Program Overview

Education Studies with Foundation Year BA (Hons)

Overview

The Education Studies with Foundation Year BA (Hons) course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of education and its various aspects. The course includes a foundation year that helps students build their knowledge and confidence before advancing to the main degree program.

Why Study Education Studies at Derby?

• Education at Derby is ranked in the Top 30 in The Guardian University Guide 2024
• Match your degree to your interests and ambitions with one of our pathways in Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
• Strengthen your CV by gaining valuable practical experience on work placement
• Take the opportunity to join one of our exciting international fieldtrips: our students have travelled as far afield as The Gambia, Morocco and Kenya
• Look at different aspects of education in a range of settings, within and outside school
• Explore the role of education in society, including how moral and social issues shape learning

Course Description

The course provides a broad spectrum of knowledge, covering education and educational equality from historical, psychological, sociological, and philosophical perspectives. Students can choose to specialize in one of two pathways: Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

Study Options

• Full-time: 4 years
• UK fee: £5,760 (2025/26)
• International fee: £16,900 per year (2025/26)
• UCAS points: 72 (September 2025 entry)
• UCAS code: X301
• Start date: September
• Location: Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

What You Will Study

• Foundation Year
• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year 3

Core modules:

• Study Skills for Undergraduate Study

Optional modules:

• English
• Mathematics
• Children's Literature and Education
• Philosophy of Education
• Psychology of Education
• Sociology of Education
• Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology

How You Will Learn

• Directed study
• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Work placements (compulsory for specialist pathways, 12-day placement for non-pathway students)

How You're Assessed

• Coursework, including essays, presentations, portfolios, reports, and case study analysis
• No exams

Who Will Teach You

• Dr Ruth Mieschbuehler, Programme Leader

Careers

• Higher level teaching assistants
• Welfare child protection officers
• Early years practitioners
• Care assistants
• Community learning facilitators
• Special educational needs co-ordinator
• SEND teacher or SEND manager
• Teacher specialising in English as a foreign language

Entry Requirements

• UCAS points: 72
• A Level: DDD
• T Level: Pass
• BTEC: MMP
• GCSE: Maths and English are preferred, but not required
• Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits
• English language requirements: IELTS 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

Fees and Funding

• UK fee: £5,760 (2025/26)
• International fee: £16,900 per year (2025/26)
• Additional costs and optional extras:
  • Print costs above the allowance
  • Replacement DBS if lost (approx. £50)
  • Placement travel costs that exceed £5 per day
  • Field trips abroad (optional, approx. £430-£1000)
  • Memberships to sports clubs and societies (optional, approx. £17 for Athletic Union membership plus club fee, £7 for societies card plus society fee)

How to Apply

• UK students: Apply through UCAS or directly to the University
• International students: Apply through the University's online application portal or through a trusted local representative

Discover Uni

• 86% of students say staff value students' views and opinions about the course
• 94% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well
• 80% of students are in work or doing further study 15 months after the course

Other Courses You Might Like

• Education Studies with optional pathway in SEND or TESOL BA (Hons)
• Special Educational Needs and Disability BA (Hons)
• Special Educational Needs and Disability with Foundation Year BA (Hons)