Education - BA (Hons)

On this course you will:

• study contemporary issues in education, psychology and sociology to develop a sound knowledge base of human developmental pathways and the range of factors that affect them;
• develop an understanding of the ways in which education is shaped by cultural, political, socio-ecological and colonial contexts.
• gain an understanding of how educational theory and knowledge informs real-life practice;
• develop your academic literacies including digital, data and outdoor literacy;
• develop research skills to enable you to develop as an autonomous, critically thinking reflective professional;
• learn how to build positive relationships with learners and work alongside other professionals through practical experience in educational and community settings;
• learn how to assess individual needs and plan inclusive learning experiences taking account of diversity and difference;
• develop in-demand and transferable skills in education and beyond;
• be prepared for a variety of education-related careers;
• engage in the wider socio-political issues that affect education on every level and how this in turn influences educational outcomes for children, young people and adults;
• consider the historical trajectory of educational provision, current trends and the direction of education for the future, both in the UK and overseas; and
• benefit from both practical and theoretical learning opportunities which enable you to meet the challenges, as well as recognise the rewards, of working in a wide variety of formal and informal educational settings.
• To apply and enact creative and critical pedagogies, based on developed values, knowledge and understanding, to support rights based educational practices.

Structure

All students enrol onto the honours degree, but you can choose to exit with an ordinary degree after three years.

Teaching, learning and assessment

You’ll learn through lectures, seminars, workshops, enquiry-based learning, student-led activity, independent study, online group tutorials, and community placements. Assessment methods are varied, including essays, reports, presentations, blogs and audiovisual submissions.

Placements

Placements are a tremendous opportunity to develop and apply knowledge and skills, you will benefit from hands-on, real-world experience in Year One and the option for further placement in Four (options are offered in year 4 in response to student priorities). Community-based placements are secured by students according to your interests, with QMU supporting the process as needed, through our strong links with organisations.
Students have done community placements in a wide range of contexts such as Forest School, Girl Guiding, local community development and youth services, and the Ripple Project.

Exchange opportunities

Studying abroad through our exchange programme can be one of the most exciting and rewarding challenges for a student to experience. The opportunity to travel and live in another country, learn different customs and traditions, meet new people and future career draws many students into the exchange programme. In Years Two or Three (subject to availability), you will have the opportunity to study overseas for one semester, or over the summer months. Learn more about studying abroad.  

Teaching staff, class sizes and timetables

You can read more about the teaching staff on this course at the bottom of this page. Please note that teaching staff is subject to change.

For more information, please also visit ‘How we teach and how you’ll learn’.

Year One

You will:

• begin to develop an understanding of educational theory;
• complete a 5-day (or equivalent) community-based education experience. The 'Placement' tab has more information on this; and
• have the opportunity to work towards a qualification in British Sign Language (BSL).

Modules

• Introduction to Education Studies in the 21st Century: Explores modern educational issues, including evolving roles, policies, and the impact of technology on learning. The Community Based Education experience is part of the is module. 
• Humans in the World: This module introduces students to the question of what is means to be human through the lenses of key Social Sciences – Psychology, Sociology and Education Studies.
• Developing Your Academic Voice: This module will focus on developing students’ academic voice through key aspects of our students’ academic lived experience, including tools for effective learning.
• Being Human: A multidisciplinary Exploration: This module explores key aspects of the human condition, including social, religious, cultural, political, economic and technological developments and concerns.
• Methods of Social Enquiry: This module introduces students to social sciences research and key concepts involved in research.  
• Learning for Sustainability Outdoors: The module explores the relationship between Learning for Sustainability and nature-based outdoor learning as a way of developing rights-based approaches to social and environmental concerns
  

Year Two

You will:

• explore topics such as creativity, culture, race and decolonisation
• explore the complexities of the education process, including dealing with global challenges
• apply subject knowledge to educational policies and social issues; and
• enhance your ability to work as a team; to carry out roles allocated and take the lead where appropriate, and to fulfil agreed responsibilities.

Modules

• Responding to the World: This module aims at engaging students with complex contemporary global issues in the world by drawing together insights from psychology, sociology and education studies
• Creativity and Culture in Education: Explores the intersections of creativity, culture, and learning, emphasizing their relevance in contemporary educational landscapes.
• Early Childhood Development and Learning in Context: Examines young children's learning within broader social and educational contexts, considering developmental nuances and pedagogical implications.
• Professional Challenge: Develops skills for employment by applying knowledge across disciplines to ‘real-world’ challenges developed in collaboration with partner organisations.  
• Race, Colonialism and Decolonisation: Introduces key concepts in race, colonialism and decolonisation and apply these to contexts such as education, media and the criminal justice system.
• Exploring research: building on your research skills to prepare for year 3 and 4 when you will develop your proposal for dissertation.
  

Year Three

You will:

• explore and compare learning in local and international contexts;
• explore key sociological and philosophical debates relating to educational futures, community education and inequalities.  
• develop skills in research design and methods, both qualitative and quantitative; and
• fine-tune transferable skills such as working collaboratively, presenting information effectively, organisation and time management.
   
  
  

Modules:

• Inclusive Practice: Difference & Diversity: Explores strategies for inclusive education, that celebrate and support difference and diversity in educational settings.
• Futures in Education: Explores the relationship between education and the future by inviting students to consider to the relationship between histories and presents, the absences and silences in our visions of the future.
• Globalisation and International Education: This module focuses on the key themes of globalisation and international education. It does so by placing the understanding of concepts, theories, policies and practices relating to globalisation and international education within the discourse and debates on global standardisation of education.
• Qualitative Research Skills: Extends students’ knowledge of qualitative research methods in the social science and to teach them how to design a feasible and ethically sound qualitative research project.
• Community Education & the Organic Intellectual: Explores the dynamics of community education and the essential role of informal educational contexts.
• Class, Poverty & Social Exclusion: Analyses the societal challenges of poverty and social exclusion, exploring the role of education in addressing these issues and promoting social justice.
  

Year Four

You will:

• bring together your learning about societal and organisational structures and purposes of educational systems, and the possible implications for learners and the learning process;
• use a range of evidence to formulate appropriate and justified ways forward and potential changes in practice; and
• improve your capacity to plan, manage and reflect on your own learning, including the development of independent study and research skills during dissertation research.

Modules

• Dissertation: Engage in independent research, demonstrating advanced academic skills by investigating your chosen topic in-depth and presenting findings in a comprehensive dissertation.
• Education Now!: Research and explore real-world case studies of the impact of education to transform lives; collaborate and create your own group project to re-imagine education to change the world.
• Outdoor Learning Places: This module develops leadership and project management skills in the context of outdoor places. Develop a plan for an outdoor learning space, showing how the physical, social and cultural environment contributes to effective and engaging outdoor learning places.
• Options - you will have the choice of two options to be studied over the two semesters. These will include a range of modules such as:
  • Leading Nature Based Education;
  • Exploring Expressive Arts;
  • Gender Justice: Feminist Approaches;
  • Children's Rights in Action;
  • Queer Feminist Sociology in Action;
  • Applied Reflective Professional Practice;
  • Disability and Society;
  • Environmental Psychology in the Anthropocene;
  • Social Inclusion and Exclusion in Children’s Peer Relationships.

Please note - this is a representative list, not all modules will run every year, and there will be other modules offered depending on student need and resources. The choices offered will be developed in consultation with the student body. 

NB The modules listed here are correct at time of posting in November 2025. There are occasionally minor changes through a course in response to circumstances. 

This unique course prepares you for a wide range of educational careers. You might pursue opportunities in community learning and development, outdoor learning, museums, education administration, curriculum development, educational technology, international aid settings, policy work, and more.

You will graduate with subject-specific knowledge as well as a range of transferrable skills, including strong interpersonal skills, effective communication in a variety of formats, critical thinking and analytical skills, organisational abilities, time management and team working. You might also choose to go on to further study, for example, to become a social worker, teacher, or counsellor. You will benefit from Careers support at QMU during your studies and after graduation.

Please note that this degree course does not lead to a teaching qualification and graduates are not eligible for GTCS registration without further postgraduate study.

Entry requirements

Scottish Higher: Standard - BBCC, Minimum - BCCC

A Level: CCC

Irish Leaving Certificate: H3 H3 H3 H3

International Baccalaureate: 26 points

International: IELTS of 6.0 with no element lower than 5.5.

T-Level: Full Education and Early Years T-Level Passing Grade A*- C

Required subjects: English required and Maths preferred at Nat 5/GSCE level at grade C/4 or above. We can also accept National 5 Application of Maths or Lifeskills at the same grade.

Am I a Widening Access student?: We apply the minimum entry criteria to applicants who meet one or more contextual factor. To see if this would apply to you, please refer to the access and application page.

Mature/Access: We welcome applications from mature students with relevant qualifications or experience. Visit our College Leavers and Mature Students Advice page for more information. 

Direct Entry:

We welcome direct-entry students where possible. We see the variety of backgrounds and experiences that people bring to this course as enriching the programme for everyone. We may have several places available; this can vary year to year. Please contact us directly or through your current educational institution for more information.

Year Two

• HNC in Childhood Practice (120 credits) with B in the graded unit.

Year Three

• HND in a related subject with CB in the graded units.

Visit our College Leavers and Mature Students Advice page for more information. 

Other requirements

A satisfactory criminal records check from the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme may be required for the placement aspect of the course, depending on the context. A PVG is not a core requirement for the academic aspects of the course. 

Disability/health conditions 

If you have a disability, long-term physical or mental health condition, or learning disability, it should not stand in the way of your studying at QMU. However, if you are not sure whether your disability might be a barrier in your studies or in relation to the professional standards, please contact the Disability Service who will be able to have a conversation with you about reasonable adjustments and supports available to you. 

Fee information

Fees: Please follow the link in the 'Course Overview' box for information on fees for 2026 entry.

Special note on RUK and ROI fees: Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland, who are subject to Rest of UK fees will be charged for the first three years of study only. The fourth year is free. 

Other costs: 

• The cost of professional indemnity insurance is the responsibility of the student. 
• The additional costs associated with placement travel and accommodation are the responsibility of the student. Students who receive SAAS funding may be able to claim for some of these expenses to be reimbursed.

For more information on this, visit the UG 2026 fees page on our website.

Application information

How to apply: Application for this course should be made through UCAS. 

QMU

Email QMU Admissions

• The delivery of this course is subject to the terms and conditions set out in our 2026/27 Entry Terms and Conditions (Undergraduate).
• The course information on this page is correct at the time of print (May 2025) but may differ slightly for 2026 entry. Please check back here for updates.