Applied Education Studies

Applied education studies is the academic and professional investigation of educational practice, policy and theory, asking how learning happens, how educational systems are organised, who they serve and how they can be made more effective and equitable. Unlike an undergraduate teacher training course, an education studies degree approaches education as an intellectual discipline, drawing on sociology, psychology, philosophy, history and policy analysis to examine the full range of factors that shape learning and teaching. The word applied signals a commitment to connecting these academic perspectives to the real work of education in schools, community settings and beyond.

At the University of Bedfordshire this three-year, full-time programme gives you a thorough grounding in the principles of education, child and adolescent development, curriculum theory, assessment, inclusion, social justice and educational policy, both in the UK and internationally. You will develop skills in research, critical analysis and evidence-based argument, learning to evaluate educational practice with rigour and to think carefully about how educational change happens and what it requires. Teaching quality is a particular strength of the programme, and you will benefit from a supportive learning environment with strong academic guidance.

Graduates of applied education studies pursue careers in school teaching with appropriate postgraduate training, early years education, educational support and learning assistance, community education and youth work, educational psychology with further study, policy and research roles in education and the voluntary sector, and a wide range of roles in educational administration, training and development. The programme also provides a strong foundation for postgraduate study in education, social work, community development or related disciplines, and some graduates go on to research and academic careers in education studies.