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BA (Hons) Education

Start date
September
Duration
3 years
UCAS code
LX33
Course Type
Undergraduate, Single Honours
Fees
For 2025-2026
£9,535(UK) 
£24,470 (International)

More detail.

On our undergraduate BA (Hons) Education degree at Birmingham you will learn about education as a human, cultural, economic, and social development that is fundamental to a changing, globalised world.

The three-year BA (Hons) Education degree combines ideas and research from education, psychology, sociology, philosophy and history. It has been designed for both UK and international students who have academic interests in education or aspirations to work with children and young people in a variety of fields. There is a compulsory vocational placement during the second year. 

The modules on the BA (Hons) Education course explore how people, and especially children, develop and learn in their social and cultural contexts. They are constantly updated to include new research, which meets the needs of the sector and recognises the UK’s evolving education policy and practices.

You will have the option to join the Education Society, run by students, which aims to bring together people with a common interest in Education. They host a number of social and career opportunity events throughout the year.

Why study this course?

Alongside this course, you will have the option to join the Education Society, run by students, which aims to bring together people with a common interest in Education. They host a number of social and career opportunity events throughout the year.

  • Modules to suit your own interests - our extensive range of compulsory and optional modules on the BA (Hons) Education degree will allow you to build a programme to suit your own interests and career aspirations. 
  • Option to study overseas - during your second year of study you will also have the option to study overseas at one of our partner institutions for the first semester.
  • A vocational placement - within the UK or overseas in an educational setting which will provide you with valuable reflective practical learning. 
  • The School of Education - is ranked 3rd in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) in the UK, and it aspires to be among the QS top 45 best Schools of Education in the world by 2030.
  • Turing scheme - You can apply for year-abroad and the Turing Scheme grant to enrich your learning experience overseas.

Please note that a range of different placement and dissertation options are available to students on this programme, and for some of these options you may need to have a DBS check. If necessary, support will be provided to complete the process at the appropriate point in the programme. 

International Students

The University of Birmingham has been welcoming international students onto our campus since 1900. We have a large and vibrant international student community, with over 10,000 international students from approximately 150 different countries. Find out more about studying at Birmingham as an international student.

“I enjoy the course very much because the content is very diverse. We get a lot of support from our tutors and lecturers. They are very supportive, especially to international students.” Ho Cheuk Lam, BA Education student 

International exchange programme

The BA Education degree offers exciting exchange opportunities for studying overseas. Through the European Educational Exchange Programme and the International Exchange Programme, student can choose to study at a number of selected institutions in countries across the world including Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, China and the USA. These exchanges enhance your critical knowledge and understanding by promoting a diverse and international approach to the interdisciplinary social sciences. Modules are taught and assessed in English so you won’t have to worry about language barriers. You will be in regular contact with our departmental International Study Abroad Coordinator as you plan your exchange.

The reputation of the university, being a Russell Group university with many highly regarded professors working and teaching in the Education department, was a massive pull for me.

Abbie, Graduate 2018


You may also be interested in the following degrees:

Modules

Unless indicated otherwise the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2025.

First year modules

Compulsory

  • Introduction to Developmental Psychology
  • Schooling: a social and cultural history
  • Philosophy of Education
  • Equality and Diversity: Children, Families and Society 
  • Contemporary Issues in Education
  • Young People and Social Change

Second year modules

Compulsory

  • Education Policy and Social Justice 
  • Researching Childhood and Education 
  • Placement 

The Placement

To prepare for the placement you will attend workshops in the Spring of the previous academic year and then negotiate your own placement in an educational context or setting.  A minimum of 70 hours of placement learning is expected, although many students do significantly in excess of this.  The placement is undertaken at the end of the summer term of the previous academic year to when the module is assessed, over the following summer holiday period or in the early autumn term of the year in which the module is assessed.  The assignment is a 4000 word reflective learning journal and you are carefully prepared for writing this. 

Recent and past placements have been undertaken in a range of settings, for example: as voluntary teaching assistants in schools; shadowing an education professional; working on an educational research project; leading educational activities on a summer camp or language school; shadowing a prison educator; working in a tutorial school, and; helping in an outdoor education centre. Placements can be based in the UK or in another country overseas.  A risk assessment process will help you plan safely for your placement.

You will also choose 60 credits from a list of optional modules including:

  • Changing Behaviours: A History
  • Ethics in Education
  • Individual Differences and Learning
  • Social Psychology and Learning
  • Study Abroad
  • Primary and Early years education: theory and practice

Third year modules

Compulsory

  • Dissertation 

Choose 80 credits from a list of optional modules including:

  • Critical Approaches to Psychology in Education
  • Children as Citizens
  • Identity, Politics and Everyday Life
  • Language and Literacy in Education
  • Professional Development
  • Reclaiming Education: past, present and future

  • The Development of Anxiety in Childhood and Adolescence and Applications to Education

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

For more information on this degree programme please email ug-education@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Alternatively, please contact Admissions for more information on admission and entry requirements. Email admissions@bham.ac.uk.

Fees

Fees 2025 - 2026

UK Students

The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If your offer is for 2025 year of entry, we expect that the tuition fee for your first year of study will be £9,535. If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay. If you are applying for 2026 year of entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee closer to the time.

International Students

For International students beginning their studies in September 2025, the University of Birmingham will charge £24,470 for the first year of study.

Visit our tuition fees pages for more information on all these fees.

Accommodation

Find out more about accommodation at the University of Birmingham.

Scholarships

Learn more about our scholarships and awards

How To Apply

Apply through UCAS at www.ucas.com using code: LX33.

Learn more about applying, including information on how to write a great Personal Statement and how to make your application stand out.

Standard offer

International Requirements



Number of A levels required:
3
Typical offer:
ABB
General Studies:
not accepted

  • T Levels: all subjects considered; Standard offer: Distinction overall with B in the Core Component.
  • Accepted subjects for the BTEC Extended and BTEC Diploma are Children’s Play, Learning & Development, Health & Social Care.
  • All subjects are considered for the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma when offered in combination with 2 A levels.
    BTEC Extended Diploma DDD; typical offers when offered in combination with A Levels: A in A Level plus DM in the BTEC Diploma; or AB in A Levels plus D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma.
  • International Baccalaureate Diploma: 655 at Higher Level (Plus 32 points overall).

Mathematics and English at GCSE grade C or above. Please note, a GCSE Science at grade C is preferred but not essential. (For students wishing to pursue a career in Primary Years teaching, it is essential to hold a GCSE Science at grade C).

Other qualifications are considered – learn more about entry requirements

We are keen to encourage applicants with a wide range of qualifications and prior learning experiences. These include the International Baccalaureate, international foundation programmes and BTEC and CACHE. We will only consider Access to HE Diploma programmes in Social Sciences or Humanities.

Please address any queries about qualifications, APL or mature entry to the Admissions enquiry contact address: ug-education@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Alternative offers through our Pathways to Birmingham programmes and our Contextual Offer scheme

Students who are eligible and successfully complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme will receive special consideration from admissions tutors and an alternative offer (typically two grades below the standard offer). In addition, our Contextual Offer Scheme recognises the potential of students whose personal circumstances may have restricted achievement in school or college. If you are eligible to benefit from the contextual offer scheme, you will receive an offer which is one grade lower than the standard offer.

International Students

Standard English language requirements apply
Learn more about international entry requirements

You may be interested in one of our Foundation Pathways, which offer specially structured programmes for international students whose qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to UK universities. Our Foundation Pathways at the University of Birmingham combine the highest standards of one of Britain’s leading global universities with a fully integrated student experience. The foundation pathways are is equivalent in learning to year 13 of the UK education system. There are no particular subject requirements but evidence of essay writing is beneficial and IELTS scores are required.

English language support - before your course starts

The University offers Presessional English courses for students who wish to improve their knowledge of spoken and written English in preparation for academic study at the University of Birmingham. Students with conditional offers have the option of attending one of these courses instead of retaking IELTS .  

English language support - during your studies

Birmingham International Academy (BIA) provides free English language services to international students who are currently studying on undergraduate or postgraduate courses at the University of Birmingham.  Services include Open-access English classes, online self-assessment, online materials through CANVAS, email answers to quick questions and individual one to one tutorials.  For a small fee, BIA also offers classes for partners of international postgraduate students and staff, social events including day trips and HOST visits.   

Our Foundation Pathways at the University of Birmingham combine the highest standards of one of Britain’s leading global universities with a fully integrated student experience. Designed for international students who require a preparatory year prior to UK undergraduate study, the foundation programme is equivalent in learning to year 13 of the UK education system.

Learning on our BA Education degree will take place in a range of different settings, from scheduled teaching in lectures and small group tutorials, to self-study and peer group learning (for example preparing and delivering presentations with your classmates).

To begin with you may find this way of working challenging, but you will have access to a wealth of support to help you make this transition. Personal tutors and welfare tutors can help with both academic and welfare issues, and offer help for any particular areas where you need support. You will also have the use of dedicated e-learning, IT and library facilities within the School and university to support your studies.

Students in the School of Education are taught by experienced specialists. Many have published widely in their area of expertise and can offer a unique perspective of their subject.  Our teaching and assessment strategy on our Education degree, reflect our concern with real life practice. As well as learning in lectures and seminars, students are asked to undertake a variety of enquiry based learning activities; undertaking small research projects, participating in public debates and working in groups to solve problems.

As an undergraduate student studying our Education degree, you will be part of a lively School which is actively engaged in the education sector. We hold regular events to which you will be invited. Previous speakers have included Michael Gove MP, Liam Bryne MP, Baroness Doreen Lawrence OBE and Baron David Blunkett.

Contact Hours

Throughout your Education degree you can expect about 12 hours of contact time per week. The precise number of contact hours will vary from year to year and will be affected by the particular module choices you make. Contact hours consist of lectures, seminars and a variety of other activities designed to help you to develop your learning.

Assessment Methods

Studying at degree-level is likely to be very different from your previous experience of learning and teaching. You will be expected to think, discuss and engage critically with the subject and find things out for yourself. 

We assess students not only the basis of the knowledge they gained, but also the skills that they have acquired. You’ll be assessed in a variety of ways, and these may be different with each module that you take.

You will be assessed through coursework which may take the form of essays, group and individual presentations and formal exams. Students also prepare portfolios of experiences and activities which enhances their employability on graduation. Our assessment strategy does not just deliver grades. It seeks to widen horizons and to promote self-development so that our graduates are valued for their leadership and problem-solving capabilities.

At the beginning of each module, you will be given information on how and when you will be assessed for that particular programme of study. You will receive feedback on each assessment within four weeks, so that you can learn from and build on what you have done. You will be given feedback on any exams that you take; if you should fail an exam we will ensure that support from tutors is made available to enable you to learn for the future. 

During your first year you will undergo a formal ‘transition’ review to see how you are getting on and if there are particular areas where you need support. This is in addition to the personal tutor who is based in your school or department and can help with any academic issues you encounter.

Where can your Education degree take you?

 

Our award-winning Careers Network team can help you develop your career from the moment you arrive with us, through bespoke training and events. Careers Network support is tailored to your academic subject area, offering a specialist College team who can give you expert advice.

A University of Birmingham Education degree is highly sought after by employers as evidence of the ability to succeed in a demanding academic environment. Transferable skills from the BA Education degree programme include:

  • written communication developed through writing essays; 
  • oral communication skills gained through reasoned debates during seminars and presentations;
  • ability to work as part of a team, through collaborative group work;
  • research and analytical skills with the ability to judge and evaluate information;
  • organisational and time management skills by prioritising tasks to ensure academic, social and work commitments are completed on time; 
  • negotiation, informally with peers and formally with staff;
  • problem solving; 
  • IT skills.

Our graduates from the School of Education use these skills and their practical experience to pursue successful careers in roles directly related to our BA Education degree programme such as:

  • Primary School Teaching – 40% of our graduate progress to careers in teaching, with many studying our Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Education or Early Years (QTS)
  • Special Educational Needs Teacher
  • Educational Psychologist
  • Child Pyschotherapist
  • Counsellor
  • Social Worker
  • Speech and Language Therapist
  • Learning Mentor

Others use their transferable skills developed during their Education degree to go onto successful careers that are indirectly related to the programme such as:

  • Community Development Worker
  • Museum Education Officer
  • Youth Worker
  • Careers Adviser/Personal Adviser

Many of our graduates go onto successful careers that are open to any graduate with an excellent Honours degree from a top University, such as banking, accountancy, public services etc. 

Hannah Kinney-Spencer

Graduates can also continue into related postgraduate study at Masters and Doctoral level. Find out more about our postgraduate programmes.