Education Studies BA (Hons)

UCAS code X300

Location

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Whether working in a school, family learning setting or in the community, you can play a vital role in helping people to succeed. And our Education Studies degree will help you get started.

Your future could involve coaching and mentoring others, helping children or adults who have special educational needs, championing reading or maths projects, supporting vulnerable teenagers, or running outdoor activities. The possibilities are endless.

You’ll have the opportunity to work across age ranges – right from early years to post-16 learning. And the broad nature of the course means you can keep your options open for future careers.

The programme is split into two core elements. You will study education as an academic subject, where you will explore learning theories, how the education system works and themes such as social mobility and inequality.

Then there’s the practical side, where you’ll develop your skills through projects and by building a portfolio of work experience. In your final year, you will produce a piece of research looking at an education issue or practice.

We will support you every step of the way and help you nurture your passion for helping others to learn. You will also be an integral part of the community, with lots of opportunities to gain real-world experience through our strong links with local schools and organisations.

Resources include our fantastic £4.4 million Woodlands Day Nursery and Forest School on the Stoke-on-Trent campus.

Specialist pathways

Our flexible approach means you can also tailor your degree to your individual interests. Either continue with a more general route, or choose one of the following pathways:

  • Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Education for our sustainable world

If you opt for the sustainability route, you could be delving into outdoor learning, how to engage young people using the natural world, home education and other philosophies of education practice.

The SEND pathway could involve working with either children or adults. You might be working with children and young people to promote wellbeing, supporting and designing strategies in different learning environments.

On successful completion of study, depending on your choice of specialism pathway, we will issue you with one of the following awards:

  • BA (Hons) Education Studies
  • BA (Hons) Education Studies (Special Educational Needs)
  • BA (Hons) Education Studies (Mental Health and Wellbeing)
  • BA (Hons) Education Studies (Education for our Sustainable World)

Work placements

This will give you first-hand experience for future careers. You can immerse yourself in a team, work alongside children or adults, and put your skills into practice.

You will build up a portfolio which may include gaining experiences in schools, colleges and universities. We also have links with children and family support, local and national charities and community groups.

You might choose to run a project in a library or in the community, read with children, or organise family sports activities. We encourage our students to pursue what interests them.

Course content

As an Education Studies student, you will develop knowledge and understanding of the factors that impact on learner’s holistic development and educational outcomes.

In your first year, you will study three core modules which are shared with the Early Childhood Studies programme. Studying within a multi-disciplinary context, you’ll learn in a collaborative manner and develop a deeper insight into the wider educational sector. You’ll have the opportunity to work across disciplines and age ranges, enabling you to make informed choices about your chosen award and pathway of study at the end of the first year.

In the second and third year of your studies, you will develop specialist knowledge through studying a further four core modules. You can then elect to follow a specialist pathway and increase your knowledge in areas of professional interest. Our pathways include:

  • Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) – this pathway enables students to develop a specialist insight and critical understanding of SEND practice and appropriate pedagogical approaches for children and young people with SEND.
  • Mental Health and Wellbeing – this pathway enables students who have an interest in promoting and supporting mental health and wellbeing to develop an informed understanding of the factors that can impact on mental health and wellbeing and the knowledge, skills and dispositions required to promote and support children and young people.
  • Education for our Sustainable World – this pathway enables students who have an interest in developing the knowledge, skills and understanding required to support and motivate learners to act for sustainable development. Students who elect to study on this pathway will have the opportunity to complete activities outdoors and using our Forest School and nature reserve and our local community

Academic year

The course operates on a modular basis that provides flexibility and choice. Each year, you will study four modules of either 20 or 40 credits. Each credit taken equates to a total study time of around 10 hours. Total study time includes scheduled teaching, independent study and assessment activity. Full-time students take modules worth 60 credits per semester. All students take a total of 120 credits per level and 360 credits for the degree as a whole. Your overall grade for the course and your degree classification are based on the marks obtained for modules taken at levels 5 and 6.  The full-time course has one start point in September.

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module where available.

Year 2 compulsory modules
Contemporary Issues 20 credits
Exploring Alternative And Global Educational Contexts 40 credits
Perspectives Of Learning And Development 40 credits
Research Methods 20 credits
Year 2 compulsory modules
Contemporary Issues 20 credits
Mental Health In Context 40 credits
Perspectives Of Learning And Development 40 credits
Research Methods 20 credits
Year 2 compulsory modules
Contemporary Issues 20 credits
Perspectives Of Learning And Development 40 credits
Principles Of Outdoor Pedagogy 40 credits
Research Methods 20 credits
Year 2 compulsory modules
Contemporary Issues 20 credits
Introduction To Special Educational Needs And Disability 40 credits
Perspectives Of Learning And Development 40 credits
Research Methods 20 credits

Entry requirements

  • Typical UCAS offer: 104-112 UCAS points
  • A levels: CCC
  • BTEC: MMM

Students who wish to apply for the PGCE Primary Education following completion of this degree will need GCSE grade C/4 or above in English, Maths and Science.

As you will visit places of education on this course, it is essential that all students complete a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This will be completed during the induction process.

We understand that you might have experienced a challenging run up to higher education and may have not met the entry requirements as listed. If this is the case don’t worry, contact us and our team of expert advisors can guide you through the next stages of application, or help you find the perfect course for your needs.

For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

Choose your country

Check our entry and English language requirements for your country.

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Facilities

Education Settings

You will have the chance to train within a variety of education settings across the region, working with a range of practitioners, children, other professionals, and parents. Placements will aim to be arranged to minimise travel as much as possible.

Outreach

The Institute of Education enjoys a range of partnerships with organisations across the city and beyond which will give you work-based learning opportunities with volunteer and charity groups.

Careers

Our graduates work in a huge variety of roles in education. Many enter teaching through PGCE, Schools Direct or PCET routes.

Others have progressed on to Masters degrees and have gone into social work.

We also have graduates working in specialist support roles in children’s centres, schools and colleges, in educational administration and management, play work and learning support.

Some go on to join charities and work with vulnerable young people or adults, while others go into adult and community learning.

All students have access to Career Connect, our dedicated careers team.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

The teaching and learning strategies on our Education degrees have been carefully designed to maximise the opportunity for you to use and reflect upon work-based learning. This provides practical contexts for the analysis of contemporary issues and problems of a practical and theoretical nature. We also teach through whole and small group discussion, case studies, individual research, verbal questioning, experiential practical learning, facilitated learning observation, one-to-one tutorials, critical reflective practice, tutor modelling of good practice and observation of other professionals.

Students will also receive guest lectures from external bodies, such as deaf awareness and Peter Pan charity to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to teach students with a range of educational needs. 

Assessment

Your course will provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally includes practice or ‘formative’ assessments, for which you receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades you receive for them do not count towards your module mark. This includes a range of coursework assessments, such as reports, projects, digital projects, blogs, presentations and pitches, and all our assessment approaches are linked to ensuring you have the skills to work in educational settings. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Learning support

In addition to the excellent support you will receive from your course teaching team, our central Academic Skills team provides group and one-to-one help to support your learning in a number of areas. These include:

  • study skills such as reading, note-taking and presentation skills
  • written English, including punctuation and grammatical accuracy
  • academic writing and how to reference
  • research skills
  • critical thinking and understanding arguments
  • revision, assessment and examination skills
  • time management

Additional support

Our Student Inclusion Services support students with additional needs such as sensory impairment, or learning difficulties such as dyslexia.

Feedback

You will normally receive feedback on coursework assessments within 20 working days following the date of submission. 

Whilst work-based learning is not assessed, it is anticipated that students will undertake a minimum of 10 days in a variety of organisations and settings with an education focus to gain a wider knowledge base of working with children and families in a diverse range of roles”.

Your study time will consist of class contact hours, self-directed learning, assessment and placements where appropriate. Your actual contact hours will depend on the subject area, on the option modules you select and professional body requirements.

Year 1

24% of time in lectures, seminars or similar
76% of time in independent study
0% of time in work based learning

Year 2

24% of time in lectures, seminars or similar
76% of time in independent study
0% of time in work based learning

Year 3

24% of time in lectures, seminars or similar
76% of time in independent study
0% of time in work based learning

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars, laboratory or other timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve utilising a range of digital resources including our virtual learning environment; reading journals, articles and books; working on individual and group projects; undertaking research in the library; preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations. Your independent learning will be supported by a range of excellent facilities. These include the library, open access computer facilities, informal learning zones, a range of laboratories and specialist teaching areas.

Year 1

17% practical assessments
83% coursework
0% written exams

Year 2

17% practical assessments
83% coursework
0% written exams

Year 3

20% practical assessments
80% coursework
0% written exams

Staff

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes senior academics and professional practitioners with industry experience. Our teaching is research-informed and 80% of our full-time staff in the Institute of Education are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy.

Amanda Tayler

Senior Lecturer

I am an early years specialist with a specific interest in our workforce. I take great pride in managing this course and educating the next generation of practitioners to lead practice and change the lives of young children. 

Amanda's profile

Francesca Brown-Cornwall

Lecturer

I’m an Early Childhood Specialist and hybrid Psychology and Education researcher fascinated by smiles, laughter and thinking. I am passionate about supporting a skilled, innovative and joyful workforce in childhood and educational services.

Francesca's profile

Dr Jo Basford

Course Director Assoc Prof

Education is transformative. It enables us to see the world differently, to challenge our thinking and to try new things. My ambition is that student’s learning with the Institute of Education will be a transformative experience.

Jo's profile

Fees

For the course starting on 22 September 2025 the tuition fees are:

Study option UK / Channel Islands International
Full-time £9,535 per year of study £16,750 per year of study

UK and Channel Island students: This tuition fee is agreed subject to UK government policy and parliamentary regulation. If the UK government passes appropriate legislation, the fee for subsequent years of study may increase in each academic year. But this increase will not exceed the rate of inflation as measured by RPIX**. Any change in fees will apply to both new and continuing students. The University will notify students of any change as early as possible. Further information about fee changes would be posted on the University’s website once this becomes available.

**RPIX is a measure of inflation equivalent to all the items in the Retail Price Index (RPI) excluding mortgage interest payments.

Included in the fees:
  • DBS checks where required for assessed modules 
  • Loan of subject related requirement where required for modules
Not included in the fees:

 

  • The estimated cost of text books over three years. Text books are available from the library, but some students chose to purchase their own copies.
  • Printing
  • Travel costs to and from placements. We will have available placements within travel distance from the campus, or within proximity of your address.
  • Clothing suitable for placements
  • Any optional field trips 
Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. 

Sources of financial support

If you receive funding from Student Finance you may be eligible to apply for additional benefits. Details can be obtained by reading our additional funding web pages, or visiting www.gov.uk.

Scholarships and additional funding

As an undergraduate student at Staffordshire, you may be eligible for additional financial support through one of our scholarships and bursaries. You can visit our funding page to find out more and check your eligibility.

Apply

Location Award Study option Start date
Stoke-on-Trent campus BA (Hons) Full-time 22 September 2025 Apply now

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at University of Staffordshire, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of University of Staffordshire enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.

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Early Childhood Studies BA (Hons)

Optional pathways in Mental Health and Wellbeing, Education for Our Sustainable World, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Study options
Full-time
for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

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for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

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QS Star Ratings 2021