About the course
For this broad-based course, you draw on sociology, psychology, philosophy, law, health and social welfare, applying educational theory to practice in work-based settings. It sets you up for a career in education or working with children.
The degree is designed to give you a solid foundation in education across different fields, building your understanding of its role in modern society, the current debates and issues, policy and practice, both in the UK and internationally.
After a wide-reaching, first-year introduction to key higher education skills, theories and ideas, you move on to focus on particular areas such as special educational needs; education and technology; teaching preparation; and/or families and communities. This allows you to follow a particular interest with your future career in mind.
You gain valuable experience through work placements and volunteering including a final-year, work-based unit in an education setting.
Why choose this course?
- Our Education courses have a high student satisfaction rating for our teaching (91%) and academic support (90%) (NSS 2022)
- Its broad curriculum prepares you to work in a range of professions involving children and young people
- There is flexibility in unit choices during your second and third years, allowing you to specialise in a particular area
- Its focus on employability allows you to put educational theory into practice through work placements and volunteering
- It is a pathway to a future career in education, either as a qualified teacher or in support roles, or in any role working with children and young people, such as social work
- Take the course over four years and include a fee-free year in industry (see below)
- If you need a step up into higher education, start with a Foundation Year (see below) which guarantees you a place on the degree course
Course Leader - Dr Oliver Belas
I have been an educator – working in HE, secondary education (as a classroom assistant and teacher), and HE again – since 2005. I joined the University of Bedfordshire’s School of Education and English (SEE), where I teach on the Education and English Literature degrees, in January 2018.
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.
Units
- Early Child Psychology (EDC054-1) Compulsory
- Key Concepts In Education (EDC064-1) Compulsory
- Narratives Of Childhood (EDC048-1) Compulsory
- Psychology Of Adolescence (EDC049-1) Compulsory
- Safeguarding And Child Protection (EDC068-1) Compulsory
- The Inclusive Society (EDC053-1) Compulsory
- Comparative Education (EDC043-2) Compulsory
- Introduction To Educational Philosophy (EDC086-2) Compulsory
- Investigating The Social World (EDC021-2) Compulsory
- Creative Writing (ENG006-2) Optional
- Deschooling (EDC061-2) Optional
- Developing Teaching Practice (EDC063-2) Optional
- Discourse And Ideology (ENG008-2) Optional
- Families And Communities (EDC066-2) Optional
- Policy And Practice In Special Educational Needs And Disability (EDC068-2) Optional
- The Lifelong Curriculum (EDC067-2) Optional
- Working With Children And Young People In The Digital Age (EDC069-2) Optional
- Dissertation (EDC207-3) Compulsory
- Perspectives On Pedagogy And Behaviour (EDC210-3) Compulsory
- Reading Philosophy And Education (EDC242-3) Compulsory
- Children And Young PeopleS Wellbeing (EDC204-3) Optional
- Children'S And Young Adult Fiction (ENG007-3) Optional
- Contemporary Debates In Education, Childhood And Youth (EDC206-3) Optional
- Critical Debates In Send Education (EDC154-3) Optional
- Representations Of Disability (EDC209-3) Optional
This course aims to provide a wide range of assessment methods to support the diverse needs of our learners. Assessments include exams, exhibitions, essays, webfolios, panel discussions, debates, practicals, case studies, reflective logs and presentations. The assignments will build directly on the teaching sessions and you will be supported by lectures to complete the assignments. Substantial guidance is provided on the VLE and in detailed assessment briefs. In level 4 more support is provided in the form of formative assessment opportunities and we will explain the role of constructive feedback to you. You will also have more hours dedicated to guided (staff directed learning activities) in level 4 compared to later in the course. There are opportunities for 1 to 1 and group tutorials to support the assessments both within units and in personal tutorials and staff office hours. The overall purposes of assessment in this course are: 1. Objectively to measure your achievements against the specified learning outcomes of the unit and course (summative). 2. To assist student learning by providing appropriate feedback on performance (formative). 3. To provide a reliable and consistent basis for boards of examiners to determine the progression of, and conferment of achievement.
Why study in the School of Education and English?
- Broad spectrum of opportunities to study language and linguistics
- 92% satisfaction with English Language and TEFL, NSS 2020
Entry Requirements
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for breadth and depth in your current studies and enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
UCAS Tariff Points
- At least 104 points which should include three A levels at C or above
- At least 104 points with Merit Merit Merit in BTEC Extended Diploma or Distinction* Distinction* in the BTEC Diploma or Distinction Merit Merit in a BTEC Extended Diploma
- A completed Access to Higher Education Diploma
- Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, OCR Nationals, International Baccalaureate and CACHE Level 3 awards.
You can work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth with the UCAS tariff calculator
Contact the Admissions Team for additional guidance on whether the qualifications you currently hold or are taking would be suitable for entry.
T: +44 (0)1582 743500
E: admission@beds.ac.uk
The University of Bedfordshire warmly welcomes students from all over the world.
To ensure a smooth application process, we have dedicated pages with detailed information about country-specific requirements. You can find information on our generic entry requirements too, if your county is not listed.
International Foundation Year
For those who do not have a qualification that allows for direct entry to an undergraduate degree, we offer our own International Foundation Year program to enhance your English language and study skills and help you bridge any knowledge gaps before starting your degree. The program is taught on our campus by University of Bedfordshire staff and offers pathways into nearly all of our undergraduate degrees.
English Language
The English Language requirement for this course is 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 in any subtest) in IELTS, or an equivalent SELT. Have a look at our webpage for a list of English language qualifications we accept. If you do not have the required level of English for your chosen degree, we offer pre-sessional courses to enhance your language skills before commencing your studies.
We are committed to supporting you every step of the way, so please do not hesitate to reach out to our international admissions team for further assistance. We look forward to welcoming you to our vibrant academic community.
Entry Requirements
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for breadth and depth in your current studies and enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
UCAS Tariff Points
- At least 104 points which should include three A levels at C or above
- At least 104 points with Merit Merit Merit in BTEC Extended Diploma or Distinction* Distinction* in the BTEC Diploma or Distinction Merit Merit in a BTEC Extended Diploma
- A completed Access to Higher Education Diploma
- Equivalent qualifications such as Irish Leaving Certificate, OCR Nationals, International Baccalaureate and CACHE Level 3 awards.
You can work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth with the UCAS tariff calculator
Contact the Admissions Team for additional guidance on whether the qualifications you currently hold or are taking would be suitable for entry.
T: +44 (0)1582 743500
E: admission@beds.ac.uk
The University of Bedfordshire warmly welcomes students from all over the world.
To ensure a smooth application process, we have dedicated pages with detailed information about country-specific requirements. You can find information on our generic entry requirements too, if your county is not listed.
International Foundation Year
For those who do not have a qualification that allows for direct entry to an undergraduate degree, we offer our own International Foundation Year program to enhance your English language and study skills and help you bridge any knowledge gaps before starting your degree. The program is taught on our campus by University of Bedfordshire staff and offers pathways into nearly all of our undergraduate degrees.
English Language
The English Language requirement for this course is 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 in any subtest) in IELTS, or an equivalent SELT. Have a look at our webpage for a list of English language qualifications we accept. If you do not have the required level of English for your chosen degree, we offer pre-sessional courses to enhance your language skills before commencing your studies.
We are committed to supporting you every step of the way, so please do not hesitate to reach out to our international admissions team for further assistance. We look forward to welcoming you to our vibrant academic community.
How will this course improve my career prospects?
As well as providing the background needed for application to postgraduate teacher training, this course offers graduates potential career options including: working with children and young people such as youth and community work, social care, education welfare, children’s centre, charities, and youth justice/youth offenders.
Fees and Funding
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2022/23 is £9,250 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
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2022/23 is £13,500 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £9,250 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
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2023/24 is £14,500 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
Fees and Funding
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2022/23 is £9,250 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
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2022/23 is £13,500 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the Academic Year 2023/24 is £9,250 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
The University of Bedfordshire offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to help you finance your studies.
See www.beds.ac.uk/scholarships
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
The full-time standard undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 2023/24 is £14,500 per year. A prompt payment discount is available if you pay the full Year 1 fee before or at registration. There are also special scholarships available.
Extra Costs
Campus Library
The Bedford Campus Library set over four storeys offers students access to our extensive range of physical and digital resources with 300,000+ books & 80,000+ ebooks.
PCs are provided on each level for students to use offering access to a wide range of applications as well as access to group-work areas and presentation-practice rooms and a dedicated silent study floor.
BedsSU - The Hub
The Hub is home to BedsSU providing a great space for socialising with friends, catching up on some coursework or taking a well-deserved break.
The Hub is the place to go to take a break from your studies, play table tennis, socialise and watch live sport on the big screen.By night the venue becomes the place to be, with a variety of student events such as pub quizzes, live music and various themed club nights. Evening food includes delicious freshly made pizzas as well as a range of other beverages and snacks.
Bedford Gym
The Aspire Gyms offer a range of affordable membership options giving students exclusive use of a convenient campus-based fitness facility.
The Bedford gym facilitates state of the art cardiovascular equipment with smartphone compatibility as well as an extensive range of fixed resistance machines and a small free weights area. Changing rooms with showers and lockers are available for members to use.
Dance Studios
At the centre of our campus is four fully sprung dance studios equipped with ballet barres, mirrored walls, audio playback and projection for our dance and performing arts students.
Our two campus theatres also provide the ideal performance space for students with regular events held that are open audiences of students, staff and the wider community.
Campus Theatres
Set within the Campus Centre is a 260 seat professional theatre on the ground floor with industry-standard lighting, media desk, roll-down screen, full backstage comms system and large dressing rooms with en suite showers. On the first floor there's also a well-equipped 80 seat studio theatre.
Our theatres welcome new and existing audiences to see a range of student work including contemporary dance, theatre and performing arts; holding regular events that are open to students, staff and the wider community.
Sports Science Labs
Our specialist sports science labs give students a fantastic environment to develop their research skills and expertise, where a student can explore the biology of an elite athlete who could be performing simultaneously within the sports hall.
The state-of-the-art laboratories are purpose built for research and teaching in the fields of exercise and nutrition science. This includes specialised equipment and facilities for assessing human health risk and delivering exercise and diet interventions for health promotion.
How to Apply
Application for most full-time undergraduate and foundation courses is via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
We expect to receive UCAS applications between 1 September and 15 January for courses starting in the following academic year, but may consider applications received after this date should places be available.
Please contact admission@beds.ac.uk for further details.
All UK schools and colleges are registered with UCAS to manage their students' applications. Advice on how to submit your UCAS application is available from your school or college.
If you are not at school or college (including mature students) you should apply independently via UCAS
EU students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply via UCAS or direct using our admissions form
International students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country
You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
How to Apply
Application for most full-time undergraduate and foundation courses is via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
We expect to receive UCAS applications between 1 September and 15 January for courses starting in the following academic year, but may consider applications received after this date should places be available.
Please contact admission@beds.ac.uk for further details.
All UK schools and colleges are registered with UCAS to manage their students' applications. Advice on how to submit your UCAS application is available from your school or college.
If you are not at school or college (including mature students) you should apply independently via UCAS
EU students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply via UCAS or direct using our admissions form
International students applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bedfordshire should apply direct using our admissions form or via our representatives in your home country
You can also apply online
Find out more about how to apply as an International student
