BA (Hons) Education

Develop your knowledge of the education system in the UK and beyond. You'll explore policy issues with a focus on social justice and equality, and understand education from a multidisciplinary perspective.

• You'll gain an understanding of the role of education in diverse societies and how the education system continues to be shaped by social, political and economic factors. You'll use this knowledge to address a broad range of themes and ideas including gender in the early years, alternatives to schooling, mental health and wellbeing, and institutional racism.
• You’ll be encouraged to think about the ways people are excluded from education and society, and explore possible reasons for – and alternatives to – this. We're interested in the tensions that can arise in a system that advocates education for all but mediates against the full participation of some groups.
• We are proud of the strong creativity strand that permeates the programme and reflects our expertise in visual and performing arts. If you are interested in employment in the creative industries, with a focus on education, this is the degree for you.
• You’ll have the opportunity to gain work experience at a range of organisations. Previous students have worked on literacy with Bengali women, developed educational materials at a city farm, and put together an art exhibition at a pupil referral unit for excluded secondary school students.
• If you already practise in an education or community setting, we’ll work with you so you can use your experience to inform your studies. Past students have interviewed young people they have been supporting, and have created resources for children with special educational needs from countries where they have connections, such as Ghana and Slovakia.

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Dr Yael Gerson.

We accept the following qualifications:

A-level: BBC
BTEC: DMM
International Baccalaureate: 31 points with three HL subjects at 655
UAL Extended Diploma: Merit overall
Access: Pass with 45 Level 3 credits including a number of distinctions/merits in subject specific modules
Scottish qualifications: BBBCC (Higher) or BCC (Advanced Higher)
European Baccalaureate: 75%
Irish Leaving Certificate: H2 H2 H2 H2

International qualifications

We also accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 6.0 with a 6.0 in writing and no element lower than 5.5 to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of courses that can help prepare you for degree-level study.

Alternative qualifications and experience

See our full list of undergraduate entry qualifications.

We welcome students with a range of educational experiences. If you believe you may not meet the standard qualification requirements we would still encourage you to apply because we consider all aspects of your application when making a decision.

We’ll pay particularly careful attention to your personal statement, which is your opportunity to demonstrate your interest in the subject you’ve applied for. Your referees are also welcome to include any relevant contextual comments around your academic achievements. We’ll look at all these things when making a decision on your application, as well as your qualifications and grades, and may still be able to offer you a place.

During the degree you'll receive support for your personal and career development through our personal progress programme. You’ll have access to a professional network made up of departmental and university staff running tutorials and workshops to help you reflect on your personal, academic and employment goals.

The knowledge, understanding and skills you can develop on this degree are transferable to a range of professions such as:

• Primary school teaching
• Working in the creative industries
• Youth and community work
• Social work
• Educational administration
• Other areas that require a specialist knowledge of education, such as charities and the leisure industries

If you are considering primary teaching, you will need to combine your degree with a one-year PGCE. Successful completion of the BA Education degree guarantees you an interview for Goldsmiths’ highly regarded PGCE Primary programme, provided you meet current government requirements.

You can find out more about the career options open to you after you graduate on our education careers page.

Skills

This degree helps you develop:

• Analytical and critical thinking skills
• The ability to synthesise and distil information and communicate ideas in writing and other media
• Presentation skills
• Interpersonal skills
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Expertise in carrying out personal research
• Time management skills