The Society for the Education of the Deaf Scholarship

This scholarship is for teachers registered with GTCS (General Teaching Council for Scotland) who would like to self-fund through the Postgraduate Diploma in Inclusive Education (deaf learners). Passing the diploma means the teacher can be a qualified teacher of deaf children and young people.

One award is available for a January 2027 entrant (within the 2026/2027 academic year). A further scholarship will be available for September 2027 entrant (for the 2027/2028 academic year), and thereafter every September. The scholarship will provide funding of tuition fees at the Home/UK fee rate.


You will need:

  • To be on the GTCS register as a fully qualified schoolteacher and have recent successful teaching experience.
  • To have a commitment to work as a teacher of deaf children in Scotland.
  • To have applied for the Inclusive Education Postgraduate Diploma by Friday 30th October 2026, and to have uploaded all necessary certificates, transcripts and proof of name (if you have changed it since your degree).
  • To submit a 500-word statement as part of your application explaining your commitment to the ToD (Teaching of the Deaf) profession. For example, you may include any prior achievements in British Sign Language (BSL) or work relating to deaf children or deaf communities. You will need to ensure that you clearly state that you are applying for this scholarship.
  • To manage your current employment so that you are available for work experience flexibly across the two years, with a service for deaf children supported by a QToD in addition to the total of 35 days on placements.
  •  To gain agreement from your current employer (if you have one) for time at university and on the two placement blocks. Period 1: January – June 2027 = 11 days at university. Period 2: September 2027 – June 2028 = 14 days at university and 20 days on first placement in a block. Period 3: August to December 2028 = 15 days on placement in a block. This is a large commitment of time: 60 days across the two years for study.
  • To already hold an SCQF 4 in British Sign Language as a minimum, or Signature Level 1 and have a commitment to further BSL learning.
  • To have adequate study time available to complete assignments and the online courses (one in Period 1 and one in Period 3).

Additional Information:

  • You may also be eligible for a SAAS postgraduate loan for this programme.  
  • We welcome applications for this scholarship particularly from teachers from ethnic minorities, men and deaf teachers as they are under-represented in the ToD profession currently.
  • Certificated fluency in BSL is a desirable qualification for this award. 

As previously mentioned within the Eligibility section, you must have applied for the postgraduate diploma by Friday 30th October 2026 at the latest. You can access the application page for the diploma here: Inclusive Education MSc, PgDip (ICL) - Postgraduate taught programmes | The University of Edinburgh

The deadline for submitting your scholarship application will be 17.00 (UK Time) also on Friday 30th October 2026. 

All scholarship applications must be submitted via our online Application form.

Applicants who are shortlisted for the scholarship will be invited for an interview during w/c 2nd November 2026.


All applicants will be notified on the outcome of the scholarship application from w/c 9th November 2026.


Please email Rachel O'Neill for further detailed information about the postgraduate Diploma. Rachel can arrange a short online meeting with applicants to discuss the scholarship or the programme in further detail.


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