Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning BA (Hons)

What is special about this course?

New degree title! BA (Hons) Adventure Education has a title upgrade for 2025-26!

Are you passionate about educating others while sharing your experience of the great outdoors? Join this incredible programme and work closely with Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning providers, including the Outward Bound Trust®, to pursue a satisfying career as a professional adventure practitioner.

The term 'outdoor learning' can often be used to describe specific learning approaches in a school curriculum context. On this course, outdoor learning is approached holistically, with a similar definition to the Institute of Outdoor Learning (IOL*), and encapsulates a wide range of purposeful, inclusive, facilitated approaches that foster learning and development, mainly through outdoor activities.

Develop and enhance your professional skills to create a learning environment through outdoor activities and in nature, offering your learners greater connections to self and others, and a place for increased health and wellbeing, as well as a growing environmental awareness. Follow our unique structure to integrate theoretical knowledge with practice through classroom learning, experiential learning, and research, progressively building your confidence and skills as a facilitator and practitioner.

Use your knowledge, understanding, and skills to plan, prepare, and lead activities in potentially challenging and wild locations, while maintaining strong links to the education curriculum. Learn to become the professional who provides adventures and learning for others, creating experiences that last a lifetime while being part of the vibrant community of outdoor enthusiasts in Fort William, the Outdoor Capital of the UK.

Make the most of links with other programmes in the School of Adventure Studies to broaden your professional skills and expertise, giving you access to a diverse range of careers in many different adventurous settings, wherever your path takes you.

The capabilities we build in our programmes are also life-long skills that transfer into many different future career paths. Unlock your potential and become a future-shaper of the adventure sector.

*Explore the IOL website for more information and insights

Special features

• Live and work at the foot of Ben Nevis in the Highlands, in a region that is unique for its rich variety of outdoor opportunities, set amongst some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK
• Receive tailored outdoor activity skill development and professional NGB training and assessment with the School of Adventure Studies 'practical tokens' scheme: continuous professional development alongside your degree and beyond
• Be part of a vibrant and active diverse student community of outdoor enthusiasts, based at the School of Adventure Studies in Fort William, the hub of the Outdoor Capital of the UK
• Easily transfer between adventure programmes within the School of Adventure Studies: BSc (Hons) Adventure Performance and Coaching; and BA (Hons) Adventure Tourism Management
• Residential field trips, clubs, international expeditions and many other opportunities to enhance your skills and experience in adventure activities
• Opportunities for International student exchange study in Norway with our partner University*
• Excellent links and work-placement opportunities with many adventure-based businesses and institutions in Scotland, the UK and internationally

*Host University/course is Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) "Outdoor Education and Nordic Friluftsliv" single semester exchange programme.  No tuition fees are charged, but there is currently no additional funding available for travel and living expenses, beyond normal student funding streams

Accommodation

We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.

Entry requirements

• 3 Scottish Highers at grade C or above OR
• 2 A levels at grade C or above
• You will also be expected to be able to demonstrate an interest in, and a commitment to, practical outdoor activities, and preferably have an interest in a professional career in the outdoor sector
• Personal practical outdoor experience is advantageous but not essential
• Applicants with other relevant qualifications and/or experience will be considered on an individual basis
• This is a Category 1 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required to successfully achieve target qualification, where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in key elements of the course. For further information visit our PVG scheme webpage

Advanced entry to year two or three:

• Direct entry to year two or three may be possible with a relevant HNC/D, foundation degree etc. Applicants will be considered on an individual basis and may be required to attend an interview

Access routes

SWAP Access courses
If you are eligible to undertake Scottish Wider Access Programmes (SWAP), please visit our SWAP access list for further information on grade profiles and available subjects.

For International students requiring Student Route sponsorship
Please note that international students with a Student Route visa can only take part in sports activities or as part of a work placement, as an amateur and not as a professional or semi-professional. You will not be allowed to become a member of a professional sports association while a student. This is due to ‘professional sportsperson’ restrictions imposed by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as outlined in their Student Route Policy Guidance.

Year 1 - CertHE

Core modules are:

• Foundations of outdoor learning (S1)
• Adventure Geography: the Scottish perspective (S1)
• Introduction to professional adventure practice (S1)
• Introduction to sports coaching and leadership (S2)
• Adventure education journeys (S2)

You will also choose one further option module:

• Ecological principles, biodiversity and identification skills (S1 or S2)
• Activity performance and skill acquisition (S1 or S2)
• Adventure markets: products and services (S2)

Year 2 - DipHE

Core modules are:

• Nature and learning (S1)
• Social theory for adventure education (S1)
• Adventure operations and risk management (S1)
• Outdoor learning and teaching practice (S1 + S2)
• Understanding adventure (S2)

You will also choose one option module which may include:

• Work placement: team working and communication (S1 + S2)
• Facilitation and reviewing in outdoor education (S2)
• Technology and social media in adventure practice (S2)

Year 3 - BA

Core modules are:

• Planning international expeditions (S1)
• Investigation: personal and social development in adventure education (S1)
• An anthropology of place: adventure education and cultural perspectives on nature (S2)
• Research skills (S2)

You will also choose two option modules which may include:

• Adventure therapy (S1)
• Geomorphology: reading the landscapes of outdoor practice (S1)
• Climate change (S1)
• Work placement: industry specific skills (S1 + S2)
• International expedition leadership (S2)

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

Core modules are:

• Critical perspectives of adventure education (S1)
• Perceptions of risk and decision making (S1)
• Inclusive adventure (S2)
• Applied adventure education practice (S2)

You will also choose one of the following double-credit research project modules to follow through the year:

• Dissertation 
• Professional adventure project (legacy project or major expedition venture)

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term time address in Scotland studying this course full time, the following fees apply:

4th year free only for students studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Part-time (per 20 credit module) - £1,542.

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled or pre-settled status in the UK

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the Scottish Government confirmed that EU/EEA and Swiss nationals, who do not have settled or pre-settled status, will be considered as international for fee purposes. Students will get an automatic scholarship of £3,000 per annum and the 4^th year of study will be free for those studying full-time, on continuous study, who have paid for the previous three years at the University of the Highlands and Islands.

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Students will need Student Route visa sponsorship to study on the UK.

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK or European Union and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

Part-time study is not open to international students requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

Further information on international course fees.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK, EU and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

Additional costs

Personal Outdoor Equipment and Clothing
All essential personal protective equipment (PPE) and specialist equipment can be accessed from our comprehensive stores, but students will need to purchase their own personal clothing, waterproofs and footwear for most activities (with the exception of very specialised footwear such as winter boots). As a professional practitioner you are also expected to consider purchasing your own personal equipment as your involvement and skills grow. Excellent deals on prices from a range of suppliers are available for students.

Module costs
Introduction to Sports Coaching and Leadership (core, year 1): this includes an opportunity to complete training for a UK National Governing Body qualification in climbing, paddlesports or mountain biking.  The course is free of charge but you will need to pay for your own membership and registration fees with the relevant NGB.  This cost can range from approximately £50-£100, depending on the NGB.

Adventure Education Journeys (optional, year 1): there is a mandatory residential experience in this module at Outward Bound Loch Eil, costing approximately £80 for 3 days full-board. This cost is 50% subsidised by the School of Adventure Studies.

International Expedition Leadership (optional year 3): this involves undertaking an international expedition, which is subsidised by UHI North, West and Hebrides. Depending on the specific plan, you should budget for up to £1000.  There may be opportunities to gain funds to support this expedition through grant funding sources or sponsorship, which would be your responsibility to obtain.