Undergraduate Course

Course details

Study options

Full-time: 4 years

UK fee

£9,250 per year (2025/26)

International fee

£TBC per year (2025/26)

UCAS points

72 (September 2025 entry)

UCAS code

X301

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
  • Match your degree to your interests and ambitions with one of our pathways in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
  • Strengthen your CV by gaining valuable practical experience on work placement
  • Take the opportunity to join one of our exciting international fieldtrips: our students have travelled as far afield as The Gambia, Morocco and Kenya
  • Look at different aspects of education in a range of settings, within and outside school
  • Explore the role of education in society, including how moral and social issues shape learning
Top15for EducationGuardian University Guide 2025
100%of students agreed that staff are good at explaining thingsBA (Hons) Education Studies - National Student Survey 2024

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.

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.

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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’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.

Person offering support to a student Person offering support to a student with a laptop Student smiling with tutor Tutor smiling with student and laptop

Helping you reach your full potential

Our Personal Academic Tutoring programme supports your academic journey, helping you achieve your goals and unlock your potential.

Learn more

Who will teach you

Dr Ruth Mieschbuehler

Programme Leader

Ruth Mieschbuehler

Dr Ruth Mieschbuehler

Ruth is a Programme Leader for Education Studies

View full staff profile

Entry requirements

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 points72
A LevelDDD
T LevelPass
BTECMMP
GCSEGCSE Maths and English are preferred, however if you don't have these qualifications you will be able to undertake Maths and English at Level 2 as part of your course of study
Access to HEPass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 0, Merit: 30, Pass: 15

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

2025/26

 Full-timePart-time
UK

£9,250 per year

N/A

International

£TBC 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

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).

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.

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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

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