Education and Special Educational Needs, Disabilities and Inclusion BA (Hons)

Education is everywhere – from schools to community organisations, sports foundations to the arts, hospitals to criminal justice settings, and from professional and business services to creative industries including digital and virtual technology.

Our BA (Hons) Education and Special Educational Needs, Disabilities and Inclusion programme equips you with the necessary skills, experience and knowledge needed to pursue a graduate career specialising in these fields. Blending theory with real-world application, it examines key topics such as dyslexia and dyscalculia, disability studies, inclusive practice, interventions and programmes, trauma-informed and whole school approaches, neurodiversity, and social and emotional wellbeing.

Our internationally known research active staff will provide you with an innovative, applied degree designed in collaboration with industry experts that sets you apart from others and ensures you are well prepared for the diverse opportunities and challenges in the field. With opportunities for placements, real world projects, and hands-on experience in all years of study, graduates leave equipped to inspire change and change lives. It’s not just about understanding education—it’s about shaping its future and working with others to enhance life chances.

Your future career

T

This degree prepares graduates for a range of careers across both mainstream education as well as the special educational needs and disability sectors. The course is also ideal in preparing you to undertake postgraduate teacher training, whatever your chosen age phase. Alternatively, you may wish to pursue postgraduate taught study in fields such as educational research, psychology, mental health and counselling.

Typical career paths include:

• working as a learning mentor
• education administrator
• museum/gallery/heritage site educator
• educational psychologist
• education counsellor
• social/community worker
• prison educator
• international development worker
• training organiser
• charity worker
• speech therapist
• roles in publishing

Other suitable roles to pursue after graduation include:

• assistant educational psychologist or learning mentor
• working in schools or other educational settings
• working as an assistant special educational needs and disabilities case worker
• special educational needs and disabilities case officer
• family liaison officer in local authorities

Additional options include graduate-level roles with relevant charities or graduate teaching assistant jobs.

The course is highly suitable if you are looking to progress onto a PGCE, particularly if you wish to teach in special educational needs schools or settings. You can also train to be an education mental health practitioner and learn how to deliver low intensity interventions to support children and young people experiencing common mental health problems. Additional further study options are available at postgraduate level, with Edge Hill University offering a range of taught Master’s degrees and research degrees.

Work-related learning throughout the degree will prepare you for future employment by exploring the graduate level opportunities that are available across the special educational needs and disabilities sectors. This will help you to make an informed choice about your potential career options. Personal tutor sessions will focus on reviewing your progress towards graduate level employment, with leadership skills built into every module so that you feel confident leading teams, working in groups and managing projects. Dedicated employability sessions in each year of study will guide you in writing a CV, producing a professional LinkedIn profile, and compiling an electronic portfolio that evidences your graduate skills.