BA Education Studies with optional pathway in SEND or TESOL
About this course
BA (Hons) Education Studies with optional pathway in SEND or TESOL is an education degree examining learning practices, philosophical traditions, and historical contexts across different societies. Core topics include Research Methods. Students can choose to pursue an optional foundation year and an optional year abroad during their studies. The first year covers foundational concepts through Introduction to Comparative Education, Philosophy of Education, Another Brick in the Wall: An Introduction to the Sociology of Education, Community Project, Education Through the Ages, and Teaching, Thinking and Reasoning. The second year builds professional understanding through Education in Context: a reflection and Research Methods in Education, alongside optional choices such as Educational Alternatives, Exploring Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs, An Introduction to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, Is it all just words? Language, Society and Education, Lessons from History of Education, and Motivation and Achievement. The final year involves an independent research project via Independent Study in Education, complemented by optional modules covering areas like Creativity and Innovation in SEND: Research and Practice, The Inclusive Classroom: Research and Practice, Linguistics for TESOL, Principles and Practices of TESOL 1, Principles and Practices of TESOL 2, ‘Entrepreneurial’ Education, Left Behind and Left out: Social Exclusion and Education, The Future of Education, and The Science of Learning and the Art of Teaching. An additional placement learning module is also associated with a placement year between the second and final stage.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
UCAS tariff: 104 A level: BCC T Level: Merit BTEC: DMM GCSE: GCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6 English language: IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)
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What students say
Based on about 18 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 99%
- Learning opportunities: 98%
- Assessment and feedback: 97%
- Academic support: 100%
- Organisation and management: 95%
- Learning resources: 98%
- Student voice: 92%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 75%
- Left higher education: 25%
What graduates do next
Based on about 25 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 5%
- Further study: 15%
- Unemployed: 5%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 40%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 25%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 10%
- Teaching and Childcare Associate Professionals: 10%
- Administrative occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 95%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 90%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 90%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 300 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 3%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 4%
- East Midlands: 67%
- West Midlands: 15%
- East of England: 4%
- London: 1%
- South East: 2%
- South West: 1%
- Wales: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 30 students who started
- A levels: 70%
- Access course: 10%
- A degree: 5%
- Other HE qualification: 15%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Placement Learning and Professional Development
- Introduction to Comparative Education
- Philosophy of Education
- Another Brick in the Wall: An Introduction to the Sociology of Education
- Community Project
- Education Through the Ages
- Teaching, Thinking and Reasoning
- Education in Context: a reflection
- Research Methods in Education
- Educational Alternatives
- Exploring Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs
- An Introduction to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- Is it all just words? Language, Society and Education
- Lessons from History of Education
- Motivation and Achievement
- Independent Study in Education
- Creativity and Innovation in SEND: Research and Practice
- The Inclusive Classroom: Research and Practice
- Linguistics for TESOL
- Principles and Practices of TESOL 1
- Principles and Practices of TESOL 2
- ‘Entrepreneurial’ Education
- Left Behind and Left out: Social Exclusion and Education
- The Future of Education
- The Science of Learning and the Art of Teaching
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Education Studies with optional pathway in SEND or TESOL at University of Derby earn?
The median salary is £24,000 after 15 months, £20,500 after 3 years, £23,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £17,500 and £29,500. The £23,500 median after five years is £500 less than the UK median for Education.
What do graduates of BA Education Studies with optional pathway in SEND or TESOL at University of Derby do next?
85% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Education Studies with optional pathway in SEND or TESOL at University of Derby?
99% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Education Studies with optional pathway in SEND or TESOL at University of Derby?
The typical offer is BCC at A level. The average entrant had 89 UCAS points.
Does BA Education Studies with optional pathway in SEND or TESOL at University of Derby include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Education Studies with optional pathway in SEND or TESOL at University of Derby?
75% of students continued into their second year, and 25% left higher education.