Credit-bearing standalone short courses

Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) is aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge through a postgraduate-level course(s), without the time or financial commitment of a full Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate.

Customers browse an Asian food market

You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses over two years and gain a University of Edinburgh postgraduate award of academic credit.

You can also choose to continue your studies after one year and put credits towards a postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or full Masters degree.  Any time spent taking courses through the PPD scheme will be deducted from the amount of time you have left to complete the higher award.

CourseCreditsStart dateDuration
Nutrition for Food Security20September200 hours
Frameworks to Assess Food Security20August200 hours
Sustainable Food Production20January200 hours
10February100 hours
Inter-relationships in Food Systems20September200 hours
Food Policy10August100 hours

The PPD courses are delivered fully online using a blend of online learning methods supported by the University’s award winning online learning environments.

They are distance learning courses, but you won’t feel isolated - you will have the opportunity to work closely with your fellow students and tutors in a properly supported, collaborative and vibrant online learning environment. 


In order for you to have access to the course of your choice you need to be enrolled as student.  After we have accepted you onto the course,  Academic Registry will send an email to your new University of Edinburgh Student email account asking you to fill in, sign and return a form for matriculation.


PPD Applications must be made through the University's online postgraduate prospectus by following the link to apply to PG Professional Development in Global Food Security and Nutrition (Online Learning)(ICL) - 1-2 years (Part-time Intermittent Study).

Once you have started your application to the degree within which the course sits, you will be asked to specify the course you are applying to. 

If you have any questions or concerns throughout the PPD application process, please contact Food.SecurityNutrition@ed.ac.uk 


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