BA (Hons) / BSc (Hons) Education (Secondary)

Program Overview

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BA (Hons) / BSc (Hons) Education (Secondary)

Overview

Choose our BA (Hons) / BSc (Hons) Education (Secondary) degree and learn from world-leading academics and outstanding teachers who have strong partnerships with local schools. This gives you access to cutting-edge practice and research throughout your secondary teaching degree.

Our pioneering approach to professional education gives you time to develop as a secondary school teacher. With our four-year teaching degree, you’ll be able to grow in confidence and critically reflect on your skills. The course gives you a research-informed degree, making you well equipped to enter the world of secondary education from the day you graduate.

Key Facts

• Award: BA (Hons), BSc (Hons)
• Start date: September 2025
• Duration: 48 months
• Mode of study: full time
• Delivery: on campus

Accreditations

• General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS)

Top Reasons to Study with Us

• We're ranked top 5 in Scotland and Top 15 in the UK for Education (The Complete University Guide 2025)
• We give you time to develop your skills as a teacher over four years – instead of a traditional one-year course
• Placements throughout the degree allow you to enhance your teaching skills and put theory into practice in a live teaching environment.

Professional Accreditation

We’re accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), which means that you can apply for provisional registration as a secondary teacher as soon as you graduate.

Entry Requirements

Year 1 Entry – Four-year Honours

• SQA Highers: ABBB
• GCE A-levels: BBB
• IB Diploma: 30 points
• BTEC (Level 3): DDM

Physical Education:

• SQA Highers: AAAB
• GCE A-levels: BBB
• IB Diploma: 32 points
• BTEC (Level 3): DDM

The following English and Mathematics entry requirements apply for all specialisms:

• Higher English (C) or GCSE English Language and English Literature (C/4) or Communications 4 and Literature 1
• Mathematics or Application of Mathematics National 5 (C), Intermediate 2 (C), Standard Grade (2), GCSE (C/4) or equivalent.

There is a preference for a Higher or A Level in the subjects(s) you wish to teach. There are additional requirements for some subjects:

• Essential subjects:
  • Biology: To include SQA Higher (B), A-level (B) or equivalent in Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics or Physics.
  • Environmental Geography: To include SQA Higher (B), A-level (B) or equivalent in Biology/Human Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Mathematics or Physics.
  • French and Spanish (combined): To include SQA Higher (B), A-level (B) or equivalent in one of French or Spanish.
  • Mathematics: To include SQA Higher (B), A-level (B) or equivalent in Mathematics.

Essential subjects must have been taken within the last five years to ensure your required subject knowledge is current. Recent work experience can be taken into consideration in place of a formal qualification.

Widening Access Students

Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.

Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.

Other Scottish Qualifications

• Scottish HNC/HND: Year one minimum entry - Bs in graded units.
• Access courses: University of Stirling access course - for mature students only. You must pass the course with 50% or above.

Other Qualifications

• English, Welsh and Northern Irish HNC/HND: Merits and Distinctions
• English, Welsh and Northern Irish access courses: Access to Higher Education - 60 credits, minimum 45 at QCF Level 3, pass at 60% or above.

International Entry Requirements

View the entry requirements for your country

Advanced Entry

Advanced entry is not available for this course.

Additional Information

Entry to the course is also subject to an interview and a criminal record PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) check.

Course Details

You’ll follow a course of eight semesters (four years), to gain an Honours degree in Professional Education (Secondary). Alternatively, seven semesters (three and a half years) leads to either a General degree or to a Bachelors degree in Professional Education.

Semesters 1 – 2

You’ll take the following core modules:

• Education: Purposes, Principles and Practice
• Education: Learning and Teaching

You can take part in serial days during year 1. These will be organised by the university and will involve spending time in school.

Semesters 3 – 6

You’ll take a range of core and advanced modules in Education, including a range of teaching skills in your chosen subjects. You’ll also go on two school placements, one lasting six weeks and one lasting 10 weeks (with three days in school and two at university), between Semesters 3-4 and 5-6. Physical Education students will take part in an additional four-week placement.

Semesters 7 – 8

Semester 7 includes a 10-12 week placement, as well as supplementary taught classes.

In Semester 8 you’ll complete an Enquiry into Practice that’s closely related to your placement, as well as doing further study in your teaching subject.

Modules

The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the academic year that starts in September 2025. Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.

Teaching

Our Secondary Education degree is taught through seminars, lectures and workshops. You’ll also have the opportunity to go on school placements to get practical teaching experience.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork and learning for sustainability are embedded within the Geography course at Stirling. Students will develop skills and confidence through participation in field trips and work on campus with Grounds for Learning and local school groups.

Assessment

Assessment is by continuous assessment. School experience placements are supported by school-based teachers and University of Stirling tutors. There are no examinations in Education.

Work Placement Opportunities

School work placements are an integral part of this course, culminating in a 10-12 week secondary school experience where you can teach your chosen subjects.

Study Abroad

If you intend to teach Modern Languages in a school after you graduate, you must fulfil residence requirements in a country where that language is spoken. For eligible students, this means applying for an English Language Assistantship via the externally-administered British Council scheme.

Fees and Funding

Fees and Costs

Fees and costs for each Secondary Education course:

• Scottish students: £1,820*
• Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland: £9,250**
• International (including EU) students: £17,200

• This tuition fee is set by the Scottish Government and may be subject to change.

** This tuition fee may be subject to change depending on guidance provided by the UK Government.

Funding

See what funding opportunities and loans are available to help you with tuition and living costs.

• Students from Scotland: Find funding opportunities for Scottish students.
• Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland: Eligible students will automatically receive our Undergraduate Welcome Scholarship, Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, and our Honours Year Scholarship, which are worth between £1,000 and £9,250.
• International students: Eligible international students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £8,000-£30,000 over the duration of your course.

After You Graduate

The majority of our Secondary Education graduates enter the Scottish Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS), which guarantees you employment for one year as a newly qualified teacher in a Scottish Local Authority school.

Alternatively, you may choose to continue your education with a postgraduate degree, or carry out doctoral research, leading to the award of a PhD.

Teacher Induction Scheme

Participation in the Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS) is not compulsory, and some students may choose to follow the alternative Flexible Route – which is less structured and may better suit their personal circumstances.

Students from Scotland, the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland who are studying at a Scottish Higher Education Institution are eligible to join the TIS.

Students from other countries are ineligible for the TIS scheme but can follow the Flexible Route to complete probationary service if they plan to teach in Scotland following their studies.

Companies We Work With

We work in close partnership with Local Authorities, schools, Education Scotland and GTCS. This helps to ensure we support you throughout your studies, so you can become an effective educator.

What Our Students Said

View more student stories

• Kevin Kirson: "University of Stirling has enabled me to gain a Geography degree while building up teaching experience and developing my knowledge of education..."
• Jenni Cook: "I am currently teaching history at a secondary school in the Scottish Borders, absolutely loving it....my dream career."
• Blair Haldane: "The incredibly enjoyable time I had as a University of Stirling student has made me the confident person I am today."

Flexible Study

Are you interested in more than one of our courses? You might not have to choose between them. Here at Stirling, we believe in choice and offer more than 170 course combinations.

Education (Secondary) can be combined with any of the following courses:

• Biology
• English Studies
• English Studies and Religion
• Geography - Environmental Geography
• French
• French and Spanish and Latin American Studies
• History and Politics
• History
• History and Sociology
• Mathematics
• Philosophy and Religion
• Sport

For a combined honours degree where the two subjects have different entry requirements, you will usually be asked to meet the higher entry requirement.

Related Courses

• BA (Hons) / BSc (Hons) Education (Primary)
• BA (Hons) Professional Education (Secondary, Chemistry or Physics)
• BA Teaching Qualification for Further Education (TQFE) - in-service
• BA Teaching Qualification for Further Education (TQFE) - pre-service
• BSc (Hons) Environmental Geography and Outdoor Education
• BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and Outdoor Education