Education Studies with Foundation Year

Start your journey towards a BA (Hons) Education Studies with our foundation year. This course will build your knowledge and confidence while offering an excellent introduction to all aspects of education – from early years to lifelong learning.

From day one of the foundation year stage, you’ll enjoy all the benefits of being a University of Derby student, along with extra support to help you build your knowledge, skills and confidence.

A broad spectrum of knowledge

You will be provided with a solid understanding of education and educational equality, bringing together perspectives from history, psychology, sociology and philosophy. 

You will attending an intellectually stimulating course that will make you an authority on current education policy and practice.

You can choose to build on this core knowledge by following one of our specialist pathways in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). 

Real-world learning in action

Even if you choose not to study a specialist pathway, you’ll still undertake a 12-day work placement in an education setting during stage two of the course.

A Global Outlook

We offer exciting opportunities for you to travel abroad to broaden your horizons. Our programme of international fieldtrips has given our students first-hand experience of education in countries such as Morocco, The Gambia and Kenya.

These experiences 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

Build a degree to reflect your personal 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’ll explore a range of SEND practitioner roles and the ways that government policy impacts upon such roles, inside and outside 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; to work abroad as an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher; or to work as a teacher of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) in an adult or community environment.

You’ll 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, we encourage you to reflect upon your own knowledge and understanding of the English language.

A vibrant learning experience

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 and pastoral care in primary, secondary and higher education.

Foundation Year - helping you to achieve more

Including a foundation year as part of your four-year study programme will give you a head start in your academic and professional life. The foundation year offers the chance to strengthen your skills, knowledge and confidence – with extensive support from our expert staff – before you advance to stage one of your honours degree. It could also be beneficial if you are planning a career change and want to get to grips with aspects of subjects which are new to you.

Our degrees with a foundation year are continuous, meaning that you won’t need to apply again once you have successfully completed the first year.

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

How you're assessed

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

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 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.

English language requirements

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

2025/26

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

Additional costs and optional extras

Our BA (Hons) Education Studies with Foundation Year paves the way to wide-ranging career opportunities in fields relating not only to education but also to 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, and community learning facilitators.

Depending on the specialist pathway you choose, you could also progress to roles such as special educational needs co-ordinator, SEND teacher or SEND manager or as a teacher specialising in English as a foreign language.

You could also enhance your career prospects further still by continuing to study with us at masters level. 

Please note that this course does not offer Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). However, many of our graduates choose to progress to postgraduate teacher training programmes, such as our PGCE Primary or PGCE Post-14 (Education and Training).

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.

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.

Other courses you might like

• Education Studies with optional pathway in SEND or TESOL BA (Hons)
• Special Educational Needs and Disability BA (Hons)
• Special Educational Needs and Disability with Foundation Year BA (Hons)