Course in brief

This degree programme is designed for professionals employed in care or education positions. The course allows you to study while you work, bringing together practice, theory, current research and policy, and supporting you in developing your immediate practice as well as your career.

On course completion you will have earned a professional qualification and graduate fully prepared to progress your role in this challenging and rewarding field, or advance to further study.

A choice of modules allows you to tailor your degree specialities to fill your specific knowledge gaps and to complement your personal and professional interests.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

UCAS code Not applicable. Apply direct to the university.

Part-time 4 years 

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Please make sure that you meet the entry requirements before applying. If you have any questions the course team will be happy to help.

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Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course if you wish to begin studying with us in 2018. They should be used as a general guide.

We operate a flexible admissions policy – this means that you could receive a lower conditional offer than the typical offer, informed by our assessment of your complementary non-academic achievements and experiences. For courses that require interview or portfolio review, this may also be considered in the level of any conditional offer that follows if your application is successful.

To be considered for a place you should normally:

  • be working (paid or unpaid) with children or young people from 0–19 years, at least two days per week (or equivalent) and to have been working in services for children and young people for at least one year
  • have already undertaken some initial study and training in working with children and young people 
  • be able to show you are ready for study at university (usually through completing a level 3 qualification or similar).

International equivalencies

International equivalencies by country
 
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

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

Visit our language institute

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Course in detail

Course structure

The Supporting Learning 5–11 Years BA(Hons) is a part-time work-based programme, studied over four years.

The modular design of the programme enables you to reflect on your professional experience, to increase your awareness of current issues and practices and to develop your academic and research skills.

Typically you will:

  • study for one day a week (as well as some Saturdays). This will not always be face to face at university; methods of learning include small group seminars, participatory workshops and online learning experiences as well as attending lectures led by experienced practitioners, tutors and researchers
  • be supported in your individual learning and career progression throughout
  • take on a series of structured work-related tasks and assignments, supported by an individual work-based mentor
  • visit other settings and complementary learning environments
  • conclude your studies with an individual extended professional enquiry of your own choosing.
children at nursery

Year 1

Modules

  • The Practitioner as Learner
  • Children and Young People's Learning and Development
  • Understanding Barriers to Learning
  • Informal Learning and Alternative Learning Strategies
  • Professional Reflective Practice in Learning and Development

 

Students in classroom

Year 2

Modules

  • Safeguarding and Promoting Welfare and Wellbeing
  • Further Professional Reflective Practice Development

Options*

  • Communication, Language and Literacy Development
  • Introduction to Science at Key Stages 1 and 2
  • Relationships and Interventions with Young People 
  • Assessing Children’s Achievements
  • Group Work with Children and Young People 
  • Families in Communities: The Role of the Setting
  • Learning and Teaching Mathematics at Key Stage 1 and 2
  • Contemporary Issues for Young People

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Primary education

Year 3

Modules

  • Equality and Inclusion
  • Organisational Culture and Leadership in Children and Young People's Services
  • An Introduction to Critical Perspectives in Education, Learning and Development

Options*

  • The Positive Learning Environment
  • Learning and Teaching English at Key Stages 1 and 2
  • Young People, Transitions and Change
  • Foundations for the Future
  • PSHEE and Citizenship in Learning and Development Contexts 
  • Understanding Participation and Community Development

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

children at nursery

Final year

Modules

  • Practitioners as Researchers
  • The Professional Enquiry: Education, Learning and Development
Children at nursery

Staff profile

Mark Price

Assistant Head of School

Mark Price is a principal lecturer in the School of Education and is currently the assistant head of school. He has worked as a playworker, secondary school teacher, youth worker and youth counsellor and leads the reflective practice and inter-professional practices element of the Working with Children and Young People award programme at Brighton.

The focus of much of his work with young people has been with those whose pathway through the education system has sometimes been disrupted or fragmented.

He was awarded an Excellence in Facilitating Learning award in 2010 and is co-editor of Integrated Working with Children and Young People published in 2012.

Mark has particular experience working with challenging behaviour and exploring themes of gender, sexuality and emotional literacy. He leads on modules relating to reflective practice and inter-professionalism, and is especially interested in the way that practitioners' working lives and identities develop.

Course statistics

Unistats and key information sets

Unistats enable you to compare information when choosing a UK university course. All UK universities publish Unistats data on their website.

Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They are updated following course changes, and give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course.

Programme specification

These charts give an indication of how much time you will spend on different activities at each level of the course, and an indication of the balance of assessment by coursework, and written and practical exams. For courses with option modules, actual proportions will depend on the modules you choose.

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked above). You can find out also about the range of support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Overall workload

Assessments

Careers and employability

On graduation, you will be well-placed for career advancement, with a professional qualification giving you a competitive edge. 

This award supports career development in a range of contexts and professions. Our experienced and well connected staff will be able to advise you as you explore your future career opportunities in settings including nurseries, schools, colleges, children's and youth centres, family projects, activity focused provision, specialist provision and alternative education settings.

primary teaching

Fees and funding

Your fees

Year 1 (100 credits) 6,935 GBP

Year 2 (100 credits)  6,935 GBP

Year 3 (100 credits) 6,935 GBP

Year 4 (60 credits) 4,625 GBP

 

Concerned about university fees?

You do not need to pay tuition fees upfront. If you are a UK or EU undergraduate student studying for the first time, you can apply for funding from the government to cover these. Once you leave university, you will only repay the loan if you earn above a certain amount. You may also be eligible for a maintenance loan for living costs. Find out more about student finance for part-time students.

Money Saving Expert take you through the system and explain what you’ll really pay to study as a part-time student.

The fees listed here are for courses beginning in the academic year 2018–19. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

Where UK/EU students are subject to regulated fees, the annual fee increase cannot exceed the UK government’s maximum regulated tuition fee limit set for the relevant year. For all other students, ie those not subject to regulated fees, tuition fees are subject to a maximum annual increase of the higher of 5% or RPI.

Part-time students should contact fees@brighton.ac.uk for specific advice about their fees, you can also visit our advice for part-time students page.

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

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, contact us using the 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.

Location and living here

Location

About Brighton

Forward-thinking and welcoming, the city of Brighton & Hove is a community of creative and diverse people who share values like sustainability and inclusivity – just like its university.

Miles of pebble beaches, hundreds of bars, restaurants and clubs, a packed calendar of culture, music and sport and great independent and high street shopping attract visitors from all over the world. By the end of your course you’ll still be finding new things to enjoy about the city.

The Brighton Festival, England’s largest arts festival, takes place every May – as does the Great Escape Europe’s leading industry showcase for new music, 300 bands perform over three days at venues across the city. Major events celebrate Pride, digital culture, cinema, photography, food and the winter solstice. Our own Brighton Graduate show is a highlight, turning the university into the largest exhibition space in the south east as we celebrate the outstanding creativity of our students.

As a student here you’ll have a unique opportunity to experience what the city has to offer. Volunteering and placement opportunities enable you to play your part in the events, organisations and communities that make Brighton such a compelling place to be.

i360 and ticket booth on the seafront What to expect enriching experiences

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Surrounded by the South Downs National Park and just five miles from the centre of Brighton, our Falmer campus has benefited from over £60million of investment over the past 10 years. 7,000 students are based here, studying subjects including English, education, social science, nursing and medicine.

Recent developments include the Falmer Sports Centre – with its fitness suites and sports hall – and the innovative Checkland Building, which has natural ventilation systems and an insulating green roof.

Falmer has also recently installed more than 600 solar panels, which reduce the campus’s carbon emissions by more than 80 tonnes. The renovation has made us one of the top universities in the UK for on-site renewable energy production.

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Accommodation

Brighton: Falmer

We have halls of residence across the city in Grand Parade, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

  • Eligible students can apply for any of these options. Find out if you are eligible…
  • You’ll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
  • Falmer campus is linked to halls on the Falmer campus and Varley Park.
    • Varley Park offers a mix of rooms and catering options. Varley Park is less than a mile from Falmer and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
    • Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls are on campus and offer a range of room types and catering options.

We also offer Unihomes and Unilets, student houses that we let out to our students on behalf of private landlords. This option offers the most choice and flexibility and can work particularly well when you’re balancing learning with placements and other commitments.

There’s plenty of support if you choose private rented accommodation. We manage our own studenthomes database of properties. And we run our housemates service over the summer for students, new and returning, looking for a place to live.

Find out more on our accommodation webpages.

Hillside hall of residence at Varley Park

Varley Park accommodation near to the Falmer campus

Student in our Moulsecoomb Place hall of residence

Maps

house Accommodation
campus University building

Falmer campus

Find out more

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School of Education
01273 643313
schoolofeducation@brighton.ac.uk

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