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TSR Wiki > University > Choosing a Subject > University Courses > Education Degree

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Why Study Education?

There are many reasons why someone would like to study Education. For one, there are those who want to become teachers. Others have a general interest in education and want to broaden their knowledge about educational theories, learning theories, etc.

Education can be useful in many fields. Schools, Social Work, but also Management, the media and similar areas.

Course Overview

The different available Education courses all differ immensely. Please refer to the details below.

Teaching Courses

There are many different routes into teaching, but one of them is a straight teaching course. This is mainly offered for Primary Education/Teaching and takes around 3 years, although some universities offer 4 year courses. A few universities also offer secondary teaching degrees, specializing in a subject, as well as education studies. This then leads straight to recommendation for QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) and should not be confused with a Joint Honours degree in Education and Subject.

Primary Education

Most Primary Education courses are 3 year courses, with school placements throughout the three years. Some universities offer four year courses, where you can specialize in one or two subjects. It is not known if this improves your chances of finding a job as a teacher.

The degree in Primary Education teaches the core subjects, English, Maths, ICT and Science, as well as the Foundation Subjects Art, Design and Technology, Modern Foreign Languages, PE, RE, Citizenship, Geography, History and Music. You will be trained for the Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, although you normally specialize to teach across two consecutive stages (either FS/KS1 or KS1/KS2).

The time table for Primary Teaching students is usually very full, because of all the NC subjects plus educational studies. Teaching placements take place in every year, growing in time and responsibility. In year 3, you are normally required to teach 80-100% of the timetable at the school.

To gain QTS, you will need to finish the NQT year (Newly Qualified Teacher year).

Secondary Education

In order to teach in a secondary school, your degree normally needs to be in a National Curriculum subject (at least 50% of your degree). This is why only a few universities offer a straight teaching degree in secondary education. Brunel University offers a Physical Education and Secondary Education (leading to QTS) and Goldsmiths College offers a degree in Design & Technology and Secondary Education (leading to QTS).

The most common route to get into secondary teaching is the PGCE (postgraduate) route. You normally do a degree in a subject you want to teach (as Single or Joint Honours with Education Studies) and then complete a one year PGCE afterwards.

Education Studies

Over half of the people working in education are not teachers, but other educational professionals.

Education Studies is the critical evaluation of contemporary education policies, practices and philosophies. Combining ideas from a variety of disciplines – sociology, history, psychology and law – it leads you from dependence to independence as a learner.

Education studies as a major or specialist subject can lead to career opportunities in educational administration, educational research, training organisations, caring organisations, charities, parents’ advisory groups, learning support organisations or can be used possibly combined with a National Curriculum subject as a route to application for PGCE (primary) or as a Joint Honours subject combined with a National Curriculum subject as a route to Secondary PGCE.

Early Childhood Studies

Early Childhood Studies is for those interested in the early years of life, young children and their development, care and education. It normally covers the early years curriculum, professional practice for those involved in the care and education of young children, management in early years situations, legislation and agencies which promote the rights, needs and well-being of children. Placement is often an integral part of this degree.

In order to become a teacher, you will need to progress on to a PGCE as well, which will enable you to become a Primary Teacher, possibly with an early years/Foundation Stage focus.

Special Needs Education

Special Educational Needs is the study of the challenging concepts of equal opportunity, inclusion, children’s rights, working in partnership and a holistic understanding of childhood. It considers the context in which children are defined, diagnosed and labelled as having special education needs.

Some teaching courses (undergraduate) offer a combination with SEN, but most courses deal with general education and special needs.

Successful completion of a BA in Special Education Needs will enable you to apply for an appropriate teacher training programme (e.g. a PGCE primary). Teachers with this degree may choose to teach in mainstream inclusive schools or in special schools. They may become Special Education Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs) in their schools. Other career paths include working within Local Authority Support Services, Early Years settings, and non government organisations such as charities. A number of graduates may also continue their studies at Masters or PhD level.

Foundations: Nursery Nurses and TAs

Foundation Degrees are normally required if you choose to become a Nursery Nurse or Teaching Assistant. The degree can be taken instead of a NVQ or similar. Those degrees require you to be employed in an educational setting while you study.

Most universities offer the possibility to progress on to a BA programme (top-up, one year).

Educational Management

Educational Psychology

It is a long and hard road to become an educational psychologist. A degree in Psychology plus a PGCE plus teaching experience is required before one can apply for Masters in Educational Psychology. This is a professional degree.

Universities offering Education

Admissions

Academic Requirements

Academic requirements vary from course to course. Teaching courses normally pay more attention to experience in schools, than to grades. However, a C in GCSE Maths, Science and English is required by the government. Education Studies and Early Childhood Studies courses have low entry requirements, but they also depend on the university. Cambridge offers Education Studies and AAA/AAB is normally required. If you are applying for a PGCE, the requirements for GCSE Maths/English/Science are the same (for everyone since October 2006). However, a good 2.1 or 2.2 is normally a standard entry requirement for teaching courses.

UCAS Form & Personal Statement

Course Structure

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Life as an Education Student

The lives of education students differ greatly depending on which university you go to and which course (teaching/non-teaching) you are studying.

Teaching students generally have a full time table with classes every day of the week. This is due to the intense workload the study of the NC and educational studies brings with it. In addition to that, placements ranging from 4-12 weeks have to be undertaken every year.

If you study Education Studies, your workload can be considerably less.

Graduate Destinations and Career Prospects

If you are on a teaching course, you will most likely end up working in a school as a teacher. Other destinations range from teaching assistants, to jobs in media and journalism, curriculum design, management, etc. The degree in Education is very inter-disciplinary, which makes graduates attractive for many jobs.

Frequently Asked Questions

See all Education and Teaching Articles

• Education Degrees
• Routes into Teaching
• Education and Teaching Personal Statements