Education Studies and English

English at Derby is an exciting, diverse and challenging course that not only incorporates the close analysis of literature, but also considers the situations in which literature is produced and read. This means your studies will include the intellectual and cultural history of art, film, philosophy, linguistics and sociology, as well as contemporary cultural politics. You will be introduced to a range of cultural expression from across the globe and from diverse historical periods.

There is the opportunity to broaden your experience with work-based learning projects, study visits to cultural and heritage institutions, as well as lectures and seminars delivered by guest speakers.

Studying Education at Derby provides you with 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.

Your Education Studies modules will explore 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. 

Putting theory into practice 

You’ll benefit from varied teaching approaches, including guest speakers from a range of industry backgrounds, real-world learning opportunities such as live briefs, and projects set by industry, so you’ll graduate with a wealth of experience. 

What is a Joint Honours degree?

A Joint Honours degree offers students the opportunity to study two subjects.

A Joint Honours degree is a great option if:

• You want to study two subjects you’re passionate about
• You’ve got a specific career in mind and want to create a tailored degree to prepare you for the future
• You want to study a new subject alongside one you’re already familiar with

The modules below indicate the range of modules you may study as part of this combination, however prescribed and optional modules will vary depending on whether you choose to study both subjects equally, or choose to major or minor in a subject. To find out exactly which modules you would study as part of your chosen combination please contact jhs@derby.ac.uk.

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.

On your English modules you’ll learn through a mixture of:  

• lectures, seminars and tutorials 
• creative writing workshops 
• project work 
• technology-enhanced learning 
• peer reviews and presentations 
• We also arrange visits to literary festivals, local and national museums, cultural heritage sites and other areas of interest for 'location writing' exercises. 

For Education Studies modules, you will be taught using a variety of methods from directed study, lectures, seminars and tutorials. 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 are assessed

For English modules, our assessment strategy is designed to produce confident, articulate graduates with a broad set of skills. There are no exams and forms of assessment include seminar debates, group presentations and conference papers alongside essays and longer research projects. We place great emphasis on developing your research skills, with independent projects playing a key part in the second and third year of the course.  
For Education Studies modules, you won’t have to take any exams. You will be assessed through course work, including essays, presentations, portfolios, reports and case study analysis. 

This degree will open up a range of career options. However, we also recognise the importance of supporting you to develop the skills sought by employers to maximise your employability.

We will provide you with the skills to engage critically with the world in which you live, as well as developing your understanding of cultural difference and of the capacity of language to produce unintended effects and meanings. Such awareness is hugely valuable to employers. As well as teaching, graduates in English have gone on to have careers in journalism, publishing, arts administration and a range of other graduate-level professions.

Studying Education Studies offers a wide range of 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   

Throughout the course, we place great emphasis on improving your employability. We encourage 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. 

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

2025/26

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

Additional costs and optional extras

Additional information about your studies

You will typically study your two subjects equally at stage one, before choosing whether you want to major in one subject at stages two and three.

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

• Creative Writing and Publishing BA (Hons)
• English BA (Hons)
• Education Studies with optional pathway in SEND or TESOL BA (Hons)

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.