Physical Education

Physical education, as a university discipline, goes far beyond teaching games. It is concerned with the science of human movement, the psychology of participation, the social and cultural dimensions of sport, and the pedagogy of effective teaching. Practitioners in this field draw on exercise science, developmental psychology, sociology, and education theory to understand how physical activity contributes to health, learning, and wellbeing across the life course, and how best to foster it in young people.

The University of Edinburgh's four-year full-time programme in physical education is grounded in Scotland's distinctive teacher education tradition, developing graduates who are equipped to teach PE in secondary schools and to contribute more broadly to sport and health promotion. You will study the scientific underpinnings of physical performance, including physiology and biomechanics, alongside the psychological dimensions of motivation, skill acquisition, and behaviour change. The programme also engages with the sociology of sport, examining how physical culture is shaped by gender, class, race, and policy, and with the practical and reflective dimensions of teaching, preparing you to plan and deliver physical education across a range of settings and age groups.

Edinburgh provides strong connections with Scottish education and sport, enriching your professional preparation with practical experience and network.

Graduates from physical education programmes most commonly pursue careers in secondary school teaching, but the degree also opens pathways into sports coaching, community sport development, health promotion, sport management, and outdoor education. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in education, sport science, or public health, developing specialist expertise that supports career progression.