Education Studies with optional pathway in SEND or TESOL BA (Hons)

Program Overview

Education Studies with Optional Pathway in SEND or TESOL

Overview

Education Studies with Optional Pathway in SEND or TESOL is a BA (Hons) course offered by the University of Derby. The course provides students with a solid understanding of education and educational equality, bringing together perspectives from history, psychology, sociology, and philosophy.

Why Study Education Studies with Optional Pathway in SEND or TESOL at Derby?

• Education at Derby is ranked in the Top 30 in The Guardian University Guide 2024.
• A choice of pathways: Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) or Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
• Learn from influential researchers and published authors.
• A strong focus on social equality and international learning opportunities.
• Opens doors to a wide range of careers.

Education Studies at Derby

Join an intellectually stimulating course that will make you an authority on current education policy and practice. You will be provided with a solid understanding of education and educational equality, bringing together perspectives from history, psychology, sociology, and philosophy.

A Global Outlook

This course has an international focus and offers exciting opportunities for you to travel abroad. Our programme of international fieldtrips has given our students first-hand experience of education in countries such as Morocco, The Gambia, and Poland.

Choose Your Pathway

You can tailor this degree to your interests by taking one of our two optional specialist pathways:

Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Pathway

This pathway has been developed in response to a growing demand for high-calibre trained staff who can work with learners with special educational needs and/or disability.

TESOL Pathway

This pathway is ideal if you want to focus on English language teaching for learners in a variety of contexts. It equips you with the skills to:

• Work with English as an Additional Language (EAL) pupils in a primary or secondary setting.
• Work abroad as an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher.
• Work as a teacher of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) in an adult or community environment.

What You Will Study

• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year 2 SEND
• Year 2 TESOL
• Year 3
• Year 3 SEND
• Year 3 TESOL

Core modules:

• Introduction to Comparative Education
• Philosophy of Education
• Another Brick in the Wall: An Introduction to the Sociology of Education
• Community Project
• Education Through the Ages
• Teaching, Thinking and Reasoning

How You Will Learn

You will be taught using a variety of methods from directed study, lectures, seminars, and tutorials. If you choose not to follow a pathway, you will still be undertaking a 12-day work placement in an education setting.

How You're Assessed

You won’t have to take any exams. You will be assessed through course work, including essays, presentations, portfolios, reports, and case study analysis.

Who Will Teach You

• Dr Ruth Mieschbuehler, Programme Leader

Careers

You will have wide-ranging career opportunities, not only in education but also in social care, health care, careers and guidance, and the voluntary sector.

Our graduates are now enjoying success as:

• Higher-level teaching assistants
• Welfare child-protection officers
• Early-years practitioners
• Care assistants
• Community-learning facilitators

Entry Requirements

• 2025 entry
• UCAS points: 104
• A Level: BCC
• T Level: Merit
• BTEC: DMM
• GCSE: Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
• Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6
• English language requirements: IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

Fees and Funding

• 2025/26
• UK: Full-time £9,535 per year, Part-time £1,190 per 20 credit module
• International: Full-time £16,900 per year, Part-time N/A

Additional Costs and Optional Extras

• The initial DBS check (if required for placement purposes)
• Induction activities and visits
• Any in-class visits (Guest workshops)
• All visiting speakers to enhance module content
• Discipline Area Conferences such as Education & SEND Conferences and Symposium, Careers Conferences, Early Childhood Studies Conferences
• Placement travel costs that exceed stated amount per day (stated amount currently £5 per day) for the mandatory days/hours required for the placement module (Level 5) and pathway mandatory requirements (TESOL / SEND) (policy guidance must be followed)
• Mandatory costs not included in your fees:
  • Print costs above the allowance
  • Replacement DBS if lost, approx. cost £50
  • Placement travel costs that exceed £5 per day for one day a week in semester 2 of stage 2 only
• Optional costs not included in your fees:
  • All placement travel costs outside the one day a week in semester 2 of stage 2
  • Field trips abroad that offer enrichment opportunities – these are optional, approx. cost £430-£1000
  • Memberships to sports clubs and societies encouraged but not mandatory, approx. cost £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 online application portal or contact one of our trusted local representatives.

Discover Uni

• Full-time: 87% say staff value students' views and opinions about the course.
• Full-time: 100% of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.
• Full-time: 85% in work or doing further study 15 months after the course.

Other Courses You Might Like

• Special Educational Needs and Disability BA (Hons)
• Education Studies with Foundation Year BA (Hons)