BA Special Educational Needs and Disability
About this course
BA (Hons) Education, focusing on special educational needs and disability (SEND). Core topics include Research Methods and Global & Comparative Perspective. The programme incorporates two placement stages in different SEND contexts, and concludes with an independent dissertation at Level 6.
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 17 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 97%
- Learning opportunities: 94%
- Assessment and feedback: 92%
- Academic support: 87%
- Organisation and management: 87%
- Learning resources: 100%
- Student voice: 86%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 35 students who started
- Continued on course: 65%
- Gained a higher qualification: 30%
- Left higher education: 10%
What graduates do next
Based on about 12 graduates who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 60%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 20%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 35%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 25%
- Welfare and housing associate professionals: 15%
- Teaching and Childcare Associate Professionals: 15%
- Animal care and control services: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 95%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 80%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 100%
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 25 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 75%
- Access course: 5%
- Other HE qualification: 20%
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 SEND: from Exclusion to Inclusion
- Engaging with Employability Skills and Practice: Placement 1
- Issues and Debates in SEND
- Comparative Perspectives in SEND
- The History of SEND: Past to present
- Personal, Professional and Academic Skills for the SEND Practitioner
- Exploring Cognition and Learning Needs
- Exploring Communication and Interaction Needs
- Exploring Sensory and Physical Needs
- Exploring Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs
- Developing Employability Skills and Practice: Placement 2
- The SEND Professional: Roles and Contexts in SEND
- Dissertation: Literature Review
- Concepts of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Research and Practice
- Social Exclusion and SEND: Research and Practice
- Creativity and Innovation in SEND: Research and Practice
- SEND: Live Project
- The Inclusive Classroom: Research and Practice
- Identity, Inclusion and Living with Disability: Research and Practice
- Autism: Research and Practice
- Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties: Research and Practice
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Special Educational Needs and Disability 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 Special Educational Needs and Disability at University of Derby do next?
90% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Special Educational Needs and Disability at University of Derby?
97% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BA Special Educational Needs and Disability at University of Derby?
The typical offer is BCC at A level. The average entrant had 128 UCAS points.
Does BA Special Educational Needs and Disability at University of Derby include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Special Educational Needs and Disability at University of Derby?
65% of students continued into their second year, and 10% left higher education.