Education

Education as an academic discipline extends far beyond the preparation of teachers. It examines education as a social institution, exploring how schools, universities and other learning environments are shaped by policy, culture, economics and the competing values of different communities and political traditions. It asks what education is for, how learning happens, how educational outcomes are distributed across social groups, and what role education plays in reproducing or challenging social inequality.

These are questions that draw on sociology, philosophy, psychology, history and policy studies, making education one of the most genuinely interdisciplinary of the social science disciplines.

At Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh this programme runs over four years full time, reflecting the Scottish undergraduate degree structure. You will engage with the theory and practice of education from multiple disciplinary perspectives, developing a broad and critical understanding of educational systems, learning processes, and the social and political contexts that shape them. You will study child and human development, the sociology and philosophy of education, educational policy at national and international levels, and the comparative dimensions of different educational traditions.

You will develop skills in critical analysis, social research methods, policy evaluation, reflective practice and academic writing. These are transferable capabilities that serve graduates well in a range of professional roles connected to education and human services.

Graduates from education programmes pursue careers in teaching (with appropriate additional professional training), educational research and policy, school administration, community education, youth work, early years provision, social work, the charitable sector and roles in organisations that work with and for children and young people. Postgraduate study, including PGDE routes into teaching, and specialist programmes in educational leadership, special educational needs, or education policy are also natural progressions for graduates of this degree.