Why choose the School of Education and English
In the NSS 2025, our education courses scored student satisfaction rates of 90% and over for teaching; learning opportunities; assessment and feedback; academic support; and organisation and management.
They are in the UK top 20 for student satisfaction (Complete 天美传媒 Guide, 2026).
They rank UK 4th (tied) in their subject field for career prospects (Guardian, 2026).
About the course
Do you believe in the power and potential of education to improve people鈥檚 lives? But do you feel that there are key issues within the education system that need changing? If you answered yes to these questions, then this could be the degree for you. Committed to education, critical of its structures: this describes not only our approach to education studies, but also many of our students.
On this exciting and broad degree, you will study education 鈥 in national and international contexts 鈥 in relation to political history, sociology, philosophy, psychology and issues of media representation. There is a strong focus on employability and practical experience, with opportunities for professional training, gaining additional certificates and qualifications, trips, and work placements over the duration of your course.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- Mock classrooms with specialist technology so you can watch and assess your lesson.
- Forest School where you can deepen your understanding of the long-term educational benefits of outdoor learning opportunities.
- Specialist sensory centre to support your understanding of how teachers teach and children learn, within early years and SEND contexts.
- Multi-media space for webinars and podcasting.
Industry links
As one of the largest providers of teacher education in the eastern region, we have well-established partnerships with more than 500 schools and other associated organisations, a network that puts us at the forefront of educational developments.
Student experience
- Flexible unit choices allow you to specialise in a particular area that may align with your future career intentions.
- You work with an academic team with expertise across sociology, history, philosophy of education and critical pedagogy.
- Many of our staff also have "previous lives" in frontline professions, including youth work and education, and bring real-world perspectives to teaching sessions.
- You benefit from the support of your own personal tutor, a unit and course coordinator, and the additional support of our experienced library staff, all of whom will help you throughout your student journey and with balancing study with work and personal commitments.
- Our Bedford campus is a small, thriving academic community where academic staff get to know you well.
Get in touch
If you would like to have an informal discussion about the Education BA (Hons) degree, please contact the course lead, Dr. Oli Belas at oliver.belas@beds.ac.uk
If you would like to study for the Education BA(Hons) degree but think you do not yet meet the entry requirements, we also offer an Education with Foundation Year BA(Hons). Successful completion of the Foundation Year guarantees progression to the degree. For more information, contact course lead, Dr. Kay Calver at kay.calver@beds.ac.uk or Dr. Oli Belas at oliver.belas@beds.ac.uk
with Professional Practice Year
This course has the option to be taken over four years which includes a year placement in industry. Undertaking a year in industry has many benefits. You gain practical experience and build your CV, as well as being a great opportunity to sample a profession and network with potential future employers.
There is no tuition fee for the placement year enabling you to gain an extra year of experience for free.
*Only available to UK/EU students.
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with Foundation Year
A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.
Whether you鈥檙e returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn鈥檛 quite meet the grades to pursue an Undergraduate course, our Degrees with Foundation Year provide a fantastic entry route for you to work towards a degree level qualification.
With our guidance and support you鈥檒l get up to speed within one year, and will be ready to seamlessly progress on to undergraduate study at Bedfordshire.
The Foundation Year provides an opportunity to build up your academic writing skills and numeracy, and will also cover a range of subject specific content to fully prepare you for entry to an Undergraduate degree.
This is an integrated four-year degree, with the foundation year as a key part of the course. You will need to successfully complete the Foundation Year to progress on to the first year of your bachelor鈥檚 degree.
Why study a degree with a Foundation Year?
- Broad-based yet enough depth to give you credible vocational skills
- Coverage of a variety of areas typically delivered by an expert in this area
- Gain an understanding of a subject before choosing which route you wish to specialise in
- Great introduction to further study, and guaranteed progression on to one of our Undergraduate degrees
The degrees offering a Foundation Year provide excellent preparation for your future studies.
During your Foundation Year you will get the opportunity to talk to tutors about your degree study and future career aspirations, and receive guidance on the most appropriate Undergraduate course to help you achieve this; providing you meet the entry requirements and pass the Foundation Year.
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Course Leader - Dr Oliver Belas
I have been an educator 鈥 working in HE, secondary education (as a classroom assistant and teacher), and HE again 鈥 since 2005. I joined the 天美传媒鈥檚 School of Education and English (SEE), where I teach on the Education and English Literature degrees, in January 2018.
Course Leader - Dr Oliver Belas
I have been an educator 鈥 working in HE, secondary education (as a classroom assistant and teacher), and HE again 鈥 since 2005. I joined the 天美传媒鈥檚 School of Education and English (SEE), where I teach on the Education and English Literature degrees, in January 2018.
Year 1 (all core units)
- Key Concepts in Education
Explores a range of concepts and theories that have shaped the study and understandings of education. - Constructions of Childhood
Examines definitions of childhood and how attitudes towards children have changed over time. - Early Child Psychology
An introduction to the psychological and social development of young children. - Inclusion and Education
Considers issues of inclusion from a range of social, political, and educational perspectives. - Psychology of Adolescence
An introduction to a range of social and psychological issues affecting adolescents. - Safeguarding and Child Protection
Explores the history and development of safeguarding practices and includes safeguarding training leading to certification.
Year 2
Core units
- Children and Young People in the Digital Age
Considers how social media and digital technologies 鈥 particularly AI-powered technologies 鈥 are shaping children鈥檚 and young people's lives, in and out of school. Includes a placement experience and training leading to certification. - Global Perspectives on Education
Examines the sociopolitical and culturally specific nature of education in international contexts. - Introduction to Educational Philosophy
Philosophers like to ask what, how, and why things are 鈥 or seem to be 鈥 as they are. This unit invites you to think philosophically about a range of educational matters and to give your reasons for your views. - Research Methods
An introduction to a wide variety of approaches to, and methods of research.
Optional units
*Please note: we may not be able to offer all options every year
- Developing Teaching Practice
A unit that gets students to think about the practices and processes of teaching. - The Lifelong Curriculum
Addresses the ways in which schooling shapes our attitudes towards learning and affects our future lives as employees and consumers. - Deschooling
Beginning with Ivan Illich鈥檚 classic book, Deschooling Society, we develop a radical approach to education that gives you the opportunity to take control of your learning. - Families and Communities
This unit interrogates political constructions of such familiar words as 鈥渇amily鈥 and 鈥渃ommunity鈥 and explores how our understanding of them has changed over time. - Creative Writing
An introduction to creative writing practices. Of interest to aspiring writers, and to anyone considering primary and/or English teaching.
Year 3
Core units
- Philosophy in Action: Contemporary Issues in Education
This unit brings philosophy to life by putting the philosophical concepts into 鈥渞eal-world鈥 situations. - Dissertation in Education
An extended independent, but tutor-supported, project.
Optional units*
*Please note: we may not be able to offer all options every year
- Independent Careers Project
A chance to develop an independent project which reflects your career plans. This is a flexible unit, which might include work placement hours. - The Lifelong Curriculum
Addresses the ways in which schooling shapes our attitudes towards learning and affects our future lives as employees and consumers. This unit is also offered in Year 2, you may only take it once. - Children's & Young Adult Fiction
A survey of a range of children鈥檚 and young adult fiction, including several wonderful picture books. Interesting in itself; useful if you are considering a career in teaching. - Children and Young People鈥檚 Well-being
This unit will help you to understand social and emotional issues in education. You will gain an understanding of how to support children and young people with their well-being. - Media Representations of Disability
You might like this if you want to delve deeper into how disability is represented in literature, on screen and on stage. - Challenging the 鈥渃hallenging behaviour鈥 paradigm
How do we define challenging behaviour? What causes challenging behaviour and how might we address it? These are some of the key questions guiding this unit.
We do not assess by exam on this course, and we offer lots of opportunities for you to gain assessment support and guidance during your studies to help you excel.
You will experience a range of assignment types through which we assess your learning and support your development. Common assignment types include:
- essays
- case study analysis
- reflective writing
- portfolios
- presentations
- development of resources and activity packs
Careers
Our graduates are inspired to work with children and young people and to make a difference in their communities. You can follow a number of pathways after completing your undergraduate degree in BA (Hons) Education.
You can choose to further your studies through postgraduate degrees, professional qualifications and PhDs in areas such as:
- Education
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health
- Social Work
- Play and art-based therapies
- PGCE and worked-based routes into teaching (primary, secondary, or further education)
There are also a number of Graduate Schemes where you can progress your career, including:
- Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme
- Charity Works Graduate Scheme
- Into 天美传媒 Graduate Education Worker Scheme
You will be able to pursue a career relating to children, young people, and education, with our graduates in successful roles such as:
- Inclusion Officer
- Young Carers Assessor
- Youth Offending Practitioner
- Serious Youth Violence Coordinator
- Safeguarding Advisor
- SEND Progress Coordinator
- Teaching
- Teaching English Abroad (TEFL/TESOL)
- Social work
- Youth Advocacy
You can listen to some of our graduates share their employment stories on the available on all major podcast platforms.
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2025/26 is 拢9,535 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees. You can also apply for a maintenance loan from the Government to help cover your living costs. See
Excellence Scholarships
Worth 拢2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
禄 If you don鈥檛 qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering 拢500 per year of study**
禄 Other scholarships, bursaries and financial support packages are available
* Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.
** Threshold is 120 UCAS tariff points across all awarding bodies and qualifications.
International
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2025/26 is 拢16,900 per year.
There are range of Scholarships available to help support you through your studies with us.
A full list of scholarships can be found here.
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