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Education BA Honours

  • UCAS code: X390
  • Full time
  • 3 years

Study the meaning of education across the globe and critically examine the place of education in society today in this Education BA degree.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year: 2024-25


Next start date:

  • September 2024

Fees (per year)

  • Home: £9250
  • International: £21000

Entry requirements and offers

  • A-Level: BBB
  • IB: 32 points

UCAS Institution name and code:

  • NEWC / N21

Course overview

This course poses challenging questions inspiring you to critically examine essential issues relating to education.

You'll be encouraged to explore what is meant by education and how it has changed over time, including its central place in the foundation of modern societies.

You'll examine what form education should take, who should make those decisions, and who will benefit.

You'll investigate how the media influences the portrayal of education and schooling, and whether the teacher still has a role to play in a society where Google knows more.

The diverse research interests and expertise of our staff offer you a broad range of topics and perspectives. Small group teaching provides opportunities for lively interaction and debate.

This course covers the study of education across the globe from sociological, philosophical, historical, political, and psychological perspectives. It investigates the role of international development in supporting education in developing countries.

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Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

You'll be introduced to the contested nature of education and the different conceptual frameworks we'll be using for explaining education – global, social, cultural, historical, political, philosophical, sociological, pedagogical and technological.

Modules

Compulsory Modules Credits
Education, Children and Society 20
International Development 20
The History of Western Education 20
Social Policy and Learning 20
Adventures in Digital Learning 20
Optional Modules Credits
British and Comparative Education 20

You'll develop a more specialised and sustained engagement with areas of study such as learning theory, the broader discourses of education in society and educational research methods.

You'll begin the first of the two major optional career development modules in either student tutoring, student volunteering through the Students’ Union, or learning from work.

Modules

Compulsory Modules Credits
Psychological perspectives on teaching and learning 20
Introduction to Research in Education 20
Globalisation and Development 20
Social Constructions of Childhood 20
Optional Modules Credits
Gender and Education 20
Child Development and Speech and Language Acquisition 20
Career Development for second year students 20

The emphasis is on you obtaining a deep and critical awareness of specific aspects of education both in its national and international contexts.

You'll become more deeply aware of the importance of attention to detail, argument, criticality, ambiguity and complexity through modules relating to social justice, inclusive education and international development.

You'll also complete a research dissertation.

Modules

Compulsory Modules Credits
Research Dissertation 40
Philosophy of Education 20
Optional Modules Credits
Social Justice and Education 20
Responding to Special Educational Needs 20
Contemporary Issues in Development 20
Educational challenges: historical and comparative perspectives 20
Career Development for final year students 20

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

Research-informed teaching and practice by leading academics and professional practitioners are central to the programme.

You'll learn through a combination of online lectures and in-person seminars. You also undertake a considerable amount of independent study. Our award-winning Library Service has a huge array of resources available to access online.

You'll draw on your existing knowledge of formal and informal educational settings as you explore issues relating to teaching and learning. You'll also consider how these would relate to other educational settings including classrooms and museums.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

  • Case studies

  • Coursework

  • Essays

  • Examinations – practical or online

  • Group work

  • Presentations

  • Projects

  • Reflective report/journal

  • Reports

  • Seminar tasks/exercises

Skills and experience

Research skills

You'll join a thriving research community and have the chance to conduct your own original research through a dissertation.

Business skills

You'll have the opportunity to select two career development modules to enhance your employability. You'll also undertake a research project which enables you to showcase your knowledge and expertise.

You'll develop key skills including communication, teamwork, personal enterprise, problem-solving, planning and organising, which are directly transferable to a wide range of graduate employment contexts.

These assist our graduates to find work in areas such as primary teaching, community and social work and education management.

Opportunities

Work placement

Get career ready with a work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.

You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.

If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year. Your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year.  Placements are subject to availability.

Find out more about work placements.

Facilities and environment

Facilities

You'll be based in the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, which has a wide range of facilities for studying how people learn and communicate.

There's a well-equipped Education Resource Centre with excellent computing facilities.

We have an active Research Centre engaging with the latest thinking and research in education. The Centre for Learning and Teaching (CfLaT) researches teaching and learning in different contexts.

The King George VI Building

Support

You'll have the support of an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree to help with academic and personal issues.

Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have when starting university.

Your future

A degree in education from Newcastle shapes your development and understanding, demonstrating your capacity to work individually and as part of a team.

It also provides you with transferable skills, including workload management, meeting deadlines, written and oral communication, IT, problem-solving and the critical analysis and interpretation of complex ideas and policies.

You may use this degree as a springboard for further postgraduate study at Newcastle (for example, Primary PGCE, International Development, Cross-Cultural Communication, International Education).

Alternatively, you may find work in fields as diverse as community or health work, human resource/education management, widening participation or rehabilitation programmes, environmental organisations, heritage sites, museum, theatre and library provision or information management (eg digital learning).

Make a difference

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Careers support

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements and offers below apply to 2024 entry.

A-Level
International Baccalaureate

Other UK and the Republic of Ireland qualifications

Contextual Offers

Through one of our contextual routes, you could receive an offer of up to three grades lower than the typical requirements.

What is a contextual offer? Find out more and if you’re eligible for this or our PARTNERS Programme supported entry route.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English Language requirements

Entrance courses (INTO)

International Pathway Courses are specialist programmes designed for international students who want to study in the UK. We provide a range of study options for international students in partnership with INTO. 

Find out more about International Pathway Courses

Admissions policy

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course.

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year)

Qualification: BA Honours

Home students

full time 3 years

Tuition fees (per year)

9250

International students

full time 3 years

Tuition fees (per year)

21000

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Find out more about:

Scholarships

Find out more about:

Open days and events

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

  • the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
  • the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
  • the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages

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