creative problem solving and specialist skills: use innovative, collaborative, analytic, data-led and creative approaches to understand and explore how narratives are transformed and used.
Our distinctive postgraduate programmes and interdisciplinary approach benefit graduates in a number of ways that support future employability and development.
Narrative skills are in greater demand than ever before, and not just in the traditional ‘cultural industries’ such as creative writing, the performance arts and visual entertainment.
- Advertisers and fundraisers rely on storytelling to reach their target markets.
- The tourism and heritage sectors need to know how to tell the story of local places to global audiences.
- Communications, branding and design consultancies must build narratives for new products and companies.
- Community groups, social enterprises, charities and arts organisations wishing to influence policy or raise funds must tell convincing stories in different ways to different demographics.
- Political activists, journalists, public advocates and science popularisers, medical clinicians, video game designers and computer scientists exploring new frontiers in artificial intelligence all require insights into the processes and structures of narrative, its politics and ethics.
This programme will provide recent graduates and mid-career professionals with a good intellectual basis for professional development in a wide range of sectors, as well as for further academic study in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
The core elements of the programme address the data and higher-order skills we know are important for the future of work, confident and critical citizenship, and a thriving, just society.
MSc Planetary Health
This programme is designed for proactive and motivated students passionate about tackling real-world issues. You’ll graduate equipped to work on complex problems that require critical thinking, novel approaches, teamwork, and collaboration. This programme is for recent graduates and career professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds, areas of study and skill sets.
Dr Rowan Jackson is a Lecturer in Planetary Health and Food Systems at the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh.
Find out more
Professor Liz Grant is an Assistant Principal (Global Health) and Director of the Global Health Academy at the University of Edinburgh.
Find out more
“The future of human health and wellbeing is profoundly connected the health of the natural world. Students on the Planetary Health MSc will explore the challenges facing human health and develop the knowledge and skills required to protect human and natural systems for future generations.”
Professor Liz Grant and Dr. Rowan Jackson, co-directors, MSc Planetary Health
This programme combines shared core courses, programme-specific content, and flexible electives. Courses are delivered using EFI’s distinctive Fusion approach, which blends live sessions with self-paced learning. Many are taught in a five-week intensive format. Read the Learning Experience section for more information.
The course list linked below reflects what is currently planned for the 2025/26 academic year. Our portfolio evolves regularly to reflect new thinking, research insights, and the challenges shaping our world. Being part of EFI means joining a learning community shaped by curiosity, change, and the world ahead.
Programme pathway
If you’ve been offered a place on the full-time MSc, you can view the core structure and courses :
Other EFI study options
Studying part-time, or taking a different route? Use the full course directory to explore all available EFI pathways:
The challenges of the modern world and our rapidly changing environment demand new ways of working that can disrupt the status quo and challenge established ways of thinking.
Studying the MSc Planetary Health at Edinburgh Futures Institute will help you develop:
- Data skills: learn to collect, manage, use and analyse data ethically and critically. Note, this programme does not require pre-existing data skills or qualifications.
- Critical concepts, methods and principles: develop a robust understanding of planetary health concepts, to analyse and explain the extent of global health challenges in different geopolitical or socioeconomic contexts.
- Creative and collaborative professional skills: work efficiently on complex projects centred on innovative, sustainable, and context-sensitive solutions to planetary health challenges, together with teams that are diverse and values-driven.
- Data literacy and confidence: draw on and use relevant data in diverse contexts while maintaining a critical stance on data production and use.
- Creative problem solving and specialist skills: use innovative, collaborative, data-led approaches to understand, explore and apply solutions that are socially, economically and environmentally empathetic.
- Cross-disciplinary insight and analysis: confidently address challenges and issues around health from multiple perspectives, viewpoints, and sources when analysing challenges and designing solutions.
Our distinctive postgraduate programmes and interdisciplinary approach benefit graduates in a number of ways that support future employability and development.
Our changing global landscape is increasingly dominated by interlinked and emerging crises, including those driven by inequalities and social, economic, and environmental risk.
All sectors are seeking to move towards sustainable and responsible ways of working. Examples of such sectors include:
- economy and business
- health
- energy
- education
- life sciences
- environment
- media
They require graduates with:
- cross-cutting skills
- demonstrable knowledge and understanding of:
- data innovation
- teamwork, critical and collaborative abilities
The core elements of the programme address the data and higher-order skills we know are important for the future of work, confident and critical citizenship, and a thriving, just society.
You will develop a robust understanding of data-driven decision-making and graduate ready to institute positive change:
- Through practical skillsets, you will develop critical understanding of working with data and how to develop projects focused on creating sustainable solutions.
- You will also develop a suite of core ‘soft skills’, ideal for those professionals who want to change careers, embark on new ones, or to change the institutions they are part of.
This programme will appeal to a range of students, including:
- recent graduates
- career professionals
- executives in sectors most impacted by global shifts, such as:
- the food sector
- energy
- education
- housing
- city planning
- banking and finance
- companies looking to extend their ESG strategies
Career opportunities are likely to range from roles that involve change-making, policy and advocacy, strategic planning for sustainability strategies, or to roles in diverse areas such as:
- urban planning and development
- health tech
- sustainability
- inclusion
- health finance
- business development
- sectoral agenda-setting
- international and political engagement
- energy
- investment
- transport
- food and agriculture
MSc Service Management and Design
This programme is designed for proactive and motivated students passionate about tackling real-world issues. You’ll graduate equipped to work on complex problems that require critical thinking, novel approaches, teamwork, and collaboration. This programme is for recent graduates and career professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds, areas of study and skill sets.
Dr Chris Elsden is a Chancellors Fellow in Service Design, in the Institute for Design Informatics in the School of Informatics and the Edinburgh College of Art.
Find out more
Tie Cui is a Lecturer in Service Management at The University of Edinburgh Business School.
Find out more
“The timing is right for the Service Management and Design MSc. At the University of Edinburgh we have terrific expertise in data science, business and design. The digital economy is driving shifts in service management, design and innovation and this programme offers an opportunity to develop your skills and qualifications in this exciting interdisciplinary field.”
Dr Chris Elsden and Dr Tie Cui, Programme Co-Directors, Service Management and Design
This programme combines shared core courses, programme-specific content, and flexible electives. Courses are delivered using EFI’s distinctive Fusion approach, which blends live sessions with self-paced learning. Many are taught in a five-week intensive format. Read the Learning Experience section for more information.
The course list linked below reflects what is currently planned for the 2025/26 academic year. Our portfolio evolves regularly to reflect new thinking, research insights, and the challenges shaping our world. Being part of EFI means joining a learning community shaped by curiosity, change, and the world ahead.
Programme pathway
If you’ve been offered a place on the full-time MSc, you can view the core structure and courses :
Other EFI study options
Studying part-time, or taking a different route? Use the full course directory to explore all available EFI pathways:
The challenges of the modern world and our rapidly changing environment demand new ways of working that can disrupt the status quo and challenge established ways of thinking.
Studying the MSc Service Management and Design at Edinburgh Futures Institute will help you develop:
- Data skills: learn to collect, manage, use and analyse data ethically and critically. Note, this programme does not require pre-existing data skills or qualifications.
- Critical concepts, methods and principles: understand the core characteristics of ‘service’ and ‘services,’ how they can be designed, managed and delivered to add value to their consumers and users. Evaluate, synthesise, and integrate information from across the service management and service design disciplines
- Professional skills and confidence: to communicate, facilitate and lead effectively and sensitively within complex and dynamic environments at the interface of service management and service design.
- Creative problem solving and specialist skills: use innovative, collaborative, analytic, data-led research and creative approaches in order to solve problems across diverse service settings, with a focus on the co-creation of knowledge.
- Cross-disciplinary insight and analysis: confidently identify, appraise, and develop technical tools and approaches, and multiple viewpoints and perspectives and apply them in different environments.
Our distinctive postgraduate programmes and interdisciplinary approach benefit graduates in a number of ways that support future employability and development.
The MSc Service Management and Design programme is intended for applicants who are either already working in, or are in interested in, a career in service management and/or service design – in the public, private and third sectors. The service sector comprises around 75% of developed economies globally and 35-50% of developing economies – and is growing fast.
Consequently, it is a major source of employment and career enhancement opportunities. Careers in service management and service design can be found in the public, private and third sectors. We expect that graduates from the programme will aspire to operational and strategic management posts across the fields of service design and delivery. These career opportunities can include roles such as:
- heads of service areas
- chief designers
- sector leads or directors
Potential fields of employment include:
- financial services and banking
- tourism, leisure and sport
- public services and health services
- education
- business services
- creative industries
- retail and fashion
- IT and information services
The core elements of the programme address the data and higher-order skills we know are important for the future of work, confident and critical citizenship, and a thriving, just society.
MSc Sustainable Land and Cities
This programme is designed for proactive and motivated students passionate about tackling real-world issues. You’ll graduate equipped to work on complex problems that require critical thinking, novel approaches, teamwork, and collaboration. This programme is for recent graduates and career professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds, areas of study and skill sets.
Dr Kirsteen Shields is a Senior Lecturer in in International Law and Food Security in the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh.
Find out more
Professor John Brennan is Personal Chair of Sustainable Architecture in the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA).
Find out more
“We’re exploring the richness and complexity of rural and urban environments and investigating how to harness practices of smart growth that respect planetary boundaries. We think about this creatively through data, and advocate for justice and equity in built and landscape environments.”
Professor John Brennan, Co-Director MSc Sustainable Lands and Cities
This programme combines shared core courses, programme-specific content, and flexible electives. Courses are delivered using EFI’s distinctive Fusion approach, which blends live sessions with self-paced learning. Many are taught in a five-week intensive format. Read the Learning Experience section for more information.
The course list linked below reflects what is currently planned for the 2025/26 academic year. Our portfolio evolves regularly to reflect new thinking, research insights, and the challenges shaping our world. Being part of EFI means joining a learning community shaped by curiosity, change, and the world ahead.
Programme pathway
If you’ve been offered a place on the full-time MSc, you can view the core structure and courses :
Other EFI study options
Studying part-time, or taking a different route? Use the full course directory to explore all available EFI pathways:
The challenges of the modern world and our rapidly changing environment demand new ways of working that can disrupt the status quo and challenge established ways of thinking.
Studying the MSc Sustainable Land and Cities at Edinburgh Futures Institute will help you develop:
- Data skills: learn to collect, manage, use and analyse data ethically and critically. Note, this programme does not require pre-existing data skills or qualifications.
- Critical concepts, methods and principles: recognise the fundamental nature of land; how it can be defined, understood, managed and used; the sustainable characteristics of lands and cities; and the interplay of rural and urban environments.
- Create commercial and sustainable strategies to meet both business needs and ethical requirements with an awareness of how to harness practices of smart growth, understand planetary boundaries, and advocate for justice and equity in urban and rural environments.
- Creative problem solving and specialist skills: understand how data science and technological change can contribute to effective sustainable strategies and use innovative, data-led approaches to explore, understand, test and validate strategies and solutions.
- Cross-disciplinary insight and analysis: understand interdisciplinary contexts in which sustainable development strategies can be used, and address challenges from multiple perspectives, viewpoints, and sources.
Our distinctive postgraduate programmes and interdisciplinary approach benefit graduates in a number of ways that support future employability and development.
The MSc Service Management and Design programme is intended for applicants who are either already working in, or are in interested in, a career in service management and/or service design – in the public, private and third sectors. The service sector comprises around 75% of developed economies globally and 35-50% of developing economies – and is growing fast.
Consequently, it is a major source of employment and career enhancement opportunities. Careers in service management and service design can be found in the public, private and third sectors. We expect that graduates from the programme will aspire to operational and strategic management posts across the fields of service design and delivery. These career opportunities can include roles such as:
- heads of service areas
- chief designers
- sector leads or directors
Potential fields of employment include:
- financial services and banking
- tourism, leisure and sport
- public services and health services
- education
- business services
- creative industries
- retail and fashion
- IT and information services
The core elements of the programme address the data and higher-order skills we know are important for the future of work, confident and critical citizenship, and a thriving, just society.
At Edinburgh Futures Institute, student life is anything but ordinary.
You’ll be part of a dynamic community where students aren’t just attending classes, they’re curating and attending events and workshops, creating media, launching initiatives, and getting stuck into real-world problems alongside academics, creatives, and local innovators. Want to host a podcast? Start a sustainability campaign? Run a pop-up exhibition, or pitch bold ideas to external partners? This is your space to experiment, to take risks, to build something new and be unapologetically yourself while doing it.
So bring your curiosity. Bring your creativity. Bring your big questions. We can’t wait to meet you.
Emma, Kirsty and Neneh, EFI Student Experience team
Top reasons to study at Edinburgh Futures Institute
1
Future-proof your career
Invest in postgraduate study that meets employers’ needs for interdisciplinary, data-skilled professionals who can work collaboratively to address the world’s complex challenges.
2
World-class education
University of Edinburgh is consistently ranked one of the best 50 universities in the world. We’re 27th in the most recent QS World University Rankings.
3
Proven graduate employability
We’re ranked in the UK’s top 10 for the employability of our graduates. (Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025)
4
Real world skill development
Build on skills and knowledge from different disciplines, gain real-world problem-solving experience, and focus on a challenge project of your choice, aligned to your professional and personal interests and goals.
5
Apply your unique background
Bring your academic, professional, and life experiences as you dig deep into challenging issues and develop vital career skills.
6
Flexible learning options
Design your learning path to suit your lifestyle with flexible study formats and innovative global classrooms that bring together diverse perspectives.
Study at one of the world’s most beautiful campuses, in one of the world’s leading universities, in one of the world’s top student cities
Edinburgh Futures Institute has been named among the world’s most beautiful campuses as part of a prestigious international architecture competition.
Regularly voted one of the most desirable places to live in the world, Edinburgh is large enough to offer something for everyone but small enough to feel like home. It is a modern, sophisticated and beautiful European city, with a diverse multicultural community.
Discover the city
Student life
Take advantage of our wide range of facilities and support services, catering to your academic and personal needs.
View servicesInternational students
As a truly global university, we offer a range of specialist services designed to make your move to Edinburgh as smooth as possible.
Get advice
Open days and offer holder events
Join online open days and offer-holder sessions to meet other incoming students and your programme director.
Postgraduate Offer Holder Sessions 25/26 Watch on demand virtual open day recordings
Hear from our students
Listen to what alumni have said about studying at Edinburgh Futures Institute.
Anja
My name is Anya Hendrikse Liu, and I study Narrative Futures. It was because there is not really another program anywhere in the world, at least that I know of, that combines the sort of storytelling, narrative studies side of things with a more technological focus on, like data science and AI. And that interdisciplinary focus was really something that I was looking for.
I didn’t actually plan on coming back for a master’s at all. And when one of my friends told me about this program was like, hey, this is right up your alley. I kind of was like, well, I guess I’m going to Edinburgh now [laughs] I think these technologies like, I, you know, big data in general and all of the kind of ethical and social questions around them, political questions, like all of the ways that they’re intersecting with the world that we live in, like these are becoming more and more prominent.
And I think it’s really, really important to have people who are looking at it from all perspectives, not just people coming from the technological side and saying, hey, we’re going to build this really cool thing, but rather people who are also coming from policy or from the social sciences or from, you know, looking at it from a more ethics or equity perspective, and really thinking about how it’s going to impact the world and real people.
I think, I think the most exciting thing would be the people, I think I met such an incredible community here. People are really just genuinely interested and interesting. I don’t think there’s been another time in my life when I’ve met this kind of community who all came together, around what seems to be such a niche topic.
But really, they’re coming from all different backgrounds and really diverse perspectives and.
I, go into some sort of data heavy operations type role in an org, ideally doing responsible AI or AI ethics, that sort of thing, and safety. I think for me, this would be a great way to meld my kind of skills in data science, AI systems, and that sort of thing with trying to make as big an impact as I can, because in my opinion, safe AI, responsible AI is one of the most important things that we can be working on right now and for the next few years.
I would say I’m in. Be prepared to make the most out of the year that you have here, because if you’re going to be a full time student, a year is really such a short time. And you’re going to be surrounded by so many opportunities and so many people and having some sort of plan when you come in, even if it ends up changing, like having something to guide you and to be, you know, pushing you towards certain opportunities or towards making certain connections, it’s just going to be really valuable to making sure you make the most out of your time.
CASANDRA
My name is Anya Hendrikse Liu, and I study Narrative Futures. It was because there is not really another program anywhere in the world, at least that I know of, that combines the sort of storytelling, narrative studies side of things with a more technological focus on, like data science and AI. And that interdisciplinary focus was really something that I was looking for.
I didn’t actually plan on coming back for a master’s at all. And when one of my friends told me about this program was like, hey, this is right up your alley. I kind of was like, well, I guess I’m going to Edinburgh now [laughs] I think these technologies like, I, you know, big data in general and all of the kind of ethical and social questions around them, political questions, like all of the ways that they’re intersecting with the world that we live in, like these are becoming more and more prominent.
And I think it’s really, really important to have people who are looking at it from all perspectives, not just people coming from the technological side and saying, hey, we’re going to build this really cool thing, but rather people who are also coming from policy or from the social sciences or from, you know, looking at it from a more ethics or equity perspective, and really thinking about how it’s going to impact the world and real people.
I think, I think the most exciting thing would be the people, I think I met such an incredible community here. People are really just genuinely interested and interesting. I don’t think there’s been another time in my life when I’ve met this kind of community who all came together, around what seems to be such a niche topic.
But really, they’re coming from all different backgrounds and really diverse perspectives and.
I, go into some sort of data heavy operations type role in an org, ideally doing responsible AI or AI ethics, that sort of thing, and safety. I think for me, this would be a great way to meld my kind of skills in data science, AI systems, and that sort of thing with trying to make as big an impact as I can, because in my opinion, safe AI, responsible AI is one of the most important things that we can be working on right now and for the next few years.
I would say I’m in. Be prepared to make the most out of the year that you have here, because if you’re going to be a full time student, a year is really such a short time. And you’re going to be surrounded by so many opportunities and so many people and having some sort of plan when you come in, even if it ends up changing, like having something to guide you and to be, you know, pushing you towards certain opportunities or towards making certain connections, it’s just going to be really valuable to making sure you make the most out of your time.
Useful information to consider
Take a look at our most frequently asked questions
Edinburgh Futures Institute offers programmes with two modes of learning: online distance learning and on-campus study. Online students join remotely from anywhere in the world and take part in the same teaching model (Fusion) as on-campus students. On-campus students are expected to be physically present in Edinburgh and regularly attend in-person sessions.
Your chosen mode of study (online or on-campus) will guide how you engage with most of your courses. There may be some flexibility to take individual courses in a different mode, depending on course design and availability. However, this flexibility is limited, and students with a Student Visa must study fully on campus and cannot switch to online learning.
If you plan to study on campus you may need a Student Visa. To qualify for a visa, you must study full-time and in person for the full duration of your programme. Student Visa sponsorship is not available for part-time or online study, and the University cannot issue a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) for these routes.
More information is available via the Student Immigration Service.
Yes. You can study full-time over one year, or part-time over two years. All students take the same number of credits for the same programme, but part-time students spread their learning across a longer timeframe.
More information on study modes is available on each programme page. View more study options.
Many programmes at the Futures Institute are designed to support online participation from anywhere in the world, combining live (synchronous) teaching with flexible, self-paced learning.
However, you will be expected to attend all live sessions in real time, usually scheduled in UK time (GMT or BST). The format varies depending on the course:
- EFI shared core courses are timetabled weekly, with live sessions typically held every Wednesday during teaching weeks.
- 10-credit courses often include two full-day live sessions in Week 3, usually delivered on consecutive days.
- 20-credit courses typically involve shorter live sessions in Weeks 1 and 2, followed by full-day sessions in Weeks 3 and 4.
Attendance at live sessions is required for all students, so it’s important to check how this will align with your time zone before choosing the online mode of study.
Yes. Each degree includes compulsory courses alongside a range of electives. You’ll have the opportunity to tailor your learning by choosing electives from across EFI’s portfolio, allowing you to explore different disciplines and develop new skills. Take a look at your degree programme here.
We aim to provide you with timetabling information in advance, so you can make informed choices and avoid scheduling clashes. Personalised timetables will be available once teaching begins.
A 10-credit course typically requires around 100 hours of study, including live teaching, group work, self-directed study, and assessment.
Group work is an important part of EFI’s learning experience, reflecting our interdisciplinary, collaborative ethos. You’ll work with classmates from a range of professional and academic backgrounds, across both online and on-campus modes. Group tasks are built into many courses and are designed to help you learn from different perspectives and build practical skills in communication and teamwork.
Group work is an important part of EFI’s learning experience, reflecting our interdisciplinary, collaborative ethos. You’ll work with classmates from a range of professional and academic backgrounds, across both online and on-campus modes. Group tasks are built into many courses and are designed to help you learn from different perspectives and build practical skills in communication and teamwork.
