EDST4009
15 credits
You'll learn about important things in education policy and how it works in England. You'll focus on schools and the links to bigger changes happening in...

Explore how people learn and how education shapes lives, developing critical understanding of teaching and society.
How do we learn? What place do power and privilege play in education? Examine questions like this as you explore the world of education from conception to our early 20s as you prepare for a career supporting learning inside or outside of the classroom.
Study our Education Studies BA and you'll develop strong critical and analytical skills in core aspects like psychology, sociology, history and the philosophy of education. From Wittgenstein to forest schools, diversity and inclusion to themes of social justice, you’ll study the topic of education and its impact on human development and society from the medieval age to the present day and beyond.
You’ll develop career-enhancing skills with annual placements that fit your career goals and discover new ideas on optional field trips to, for example, Sweden. There is also an optional year at a partner university in the USA or Europe.
Plus, if you discover a passion for supporting children with additional needs, you can switch to the special educational needs, disability and inclusion (SENDI) pathway at the end of your first year.
One strength of the course is the study of inclusivity in its broadest sense from SEN to cultural diversity, gender, refugees and beyond.
One strength is the annual placement. See how things work in special schools, family centres and forest schools or join support workers in a local authority.
You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Brookes. Most exchanges take place in the second year. Although we will help as much as we can with your plans, ultimately you are responsible for organising and funding this study abroad.
Our university-wide language programme is available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
| Qualification | Typical offer |
|---|---|
| UCAS tariff points | 112 |
| Contextual offer tariff points | 88 |
| A-level | BBC |
| BTEC Extended Diploma | DMM |
| International Baccalaureate | 27 |
Applications are also welcomed for consideration from applicants with European qualifications, international qualifications or recognised foundation courses. For advice on eligibility please contact Admissions: admissions@brookes.ac.uk
If you don’t achieve the required tariff points you can apply to join a foundation course or international foundation course to help to reach the required level for entry onto this degree.
| Fee types | 2026/27 | 2027/28 |
|---|---|---|
| Home full-time | £9,790 | £10,050 |
| Home part-time | £1,220 per single module | £1,255 per single module |
| International full-time | £17,250 | £18,500 |
| International placement year | £1,905 | £2,010 |
Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.
For further information please see our tuition fees FAQs.
Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
In year 1, you’ll look at human development from birth and explore education from the Middle Ages to today. Nurturing and inclusivity are also key themes. Optional topics include play, outdoor learning, and teaching practices that promote STEAM and technology.
Year 2 focuses on contemporary issues and the psychology of education. You can complement this by exploring creative and therapeutic approaches like play or dance therapy or specialising further in outdoor learning.
Next, you can choose a year abroad at a partner university or continue to the final year.
In your final year, you’ll focus on your own interests in your dissertation and study key ideas in education. You can continue to build on previous specialisms or focus on social issues or ideas in international education.
Each year offers work placements with educators and allied professionals outside mainstream classrooms plus an annual field trip. You’ll also develop advanced academic research and writing skills as you prepare for your dissertation.
You’ll learn via a wide variety of teaching and learning approaches, including:
Interdisciplinary collaboration is a feature of research activity in the School of Education, Humanities and Languages. Many themes of this course are designed around pressing contemporary issues across subjects.
| Contact hours | Total workload | Timetabled |
|---|---|---|
| about 12 hrs a week | 1,200 hrs a year | Mon–Fri, 09:00–18:00 |
Assessment is 100% coursework.
Coursework may be in the form of:
EDST4009
15 credits
You'll learn about important things in education policy and how it works in England. You'll focus on schools and the links to bigger changes happening in...
EDST4003
30 credits
While studying early childhood and education you'll read various texts, such as: - research papers - government policies - and media reports. It's important to...
EDST4004
30 credits
You'll explore important aspects of childrens’ and adolescents' development from different perspectives. You'll learn theoretical knowledge about how growth...
EDST4007
15 credits
This is your chance to work in the community and learn about education in real-life situations. The goal is to give you a wide range of experiences and show you...
ECS4011
15 credits
You'll focus on the importance of nurture and care in education, with a specific emphasis on promoting inclusion and wellbeing. By studying this module, you...
EDST4008
15 credits
You'll start an exploration of how educators can support and encourage curiosity and exploration in children, through the use of Science, Technology...
ECS4012
15 credits
You'll focus on understanding play from various personal and professional perspectives. Exploring how children, young people, and adults engage in play, make...
Studying BA Education (SENDI) empowers you with a wealth of specialist knowledge to kickstart your career. Your annual placements help you build a network of professional connections. This means you’ll graduate feeling well-placed to apply for specialist education settings and postgraduate training.
Some of our students pursue careers in youth work or join charities, while others go straight into schools as specialist behaviour support workers. Others choose to pursue a PGCE in Primary or Secondary (alongside a specialist subject) or an MA in Education with a specialism.
Our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, so module availability and course structures may vary from what is listed here. On rare occasions, we may also need to make updates to our course programmes after publication; for full details, please visit our changes to programmes page (opens in a new tab)