Education BA (Hons)

Do you want to have an impact on the world around you, inspiring critical thinking and challenging inequality? Our BA Education degree course will give you the skills and knowledge to do this, illuminating the transformative power of education. As educational professionals of the future, we realise the significance of widening mindsets and enriching the educational experience. Our passionate tutors will support you in gaining an excellent understanding of the sociology, psychology, and philosophy of education, and how this changes in reaction to national and international developments.

On our course, the study of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) is woven into all three years of your studies, meaning you acquire specialised knowledge and practical skills that will help you to create inclusive learning environments, foster every child's potential, and make a meaningful impact in schools, care settings, and beyond. You will also significantly build on your understanding of political science, sociology, philosophy, history and psychology within the academic study of education.

Our lecturers are research-active in a wide variety of educational topics and bring contemporary insight into the classroom that covers education in its broadest sense. You will explore formal, informal, and non-formal ways of learning across all age groups and build an understanding of both lifelong and life wide study.

If you’re interested in specialising in international education, we have second year modules which are designed to provide you with a global perspective on educational systems, policies, and practices, and will give you the opportunity to study abroad - for a short placement or a full academic year! Through doing this, you will increase your understanding of diverse cultural approaches to teaching and learning, naturally enhance your adaptability and cross-cultural communication skills, and attain invaluable and unique experiential overseas learning.

As well as lectures and seminars, you will also receive personal one-to-one reassurance and support throughout your studies. We deliver our curriculum to smaller class sizes, which means we get to know you personally in what one of our international students has described as our “living classroom”.

We regularly receive feedback from schools and initial teacher education providers saying that our students are well equipped and knowledgeable for progression into teacher training should you wish to choose this career progression route. No matter what area you’re interested in, this course will provide you with skills and experience to progress to a wide range of education-related careers, including both primary and secondary teacher training.

A specialist pathway is your opportunity to further tailor your studies to become an expert in your chosen field. Our pathway provides you with specific modules and opportunities to enable you to tailor your studies towards areas you are passionate about, through a Psychology specialism. Choose from various modules to align with your interests and career goals.

When applying for this course with a specialist pathway, you will do so via UCAS. It is important to search for and submit your application for 'Education BA (Hons)'. Your chosen pathway will be confirmed post-application and this will be the award that you complete your studies with ie. Education with Applied Psychology BA (Hons). If you choose to study this course without a pathway, your award on completion will be Education BA (Hons). 

The BA Education course contains core modules at each level of study. On graduating with an honours degree in education, you will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of the societal and organisational structures and purposes of educational systems, and the possible implications for learners and the learning process. At Level 4, you are introduced to basic values, concepts and theories relating to education and its history, psychology and sociology. Level 5 builds upon this understanding by exploring the diversity of learners and the complexities of the education process whilst introducing students to the research process. At Level 6, you will have acquired a wide range of skills including ethical awareness which will enable them to design and undertake their own research project. You will critically examine and explore the complexity of the interaction between learning and local and global contexts, and the extent to which participants (including learners and teachers) can influence the learning process.  

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

Job prospects

Our commitment goes beyond your undergraduate studies. Subject to achieving a 2:1 in your undergraduate degree, you will benefit from a guaranteed interview on one of our postgraduate teacher training courses (PGCEs) and a range of other courses that will allow you to specialise in areas such as special educational needs, leadership and creativity, as well as pursuing research interests. 

Embedded at the heart of the course is the emphasis on employability skills, ensuring that you will be equipped to enter a diverse range of careers, both directly from the course as a graduate professional and with further study at postgraduate level. 

Education graduates enter a variety of education-related jobs, such as developing careers in training staff in industry, teaching, coaching, therapy, counselling, management, working in museums and galleries, and working in school in a range of support roles, including SEND support and learning mentors, to name but a few. To find out more about the possible career paths following your studies, take a look at the Prospects website.

Progression options

Coaching and Mentoring PGCert: Level 7 

Education, Society and Globalisation MA 

Educational Leadership MA, PGDip, PGCert 

Primary (5-11) PGCE with QTS 

Primary School Direct (5-11) PGCE with QTS 

Secondary (Lead School Partner Route) PGCE with QTS 

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.