Program Overview

Education Studies (Top-up)

BA (Hons) Top-up

Attendance

• Full-time
• Part-time

Campus

• Preston Campus

Start

• September 2025

Duration

• 1 year

UCAS Code

• X302

Delivery

• In-person

Overview

Our Education Studies Top-up course provides an exploration of modern educational theories and practices. Course content is tailored to current and future educational challenges. You'll engage with modules that allow you to focus on areas of personal and professional interest.

With a flexible structure, this course offers the opportunity to customise your learning journey. Graduates are well-prepared to take on dynamic roles in diverse educational settings.

Why study with us

• Tailor your studies with a flexible range of modules, allowing you to align your education with your career goals.
• Gain practical skills and knowledge that prepare you for diverse and rewarding roles in the education sector.
• Benefit from expert guidance. Learn from professionals who bring real-world insights into the classroom.

What you'll do

• Engage in interactive seminars and workshops that encourage collaboration and critical thinking.
• Take advantage of placement opportunities that offer real-world experience, helping you apply your learning in professional settings.
• Take part in research projects and initiatives that allow you to explore educational topics.

Modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Dissertation
  • Module code: ED3991
  • You will have the opportunity to produce a dissertation through independent study in a field of your own choice. You can explore and study your chosen subject in detail to build an in-depth understanding and immerse yourself into the analysis of a contemporary educational problem.
• Double Dissertation
  • Module code: ED3993
  • Our double dissertation module will provide an opportunity for you to undertake independent study in an area of your own choosing. You will be expected to demonstrate an ability to develop and sustain a logical and consistent argument in relation to the analysis of an educational issue using both primary and secondary data sources.

Optional modules

• Debating Disability
  • Module code: DF3600
  • The aim of this module is to introduce you to a wide range of academic disciplines to the key theories, concepts and discourses relating to disabilities in the UK and beyond. You'll engage with the emergence of alternative perceptions of impairment and which factors may disable people. You'll also develop a more nuanced understanding of disability as a lived experience.
• Developmental Disorders of Learning and Cognition
  • Module code: ED3007
  • On this module you'll gain an understanding of developmental disorders of learning and cognition throughout childhood and adolescence. You'll develop an awareness of the methods used to investigate these disorders and current research findings. You'll also explore the biological, cognitive and environmental risks across the developmental timeframe.
• The Professional Role and its Context
  • Module code: ED3205
  • This module examines the history and continuing relevance of the concept of the teacher as a professional in an educational context. You will explore things such as the nature of professionalism, the influence of trade unions, professional bodies and interest groups, and the influence of gender and the professional role.
• Reflective Practice in Educational Settings
  • Module code: ED3208
  • This module enables you to engage in experiential learning through time spent in an educational setting, to critically reflect upon and assess the relevance of your observations with broader aspects of educational policy and practice and equip you with experience and insights to enhance your employability.
• Learning, Curriculum and Assessment
  • Module code: ED3209
  • In this module, you will develop your knowledge on aspects of learning, the curriculum, and assessment such as learning theory, curriculum delivery, teaching and learning, compulsory and entitlement curricula, transitions and curricula, curriculum, economy and society, and assessment and its impact on the curriculum.
• Policy and Practice in Educational Settings
  • Module code: ED3210
  • Our module explores the nature and impact of policies on various sectors of education and care. Key features of policy in this field at national and local levels will be examined and the implications for its practitioners, practitioner professionalism and management explored.
• The Education of Vulnerable Young People
  • Module code: ED3215
  • In this module you will explore the education for the vulnerable children and young people. The children you will explore may include victims of abuse and children involved with crime. If you are considering a career in teaching, social work or care, this module will benefit you.
• Families, Schools and Society
  • Module code: ED3223
  • In this module you will explore the role of family in education and parental involvement in children's education, the policies that promote this, the impacts of parents' involvements (or lack of it) on children's experience and attainment and barriers to involvement based on gender, ethnicity, social class and disability.
• International Perspectives on Education
  • Module code: ED3229
  • In this module you will gain critical insight into the education systems of developing countries and consider the historical impact on education in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. You'll also learn about the common issues to many developing countries in the field of education.
• Education, Society and Culture in England, c.
  • Module code: HY3029
  • Explore changing ideas about education; the roles of individuals, institutions and organisations in the development of educational provision; and the role of education in wider social, cultural, political and religious debate. You'll utilise a range of primary sources of evidence and engage with debates in the historiography of English education.
• The Sociology of Childhood
  • Module code: SO3020
  • This module explores the cultural relativity of childhood, examines how different social and cultural conceptualizations of ‘the child’ help constitute children’s everyday social experiences. You'll investigate children’s own perspectives on the social world and way they contribute to shaping ideas about ‘the child’ in society.

Entry requirements

• Foundation degree in Education or Early years or Childhood Studies or Children and young persons services

Fees and funding

• UK: £9,535 per year (full-time), £1,587 per 20 credits (part-time)
• International: £17,325 per year (full-time)

Learning and assessment

• Throughout the course you’ll attend a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical sessions. Independent study is an important aspect of this degree. On occasion you’ll be asked to work in small groups.
• During the course you’ll have the opportunity to undertake at least one placement in one of the following:
  • Nursery
  • Primary school
  • Secondary school
  • Further education/training institution
• These placements will help you gain vital work experience.
• We’ll assess you through your coursework. This will include a varied mix of:
  • Essays
  • Individual and group presentations
  • Critical reviews of research
  • Reflective learning diaries
  • Portfolios
  • Developing strategies
  • Lesson plans
  • Designing small-scale research proposals.
• There are no exams on this course.
• We’ll also teach you a range of skills which will prove useful in your future career. You’ll learn how to deliver presentations, solve problems, collaborate in teams, critically assess policies and literature in the field of education, and more.

Future careers

• Our course is designed to equip with further industry-relevant skills.
• Through lectures and projects, you'll build a solid foundation for a career in education.
• We have strong links with schools, educational charities, and local authorities. These provide networking opportunities and the chance to engage with real-world challenges.
• Our graduates are equipped for a variety of careers in the education sector, including roles such as:
  • Teaching (following the completion of an appropriate teaching qualification, such as a PGCE)
  • Educational consultancy
  • Policy development
  • Educational management
• You'll gain an understanding of educational theories, practical skills, and the ability to evaluate and implement educational practices.
• This foundation enhances your employability. You will be equipped to pursue leadership positions in schools, educational charities, local authorities, or continue onto postgraduate study in education.