The published course and module descriptions were accurate when first published and remain the basis of the course, but the University has had to modify some course and module content in response to government restrictions and social distancing requirements. In the event of changes made to the government advice and social distancing rules by national or local government, the University may need to make further alterations to the published course content. Detailed information on the changes will be sent to every student on confirmation in August to ensure you have all the information before you come to Oxford Brookes.
Education Studies
BA (Hons)
Key facts
UCAS code
X301
Start dates
September 2021 / September 2022
Location
Course length
Full time: 3 years
Part time: up to 6 years
Department
UCAS Tariff Points
104
Overview
Our Education Studies degree is a rewarding and challenging course. You’ll study child and adolescent development, specifically around inclusion and educational inequalities.
You’ll question why governments change education policy, and look at how education is portrayed in popular culture.
In your second year you can choose an innovative pathway Education Studies: SEN, Disabilities and Inclusion (SENDI) This covers the experiences of children and young people who can find themselves marginalised or excluded from traditional Educational settings.
You will gain extensive knowledge about the role of education in contemporary society, and areas such as:
- education
- psychology
- gender
- 21st-century education
- special educational needs and disabilities
- children’s literature.
This degree prepares you for many careers including:
- teaching
- youth work
- educational psychology
- social work
- therapeutic support
- policy provision
- educational publishing.

Combine this course
You can study this course as part of a combined honours degree. This course can be combined with:
How to apply
Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.
For more information about how we are supporting applicants impacted by Covid-19, please see our information for applicants page.
Standard offer
UCAS Tariff Points: 104
A Level: BCC
IB Points: 29
BTEC: DMM
Contextual offer
UCAS Tariff Points: 88
A Level: CCD
IB Points: 27
BTEC: MMM
Further offer details
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.
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
Screening
All applicants will be screened for fitness to practise and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be made.
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.
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.
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
Many of our courses consider applications for entry with credit for prior learning. Each application is individually assessed by our credit entry tutors.
If you would like more information about whether or not you may be eligible for the award of credit, for example from an HND, partly-completed degree or foundation degree, please contact our Admissions team.
We operate 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.
Application process
Full time Home / EU applicants
Apply through UCASPart time Home / EU applicants
Apply direct to the UniversityInternational applicants
Apply direct to the UniversityFull time applicants can also apply through UCAS
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
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. 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 students at the maximum permitted level.
Financial support and scholarships
Additional costs
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 below.
On this course you’ll be going on placements in schools; you'll self fund travel to and from your placements.
You’ll also need a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check. This costs about £50. You may also need to pay an extra fee of about £15 to keep your DBS up-to-date.
Learning and assessment
The course is underpinned by the four academic 'foundational disciplines':
- Philosophy
- Psychology
- History
- Social Sciences.
Throughout the course you will take compulsory modules. You will also choose from a range of optional modules.
In Year 1 the compulsory modules introduce you to core ideas and themes that you will carry through this course. They include:
- Introduction to the Study of Education
- Introduction to Child and Adolescent Development
- Key Ideas in Education.
In Year 2 compulsory modules include:
- Psychology and Education
- Research Methods in Childhood and Education
- The Social World of Childhood and Youth
- Educational Inequalities
Or
- Core Texts in Education.
In Year 3 compulsory modules include:
- Controversial and Contemporary Research in Education
- a dissertation based on your research interests.

Learning and teaching
You’ll learn via a wide variety of teaching and learning approaches, including:
- traditional lectures
- seminars
- enquiry-led learning
- collaborative learning
- online activities.
Inter-disciplinary collaboration is a feature of research activity in the School of Education. Many themes of this course are designed around pressing contemporary issues across subjects.
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.
Assessment
Assessment methods used on this course
Assessment is 100% coursework.
Coursework may be in the form of:
- a written essay (up to 3000 words)
- group presentations
- an observational study
- a case study of a cultural artefact
- creation of a learning object (online teaching resource)
- critical/ thematic reviews of literature
- development of a portfolio of work
- participation in online activities, eg contributions to forum discussions
- independent study
- a dissertation.
Study Abroad
You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Brookes. Although we will help as much as we can with your plans, ultimately you are responsible for organising and funding this study abroad.
After you graduate
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.
Student profiles
Our Staff
Jonathan Reid
During his mainstream educational experiences, Jon developed an interest in supporting pupils with additional learning needs. Subsequently he spent time working in a therapeutic residential school catering for pupils who had experienced severe emotional trauma due to the accumulation of adverse experiences in infancy and early childhood. Jon then joined the Local Authority as a Behavioural Support Teacher, a role which involved visiting schools across the age range and working with a variety of professionals.
Read more about JonathanFree language courses
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.
Information from Discover Uni
Full-time study
Part-time study
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.