Why choose the School of Education and English
Our education courses rank UK 4th (tied) in their subject field for career prospects (Guardian GUG, 2026).
They rank in the UK top 20 for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide, 2026).
Our education students rate us highly (over 90% positive responses) for our teaching; academic support; learning opportunities; assessment and feedback; and organisation and management (NSS, 2025).
About the course
This degree provides a thorough grounding in research, theory and practice across the broad field of SEND, and includes opportunities to engage with professionals in the real world of work. Through a powerful mix of theory and its practical application, you explore concepts such as needs, inclusion and disability, relating them to policy, everyday practices and decision making. This in-depth course has been designed and is taught by specialists with a reputation for integrating theory, research and practice in SEND.
Facilities and specialist equipment
- Specialist Early Years and Sensory Centre to support your understanding of how teachers teach and children learn, within SEND contexts
- Forest School where you can deepen your understanding of the long-term educational benefits of outdoor learning opportunities and learning in SEND
- Classrooms with specialist technology so you can watch and assess different teaching approaches within SEND teaching
- Multi-media space for webinars and podcasting
- Wide range of sports facilities
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
Deepen your knowledge, experience and understanding through placements and visits to relevant, professional organisations.
Gain the ability to reflect sensitively on the issues and barriers young people with SEND face in education while exploring ways to address them.
Benefit from the support of your own personal tutor as well as unit and course coordinators.
Broaden your understanding through regular visits by professionals from schools and academy chains; SEN schools; local education authorities; and other involved agencies.
Our Bedford campus is a small, thriving academic community where academic staff get to know you well and provide personalised, highly student-centred learning.
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.
with Foundation Year
A Degree with a Foundation Year gives you guaranteed entry to an Undergraduate course.
Whether you’re returning to learning and require additional help and support to up-skill, or if you didn’t 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’ll 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’s 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.
Year 1
Constructions of childhood – Explore how social, economic, technological and cultural change, alongside difference and diversity, shape contemporary childhood experience. Understanding human learning – An introduction to the social and psychological theories that underpin SEND interventions and their effectiveness. ‘Need’ in special educational needs and disability – Hone your degree-level skills in planning and producing assignments through an in-depth examination of the term ‘need’ in SEND. Historical development and current legal context for SEND – Learn about the evolution of special educational needs over time and the laws that govern it now.
Year 2
Research methods – Become familiar with different approaches to academic research, including data collection, ethical issues, and designing and implementing a research project. Approaches to understanding and addressing communication, interaction, cognition and learning difficulties and needs – Understand the issues around meeting needs in classrooms and identify effective ways to meet those needs. Difficulties in literacy acquisition – How to support young people who have difficulties with literacy, including dyslexia. Understanding and meeting social, emotional and mental health, and sensory and/or physical difficulties – Ways to support young people with a range of conditions and needs. SEND placement – See learning and support strategies for pupils with a range of needs in action in an educational setting.
Year 3
Assessment and planning – Be able to spot difficulties in the classroom and take action using the assess – plan – do – review cycle. Differentiation in classrooms – Develop your understanding and skills in adapting teaching to include all learners in a classroom. Dissertation - Plan, carry out and write up an independent, supervised research project on a topic of interest, relevant to your course.
You can also choose between two optional units:
• Difficulties in numeracy acquisition
• Uses of ICT to support young people’s special learning needs.
For an at-a-glance list of modules for this course, download the course specification.
This course will provide a range of assessment methods that include both individual and group submissions to evaluate the extent to which you have met the learning outcomes of each unit. These include essays reports posters case studies examinations learning journals and presentations.
The assignments will build directly on the teaching sessions and you will be supported by lecturers to complete the assignments. Substantial guidance is provided on the university's web pages and in detailed assessment briefs.
Careers
You will be prepared for a broad range of employment that requires skills and knowledge of the law; theories of learning; assessment of difficulties; and practical interventions to support children and young people with diverse needs.
Careers include teaching and teaching assistance in schools; inclusion support; child and family advocacy; mentoring; adult education; local authority support; charity roles; and entry to courses related to a variety of therapies.
If you complete this course and meet the entry requirements for our PGCE Primary Education, you will be in a good position to begin your training as a primary teacher. An in-depth and comprehensive understanding of SEND will take you a long way.
Entry Requirements
Fees for this course
UK
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2026/27 is £9,790 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 www.gov.uk/student-finance
Excellence Scholarships
Worth £2,500 per year of study over three years when you score a defined number of UCAS tariff points from specified qualifications*
» If you don’t qualify for an Excellence Scholarship but have 120 UCAS tariff points, you have enough points for one of our Achievement Scholarships offering £500 per year of study**
» 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 £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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