Education Studies

• If you are interested in exploring a range of educational issues while developing your knowledge and understanding of key education issues of particular interest then this course is for you. 
• This course can lead into primary or secondary teaching careers, and during the course you can be advised over possible teacher training routes, but you are not required to take the Qualified Teacher Status skills tests. 
• You will have opportunities to undertake educational placements in a range of settings.
• You will have a broad and balanced knowledge and understanding of the principal features of education in a wide range of contexts. This course encourages you to engage with fundamental questions concerning the aims and values of education and its relationship to societies and to participate in current debates relevant to education. 
• The course draws on the four 'foundational disciplines' of Philosophy, Psychology, History and the Social Sciences. 
• Education Studies is offered as both a single honours and a combined honours degree. Popular combinations are English Literature, English Language and Communication and Sociology. See the Combined Courses section for the full list of possible combinations.

• Academic Research in Education:  this begins with 'Introduction to the study of education' which is a compulsory module. This introduces you to the key concepts and practices of academic literacy and provides grounding in the main areas of Education Studies, including learning theory, and the sociology, philosophy and history of education. It also introduces you to the notion of empirical research in education, giving you practice in developing your academic criticality by exploring how knowledge is constructed in the field of educational studies.
  
• Education changes in relation to the development of ICT, new media and technologies: it includes modules on Education and Childhood through Film and Literature, Children and the Media, the development of e-pedagogy and cultural and arts based learning
• Policy critique: for students interested in how government policy affects education, there are modules on social change and education, education and the world of work, addressing educational inequalities and debating contemporary controversial issues
• Inclusion:  inclusion, social justice and addressing diversity and special educational needs are a particular strength of research in the School of Education and in our teaching team. Students therefore have the opportunity to deepen their engagement with these issues  
• Global Awareness: the programme is particularly committed to studying education in its widest sense, and that includes a commitment to an international approach, looking at different education provision across the world, the very different experiences (and understandings) of learning in different cultures, and how education is developing in the new globalised world of the 21st century. This academic theme takes in modules on Cross-national Perspectives on Education and Education for International Development. 
• Childhood: modules on the Introduction to Child Development, Constructions of Childhood and the Social World of Childhood draw on historical, cross-cultural, psychological and sociological perspectives to understand the role of the child in society and the development of child identity.
  

Study modules

As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the module list you can choose from may vary from those shown here.

You can read detailed module descriptions here

Year 1

• Introduction to the Study of Education (compulsory single and combined honours)
• Introduction to Child and Adolescent Development (compulsory single and combined honours)
• Key Ideas in Education (compulsory single and combined honours)
• Education in a World of Change: Policy and Provision (recommended single honours)
• Constructions of Childhood (recommended single and combined honours)
• Education, Childhood and Youth Culture: Film and Literature (recommended single and combined honours)

Years 2 and 3

Year 2

• Core Texts in Education (alternative compulsory single and combined honours)
• Historical Perspectives on Education (acceptable for single and combined honours)
• The Developing Child (acceptable for single and combined honours)
• Educational Inequalities (compulsory for single and combined honours)
• Literature for Young Children (acceptable for single and combined honours)
• Inclusion: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (acceptable for single and combined honours)
• Psychology and Education (compulsory for single and combined honours)
• Research Methods in Childhood and Education (compulsory for single honours, acceptable for combined honours)
• The Social World of Childhood and Youth (compulsory for single honours, acceptable for combined honours)
• Media, Technology and Education (acceptable for single and combined honours)
• Children's Outdoor Learning (acceptable for single and combined honours)
• Gender and 21st Century Education (acceptable for single and combined honours)
• Language and the Mind (acceptable for single and combined honours)

Year 3

• Philosophy of Education (acceptable for single and combined honours)
• Becoming a Reader (acceptable for single and combined honours)
• Controversial and Contemporary Research in Education (compulsory single honours, acceptable combined honours)
• Education in International Development (acceptable single and combined honours)
• Educational Sociolinguistics (acceptable single honours)
• Inclusion: Diverse Perspectives (acceptable single and combined honours)
• Independent Study (acceptable single and combined honours)
• Independent Study: Work and Community Related Learning (acceptable single and combined honours)
• Dissertation (compulsory single honours)

Field trips

We are always keen to explore ways in which you broaden your experience of education and development. In the past we have visited The Gambia developing long standing relationships with schools and colleges and we are actively exploring international opportunities in other parts of the world, aiming to be responsive to students' needs and interests.

These field trips are optional and will incur extra costs. The approximate cost for the Gambia trip in 2017 is £1000.

Study abroad

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.

Studying abroad provides an amazing opportunity to add value to your studies by:

• increasing your employability within an international market
• boosting your language skills
• building your confidence in adapting to new situations
• improving your knowledge of different cultures.

While on exchange you will gain credits which count towards your degree.

We have more than 100 partner universities around the world. Funding is available through the Erasmus scheme, and also via some international programmes such as the Santander Student Awards.

There is also a European work placement programme which gives you the chance to work abroad as part of your studies.

For more information, visit our pages on studying abroad and exchanges.

Free language courses are available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.

Please note that the free language courses are not available if you are:

• studying at a Brookes partner college
• studying on any of our teacher education courses or postgraduate education courses.

Additional costs

We do not expect students to purchase any compulsory course books, as they are all available in the library. If students wish to purchase additional books to supplement their reading, this is at their own discretion.

Programme changes

On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our Changes to programmes page.

Teaching and learning

Approach to assessment

This course can be combined with one of the following subjects:

Criminology
LX33
See the Key Information Set for this combination

English Language and Communication
QX39
See the Key Information Set for this combination

English Literature
X300
See the Key Information Set for this combination

History
XV31
See the Key Information Set for this combination

Sociology
XL33
See the Key Information Set for this combination

Tuition fees

Home/EU - full time fee: 2018/19: £9,250

Home/EU - part time fee: 2018/19: £750 per single module

International - full time: 2018/19: £13,150

*Please note tuition fees for Home/EU students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.

Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning home and EU students at the maximum permitted level.

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course, if any, are detailed in the 'This course in detail' window above.

Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
+44 (0)1865 483088
finance-fees@brookes.ac.uk

Funding and scholarships

For general sources of financial support, see:

• Funding for Undergraduate students from the UK and EU
• Funding for Undergraduate students from outside the EU

Typical offers

UCAS Tariff points: 112

A-Level: BBC or equivalent

Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. This combination of A-level grades would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.

IB Diploma: 30 points

BTEC: DMM in a relevant field of study

Other typical offers include:

• CACHE Diploma in a relevant field of study at B
• Access to Higher Education qualifications in a relevant field of study.

Specific entry requirements

Please also see the University's general entry requirements.

English language requirements

Please see the University's standard English language requirements

Pathways courses for international and EU students

If you do not meet the entry requirements for this degree, or if you would like more preparation before you start, you can take an  international foundation course. Once you enrol, you will have a guaranteed pathway to this degree if you pass your foundation course with the required grades.

If you only need to meet the language requirements, you can take our  pre-sessional English course. You will develop key language and study skills for academic success and you will not need to take an external language test to progress to your degree.

English requirements for visas

If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.

How to apply

All applications for part-time study should be made directly to the University using the University application form.

Terms and Conditions of Enrolment

When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.

Credit transfer

Oxford Brookes operates the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). All undergraduate single modules are equivalent to 7.5 ECTS credits and double modules to 15 ECTS credits. More about ECTS credits.

Why Oxford is a great place to study this course

Support for students studying Education Studies

You will be supported by a teaching team committed to both your academic progress and to offering strong pastoral support. These strengths have been consistently recognised in our regular surveys of student opinion and in comments from our external examiners.

Tutors on the Education Studies programme have published internationally recognised research in (among other fields) philosophy of education, history of education, vocational education and psychological research in education.  Consult the School of Education website for regular updates on seminar events and publications by tutors.
 

General support services

Supporting your learning

From academic advisers and support co-ordinators to specialist subject librarians and other learning support staff, we want to ensure that you get the best out of your studies.

Personal support services

We want your time at Brookes to be as enjoyable and successful as possible. That's why we provide all the facilities you need to be relaxed, happy and healthy throughout your studies.

Career prospects

A degree in Education Studies can lead to careers in many areas. We recognise that there are many career opportunities for Education Studies students, in addition to teaching. 

For those not wishing to follow a teaching career, the course offers an excellent preparation for careers in the public or private sector. Professions within a specialist education sector now include advertising, marketing, the arts, journalism, law, publishing and the media together with the charity and leisure industries. 

Some students do become teachers after completing their degrees, undertaking a further one-year PGCE course in primary or (for combined honours students) secondary education, leading to Qualified Teacher Status. Others have gone on to teach in further education colleges. Education Studies is not a programme of initial teacher education and does not in itself provide a recognised teaching qualification.  

Previous graduates from the course have gone on to have successful careers in many different fields including social work, youth work, community education, adult education, educational psychology, recruitment and retail management.

Further study

The undergraduate degree can lead to further study of education, at master's and research degree level. Your degree may also provide the basis to progress to professional courses in other areas such as educational psychology, social work, librarianship or human resources.

The School of Education at Oxford Brookes University offers opportunities in post-graduate research, including MAs in Education or Childhood, PhD study and a taught Educational Doctorate. 

Course downloads

Related courses