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BA (Hons) - Education Studies with Placement (Accelerated Two Year Degree)

Do you have a passion to shape and change people’s lives through education?
Are you interested in a career in education but not sure if you are ready to get in to teaching?
Do you want to gain experience in a range of educational settings of your choice?

Our two-year degree is a fast-track version of the traditional three-year degree, meaning you will gain a full honours degree, but graduate a year earlier. It's a stepping stone to a variety of life-long and rewarding career options.

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Course Overview

Explore the nature, scope and purpose of education across formal and informal systems, national and global settings, from early childhood studies to Higher Education. This course provides opportunities to ask the ‘big questions’ of learning and challenges perspectives, allowing you to grow into an education expert. Written and designed by an experienced tutor team, including staff who have researched and written widely across the education field, you’ll study a range of subjects associated with education and discover the world of social justice, policy and current affairs.

The programme also offers opportunities to gain valuable placement experiences in a variety of educational settings through work-based learning. The flexibility of our placements enables you to gain experience in specialist areas that are of interest to you and start making a difference through education before you even graduate.

On this course you will...

Develop the knowledge, understanding and skills drawn from a range of subjects such as sociology, psychology, philosophy and policy.
Combine your theoretical knowledge with practice by undertaking practical placements each year; enhancing your academic knowledge and boosting your employability.
Be allocated two days of the week to carry out your placement which can be voluntary or paid, giving you the flexibility to work whilst you study.
Benefit from an intimate learning environment, including a personal tutor and small class groups.
Learn flexibly, studying areas of education that are of interest to you and complete research enquiries on educational issues and settings, developing analytical and critical thinking skills.
Have the accessibility of studying an education degree in London, Carlisle, or Lancaster, campuses surrounded by rich opportunities for study, placement, and student life.

Apply

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Key Details

Recruiting toUK / RoI / Settled in UK
EU / EEA / International
Course LocationLancaster
Institute: Institute of Education, Arts and Society
UCAS CodeX306
Delivery StyleIn-person
Course DurationFull-time: 2 Years
Start DateSeptember 2024
AwardBA (Hons)
More informationProgramme Specification
Prospectus
Open DaysLancaster
All

Minimum entry requirements

96-112

UCAS Tariff points

Tuition fees

£11,100

UK | year

£16,290

International | year

Course Structure

What you will learn

This Education Studies degree will develop useful skills for a future working in a range of education settings, including roles such as a learning mentor, teaching assistant, family support worker or careers in museum, hospital and prison education. Alternatively, if you want to become a Primary School teacher, you can top up your qualifications with a one-year PGCE course to gain Qualified Teacher Status, subject to application.

You will also gain real life experience of educational settings enabling you to make links between theory and practice, become reflective practitioners, and develop a wide range of graduate and employability skills. The flexibility of our placements enable you to gain experience in areas that are of interest to you and network with relevant stakeholders in those fields.

Other practical aspects of this education course include visits to a range of educational settings and completing certified Safeguarding, Prevent and Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) training.

Year one

The first year of the programme will provide opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate the following:
• An understanding of the processes and values of safeguarding issues
• Knowledge of societal and organisational structures and purposes of educational systems
• Knowledge of current issues in education and how they link to policy and legislation
• Knowledge and critical understanding of the range of interactions and relationships that exist within the complexities of the education process
• Knowledge and critical understanding of the importance of the influence of psychology on education systems and theories
• Ability to evaluate the impact of global and ethical issues on education

Professional Studies and Work-based Contexts
Develop professional understanding of relevant education working environments including schools and non-school settings.
Learning and Development
Consider different influences on the development and learning of children, young people and adults, with a particular focus on social and emotional factors.
Introduction to Safeguarding in Education
Explore and discuss welfare and abuse, including support for children, young people and vulnerable adults to thrive. Policies and methods of defining and investigating abuse will be introduced, drawing particularly on the requirements placed on education professionals and multi-professional teams.
Educational Environments
Develop an understanding of education environments with reference to different forms of both formal and informal education.
Introduction to the History and Sociology of Education
Gain an historical and sociological understanding of education. This sets the context for future modules by considering social justice, identity, theory on structure and agency. You will develop an awareness of how education is linked to issues such as poverty.
Key Issues in Education Today
Build upon concepts around the links between education across the lifespan, social justice, identity and issues in society which effect education today.
Psychology of Education
Develop an understanding of psychological theories, relevant to educational practice, and how these relate to practice and their influence in educational settings.
Global Childhoods
Develop your theoretical understanding of public policy issues surrounding global childhoods. You will explore education systems home and abroad and examine comparative educations.
Education, Faith and Philosophy
Understand your own values and personal ethics in relation to philosophical thought. Philosophical thought is central to this module allowing you to review and analyse the history of education, the definition of education, how faith relates to education and the morality of education.

Year two

Year two of the programme will provide opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate the following:
• An appreciation of complexity, uncertainty and ambiguity of equality, diversity and inclusion on educational settings and practice
• An ability to critically review and evaluate leadership and management in education and the impact of the change process
• A systematic and conceptual understanding of how current issues can impact on educational settings
• Critically reflect and analyse the importance of educational research
• The ability to analytically examine assumptions about education and learning

Professional Studies and Work-based Contexts 2
Build upon the level 4 module of the same title in supporting you to develop your professional understanding of education working environments.
Educational Policy and Context
You will explore the context of neo-liberalism and the marketisation of education and will develop an understanding of how policy is developed and implemented.
Planning an Enquiry
The aim of this module is to prepare you for a small scale study which you will undertake the following semester.
Professional Studies and Work-based Contexts 3
You will further develop your professional understanding of roles and responsibilities in an educational setting of your choice.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Develop an understanding of the concepts of equality, diversity and inclusion. This is done through a review of cultural, societal, political and historical perspectives on education policy and processes including education across the lifespan.
Educational Leadership and Management
Develop an understanding of the perspectives of education leadership and management and make links between education management theory and practice.
Current Issues in Education and International Perspectives
Develop awareness of the issues arising nationally and internationally within all sectors of education.
Education and the Media
Explore the nature of media and technology in the world of the learner, exploring significant issues in the way technology has impacted on children, young people and adult learners’ lives, experiences and well-being.
Special Study
You will undertake and communicate findings of a reliable and valid small scale research project into an appropriate aspect of education. This includes a critical and evaluative literature review.

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

Modules will be delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials; these may be supplemented with independent directed activities, supplementary reading or electronically based activities. Blackboard is used by the programme team to support students; module information and resources can be accessed, assignments can be submitted and various other activities. Electronic discussion boards are used to encourage communication between students from different year groups 4 and different campuses.

The University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is used as a learning technology to promote student learning and achievement. In addition to providing access to programme and module information and learning materials and resources, you will be expected to use the VLE for submission of suitable coursework as well as online discussions; either as a student community or as a learning activity. Teaching and learning materials and resources are regularly uploaded and updated on to the VLE making them easily accessible to you. The university’s digital library is constantly expanding providing you with easier access to textbooks and journals online.

As well as the use of the VLE you will attend face to face lectures, seminars, tutorials and undertake group visits to educational settings to promote active learning. Group discussions, both face to face and via online discussion boards, debates, presentations and paired work will provide you with a wealth of social learning opportunities on the programme. Professional Directed Activities (PDA) and tutorials are used to promote and support effective independent learning, address specific needs as well as manage the demands of studying an accelerated degree by providing you with additional flexibility to complete your work.

Experiential and emergent learning plays a key role on the programme. This will be developed primarily through placement modules through which you will meet employers, practitioners, policy makers and other students and learn from their ideas and experiences.

How you will be assessed

Throughout the programme you will be required to complete assessments to demonstrate your learning of subject knowledge and acquisition of transferable key skills. Modes of assessment will be closely aligned with the content and learning outcomes of the modules and will encourage the development of a breadth and depth of intellectual and practical skills. Modes of assessment include; essays, patchwork texts, case studies, individual, paired and group presentations, portfolios, reports, fieldwork reports, and research papers. You will also be required to undertake a Special Study at level six which includes planning and researching an educational area that is of interest to you.

Assessments will take place for both formative and summative purposes. Formative assessments will be used as a method of assessment ‘for’ learning, providing you with opportunities to receive and act on feedback and develop as an independent and autonomous thinker. Formative assessments are used as a precedent of summative assessments and have been carefully designed to feed into summative assessments which will primarily be used for assessment ‘of’ learning.

In some cases, assessment briefs have been purposely designed to encourage and support you to make choices to individualise context, knowledge and skills which you need to develop. Assessment methods are introduced at level four and are built on in level five and six to allow you to progressively and cumulatively develop these competencies. Assessments have been designed to provide you with opportunities to demonstrate your learning, creativity and critical perspectives in a meaningful manner. Submission deadlines are, as far as possible, spread throughout the year to avoid “bunching” of submission deadlines. Your journey through assessments will be facilitated, monitored and appraised by your personal tutor.

Overview

96-112 UCAS Tariff Points, You can find out more about the tariff and qualification options from the UCAS tariff table.

GCSE English Language at grade 4/C or above. 

FITNESS TO PRACTISE 

All offers of a place are subject to satisfactory health screening. Further information will be provided following acceptance of an offer (and no earlier than three months before the course start date). 
For more information about core competencies and medical fitness to train please click here. 

In some instances, an applicant may be invited to attend a professional practice panel to discuss any recommended reasonable adjustments, and whether or not core professional competencies are achievable. 

 For information about Medical Clearance and vaccination requirements  click here. 

DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE CHECK 

If you accept an offer of a place we require you to comply with an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) background clearance check. Details on the policy can be found here. 

If you think you have a criminal conviction You will need to submit a Criminal Record Self Disclosure Form as part of the process For more information on this and the form itself, please refer to Self-disclosure of criminal record.

Qualifications

Entry Requirements

GCSEs: GCSE English Language at grade 4/C or above.

A-levels: CCC-BBC

T-levels: P (C+ in the Core) – M. All subjects are accepted however we recommend T Level Education and Childcare for entry to this course

Access to HE: 15 credits at Distinction & 30 at Merit 

CACHE Technical Level 3 and Level 3 Extended Diploma: C

OCR Cambridge Technical & Edexcel/Pearson BTEC Level 3 (National) Extended Diploma: MMM – DMM

Scottish Highers: BBCC - BBBB

Irish LC Highers: B2x4 – B1x2, B2x2

Other experience: Experience with Children is preferred but not required.

Alternative routes: If don't think you'll meet the criteria for direct application to this course, check out our DipHe Education Studies

Fair Admissions

When you apply, our Admissions specialists will review your whole application. We are looking for your potential to succeed so will assess your qualifications, any relevant work experience, your personal statement, and references.

Where you have received a conditional offer subject to achieving particular grades/UCAS tariff scores, and do not quite meet these scores, please try not to worry, where vacancies exist our Admissions specialists will review your whole application again and take account of any mitigating circumstances and reassess your suitability for the course.

Selection Criteria

As part of the application and selection process, we are looking for your commitment to this programme. In your personal statement, you should demonstrate your motivation for choosing this course; emphasise your areas of interest and reflect upon any experience you have gained. You should be an original thinker who is keen to bring your unique experience to the academic study of Education.

We are looking for passionate individuals who are keen to understand the wider context of Education; someone who excels at team work and has made positive contributions to their current enterprise or community.  

Contextual Admissions

Going to higher education can transform a person’s life. We use contextual admissions to make sure that we are accessible to everyone who has the potential to succeed. Qualifications and grades are important, but they are considered alongside other information that helps universities to identify potential and widen access to university level study. For some individuals, the disadvantages they have experienced in their life mean that they have not been able to demonstrate their full academic potential. Where a person lives and their personal circumstances can all affect their educational attainment.

We take this context into account and look for an applicant’s potential when making admission decisions. The University of Cumbria will make offers at the bottom of any UCAS Tariff range to applicants that live in postal code regions with the lowest participation in Higher Education (Polar 4 quintile 1 – you can check your postcode here), applicants that are estranged from their parents, are care leavers or have caring responsibilities or are in receipt of or received free school meals during their secondary education. Attendance at our Masterclasses and Summer Schools will also allow applicants to receive an offer lower within the tariff range. (T&Cs apply) 

Contact ugadmissions@cumbria.ac.uk for more information.

Returning to Education

If you are over 21 and returning to study after being in relevant employment for a minimum of 3 years and do not meet the published entry requirements for Year 1 of our degree courses, please do not assume you are not qualified to join us. Our experienced Admissions and Academic staff will review your prior qualifications and professional experience to support your application.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

2023 - 2024

£11,100 - UK
£16,290 - International

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

International Finance

At the University of Cumbria, we offer affordable tuition fees for international and EU students looking to study at one of our main four campuses. No matter your choice of course or career path, our International Team is here to support you.

More Information

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000..

Student Finance

Additional Costs

There will be some additional costs associated with the course including stationery, textbooks, field trips and membership fees although some of these features are optional.

Books are reviewed annually and are therefore subject to change, course welcome information will provide you with an indicative list for the year.

Books and Journals

All appropriate textbooks are made available through the University library, and where possible through e-books to aid the ease of use. If students do wish to purchase their own copies they can, but this is not a requirement for access to the programme.

Stationery

Students will incur costs for stationery and printing and other basic materials whilst on course and should budget accordingly. Where specifics are required they will be detailed below but items denoted are an outline rather than an indicative list. Students on the course will need access to a good supply of pens, pencils, rulers, files and notebooks, files with dividers, one for each module and an Academic diary. You will also need a Learner’s toolkit to bring to each session which includes felt tips, scissors, glue stick, post-it notes, etc. This shouldn’t come to more than £20-£30 per academic year.

Clothing and Equipment

Students may wish to have their own computer or laptop for undertaking their assignments. This is not however a requirement for access to the programme as the University does make such facilities available across all of its main sites and learning gateway buildings. Should students wish to purchase a computer then an entry-level laptop would suffice, £300 - 400.

Field Trips

The student can arrange their own placement close to home, and it can be in the student’s place of work, such as a school - if this is an appropriate education setting. If the university has supported the student in arranging a placement, we cannot guarantee that this is close to the student’s accommodation. There is the possibility that a university arranged placement will require travelling time, and any expenses incurred are to be met by the student. Therefore, the student should budget for these travel costs. Placement will require sensible, professional clothing and footwear as appropriate to the setting. Other trips and events may take place during the year, such as museum visits or optional social events.

Other

Placements in educational settings are an integral part of the programme. You will be required to undertake a criminal background check as part of the application process and there is a cost associated with this of approximately £50-£60.

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BA (Hons) - Education Studies with Placement (Accelerated Two Year Degree)