Program Overview

BA Hons Education & Social Services

The BA Hons Education & Social Services is an innovative degree that prepares students for working in settings which combine health, education, and social work/social care. This joint venture between the University of Strathclyde and five further education colleges aims to develop the leadership qualities and skills required for integrated services.

Why this course?

• This degree responds to the Scottish Government's aspiration for different services to communicate more effectively and work in a more integrated way to meet the service-user needs of children, young people, and adults.
• A major aim of the degree is to develop the leadership qualities and skills required for this challenge.
• The course is designed to advance the level of understanding, knowledge, and proficiency of those who will work with children, young people, and adults within education and social services.

What you'll study

• The broad aims of the course are to:
  • advance the level of understanding, knowledge, and proficiency of those who will work with children, young people, and adults within education and social services
  • develop professional attitudes, leadership, and management skills, allowing graduates to contribute confidently to evidence-based practice, informed by a value base of rights and respect for service users within integrated services
• The course structure includes:
  • Strand 1 - Professional Development
  • Strand 2 - Contexts and Policy
  • Strand 3 - Integration of Services
  • Strand 4 - Understanding and Meeting Needs
  • Strand 5 - Understanding and Developing Practice
• Modules include:
  • Workplace Learning & Practice 1
  • Academic Literacy
  • The Societal Context of Professional Working
  • How People Develop & Learn
  • Introduction to Integrated Services
  • Being Professional Working Collaboratively
  • Contexts Policy & Joint Working
  • Management & Leadership in Integrated Services
  • Understanding How People Behave
  • Research Methods
  • Workplace Learning & Practice 2
  • Workplace Learning & Practice 3
  • Specialist Pathway
  • Personal & Professional Development
  • Professional Inquiry & Evidence Informed Practice - Dissertation
  • Education of Looked After Children

Assessment

• Assessment has been designed to provide evidence of personal and professional development.
• Some assessments require practical application in the workplace.
• Forms of assessment include:
  • seminar presentation
  • investigative reports
  • case studies
  • preparation of resources
  • reflective diaries
  • profiling essays
• You’ll mainly be assessed individually, but there will also be group-based assessments.

Learning & teaching

• Faculty-based learning is combined with a six-week work placement with private, public, or voluntary sector agencies.
• The University draws on practitioners and policy-makers to inform the curriculum and invites guest lecturers from a diverse range of posts in education and social services.

Entry requirements

• Application is to a participating college in the first instance.
• You will enter college at Diploma of Higher Education level, having first studied a relevant HNC such as:
  • Early Education and Childcare or Childhood Practice
  • Health Care or Care and Administrative Practice
  • Social Care or Social Services
  • Additional Support Needs or Supporting Learning Needs
  • Working with Communities
• You will then go on to study Year 3 of the BA and Year 4 of the BA Honours at Strathclyde.
• You will require two additional supporting documents:
  • confirmation from the Board of Examiners that you have met the requirements to progress to the final years of the degree
  • a personal statement outlining your commitment to continuing on the course
• Applications for direct entry into year three are encouraged from applicants who hold a relevant HND qualification such as:
  • Additional Support Needs
  • Social Sciences
  • Childhood Practice
  • Social Care
• Applicants must demonstrate that they have relevant practice experience working with children, young people, or adults.

Fees & funding

• All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.
• Fees may be subject to updates to maintain accuracy.
• Tuition fees will be notified in your offer letter.
• Annual revision of fees:
  • Students on programmes of study of more than one year (or studying standalone modules) should be aware that the majority of fees will increase annually.
  • The University will take a range of factors into account, including, but not limited to, UK inflation, changes in delivery costs, and changes in Scottish and/or UK Government funding.
  • Changes in fees will be published on the University website in October each year for the following year of study, and any annual increase will be capped at a maximum of 10% per year.
• Fees for 2025/26:
  • Scotland: £1,820
  • England, Wales & Northern Ireland: £9,535
  • Republic of Ireland: If you are an Irish citizen and have been ordinary resident in the Republic of Ireland for the three years prior to the relevant date, and will be coming to Scotland for Educational purposes only, you will meet the criteria of England, Wales & Northern Ireland fee status.
  • International: £21,550
• Additional costs:
  • Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme: Students must pay for the PVG Scheme. Students who require a new PVG certificate will pay £59. If you have an existing PVG and need to add Strathclyde, the cost is £18.
  • International students: International students may have associated visa and immigration costs.

Careers

• Our graduates are well-equipped to work within, and eventually lead, integrated services across the education, health, and social care sector.
• The degree also gives you eligibility to apply for postgraduate training in areas such as social work, community education, childhood practice, and primary teaching.
• Recent job titles include:
  • Advocacy Worker
  • Deputy Head – Nursery
  • Education Support Worker
  • Facilitation Worker
  • Housing Support Worker
  • Nursery Manager
  • Project Worker
  • Senior Social Care Worker
• Recent employers include:
  • Assist
  • Crossreach
  • Quarriers
  • Scottish Association for Mental Health
  • Turning Point

University preparation programme for international students

• We offer international students (non-UK/Ireland) who do not meet the academic entry requirements for an undergraduate degree at Strathclyde the option of completing an Undergraduate Foundation Programme in Business and Social Sciences at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre.
• Upon successful completion, you can progress to your chosen degree at the University of Strathclyde.

International students

• We've a thriving international community with students coming here to study from over 140 countries across the world.
• Find out all you need to know about studying in Glasgow at Strathclyde and hear from students about their experiences.