Program Overview

BA (Hons) Education

Overview

The BA Education degree at Goldsmiths is a transformative experience that equips students with critical knowledge, practical experience, and a pathway to exciting career opportunities. This degree provides an excellent grounding for careers in education, youth work, policy and government, or social work, as well as further study such as a PGCE to become a teacher.

Why Study BA Education at Goldsmiths

• Are you passionate about shaping the future of education and making a real difference in society?
• Do you want to develop valuable critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills that prepare you for your future career?
• Do you want to be part of a close-knit, inclusive community where your voice matters?

Creative and Innovative Learning

• Education isn’t just about exams and essays. Our creative and multimodal assessments encourage you to engage with learning in dynamic ways, such as visual projects, digital storytelling, and interactive presentations, preparing you for the evolving education sector.

Real-World Experience

• You'll gain valuable work experience through placements with a range of organisations. Previous students have:
  • Supported literacy projects for Bengali women
  • Developed educational resources at a city farm
  • Curated an art exhibition at a pupil referral unit for excluded secondary school students

Explore Key Issues in Education

• You won’t just study education – you’ll critically examine the major challenges shaping the field today, including:
  • Mental health and wellbeing in schools
  • Institutional racism and social inequalities in education
  • The impact of AI and digital technologies on learning
  • The role of media and geopolitics in shaping education policy
  • A supportive and caring learning environment

A Journey of Discovery

• Year 1: Build foundational knowledge of education studies.
• Year 2: Gain hands-on experience through school placements and research training.
• Year 3: Conduct your own research project, investigating real-world challenges in education.

Contact the Department

• If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Dr Andrew Wilkins.

UCAS Code

• X390

Length

• 3 years full-time or up to 6 years part-time

Fees

• Home - full-time: £9535
• Home - part-time: £TBC
• International - full-time: £20650

Department

• Educational Studies

What You'll Study

Year 1

• Compulsory modules:
  • Culture and Identity (30 credits)
  • Education in Britain: Past and Present (30 credits)
  • Understanding Learning (30 credits)
  • Identity, Agency & Environment 1 (15 credits)
  • Identity, Agency & Environment 2 (15 credits)

Year 2

• Compulsory modules:
  • Introduction to Social and Cultural Research (30 credits)
  • Intersecting Inequalities in Schools (30 credits)
  • The Goldsmiths Elective (15 credits)
  • The Goldsmiths Project (15 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • You'll take 30 credits of optional modules from a list produced annually by the Department of Educational Studies.

Year 3

• Compulsory modules:
  • Dissertation BA Education (30 credits)
  • Youth, Critical Practice and Hope (30 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • You'll take 90 credits of optional modules from a list produced annually by the Department of Educational Studies.

Teaching Style

• This programme is taught through a mixture of seminars, lectures, tutorials, studio practice, performances and personal research. You’ll also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study.

How You'll Be Assessed

• You’ll be assessed by a variety of methods, depending on your module choices. These may include essays, examinations, written assignments, exhibitions, presentations (including multimedia), reports, practice-based assessments and a dissertation.

Credits and Levels of Learning

• An undergraduate honours degree is made up of 360 credits – 120 at Level 4, 120 at Level 5 and 120 at Level 6. If you are a full-time student, you will usually take Level 4 modules in the first year, Level 5 in the second, and Level 6 modules in your final year.

Study Abroad Opportunity

• As well as taking on a work placement, you’ll have the opportunity to apply to study abroad. This will give you the chance to explore how education, culture and society can be interpreted in a new context.

Careers

• During the degree you'll receive support for your personal and career development through our personal progress programme. You’ll have access to a professional network made up of departmental and university staff running tutorials and workshops to help you reflect on your personal, academic and employment goals.

Skills

• This degree helps you develop:
  • Analytical and critical thinking skills
  • The ability to synthesise and distil information and communicate ideas in writing and other media
  • Presentation skills
  • Interpersonal skills
  • The ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • Expertise in carrying out personal research
  • Time management skills

Entry Requirements

• We accept the following qualifications:
  • A-level: BBC
  • BTEC: DMM
  • International Baccalaureate: 31 points with three HL subjects at 655
  • UAL Extended Diploma: Merit overall
  • Access: Pass with 45 Level 3 credits including a number of distinctions/merits in subject specific modules
  • Scottish qualifications: BBBCC (Higher) or BCC (Advanced Higher)
  • European Baccalaureate: 75%
  • Irish Leaving Certificate: H2 H2 H2 H2

International Qualifications

• We also accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

Alternative Qualifications and Experience

• See our full list of undergraduate entry qualifications.

Fees and Funding

Annual Tuition Fees

• These are the UG fees for students starting their programme in the 2025/2026 academic year.
  • Home - full-time: £9535
  • Home - part-time: £TBC
  • International - full-time: £20650

Funding Opportunities

• We offer a wide range of scholarships and bursaries, and our Careers Service can also offer advice on finding work during your studies.

Additional Costs

• In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying.

Staff

Dr Andrew Wilkins

• Head of Programme, BA Education, Reader in Education Policy

Dr Yael Gerson

• Deputy Head of Programme, BA Education, Researcher Lecturer in Sociology and Education