Education (Primary)

University of Stirling

United Kingdom, Stirling

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University of Stirling

United Kingdom , Stirling

Key Facts

Program Level

Bachelor

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

on campus

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 48 month(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 19,500 / year(s)

Next Intake September-2026

Education (Primary)

About

Choose a Bachelor of Education (Primary) at the University of Stirling, and we’ll equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to start a career in one of the most rewarding professions.

We’ll prepare you to teach across the whole curriculum and primary age range, and also enable you to develop a specialism in a particular area. You can choose from these subject specialisms:

Early Years (applications are now closed for this specialism for September 2024 entry)
Environment
Inclusive Practice
Literacy
Modern Languages
Numeracy

You’ll be taught by world-leading academics and outstanding teachers who have strong partnerships with local schools. This ensures you can access cutting-edge practice and research throughout your primary teaching degree. Our pioneering approach of studying education with a subject specialism, gives you the time to excel in teaching, critically reflect and grow in confidence.

In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, our Educational research ranked third highest in Scotland for quality of research outputs with 100% of our research impact and environment in Education classed as world leading or internationally excellent.

Top reasons to study with us

We're ranked top 5 in Scotland and Top 15 in the UK for Education (The Complete University Guide 2025)

We give you time to develop as a teacher over four years – as opposed to the Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) route of only one year

You can specialise in a particular aspect of primary education, in addition to the general primary school education employers expect

Professional accreditation

We’re accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), meaning that on graduation you can apply for provisional registration as a primary teacher.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Year 1 entry – Four-year honours

For all specialisms except Early Years

SQA Highers
ABBB

GCE A-levels
BBB

IB Diploma
30 points

BTEC (Level 3)
DDM

Early Years specialism

SQA Highers
AAAB

GCE A-levels
BBB

IB Diploma
32 points

BTEC (Level 3)
DDM

The following English and Mathematics entry requirements apply for all specialisms:

Higher English (C) or GCSE English Language and English Literature (C/4) or Communications 4 and Literature 1
Mathematics or Application of Mathematics National 5 (C), Intermediate 2 (C), Standard Grade (2), GCSE (C/4) or equivalent.

There are additional requirements for some of our specialisms:

Specialism	Additional requirements
Inclusive Practice	No additional requirements.
Literacy	No additional requirements.
Numeracy	To include SQA Higher (B), A-level (B) or equivalent in Mathematics.
Early Years	No additional requirements.
Environment	To include an SQA Higher (B), A-level (B) or equivalent in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geography, Mathematics or Physics.
Modern Languages	To include an SQA Higher (B), A-level (B) or equivalent in one of French or Spanish.

Essential subjects must have been taken within the last five years to ensure your required subject knowledge is current. Recent work experience can be taken into consideration in place of a formal qualification.

Widening access students
Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.

Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.

Other Scottish qualifications

Scottish HNC/HND
Year one minimum entry - Bs in graded units.

Access courses
University of Stirling access course - for mature students only. You must pass the course with 50% or above.

SWAP access course - for mature students only.

Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.

Foundation Apprenticeships
Considered to be equivalent to 1 Higher at Grade B

Essential subjects
As listed for Year 1 entry.

Other qualifications

English, Welsh and Northern Irish HNC/HND
Merits and Distinctions

English, Welsh and Northern Irish access courses
Access to Higher Education - 60 credits, minimum 45 at QCF Level 3, pass at 60% or above.

Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.

Essential subjects
As listed for Year 1 entry.

International entry requirements

View the entry requirements for your country

Advanced entry

Advanced entry is not available for this course.

Additional information

Entry to our teaching degree course is provisional until the end of Year 1, and subject to an interview and a criminal record PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) check.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.

See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.

Pre-sessional English language courses

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.

Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses

English Program Requirements

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.

See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.

Pre-sessional English language courses

Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses

Career

The majority of our graduates enter the Scottish Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS), which guarantees you employment for one year as a newly qualified teacher in a Scottish Local Authority school.

Alternatively, you may choose to continue your education with a postgraduate degree or undertake doctoral research, leading to the award of a PhD.

Teacher Induction Scheme

Participation in the Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS) is not compulsory, and some students may choose to follow the alternative Flexible Route – which is less structured and may better suit their personal circumstances.

Students from Scotland, the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland who are studying at a Scottish Higher Education Institution are eligible to join the TIS.

Students from other countries are ineligible for the TIS scheme but can follow the Flexible Route to complete probationary service if they plan to teach in Scotland following their studies.

Read the Scottish Government’s detailed guidance regarding students and the Teacher Induction Scheme.

Companies we work with

We work in close partnership with Local Authorities, schools, Education Scotland and GTCS to ensure we support you throughout your studies, so you can become an effective educator. A number of teachers are seconded to us from local schools to provide practical and up-to-date experience and knowledge.