Education Studies BA (Hons)

The BA (Hons) Education Studies programme offers a breadth of learning experiences that provide you with the multi-professional development essential to pursue a career in a range of educational settings. 

The course is delivered by practitioners and academics in the Education team who have specialist knowledge and experience of working in a range of educational settings such as schools, post-16 educational settings, and further and higher education. 

The course will provide you with an in-depth understanding of the education system in the UK and overseas and enable you to relate educational and learning theory to teaching practice.  

Our goal is to encourage you to look at the theoretical, philosophical and practical approaches to what education is, what it does and the challenges faced by learners, teachers and institutions in the 21st Century. We aim to stimulate discussion in relation to education and explore the potential for diversity and innovation alongside established practices and ideas. 

The course operates from a wide span of interest and considers education, teaching and learning across all age groups and is not specific to any one sector Including the state sponsored systems. Informal learning and organisational approaches allows to develop a wide spectrum of critical analysis on different forms of education in practice, and theory. 

Please note: the course is not designed to provide Qualified Teachers Status but can be used as a platform for further post graduate study in to the Primary and Post Compulsory sectors. 

When you study at Level 4 you will study further introductory modules which will strengthen your introduction to Education as a discipline and will challenge your perceptions as to what Education is, and what Education does. You’ll look at the history of education, key learning theories and gain transferrable study skills that will support you as you progress into the later stages of the programme. 

As you progress through the programme at Level 5 and Level 6 you will be able to begin to study specialist modules that look at how education interacts with digital developments, employment and the international environment.  In the final stages of the programme you’ll conduct a dissertation which will be in an area of your interest, chosen in conjunction with your dissertation supervisor. This will be your opportunity to specialise in an area of interest to your personally – or to your chosen career. 

All students take a total of 120 credits per level. 

Level 4 Modules (all modules are mandatory) include: 

• Study Skills 
• Learning Theories 
• What is Education? 
• Introduction to Research Skills 
• Foundations for a Sustainable Education 
• Becoming a Digital Educator 

Level 5 Modules (all modules are mandatory) include: 

• Educational Learning Theories 
• Wild Pedagogies and Radical Responses: Critical Approaches to Sustainability in Education 
• Education in a Digital age 
• Educational Research 
• A Case Study in Primary Practice 
• International Perspectives in Education 

Level 6 Modules (all modules are mandatory) include: 

• Dissertation Proposal 
• Future of Education 
• Building a Sustainable Future 
• Dissertation Research 
• Alternative Education 
• Design for Communities of Growth: A Technology Enhanced Learning Project approach 

You’ll need 80 UCAS points to join this programme. 

All applicants will be required to attend an interview to discuss the course and your interest in it. You will also be required to have a GCSE (or equivalent level 2 qualification) at Grade 4 (formerly Grade C) or above in English Language.  

All applicants must show that they have a good level of spoken or written English, and if English is not your first language you’ll need to demonstrate the ability to study in English. Applicants who do not meet the standard entry criteria but have relevant work / life experience will be considered on an individual basis and may be invited to interview. 

In addition, for this programme, please note: If you are intending to progress into teaching roles after this programme and completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, you will need to have attained GCSEs at Grade 4 (C) or above in Maths, English and Science. 

Care Leavers or Young Carers

We want students from all backgrounds to have the opportunity to go to University. If you have spent three months or more in local authority care OR are a young carer, you will be eligible for a contextual offer. This is a grade reduction of 1-A Level grade below our standard entry requirements. For example, a standard offer of CCC, would become CCD. MMM at Level 3 Extended Diploma would become MMP. To apply we advise that you tick the box on your UCAS application which identifies you have spent time in care and to help identify you as eligible for our contextual offer.

Throughout the course a full range of assessment techniques will be used. You could be assessed by examinations, group assessments, reports, essays, and portfolio building.  

Formal assessment will count towards your module mark. 

Additionally, some lecturers will provide informal feedback, for example, following an examination they may choose to work through the exam paper in a tutorial. It should be noted that feedback is part of the ongoing learning cycle which is not limited to written feedback. Other forms of feedback include one-to-one meetings with a personal tutor, dissertation and project supervision meetings, a lecturer responding to learner questions or responses during topic or situation discussions.  

Feedback is intended to help you learn and you are encouraged to discuss it with your module tutor. 

After successful completion of the BA (Hons), graduates in Education Studies can progress to a diverse range of professions including teaching, research, training organisations and a wide range of educational settings such as museums and large educational institutions.  

You can also continue to study as there are a range of options including PGCE degrees. 

Our graduates have gone to work in: 

• Charity sector 
• Neighbourhood learning 
• Educational management 
• Social work positions  
• Higher level teaching assistants 
• Academic coaches (HE) 
• Wellbeing officers (Primary/Secondary) 
• Learning and development positions in retail/hospitality/local government 

Going to University is not as expensive as you think. There are no upfront fees to pay if you take out a Tuition Fee Loan from Student Finance England. Don't forget to apply as early as possible to secure your fees before you start your course.