Education Studies with optional pathway in SEND or TESOL

Gain a broad understanding of education from early years to lifelong learning before pursing a career in teaching or education more widely. You will benefit from a strong focus on social equality, international learning opportunities and the chance to take a specialist pathway.

• Tailor your degree to your career aspirations by choosing one of our pathways in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
• Broaden your educational horizons on one of our exciting international fieldtrips: our students have travelled as far afield as The Gambia, Morocco and Poland
• Gain valuable practical experience on work placements which will strengthen your CV
• Consider different aspects of education in a range of settings, within and outside school
• If you complete this course and meet the entry requirements for our PGCE Primary, we will guarantee you an interview - see below for full details

Take a look at the programme leader’s, Dr Ruth Mieschbuehler, blog 'Could Education Studies be the right path for you?' 

Education studies at Derby

Join an intellectually stimulating course that will make you an authority on current education policy and practice. You will be provided with a solid understanding of education and educational equality, bringing together perspectives from history, psychology, sociology and philosophy. 

This course explores the role of education in society and examines how moral and social issues shape learning. You’ll then be able to apply this practically on work placement opportunities throughout your studies.

A global outlook

This course has an international focus and we offer exciting opportunities for you to travel abroad. Our programme of international fieldtrips has given our students first-hand experience of education in countries such as Morocco, The Gambia and Poland. 

These international options provide you with valuable insights into different contexts and levels of educational provision as well as critical issues surrounding economic, social and cultural development. 

Choose your pathway

You can tailor this degree to your interests by taking one of our two optional specialist pathways. The pathways available will be based on demand.

Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) pathway

This pathway has been developed in response to a growing demand for high-calibre trained staff who can work with learners with special educational needs and/or disability.

Boost your employability with a placement year

Take an optional placement year to put your skills into practice in a real-world setting. We’ll support you in finding a placement and throughout your time in industry. It’s a great way to gain valuable experience for your CV, build contacts, and explore career options before you graduate.

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

You will be taught using a variety of methods from directed study, lectures, seminars, and tutorials. If you choose not to follow a pathway, you will still be undertaking a 12-day work placement in an education setting. 

You will be taught by influential researchers and published authors whose work is shaping the debate about the future of education. Their research in education includes topics such as:

• inclusion
• diversity
• social equality
• online learning
• pastoral care in primary, secondary and higher education

How you're assessed 

You won’t have to take any exams. You will be assessed through course work, including essays, presentations, portfolios, reports and case study analysis.

Your future

You will have wide-ranging career opportunities, not only in education but also in social care, health care, careers and guidance, and the voluntary sector. 

Our graduates are now enjoying success as:

• higher-level teaching assistants
• welfare child-protection officers
• early-years practitioners
• care assistants
• community-learning facilitators 

Our specialist pathways could lead you to roles such as:

• special educational needs co-ordinator
• SEND teacher
• SEND manager
• teacher specialising in English as a foreign language

Throughout the course, we place great emphasis on improving your employability. Our end-of-year symposium Voices of the Near Future encourages students to showcase their future aspirations and explore the many career directions available. 

If you’d like to train to be a teacher, you will be guaranteed an interview for our PGCE Primary if you meet the entry requirements.

You could also apply to study our PGCE Post-14 (Education and Training) or enhance your career prospects further still by continuing to study with us at masters level.

2026 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2026 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

Please Note: Whilst you are not required to obtain a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate before starting this course, you will be required to obtain a DBS certificate before you start any placement where you will be working with children, young people or vulnerable adults. A DBS certificate is a compulsory element of the SEND and TESOL pathways. If you are unable to obtain a DBS certificate you will be unable to complete any of the specialist pathways (in SEND or TESOL) and your placement will need to be located where there is no legal DBS requirement. Payment for the DBS initial process is included in your course fees.

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to

Additional costs and optional extras

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.