Primary Education
About this course
BAE in Primary Education, a primary education degree that includes the opportunity to gain Qualified Teacher Status with the Department for Education. Core topics include research methods and critical and analytical thinking. Each year includes a school placement module, with no fewer than 120 days spent in schools working towards the Teachers' Standards. The curriculum is co-designed with school-based colleagues, and the final year centres on an extended independent dissertation. The first year lays the groundwork through Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Primary Education 1, Core Subjects 1, Education in the Early Years, and Teaching Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, alongside the first school placement. The second year builds on this with Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Primary Education 2, Core Subjects in Primary Education 2 and Foundation Subjects and School-based Practice 2, while Educational Research Methods covers the design and appraisal of educational research. A second school placement follows. The final year consolidates the core subjects in Core Subjects in Primary Education 3, examines subject leadership in Future Leaders, and covers the transition to an Early Career Teacher role in Moving from a Trainee to an ECT in Primary Education. It culminates in Double Dissertation in Primary Education: Reflective Practice in Action, an extended research project carried out independently with a primary education focus. All modules listed are compulsory, and school-based practice modules recur in all three years.
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: 128 UCAS Tariff points IB: 34 with 655 in higher level subjects
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Real offers for this course
Applicants have posted 1 UCAS decision for Primary Education (X101) at Durham University for 2027 entry so far.
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 43%: 170 offers from 400 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 27 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 88%
- Learning opportunities: 88%
- Assessment and feedback: 80%
- Academic support: 90%
- Organisation and management: 44%
- Learning resources: 89%
- Student voice: 90%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 50 students who started
- Continued on course: 90%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 5%
What graduates do next
Based on about 46 graduates who answered
- Working: 82%
- Working and studying: 9%
- Further study: 1%
- Unemployed: 4%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 82%
- Teaching and Childcare Support Occupation: 4%
- Teaching and Childcare Associate Professionals: 3%
- Business and public service associate professionals: 3%
- Administrative occupations: 1%
- Find their work meaningful: 98%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 90%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 98%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 130 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 49%
- North West: 11%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 15%
- East Midlands: 3%
- West Midlands: 2%
- East of England: 6%
- London: 6%
- South East: 4%
- South West: 2%
- Scotland: 1%
- Northern Ireland: 2%
Who gets in
Based on about 40 students who started
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Primary Education 1
- Core Subjects 1
- Education in the Early Years
- Foundation Subjects and School-based Practice 1
- Teaching Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
- School-based Practice in Primary Education 1 (0 (zero) credits)
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Primary Education 2
- Core Subjects in Primary Education 2
- Educational Research Methods
- Foundation Subjects and School-based Practice 2
- School-based Practice in Primary Education 2 (0 (zero) credits)
- Double Dissertation in Primary Education: Reflective Practice in Action
- Core Subjects in Primary Education 3
- Future Leaders
- Moving from a Trainee to an ECT in Primary Education
- School-based Practice in Primary Education 3 (0 (zero) credits)
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of Primary Education at Durham University earn?
The median salary is £31,500 after 15 months, £26,500 after 3 years, £32,000 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £25,000 and £34,000. The £32,000 median after five years is £500 less than the UK median for Teacher training.
What do graduates of Primary Education at Durham University do next?
92% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on Primary Education 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 Primary Education at Durham University?
The average entrant had 142 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for Primary Education at Durham University?
43% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 170 offers from 400 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does Primary Education 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 Primary Education at Durham University?
90% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.