BA Special Educational Needs and Disability with Foundation Year
About this course
BA (Hons) in Education, focusing on special educational needs and disability. Core topics include statistics, research methods, critical and analytical thinking, and global and comparative perspectives on education. The programme includes two placement modules across different SEND contexts, and culminates in a dissertation literature review.
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: 72 A level: DDD T Level: Pass BTEC: MMP GCSE: GCSE Maths and English are preferred, however if you don't have these qualifications you will be able to undertake Maths and English at Level 2 as part of your course of study Access to HE: Pass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 0, Merit: 30, Pass: 15 English language: IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)
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What students say
Based on about 34 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Teaching on my course: 97%
- Learning opportunities: 94%
- Assessment and feedback: 93%
- Academic support: 91%
- Organisation and management: 90%
- Learning resources: 98%
- Student voice: 88%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 60 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 66%
- Gained a higher qualification: 18%
- Left higher education: 15%
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 75 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 76%
- Access course: 7%
- A degree: 1%
- Other HE qualification: 16%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Gold for student experience, Silver for student outcomes.
Modules
- Placement Learning and Professional Development
- Academic Skills and Personal Development
- English
- Mathematics
- Children's Literature and Education
- Philosophy of Education
- Psychology of Education
- Sociology of Education
- Biomedical Science
- Creative Project
- 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 with Foundation Year 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 with Foundation Year 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 Special Educational Needs and Disability with Foundation Year 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 with Foundation Year at University of Derby?
The typical offer is DDD at A level. The average entrant had 105 UCAS points.
Does BA Special Educational Needs and Disability with Foundation Year 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 with Foundation Year at University of Derby?
66% of students continued into their second year, and 15% left higher education.