Course overview
A wide range of educational roles open to you include teaching, careers guidance, educational consultancy, learning support, mentoring and coaching, special educational needs, educational administration and other settings where education can take place, such as museums, art galleries, libraries and private and voluntary sector organisations.
You study how people’s education and their educational experiences develop from childhood through to adulthood, with a focus on the importance of lifelong learning.
There is a strong emphasis on developing and using technology which is taught and assessed throughout the course.
An extended induction module in Year 1 supports your transition into higher education. Academic thinking and writing, and additional support as required, enhances your ability and confidence to succeed.
Reasons to study this course
- Skills for the future: 91% of education students agreed that their course has developed the knowledge and skills they think they will need for their future (National Student Survey 2024, tees.ac.uk/source).
- You can follow a distinct interest; SEN and inclusion; learning and teaching; history, philosophy, politics and society.
- Your teaching team includes practitioners and academics with specialist knowledge and experience of working in educational settings such as schools, post-16 educational settings, and further and higher education.
- Future proof, digital technology skills are embedded and assessed throughout the course.
- You develop as an independent critical thinker, resilient and well prepared for your chosen career.
Course details
Course structure
Year 1 core modules
Discover the key moments in the history of British education that have shaped current education policy, practice and curriculum. Through a historical approach, you consider education changes through a wider moral, social and political context.
This is a 20-credit module.
Consider language in educational situations. Develop your understanding of how language is learnt in childhood and how this impacts on development. You explore theories in informal, formal, digital and professional scenarios and examine current research in language development. You also research bilingualism and English as another language to prepare you for your own academic and personal development - ready for a role in education.
This is a 40-credit module.
Learning Outside the Classroom
Explore how learning happens in different contexts and settings beyond the classroom. You draw on theoretical perspectives for learning through visits to a range of venues such as local and cultural educational places to enhance your lerning experiences.
This is a 20-credit module.
You consider the importance of research to understand and approach problems in educational settings. And you look at aspects of academic reading, writing and referencing, preparing you for future practice. Critically evaluate research findings to further develop your study and professional skills for academic practice and future employment.
This is a 40-credit module.
Year 2 core modules
Diversity in Education: Reality or Rhetoric?
Develop an understanding of diversity in society and examine some of the ways in which education systems respond to it. Explore how social inequalities such as class, gender, race and disability can be challenged or reinforced by educational law, systems and teaching.
This is a 40-credit module.
Future Directions in Education (Level 5)
Understand your strengths and areas for development, and develop graduate skills including effective communication, interview techniques, work etiquette, and professional presentation. Explore graduate employment pathways and issues, opportunities, reflective practice, and experiential learning with our Student Futures team, external professionals and our alumni.
This is a 20-credit module.
Enhance your knowledge and understanding of the importance of safeguarding policies and procedures for children. Consider the importance of promoting health and wellbeing throughout childhood. Examine how professionals meet children’s needs and maintain their rights through current and contemporary safeguarding aspects.
This is a 20-credit module.
Develop your knowledge and key skills to be confident in delivering learning. Study how to plan a learning event, implement appropriate teaching strategies, develop resources and assess work. Consider about technology-enhanced learning and how these resources can be used to support learning and teaching in the classroom.
This is a 40-credit module.
Year 3 core modules
Education, Identity and Society
Explore and critically consider education in relation to the reproduction of social inequalities and the formation of identity. Utilise theory and current research to develop your understanding of the structuring influence of post-war education policy, exploring it in relation to social class, ethnicity, sexuality and gender. Focus on the extent to which, across these factors, education and schooling are characterised by differences, divisions and inequalities which reflect wider issues in society. And consider how language, culture and power are used in education systems to reproduce or challenge inequality.
This is a 20-credit module.
Develop your independent research skills on a topic of personal interest that relates to your course. Define your research focus and create a plan, carry out real-time research. and write up the process and results in a final report.
This is a 60-credit module.
Supporting Vulnerable Children and Families
Develop your knowledge and understanding of vulnerability in early childhood, and how agencies should work together to support and safeguard children. Take a critical approach to the concept of vulnerability, considering the role of families, parenting and early intervention, and the role of professionals and ethical issues.
This is a 20-credit module.
and one optional module
Enhancing Children’s Learning and Development
Enhance your understanding of pedagogy in childhood, drawing on and synthesising your learning in previous years to deepen your understanding of how to support children’s learning and development. You critically engage with the implementation of educational frameworks and explore the wider context of educational policy and practice. You consider pedagogical approaches for different groups of children.
This is a 20-credit module.
Future Directions in Education (Level 6)
Develop graduate skills through work experience, professional activity or work-related learning, preparing you for employment in educational contexts. Understand graduate employment pathways, opportunities, professional working contexts, reflective practice and experiential learning, preparing you for graduate careers and enabling you to identify and evidence your own graduate skills. Explore employability issues and skills with our Student Futures team, external professionals and alumni. You may need a DBS check and satisfactory completion of any additional documentation requested by the work placement partner organisation.
This is a 20-credit module.
Modules offered may vary.
How you are assessed
You will typically be assessed by a range of methods, including written assignments such as essays, reports and case studies, portfolios of evidence, presentations, audio PowerPoints, negotiated projects and by the completion of an independent research project (dissertation).
Digital development week
Alongside teaching, you take part in a digital development week, featuring five hours of online activities including recorded videos, screencasts, online workbooks, group or individual projects, or digital employment. Flexible learning allows you to structure your week around the activities.
Enhancement and enrichment weeks?
This module is taught for the first 10 weeks. Weeks 11 and 12 are dedicated to enhancement and enrichment. You go beyond the core material of the course, enhancing your knowledge as you review your learning. This can include taught material reviews, writing workshops, academic support or activities to help you transition between levels of the course.
Our Disability Services team provide an inclusive and empowering learning environment and have specialist staff to support disabled students access any additional tailored resources needed. If you have a specific learning difficulty, mental health condition, autism, sensory impairment, chronic health condition or any other disability please contact a Disability Services as early as possible.
Find out more about our disability services
Find out more about financial support
Find out more about our course related costs
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
A typical offer is 72-96 tariff points from at least two A levels, T level or equivalent. You must have GCSE English at grade 4 (grade C) or equivalent.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country
You can gain considerable knowledge from work, volunteering and life. Under recognition of prior learning (RPL) you may be awarded credit for this which can be credited towards the course you want to study.
Find out more about RPL
Employability
Career opportunities
Careers include a range of educational roles within schools, further and higher education, local councils and library or museum services. You may be able to progress on to a primary PGCE that provides Qualified Teacher Status with a good honours degree. To teach in the further education sector you need to be qualified one level higher than the students you are teaching. You would normally have at least a level 3 qualification in the subject you would like to teach which would give you the opportunity to study for a Certificate in Education and Training or Professional Graduate Certificate in Education and Training. Please speak to the course leader for more details.
All programmes are designed to incorporate employability skills development alongside your degree course. Our staff utilise their extensive connections to provide many and varied opportunities to engage with potential employers through fairs, guest lecture sessions, live projects and site visits. In addition we offer a series of workshops and events in the first, second and third year that ensure all students are equipped with both degree level subject knowledge PLUS the practical skills that employers are looking for in new graduate recruits.
Our award winning careers service works with regional and national employers to advertise graduate positions, in addition to providing post-graduation support for all Teesside University alumni.
Information for international applicants
Qualifications
International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.
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Useful information
Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.
BA (Hons) Education Studies
BA (Hons) Education Studies