Education BA (Hons)
UCAS Code: XX30|Duration: 3 years|Full Time|Hope Park
UCAS Campus Code: L46
Work placement opportunities|International students can apply|Study Abroad opportunities
About the course
Our Education degree lets you explore the personal, social, cultural, and political forces that shape learning. If you want to understand how and why we learn—both in the UK and worldwide—come study with us. You’ll gain a fresh perspective on education.
At Liverpool Hope, you’ll build both academic and practical skills. You’ll learn to use research and evidence, preparing you for various careers. You’ll also grow personally, reflecting on your values and priorities. This will help you make key decisions in your career. Our degree brings education to life, tackling questions like, “Can education overcome inequality?” and “How will technology change learning and teaching?” We look deeper, uncovering the hidden mechanics that influence how education functions. By drawing on theories from psychology, sociology, history, economics, and philosophy, we show how the world works. This gives you the tools to make a difference in society.
Studying Education at Liverpool Hope University makes you a Hope Education Professional. You’ll critically assess current policies and practices, apply educational theory, and strive to make a positive impact. This degree is a strong foundation for those who want to train as teachers or pursue other education-related careers.
Course structure
Education can be taken as a single honours degree or as part of a combined honours degree, where you study Education alongside another subject.
Teaching includes lectures for all students, as well as small group sessions like seminars and tutorials, which are interactive and activity-based. You will also complete independent learning, guided reading, online forum discussions, and use the University’s Virtual Learning Environment. Additionally, you can meet with your tutor one-to-one for advice or support.
For single honours students, first-year contact hours are around 12 per week, dropping to 10 in the second and third years. For combined honours students, contact hours are about 6 per week in the first year, decreasing to 5 in later years.
Alongside contact hours, you are expected to study independently for around 18 hours per week and collaborate with other students for group assessments.
Assessment and feedback
Throughout your three years of study, you will have a variety of assessments including essays, in-class tests, posters, presentations and portfolios. In your final year, you will also complete a research project, supported by a tutor from the department. You will be given written feedback on your assessments, and you will have the opportunity to discuss this with your tutors in detail. Longer pieces of writing are supported by interim constructive written and oral feedback.
Curriculum overview
In your first year, we will explore the aims of education. We’ll discuss different views on its purpose and the pros and cons of various types of schools. You’ll also look at teaching methods, how educators manage learning environments, and the evolving role of education in society. Single honours students will study two core modules: 'Being Human' and 'Education and Society.'
In the second year, we will focus on pedagogy, including teaching and assessment methods. You’ll assess the strengths and weaknesses of traditional methods and explore alternatives. In years 2 and 3, you will learn about research methodologies through lectures and collaborative tutorials. You will apply these methods in your dissertation, a major project in Year 3 where you conduct your own research on a topic of your choice.
You will also choose from optional modules related to various topics in Education. These choices will help align your studies with your research interests and career goals.
Year One
Your first year provides you with an introduction to some of the key ideas and theories that are foundations of Education Studies. You will study:
Aims of Education
Here you will study the various theories that have been put forward to explain what education is for, everything from supporting the economy, promoting freedom to maintaining law and order. You will consider the debates over which aims are the most important and who really benefits from the system as it is now.
How we learn
In this part of the course we will discuss how learning works, the things that a student or teacher can do to promote learning and how our learning changes over time. We will also discuss how the learning environment is managed, everything from the ways that teachers manage their classrooms all the way to the way the education system is run. We will interrogate education policies and practices, asking where does the power lie within the system, both locally and globally?
Research component: Theoretical Foundations
In the research component of this course, you will be introduced to the skills and techniques used in educational research. In this first year, we will focus on teaching you the key theoretical concepts involved in research, such as the differences between qualitative and quantitative research methods, or learning the steps involved in carrying out empirical research and what each step is for.
Single honours students also study two Faculty of Education and Social Sciences common core modules - 'Being Human' and 'Education and Society'.
Year Two
In the second year, you build on your first-year knowledge, learning how educational theories can be applied in practice to help current and future educators tackle challenges. You will also study research methodologies.
Education Policy and Society
Explore the relationship between UK education policy and society. Learn how policy and practice are influenced by competing interests, both past and present. You will evaluate policies, their societal impact, and the reliability of the evidence behind them, preparing you to critically assess current and future initiatives.
Pedagogy and Practice
Study different teaching approaches (pedagogy), including strengths and weaknesses of various teaching and assessment methods. Examine ethical and moral aspects of education, including special educational needs, religious education, and issues of inequality related to race, gender, and class.
Research Component: Research Design
Learn research methods and analysis, including qualitative, quantitative, and participatory methods. Study ethical considerations, data use in schools, and action research, where educators use research to improve their teaching.
Single honours students also complete a placement to explore education, society, and professional practice in real-world settings.
Year Three
In your final year, you will focus on cutting-edge issues and future challenges in Education.
Contemporary Issues
Explore current debates in Education and how they connect to long-standing challenges and wider social change. Topics vary each year, but you will use educational theories and concepts to develop fresh perspectives and suggest improvements.
The Future of Education
Look ahead to the future of Education, considering global comparisons, lessons from the past, and new challenges. Discuss opportunities from advancing technology as well as issues such as sustainability and climate change.
Research Component: Research Project
Undertake an independent research project on an educational question of your choice. With one-to-one supervision, you will design research questions, collect and analyse data, and present your findings.
Single honours students will also complete a full dissertation with the support of a dedicated supervisor.
Entry requirements
| A-Levels | BCC - BBB |
|---|---|
| UCAS Tariff Points | 104 - 120 UCAS Tariff points must come from a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent). Additional points can be made up from a range of alternative qualifications |
| BTEC | DMM - DDM |
| Access to HE | 104 - 120 Tariff Points |
| IB | 26 |
| Irish Leaving Certificate | 104 - 120 Tariff Points from Higher Level qualifications only |
| Welsh Baccalaureate | This qualification can only be accepted in conjunction with other relevant qualifications |
| T-Levels | Merit |
| Subject Requirements | No specific subject requirements |
International entry requirements
| Specific Country Requirements | Select your country |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 overall (with reading and writing at 6.0) and no individual score lower than 5.5. We also accept a wide range of International Qualifications. For more information, please visit our English Language Requirements page. |
Careers
Past graduates of Education have gone on to have careers as Teachers, Safeguarding Officers, Care Support Workers, and Coaches, as well as careers in the social and caring professions, journalism, administration, human resources and general management.
The creative, transferable skills that you will develop as part of the degree are ideal preparation for a wide range of careers in the education system, professional training, personal development and more.
Many graduates choose to continue their studies by doing either an MA, PGCE or PGDE postgraduate degree. You will also be offered the opportunity to apply to transfer onto the 4-year Master of Education degree course during your first 2 years of study.
Enhancement opportunities
Work Placement Opportunities
All students will be offered placement opportunities.
For students on the BA Education single honours programme this will be related to an assessed part of the course.
The 4-year Master of Education degree course
The 4-year Master of Education (MEd) course is an integrated 4-year degree course for Education students. The first 3 years are in common with the BA Education single honours or combined honours course. Students studying the BA Education may apply to transfer to the MEd at any time during their first two years, subject to the University regulations on completion and progression.
SALA
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. Find out more on our Study Abroad page.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year are £9,535* for full-time undergraduate courses.
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,535*.
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
*subject to Council approval.
Additional costs
As well as tuition fees, we estimate that you will need approximately £100 to purchase core texts needed for the degree. For some placements, an additional cost will be required to cover DBS clearance.
You will also need to consider the cost of your accommodation each year whilst you study at university. Visit our accommodation pages for further details about our Halls of Residence.
Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
International tuition fees
The International Tuition fees for 2026/27 are £14,500.
Visit our International fees page for more information.
Course combinations
This course is also available as a Combined Honours degree with the following subjects: