Undergraduate Course

Education Studies with optional pathway in SEND or TESOL

BA (Hons)

Course details

Study options

Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: up to 6 years

UK fee

£9,250 per year (2024/25)

International fee

£14,900 per year (2024/25)

UCAS points

104-112 (September 2024 entry)104 (September 2025 entry)

UCAS code

X300

Start date

September

Location

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

The best bits

  • Education at Derby is ranked in the Top 30 in The Guardian University Guide 2024
  • A choice of pathways: Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
  • Learn from influential researchers and published authors
  • A strong focus on social equality and international learning opportunities
  • Opens doors to a wide range of careers
Top15for EducationGuardian University Guide 2025
100%of students agreed that staff are good at explaining thingsBA (Hons) Education Studies - National Student Survey 2024

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:

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.

You will explore a range of SEND practitioner roles and the ways that government policy impacts upon such roles, in and out of the classroom. Our strong links with schools and colleges – both special and mainstream – mean you can learn from leading professionals working in the SEND field.

TESOL pathway

This pathway is ideal if you want to focus on English language teaching for learners in a variety of contexts. It equips you with the skills to:

  • Work with English as an Additional Language (EAL) pupils in a primary or secondary setting
  • Work abroad as an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher
  • Work as a teacher of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) in an adult or community environment

You will undertake observed teaching practice to give you vital experience and enhance your employability. We introduce you to various approaches for teaching grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, listening, speaking and pronunciation. You’ll also look at lesson planning, syllabus design and assessment. In addition, you’ll be encouraged to reflect on your own knowledge and understanding of the English language.

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

Big spaces for big ideas

Kedleston Road offers it all: study in our largest library, relax at Basecamp, train in real-world healthcare settings, and stay active in our state-of-the-art Sports Centre.

Discover your campusDiscover your campus

What you will study

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.

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

How you will learn

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:

Children playing in a forest area

Outdoor Learning Space

Learn how to apply education in an outdoor setting, using nature to improve the personal, social and technical skills of children.

Explore our Outdoor Learning SpaceExplore our Outdoor Learning Space

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.

Personal academic tutoring

Your personal academic tutor will work with you to help you get the most out of your time at university. Having someone to talk to about your academic progress, your university experience and your professional aspirations is hugely valuable. We want you to feel challenged in your studies, stretched but confident to achieve your academic and professional goals.

Find out more about personal academic tutoring

Who will teach you

Ruth Mieschbuehler

Dr Ruth Mieschbuehler
Programme leader

Ruth is a Programme Leader for Education Studies

View full staff profileView full staff profile

Entry requirements

2024 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2024 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

RequirementWhat we're looking for
UCAS points104-112
A LevelBBC-BCC
T LevelMerit
BTECDMM
GCSEGCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
Access to HEPass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6

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.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

RequirementWhat we're looking for
UCAS points104
A LevelBCC
T LevelMerit
BTECDMM
GCSEGCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
Access to HEPass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6

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.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

Fees and funding

2024/25

 Full-timePart-time
UK

£9,250 per year

£1,155 per 20 credit module

International

£14,900 per year

N/A

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

Additional costs and optional extras

How to apply

Please look at our application deadlines before you apply.


UK students

If you are in Year 13 and applying for a full-time undergraduate course (including our joint honours courses), we recommend that you apply through UCAS.

Apply through UCAS

If you are applying to study part-time, or already have your qualifications, or wish to join at Year 2 or 3, you should apply directly to the University.

Apply directly to the University

Careers

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:

Our specialist pathways could lead you to roles such as:

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.

Getting you career ready

Your degree is only part of your story.

We're here to help prepare you for life after university.

Career Support Image

96%
of UK graduates are in employment or further study.

Top 5
for employability.
Uni Compare Annual Student Review Rankings 2025.

87%
of UK graduates say their current activity is meaningful.

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

Contact us Contact us

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.

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Full-time

Part-time

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