BA(Hons) Education

Three Education degree students in a discussion
Entry year
2023/24
Course code
X304
Application
UCAS
Level
Undergraduate
School
School of Education and Childhood
Tariff points
104
Campus
Frenchay
Duration
Three years full-time; four years sandwich
Delivery
Full-time; Sandwich
Programme leader
Dr Michael Whelan

Please note there are no vacancies on this course for September 2023

Depending which pathway you choose, you will graduate with one of the following three award titles:

BA(Hons) Education (Digital Learning)

BA(Hons) Education (Special Needs)

BA(Hons) Education

Page last updated 25 September 2023

Introduction

Make yourself highly employable on this flexible, future-facing degree. You'll specialise after your first year to graduate in one of BA(Hons) Education, BA(Hons) Education (Digital Learning) or BA(Hons) Education (Special Needs).

Why study education?

How and where people learn, and what influences that learning, is constantly evolving, and with digital technology opening up new learning tools and experiences, it's a particularly interesting time to work in this field.

Perhaps most importantly, learning isn't just something that takes place in schools. Designing and improving how learning happens has relevance in all areas of work and society, so graduates will leave well equipped for employment across diverse sectors and roles.

Why UWE Bristol?

Bristol is an excellent city for studying education, with a strong digital presence and many organisations involved in the latest teaching and learning innovations.

You'll examine education for all ages, in both formal and informal settings, including schools, workplaces and wider society.

You'll explore the role of education, and design and improve how learning happens in different contexts.

From Year two, you can tailor the content to reflect your interests and career plans. Following one of three specialist pathways, focus on digital learning or special needs, or continue looking at education as a whole. Specialist pathway students will graduate with a specialist degree, BA(Hons) Education (Digital Learning) or BA(Hons) Education (Special Needs).

Develop strong transferable skills and digital awareness that will get you noticed by employers.

As well as work-based opportunities throughout, there's the potential to spend a longer period of time in a workplace setting or study abroad in Year two.

Honing in on the areas that most interest you, through your modules and assessments, you'll graduate in a confident position for your career.

Where can it take me?

Education leads to a range of exciting opportunities across sectors.

Your strong transferable skills, digital awareness and knowledge of making learning accessible for all, will get you noticed.

You could go onto work in formal or informal education settings, in creative or cultural organisations, or in industry or local government as an education, digital education or inclusion specialist.

You could also go on to teaching training or a master's in education or a chosen specialist area.

BA(Hons) Education at UWE Bristol

Learn more from the Programme Leader about our BA(Hons) Education.

Structure

Content

Any optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.

Year one

You'll study:

  • Becoming an Educator
  • Education, Society and Inclusivity
  • Educational Journeys
  • Exploring Digital Learning.

A Guided Studies module is available in exceptional circumstances, and can only be studied with the agreement of the Programme Leader.

Year two

You'll study:

  • Becoming a Researcher
  • Education in Practice or Education in Practice (Digital Learning) or Education in Practice (Special Needs)
  • Professional Skills.

Plus:

  • Digital Learning Design or Meeting Diverse Needs
  • Digital Learning Policy and Practice or Special Needs Policy and Practice.

A Guided Studies module is available in exceptional circumstances, and can only be studied with the agreement of the Programme Leader.

Placement Year (if applicable)

If you study on the four-year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work or study placement after year two. The placement year can be undertaken in the UK or internationally.

You'll complete a placement learning module.

See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.

Final Year

You'll study:

  • Debates in Education
  • Education Project or Education Project (Digital Learning) or Education Project (Special Needs)
  • International Comparitive Education
  • Professional Futures.*

*If you complete the Sandwich Placement year this module won't be available to study.

Guided Studies modules are available in exceptional circumstances, and can only be studied with the agreement of the Programme Leader.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you.

"On my course, I spoke to our College's Lead for Employability and Enterprise, who was a helpful contact. We spoke about the different sectors I could work in after graduating, which started my interest in Career Development, where I'm now pursuing a career." Susanna, 2022 Education (Special Needs) graduate.

Learning and Teaching

Learn through formal lectures, seminars and workshops, as well as collaborative, online and virtual learning, tutor and student-led study groups, simulations, role play, live briefs and project work.

Build valuable graduate skills such as adaptability, creativity, digital skills and working effectively with colleagues and partners.

Explore and understand contemporary approaches to learning and teaching in diverse settings including university and virtual environments, museums, art galleries and industry.

Working with university teams and partners in formal and informal education contexts, you'll take part in work-based learning that links with your career interests, including shadowing, placements and live briefs. 

Learn to be 'enterprising', explore innovative practice models and hear from guest speakers. Craft your skills as a researcher, working with academics and partners helping to shape new thinking in the field.

Gaining a broad understanding of learning approaches and contexts in Year one, you'll tailor the content to your interests and goals from Year two onwards.

You will enrol on the BA(Hons) Education degree and will choose to follow one of three pathways:

BA(Hons) Education (Digital Learning)

With increasing use of digital technologies across all sectors and ages, the Digital Learning pathway will give you the sought-after skills to enter this specialist field.

BA(Hons) Education (Special Needs)

The Special Needs pathway is for students interested in education and special educational needs and inclusion in educational settings and the workplace. You'll explore a wide range of needs including autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, emotional, social and behavioural, speech and language, physical disabilities, complex and severe needs.

BA(Hons) Education

The Education pathway is for students wanting to keep things broad, looking at a wide suite of themes across all areas of education.

In all the pathways, you'll work with experts active in both research and practice, engage in the latest developments and debates, and benefit from relevant, inspiring practice-based opportunities.

To find out more, see our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

Approximate percentage of time you'll spend in different learning activities*:

YearScheduled learning and teaching studyIndependent studyPlacement study
124%76%0%
221%73%6%
317%83%0%

*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year.

Study time

You'll have at least 12 hours of contact with your tutors each week, which may include some online or virtual contact, to suit the context of what you're studying.

You'll need to be motivated and able to learn independently and collaboratively. We'll give you the help and resources you need to study well on your own and with others.

Assessment

We use a range of assessments across the course designed to enhance your learning and support your future employability. We do not use written exams as part of our formal assessments.

See our full glossary of assessment terms.

Approximate percentage of marks awarded by each assessment method*:

YearWritten exam assessmentCoursework assessmentPractical exam assessment
10%63%37%
20%88%12%
30%58%42%

*Calculated from compulsory and optional modules (where applicable) each year.

Features

Placements

Work experience hones your skills and knowledge, making you a sought-after graduate.

As well as shorter work-based projects and briefs throughout, you can opt to do a longer workplace experience in a school or other organisation in Year two. This could be in the UK or overseas.

Benefit from our close links with over 250 schools, and with cultural and business organisations across the city and region.

If you choose the four-year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work or study placement after Year two.

You'll get help to find a placement and support throughout from department staff and our award-winning Careers Service.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork includes visits to industry and assignments in and around Bristol throughout the course.

Study facilities

Our modern, purpose-built facilities include high-quality teaching rooms excellent IT facilities, equipment that can be loaned out, and open learning areas.

You'll make use of the latest digital tools and spaces, including design studios, PC labs and virtual reality technologies.

You may also spend time at our City Campus sites, including the Pervasive Media Studio at Watershed, gaining experience of industry-leading creative and technical facilities.

Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.

Get a feel for the Education and Teaching facilities we have on offer here from wherever you are.

Life

Accommodation

An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.

Bristol

A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.

Sports, societies and activities

There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.

Health and Wellbeing

We provide support in the way you need it.

Campus and facilities

Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.

Careers

Careers / Further study

Education, and how it is evolving, is a major area of interest across many fields. The skills you develop on this degree will open the door to many potential careers.

You could work in an education-related role in a creative or cultural organisation, or in learning and development in a business context.

You could go onto a postgraduate teaching qualification and become a qualified teacher in the UK or overseas. You'll be guaranteed an interview for our PGCE Primary and Early Years courses.

Get inspired

You could also go onto postgraduate study, such as a Masters in education.

Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and help find you graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.

We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.

Visit our Employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.

See also

Fees

Supplementary fee information

Additional costs are for items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.

Learn more about costs.

Find out more about available scholarships and bursaries which if you're eligible, can offer financial support during your study.

Entry

Typical offers

  • Tariff points: 104
  • Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
  • GCSE: Grade C/4 in English Literature or Language, or equivalent. We do not accept Level 2 Key Skills, Functional Skills or Certificates in Adult Literacy and Numeracy as suitable alternatives to GCSEs.
  • English Language Requirement:

    International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Please visit our English language requirements page.

  • A-level subjects: No specific subjects required.
  • EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No specific subjects required.

    For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.

  • Access: No specific subjects required.
  • Baccalaureate IB: No specific subjects required.
  • Irish Highers: No specific subjects required.
  • T Levels: No specific subjects required.

Entry requirements

If you don't meet the entry requirements, you may be eligible for BA(Hons) Education (with Foundation Year).

Additional requirements

All applicants will be required to complete:

  • Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)*
  • health checks*.

All information will be treated in confidence and only taken into account when absolutely necessary.

International applicants

For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the Country Information pages. If you are an international student and do not meet the academic requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.

If you are applying to study at UWE Bristol and require additional support to meet our English language requirements, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.

Read more about entry requirements.

How to apply

For further information

Unistats

UWE Main Campus