What Subject Areas and Course Levels Can I Explore on the QMU Website?

Updated

Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh, organises its course catalogue around two main levels — undergraduate and postgraduate — and lets you filter by subject area rather than browsing a flat list. According to the QMU website, you can explore undergraduate subjects including Business (with International Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management), Nursing, Drama and Performing Arts, Education, Film, Communication and Design, Health Sciences, and Psychology and Sociology. Postgraduate subject areas include Advancing Professional Practice, Arts, Culture and the Creative Industries, Business, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dietetics, Education, the Institute for Global Health and Development, Media, Communications and Public Relations, and Occupational Therapy.

How the course finder works

The homepage carries a "Your Journey Starts Here: Find a Course..." tool with separate Undergraduate and Postgraduate tabs. Each tab has a "Select a Subject Area..." dropdown. You pick your level first, then your subject area, and the site returns matching courses. This is the fastest route if you already know roughly what you want to study but not the exact course title.

If you are undecided, start from the subject area list itself — it doubles as a map of what the university actually teaches.

Undergraduate subject areas

Subject area Notes from the site
Business Includes International Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management
Nursing Listed as a distinct undergraduate area
Drama and Performing Arts Performing arts focus
Education Teacher and education-related study
Film, Communication and Design Media production and design
Health Sciences Allied health and related fields
Psychology and Sociology Social science route

Postgraduate subject areas

Subject area Notes from the site
Advancing Professional Practice Framework For practising professionals building on existing qualifications
Arts, Culture and the Creative Industries Creative sector focus
Business Management and related study
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Specialist therapy training
Dietetics Nutrition and dietetic practice
Education Postgraduate teaching and education study
Institute for Global Health and Development International health and development
Media, Communications and Public Relations Communications and PR
Occupational Therapy Allied health profession

Course levels and study formats

QMU's site describes three broad levels: undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral studies. Beyond the standard on-campus route, two formats are worth knowing about:

  • January 2027 postgraduate starts — the site states that a number of postgraduate courses offer a January 2027 start date, so if you miss the traditional autumn intake, check whether your target course is among them.
  • QMU Online master's courses — described as 100% online and "flexible on-demand," aimed at postgraduate study wherever you live. This suits people who cannot relocate to Edinburgh.

The site also lists short courses for upskilling, which sit outside the degree structure but use the same subject strengths.

What to check before you apply

  • Confirm the level and start date together. A subject area may appear at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, but the January 2027 option applies only to selected postgraduate courses — verify on the individual course page.
  • Use the subject filter, not search alone. The dropdown is built from the university's own subject taxonomy, so it surfaces courses a keyword search might miss.
  • Check entry requirements per course. The site does not publish a single universal requirement; each course page carries its own.
  • For online master's courses, confirm the delivery mode and any residency or attendance expectations on the specific programme page, since "100% online" is stated at the category level.

The most reliable next step is to open the course finder, choose your level, and select a subject area — then read the individual course page for entry requirements, start dates, and fees.