BEd (Hons) Education

UCAS code: X100

Start date: September

Course length: You'll register on a three year course, with opportunities to develop a subject specialism (currently English, Maths, humanities, science and creative arts). You can personalise the course further by choosing an elective during the first three years. If you choose the four year route, you could have the opportunity to undertake your assessed placement in a special school or early years setting. In addition, you could choose to study for 40 credits at masters level.

Campus: Kedleston Road site, Derby Campus

Number of students: 120

This course leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), so you'll be able to go straight into your first teaching job when you graduate. The course is delivered by an experienced, lively and caring team and is matched to the needs of teachers in Key Stages 1 and 2.

Because we're passionate about making sure you're ready for your new career in teaching, you'll have the opportunity to undertake a placement at each stage of the course in a different school. You'll work with an experienced mentor to help you prepare for lessons and manage the learning environment. This will help you to build your skills and experience whilst working with different year groups. We'll help and support you during your placements to make sure that you understand the demands and needs of primary school environments.

As part of the course we like you to engage in various projects within the local community to help give you a wider experience. Some of our previous students have worked with local charities, museums and galleries. We think that it's important that you appreciate, and can respond to, the diverse needs of the children you'll be teaching, so everyone has the opportunity to experience special school education at stage two of the course.

At each stage of the course, you'll have the opportunity to:

• develop your subject knowledge and academic knowledge in all of the National Curriculum subjects;
• broaden your understanding of the different theories and perspectives of Primary Teaching;
• become a highly reflective practitioner through mentor support in school and through a dedicated module in university;
• expand your professional skills through focused school placements;
• enhance your academic abilities through carefully planned support right from when you arrive in stage one through to undertaking your own research in your final stage.

There are opportunities to personalise your degree:

• you can choose a specialist pathway. Current options include English, Maths, Science, Humanities and Creative Arts;
• there is the opportunity to undertake additional experiences in different environments such as teaching beyond the classroom, in special schools, alternative schools or early years settings;
• you will also undertake an Independent Study in your final stage which allows you to research an area of your own interest;
• further exploration of individual interest through masters level study.

Values which run through this course include:

• working with our community and charities;
• working with children in settings outside school;
• providing you with a range of teaching experiences in university and beyond the classroom;
• appreciating and responding to the diverse needs of children;
• enabling you to make informed choices, in order to become the teacher you aspire to be;
• aiming for excellence - placing the child at the centre of all you do.

At each stage of the course, you'll have the opportunity to:

• develop your subject knowledge and academic knowledge in all of the National Curriculum subjects;
• broaden your understanding of the different theories and perspectives of Primary Teaching;
• become a highly reflective practitioner through mentor support in school and through a dedicated module in university;
• expand your professional skills through focused school placements;
• enhance your academic abilities through carefully planned support right from when you arrive in stage one through to undertaking your own research in your final stage.

Our entry requirements are usually 300 UCAS points, of which at least 260 will be from your core A2s (full A levels) or equivalent qualifications such as BTEC Diploma, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers etc. Only 60 UCAS points can be from General Studies.

All candidates are considered individually and holistically, taking into account a wide range of capabilities and experiences. In some cases, excellent candidates may be given a slightly lower offer to reflect this. You'll also need at least 6 GCSEs at a minimum grade C, which must include Maths, English Language and a Science (we can't accept the OCR National Science qualification instead of the GCSE in Science). If you've completed an Access/Foundation course, we also accept these qualifications. You must also have had recent Primary School experience.

You must also meet all the Teaching Agency (TA) entry requirements for Initial Teacher Education courses; this includes suitability and fitness to teach checks, and completion of QTS tests prior to the start of the course. This process begins at the point of interview.

The UCAS tariff points are a guide - we'll also consider all information included in your application and from your interview. We'll also want to see that you're enthusiastic, committed and motivated to take this course and that you have the potential to benefit from coming to university.

Fees for 2013/14

This is a premium course.

UK students

• Full time: £9,000 (each year)

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2013 and August 2014. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.

How you'll learn

Throughout the course you'll learn through lectures, seminars, tutorials, visits from previous graduates, and guest speakers from schools, agencies and creative partners. You'll also have the chance to conduct some of your own research through the independent study module where you'll complete a dissertation on a topic of your choice.

How you're assessed

There are no exams, so you'll be assessed using your reports, essays, presentations, personal reflections, tests, audits and school based activities on placement.

Work placements

During this course, you'll spend between 28 and 32 weeks on placement in a number of different schools. This will include a mixture of placements from EYFS through to the end of Key Stage 2. You will also complete an experience in a special school to help build your skills of working with diverse groups. If you complete the course in four years you may opt to complete your stage three placement in a special school or EYFS setting.

By choosing teaching as a career, you'll have chosen an important and satisfying profession, as well as a challenging and rewarding journey through life.

The 2011 National Student Survey found that 99% of our students were employed with a graduate job six months after graduating, with more than half having jobs with our partnership schools. There is also the option to continue studying with us by taking one of our postgraduate courses.

Aamar Arshid, current student
"Teaching was a passion I had since a very young age. I believe that this is one of the best decisions I have made in my life. The lectures are very engaging and interactive, and the lecturers themselves are very fun and approachable, all are dipping in and out of schools, so therefore, have frequent school experiences."

To find out more about Aamar's story read here.

Chelsey Laban, current student
"As Derby offers many routes, each person's development is different and that is what makes us unique. I feel that Derby has helped me to develop into the good teacher that I am; the confident person that I wasn't and the individual that I have grown to be. The university doesn't push us to have one character throughout the cohort; they encourage individuality and offer unique experiences to each of us to ensure that no one teacher they produce is the same."

Jodie Morris, current student
"As a single mum, this was the best decision I have ever made and honestly I have never looked back. I have found the open door policy the teaching team at Derby have is one of the biggest assets to the university. It really helps to know that you can knock on any door at almost any time of the day and speak to any one of the teaching staff about anything, however big or small the problem is."

Lisa Beech, current student
"The highlights of being on the BEd course at the University of Derby are that every single day is completely different and you learn something new in every session. There have been so many memorable moments so far over the past few years that have made my course so unique, such as charity weeks, making the best of friends who will be with me for a lifetime, placement and random university sessions that seem to stick at the back of my mind are the things that make every moment a pleasure to be part of such an incredible university course."