BA Education Studies
About this course
BA (Hons) in Education Studies, an education degree examining how learning and society interact through psychology, sociology, philosophy and history. Core topics include research methods. Students can specialise in areas including SEND and inclusion, digital education, intercultural education and the psychology of education, and may apply to add a placement year or a year abroad at partner institutions, extending the course from three to four years. Year one establishes the foundations, covering research literacy in Encountering Educational Research, historical and philosophical ideas in Introduction to the History and Philosophy of Education, the psychology of learning in Foundations of Psychology in Education, and "Why do we have to go to class?": Introducing sociologies of education. Year two examines the field's evidence base: Researching Education covers how educational research is designed and appraised, and The Trouble with Education addresses contested contemporary questions. Optional modules across these years include International and Comparative Education, Decolonising Knowledge and Power, Constructing Childhood and Youth, and Higher Education: Issues of Exclusion and Inclusion. The final year centres on the compulsory Dissertation: Disciplinary Contexts of Education, an independent research project, and Education Reimagined, where students work on practical education problems. Year-three options include Evidence and Educational Policy, Education, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Understanding the Arts in Education, and The Social Life of Education.
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
A level: ABB IB: 35 with 665 in higher level subjects.
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Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 67%: 30 offers from 45 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 24 final-year students who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 88%
- Learning opportunities: 85%
- Assessment and feedback: 91%
- Academic support: 88%
- Organisation and management: 90%
- Learning resources: 88%
- Student voice: 85%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 50 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 6 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Working: 80%
- Unemployed: 10%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 74%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 6%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 5%
- Teaching and Childcare Associate Professionals: 3%
- Administrative occupations: 2%
- Find their work meaningful: 97%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 88%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 91%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 155 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 45%
- North West: 10%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 13%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 7%
- London: 11%
- South East: 5%
- South West: 2%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 2%
Who gets in
Based on about 55 students who started, across similar courses at this university
- A levels: 98%
- Baccalaureate: 1%
- Other qualifications: 1%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Encountering Educational Research
- Introduction to the History and Philosophy of Education
- "Why do we have to go to class?": Introducing sociologies of education
- Foundations of Psychology in Education
- Education in Question
- Example optional modules
- Researching Education
- The Trouble with Education
- Example optional modules
- Dissertation: Disciplinary Contexts of Education
- Education Reimagined
- Example optional modules
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BA Education Studies at Durham University earn?
The median salary is £31,500 after 15 months, £26,500 after 3 years, £32,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,500 and £35,000. The £32,500 median after five years is £8,500 more than the UK median for Education.
What do graduates of BA Education Studies at Durham University do next?
80% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BA Education Studies at Durham University?
88% 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 at Durham University?
The typical offer is ABB at A level. The average entrant had 90 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BA Education Studies at Durham University?
67% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 30 offers from 45 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BA Education Studies at Durham University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BA Education Studies at Durham University?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 5% left higher education.