Your education starts here
Year of entry: 2022/23
X300
Y50
3 years full-time
Join us on campus to find out what life at York is really like.
Next Open Days: 17 and 18 September
Book your placeEducation affects us all, but few people ever question the systems and structures which seem so familiar.
Delve into a wide range of disciplines and fields, including psychology, sociology, social policy, politics, literature and history. You'll study how people learn; how education interacts with wider society; how politics affects what we learn and how we learn it. You'll explore how education is organised in different countries; and how modern education has been shaped by its historical roots.
Alongside rigorous academic study, you'll gain valuable skills and experience with a range of opportunities for placements and volunteering. Your studies will inform and guide you, giving you practice applying educational theory to real-world situations.
This course will not qualify you as a teacher. However, it is good preparation for a range of postgraduate initial teacher training courses.
Gain classroom experience alongside your course with our York Students in Schools programme
We’re ranked 5th in the UK for research according to the Times Higher Education’s ranking of the latest REF results (2021)
We're proud to announce that we've been shortlisted for two prestigious University of the Year awards.
This course will cover the concepts, theories and debates which underpin Education as a field of study. In your first year you'll study core modules which introduce important background knowledge and key academic techniques.
In later years you'll study more option modules, allowing you to focus on subjects which interest you. Education is closely linked with many other fields so you can cover a huge array of topics which could include:
A key focus of your final year will be your Dissertation. You'll identify an aspect of education to investigate in detail. You'll design and carry out a research project, writing up your findings in a 7,000-word extended essay.
There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:
In Year 1 you'll study core modules which introduce key concepts, theories and skills. You'll learn how to approach education from an academic perspective, and consider how your personal experiences inform your views.
You will work in a group to develop a response to a real-life educational challenge through our innovative STEP project. You will be presented with a challenge from a community partner and you will work as a team to research the issue and put forward solutions. This will prepare you for group work, research and presentation throughout your programme, and develop your employability skills through communication, problem solving, creativity and employer engagement.
You will take core modules which may include:
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
In Year 2 you'll develop your skills of research and critical analysis, as well as your understanding of the history and psychology of education.
You will take core modules which may include:
You will take a selection of option modules, examples of which may include:
The main focus of your final year will be your Dissertation - an extended essay based on your own research. You'll also learn about some of our latest research, and choose option modules from a wide range of topics. Alternative options give you the chance to follow your own interests on a placement study or an independent investigation into an educational topic of your choice.
Your Dissertation is a chance for you to engage with a specific topic in detail. You'll use the research skills you've developed to identify a research question and design and carry out an empirical study. You'll analyse your data and write up your findings in a 7,000-word extended essay, to explain and contextualise your work. You'll have frequent meetings with a dissertation supervisor, who'll have expertise in your area of research. You'll also benefit from a series of workshops and other activities designed to support and enhance your research skills.
New Directions in Educational Research
You will take a selection of option modules, examples of which may include:
If you want to study a relevant academic topic which isn't covered by our teaching you can propose an individual study module. If accepted, you'll pursue independent academic enquiry leading to a 3,000-word essay.
The Placement Study is an opportunity to spend time investigating issues involved in the delivery of an educational service. If your proposed placement is accepted you'll spend around twelve days over six weeks pursuing research in the field, culminating in a 3,000-word report. Normally placements are based in York, but you may apply to go elsewhere in the UK or abroad. You'll be expected to meet any additional costs arising from your placement, although it may be possible to link some placements with sponsorship or exchange opportunities.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff.
Our course structures are changing in September 2023. Find out more about how this course may be affected.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
We look at who should be educated, what they should be educated about, the history and philosophy of education and much more. It will challenge everything you think you know about the modern day classroom.Rachel, BSc Psychology in Education
The fees and funding figures below are for 2022/23 entry. If you take a placement year - for example a year abroad or a year in industry - you'll pay a reduced rate of fees for that year
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £19,600 |
UK (home) or international fees? The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
You will need to cover the cost of travel to placements. This will vary depending on the location of your placement; the majority are in York.
| Type | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Travel to non-UoY locations | Optional additional expense | £50 |
| Printing, photocopying and dissertation binding | Compulsory additional expense | £20 |
| Professional association fees, DBS checks, professional indemnity insurance, etc | Optional additional expense | £44 |
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2022/23 throughout the year.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
We use a variety of teaching methods, including:
Weekly lectures and seminars are a chance for you to debate and discuss topics with fellow students and your tutors. You will be encouraged to think for yourself, to engage in academic debate and to develop and present your arguments with confidence and skill.
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 8 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 4 hours per week |
These figures are based on an average student in an average week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities. Our course structures are changing in September 2023. Find out more about how this course may be affected.
Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during term time. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
You will be based in the Department of Education on Campus West. Most of your teaching will take place in Derwent College, with additional contact hours elsewhere on Campus West.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around campus - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can always use the fast and frequent bus service.
You'll be assessed in a number of different ways, depending on the modules you choose. Forms of assessment include:
You'll receive written feedback on all assessed work, helping you to understand your strengths and identify areas for improvement. You can also discuss your work with your tutors and your personal supervisor to help guide your development.
Alongside developing academic skills you'll have many opportunities to enhance your employability. You can gain classroom experience on our well-established York Students in Schools programme, as placements taken alongside your course are an opportunity to explore alternative careers in education and make connections with local employers.
The vast majority of our students have been involved in a range of volunteering projects, placements and relevant work experience by the time they graduate, with proven skills which are attractive to employers.
Our graduates work in a huge range of industries related to education, including teaching, publishing, museums and libraries, the not-for-profit sector and the civil service
A significant proportion go on to teacher training at prestigious institutions at primary and secondary levels. A number take alternative routes into education, for example Teach First.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| A levels | BBB |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | 21 credits at Distinction and 24 credits at Merit or higher |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DDM |
| Cambridge Pre-U | M2, M2, M2 |
| European Baccalaureate | 75% |
| International Baccalaureate | 31 points |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
We don't require any specific GCSEs for entry to this course. However, if you wish to train as a teacher you should be aware that good GCSE or equivalent passes in Mathematics and English Language and, for primary teaching, a science, are required.
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Next Step York, Realising Opportunities. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offers | If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers. |
| EPQ | If you achieve C or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
| Core Maths | If you achieve B or higher in Core Maths, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic and Indicator) | 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| Duolingo | 110 overall, with a minimum of 100 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C |
| LanguageCert International ESOL SELT | B2 Communicator High Pass with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
We offer a range of campus accommodation to suit you and your budget, from economy to premium.
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