Education BA(Hons)

Course structure

We are known for our balanced approach to teaching and learning, employing a combination of theory and practical skills, which you will experience through seminars, workshops, placements, research, and independent study.

You will have the opportunity to go on a placement for two weeks in year 1 and for eight weeks in year 2. Previous students have chosen to undertake their placements in organisations such as schools, local authorities, community groups, museums and business.

If you show strong academic performance you may also be considered for international placements in year 2.

Learning and teaching approaches

The course will provide you with a challenging, inclusive and creative environment including:

• personal and group tutorial support
• group work, discussion and debate
• independent and enquiry based learning
• seminars, workshops and lectures.

The School of Education organises an annual conference, which celebrates all students as researchers. Find out more about the Education BA Conference.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through our applicant portal.

Areas of study 

You will explore topics including:

• learning and development
• education policy
• equality and inclusion
• research
• comparative and international education.

The flexibility of our Education degree means you can tailor the programme modules to meet your career aspirations. Find out more about our themed pathways.

Key questions addressed:

• What is an educated person?
• How does learning occur?
• Can education lead to a fairer society?
• How are education systems structured?
• What can we learn from education systems in other countries?
• What constitutes good research?

Year 1

In year 1 you will explore psychological and sociological theories of human development, and examine the role of the family and wider institutions in education and development.

You will have an opportunity to see how your knowledge can be applied to understand real-world situations on your first placement of the course, which we will help to arrange for you.

Modules

• Perspectives on Learning and Development

  This module explores both major theoretical traditions and more contemporary ideas relating to learning and development. To understand the theory-practice relationship you will investigate, evaluate and apply chosen perspectives to examples of educational practice, showing awareness of relevant academic debates. You will be supported to develop the academic skills of effective essay writing.

• Philosophy of Education

  This module will provide you with an introduction to the philosophy of education. Through examination of key influential educational thinkers and selected excerpts from their major texts, you will be introduced into philosophical thinking, reading and writing on education. The content of the module will support you in considering ways in which different philosophies have been given expression in various forms of education, and more specifically, the ways in which we perceive its nature, aims and relationship to society.

• Learning in Higher Education

  This module will help you to make the most of your studies in Higher Education and improve your self-confidence as a learner by developing your capacity to meet the academic requirements and expectations of the programme.

• Education and Society

  This module explores the relationship between society and education. Drawing on a range of theoretical frameworks and perspectives, you will develop an appreciation of the complex interactions between education and contextual factors at individual, institutional and societal level. In doing so you will reflect on the importance of context in understanding education in contemporary society.

• Systems and Structures in Education

  This module will develop your understanding of the education system and its structures in England. It has as its central theme, the changing relationship between the state, education and its users through the relationship between the UK political system and the UK education system. It then links these systems through the left-right continuum and subsequent ideologies in the development of systems and structures in education. This is explored particularly in terms of educational governance and control. The module analyses UK education policy in the recent past with a particular focus on changes under successive governments and with specific reference to England.

• Placement Learning: Towards Enquiry-Based Learning

  This module builds on semester 1 and 2 learning by facilitating the opportunity to engage in a small-scale enquiry during a short, off-campus placement. The enquiry focus will be determined by you, based on your emerging educational and academic interests. This module will stress enquiry-based learning as a key theoretical framework for adult independent learning. It will  also introduce you to key concepts of employability and enterprise.

Year 2

In year 2 you will look at theories of how culture, aid and globalisation shape today's education in our society and those of others around the world. You will develop your understanding of issues relating to inclusion by critiquing social, cultural and political contexts related to education.

You will be equipped with the tools to make your own research discoveries and critically evaluate key theories, literature and debate.

A key feature of this year is an eight-week placement module in a relevant area of your interest. Placements are an opportunity to put theory into practice and explore your career options.

Prior to going on placement, you will have an opportunity to attend the Education BA Employability Programme, an annual event run by the school to ensure you are fully prepared.

Modules

• Reflective Practice
• Research Methods in Education
• Comparative Education
• Equality and Inclusion in Education
• Placement Learning: Reflecting and Researching

Final year

In your final year you will learn the key knowledge, initiatives, policies and ideas around education; you will reflect on your own educational philosophy, including life-history and self-study research, and start planning for your career or further study.

You will also undertake a period of individual research and a dissertation, specific to your own interests and career aspirations.

Modules

• Inequality and Education: Critical Approaches
• Reframing Identity
• Learning in Practice
• A Comparative and Cultural Approach to International Education
• Dissertation

Placements

One of the key aspects of the course is the wide variety of placement opportunities. Placements help you develop key skills valued by employers and gain experience in potential career areas.

We encourage you to pursue your interest in whichever field of education you are passionate about. The staff team will support you in identifying and arranging your placement.

Here are some of the settings our students have been on placement in. 

• International School in Espoo, Finland
• Learning and development department of the Police force
• Get Involved with the African Street Children Organisation (GI ASCO)
• Primary Schools
• Asphaleia (charity organisation)
• Brighton Students' Union
• The Whitehawk Inn (community-led organisation)
• Vallalar Educational Trust (VET) in India
• Youth centres

Find out more about our placement opportunities.

International requirements

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Course fees

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2019–20.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Local area

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Falmer campus