Education, Childhood and SEND Undergraduate Courses

If you think that education is just about training to become a teacher, we’ll encourage you to think again.

Discover the lasting impact that education can have on people’s lives, from early years to lifelong learning, and prepare for a wide range of careers in both schools and the wider community.

Top30for Education**The Guardian University Guide 2024
Top15for teaching quality - Education**National Student Survey 2023

Education, Childhood and SEND - your questions answered

In the below video, Head of Discipline, Sharon Bell, answers some of the most frequently asked questions about Education, Childhood and SEND at the University of Derby. 

Sharon Bell, Head of Discipline for Education, Childhood and SEND.

View Education, childhood and inclusion - your questions answered video transcript

"There were a lot of opportunities to take extra training"

"I was really glad that I chose Education Studies because it allows me to go into a whole range of roles. You get to learn about the whole picture, rather than just what goes on in mainstream classrooms. There were a lot of opportunities to take extra training alongside your degree."

Sarah is now the Managing Director of Operation Diversity, a company she set up to enable individuals with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties to reach their full potential. She is also an ambassador for the British Dyslexia Association (DBA), a motivational speaker and Inclusion Consultant.

Sarah Chapman, BA (Hons) Education Studies graduate

Career prospects

These programmes are an excellent foundation for a range of valuable careers within Education, Social and Health Care, Careers Guidance as well as the Voluntary and Charitable sector.

  • starting up their own business
  • using their Early Childhood Studies degree to be qualified Early Years practitioners and managing nurseries
  • using their TESOL expertise to teach English abroad
  • supporting children and young people in pastoral and mentoring roles and as Higher Level Teaching Assistants
  • supporting children, young people and families employed in the Voluntary and Charitable sector
  • becoming an offender and community learning facilitator

Many of our students choose to further their education by studying a postgraduate degree or undertake an additional professional qualification to become successful teachers, social workers and health care professionals.

educational psychologist working with children

Inspiring Joanna to push for her ultimate dream

Joanna Wilkinson has been inspired, challenged and pushed beyond what she thought was possible on our BA (Hons) Education Studies with SEND pathway.

Read Joanna's storyRead Joanna's story

A day in the life of our Education, Childhood and SEND students

Rewarding and inspiring, our courses are the perfect choice to gain a broad understanding of education from early years to lifelong learning, giving you the opportunity to fulfill careers in teaching and education. Take a look at a typical day in the life of our students studying Education, Childhood and SEND courses:

Student chatting to friends.

View A day in the life of Education and SEND students video transcript

Placements

The programmes within the Discipline of Education, Childhood and SEND are focused on real world learning, where you can apply theory to practice and generate knowledge during placements to develop understanding back in the classroom.

BA (Hons) Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) students have placement modules in the first and second year, whilst BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies have placements attached to the programme throughout all 3 years if following the practitioner-option route or you can undertake a placement in Year 2 if following the non-practitioner route. BA (Hons) Education Studies students have a Community project in Year 1, an opportunity to undertake a placement module in Year 2 with additional placement experiences if you choose the TESOL and SEND pathways.

Options and Specialisms

After the first year on your chosen 3 year programme (Education Studies, Early Childhood Studies & SEND), you will be able to choose from a range of option modules to match your interests and career aspirations. Availability of the options change as we aim to reflect relevant and important areas of study. If you are studying BA (Hons) Education Studies, you will have the option to take a specialist pathway in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) or SEND.

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus entrance

Undergraduate Open Days

The best way to find out if studying at Derby is right for you is to experience an Open Day. Get a feel for the city and campus, tour our first-class facilities and see where you could be living.

Book your undergraduate Open DayBook your undergraduate Open Day
#derbyuni sign on green grass

Student stories

Our students and graduates are people just like you. And they are making an impact in our region and around the world by using their knowledge and skills to drive innovation and change. You can be part of that story. Let our students and graduates tell you theirs.

Hear from our students and graduatesHear from our students and graduates