About the course
This in-depth degree can put you on a career path where you can make a priceless difference to a young person’s learning experiences and their future life chances. It gives you the skills and understanding of SEND you need to be a confident, capable professional, supporting children, young adults and their families.
The course gives you a theoretical and research-informed grounding in the field, incorporating relevant aspects of the law; theories of learning; assessment of difficulties; and practical interventions. Discussion covers a wide range of SEND areas which may include general language and learning difficulties; autism; specific learning difficulties including dyslexia; physical and sensory impairments; mental and emotional issues; and behavioural problems.
Throughout the course, we place a strong focus on developing practical skills and real-world learning. You have the opportunity to go on experience-building visits and you also undertake a placement in your second year, giving you important insights into professional practice.
Why choose this course?
- The course has been created around the concept that it is essential SEND provision adapts to the different circumstances of every child who experiences SEND within a school, as every child is an individual
- Learn from an expert course team with wide practical experience and a national reputation in the field of special educational needs and disability
- Gain the ability to reflect sensitively on the difficulties and barriers young people with SEND face in education while exploring ways to address them
- Throughout your course, make connections between theory, policy and the reality of practice
- Develop your knowledge and skills of the curriculum incrementally so you are thoroughly prepared to research a topic of your choice
- Specialise with optional units in areas such as literacy; numeracy; the use of ICT to support young people; and children’s literature
- If you need to step up into higher education, start with a Foundation Year which guarantees entry to the full degree course
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
- 'Need' In Special Educational Needs And Disability (EDC070-1) Compulsory
- Historical Development And Current Legal Context For Special Educational Needs And Disability (EDC071-1) Compulsory
- Narratives Of Childhood (EDC048-1) Compulsory
- Understanding Human Learning (EDC069-1) Compulsory
- Approaches To Understanding And Addressing Communication, Interaction, Cognition And Learning Needs (EDC087-2) Compulsory
- Difficulties In Literacy Acquisition (EDC088-2) Compulsory
- Investigating The Social World (EDC021-2) Compulsory
- Send Placement Unit (EDC089-2) Compulsory
- Understanding And Meeting Social, Emotional And Mental Health Difficulties And Sensory And/Or Physical Difficulties (EDC090-2) Compulsory
- Assessment And Planning (EDC249-3) Compulsory
- Differentiation In Classrooms (EDC250-3) Compulsory
- Dissertation (EDC207-3) Compulsory
- Children'S Literature (EDC205-3) Optional
- Difficulties In Numeracy Acquisition (EDC251-3) Optional
- Uses Of Ict To Support Young People'S Special Learning Needs (EDC252-3) Optional
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.
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 96 points with 80 points from at least 2 A level passes
- At least 96 points with Merit Merit Merit in BTEC Extended Diploma or Distinction Distinction in the BTEC 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 96 points with 80 points from at least 2 A level passes
- At least 96 points with Merit Merit Merit in BTEC Extended Diploma or Distinction Distinction in the BTEC 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?
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.
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
