Moral and Philosophical Studies with Religious Education BA (Hons)
Course code X104
What is special about this course?
Are you fascinated by theological, moral, and philosophical issues and debates? Do you have ambitions to lead learning in this field, with a career as a Religious Education (RE) or Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies (RMPS) teacher in a secondary school setting?
Join this contemporary new degree, supported by the Scottish Government, and combine academic study in theology, ethics, and philosophy with vocational training as a teacher. Access an extensive specialist library, including several significant theological collections such as the Rutherford House library. Become an inspiring and motivational teacher, guiding your students to explore different values, attitudes, and ethical issues as they learn to approach moral decision-making.
Please see our FAQs for further information on this course.
Special features
- Combines academic study in theology, ethics and philosophy with vocational training as a teacher
- Dedicated specialists and lecturers with strong community links
- Calls on the expertise of the Highland Theological College
- Balance of theory and practice through the degree programme
- You will have the support of a dedicated education mentor
- Access to an extensive specialist library of around 65,000 volumes including several significant theological collections such as the Rutherford House library
- Seminar series grounded in the methodology of anthropology
Accommodation
We offer modern student accommodation at a number of our locations.
Entry requirements
- 3 Highers at grade BBC or above OR
- 2 A levels at grade BC or above
- These must include: Higher or A level English PLUS
- National 5 or GCSE Maths at grade C/4 or above
- You will also be required to attend an interview
Please note:
- An aptitude for teaching and working with young people should be displayed in your application
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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
Year 1 - Cert HE
Core modules may include:
- Thinking and writing for study, work and life (S1)
- Problems in philosophy (S2)
- Introduction to systematic theology (S1)
- Jesus and the Gospels (S1)
- Protestant reformation (S2)
- Values and professional practice in education (S1 +S2)
Year 2 - Dip HE
Core modules may include:
- Knowledge: a philosophical analysis (S1)
- Exploring other faiths (S1)
- Scottish church history (SCQF 9) (S1)
- Moral philosophy (S2)
- Anthropology of religion (S2)
- RMPS Educational placements 1a and 1b: How learners learn and manage transitions (S1 +S2)
Year 3 - BA
Core modules may include:
- Philosophy of science (SCQF 10) (S2)
- Continental philosophy (S2)
- Enacting the RME curriculum (S1 +S2)
- RMPS Educational placements 2a and 2b (S1 +S2)
Year 4 - BA (Hons)
Core modules may include:
- Philosophy of mind (S2)
- Christian ethics (S2)
- RMPS Educational placements 3a and 3b (S1 +S2)
- Teacher enquiry in RMPS (S1 +S2)
You will also complete a dissertation based on practitioner enquiry for the 'Teacher enquiry in RMPS' module.
How will I study my course?
- Full-time
- For the taught element of the course you will study mainly online through a combination of video-conference lectures and tutorials, and online study via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE). There may be some opportunities to attend face-to-face based on your location
- The education elements of the course are taught by UHI Inverness; most theological and philosophical elements are taught by Highland Theological College
- Your practical teaching elements will be arranged through the national school placement system and we will work with local authorities across Scotland to provide local school placements
- You will also have the support of a dedicated education mentor
How long will my course last?
- Full-time: 4 years @ 40 hours per week (hours may vary for placements)
Where can I study my course?
- Inverness
- This course can be studied from your own home in Scotland, with a requirement to attend 30 weeks of placements in schools in Scotland over the programme's four years. We can also offer modern student accommodation in Inverness ideally suited to students on this course
Start date
- September
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.
| Degrees | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (120 credit modules) per year | £1,820 | £1,820 |
| Part-time (structured) (3 x 20 credit modules) per year | £915 | £915 |
| Part-time (unstructured per module) (per 20 credit module) | £305 | £305 |
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:
| Full-time | Level | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | CertHE | £9,250 | £9,250 |
| Year 2 | DipHE | £9,250 | £9,250 |
| Year 3 | Degree | £9,250 | £9,250 |
| Year 4 | Honours | free | free |
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 4th 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.
| Year | Level | 2024-25 Full-time | With scholarship | 2025-26 Full-time |
With scholarship |
| Year 1 | CertHE | £14,988 | £11,988 | £15,870 | £12,870 |
| Year 2 | DipHE | £14,988 | £11,988 | £15,870 | £12,870 |
| Year 3 | Degree | £14,988 | £11,988 | £15,870 | £12,870 |
| Year 4 | Honours | £14,988 | Free | £15,870 | Free |
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:
| 2024-25 | 2025-26 | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time (120 credit modules) per year | £14,988 | £15,870 |
| Part-time (structured) (3 x 20 credit modules) per year | £7,494 | £7,935 |
| Part-time (unstructured per module) (per 20 credit module) | £2,498 | £2,645 |
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
You will be required to pay the cost of the PVG Disclosure Check (approx £60).
What can I do on completion of my course?
Once you have successfully completed this course, you will hold provisional registration as a secondary teacher of Religious Education with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTC Scotland). This qualifies students from Scotland, the rest of the UK and EU Member States to apply for GTC Scotland’s induction year, the Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS), which can then allow teachers to qualify for the status of full registration.
Students from non-EU countries are not eligible to join the TIS, but you can follow the Flexible Route to complete your probationary service if you are able to remain in Scotland on completion of your studies.
See the Teacher Induction Scheme website for more information.
Full registration as a secondary teacher of Religious Education means you will be qualified to teach the following subjects in a secondary school:
- Religious Education (RE)
- Religious and Moral Education (RME)
- Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies (RMPS)
Can I progress into further study?
You may wish to consider further postgraduate study in education, theology or philosophy.
UHI will be offering a new MEd from 2026/27 with a wide range of content to support your professional learning throughout your teaching career.
Is there more information available online?
You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.
I decided to go with UHI as they offered exactly what I was looking for, the degree with teaching qualification included. I enjoy the interactions in classes and the friendships I have formed through shared experiences.
The lecturers are really good at communication and are very quick to reply to emails. They will always try to help you when they can and are great at providing resources to work with. All lecturers are clearly very educated in their fields.
I didn't expect to learn so much so quickly, the lectures are full of information and the recommended reading is very beneficial.
I am currently in my second placement in a secondary school. The placements allow me to develop my practice and confidence within different settings.
Eva studied the BA (Hons) Moral and Philosophical Studies with Religious Education at UHI Inverness.
I didn't consider any other universities, as UHI was the only university I could find that offered this course. I knew this was the right course for me as I have such a passion for teaching and a desire to learn about other cultures and religions and how these impact people's moral beliefs and views. At UHI all the lecturers are supportive and they make their modules interesting, which encourages and inspires you, as a student, to learn. My PAT (personal academic tutor) has been amazing, supporting me through some challenging times I encountered during my studies and the support from all UHI staff is incredible. So far I have done two secondary school placements and I've had a wonderful experience with both. My degree has set me up perfectly to become a secondary teacher in RMPS (Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies).
Nicole is studying on our BA (Hons) Moral and Philosophical Studies with Religious Education at HTC, a UHI partner.
Apply for Moral and Philosophical Studies with Religious Education BA (Hons)
We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.