Education Studies

Education studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines education as a social, cultural, political and philosophical phenomenon. Rather than training you directly for classroom teaching, it equips you to think critically about education: how educational systems are organised and why, what purposes education serves, how learning happens, and how factors such as social class, race, gender, disability and geography shape educational experience and outcomes. The discipline draws on sociology, philosophy, psychology, history and policy studies to build a rich and critical understanding of education in all its forms.

At the University of Sunderland you will engage with foundational questions about the purposes and effects of education while also developing an understanding of contemporary education policy and practice in the UK and internationally. You will examine theories of learning and child development, the sociology of education, inclusive education and special educational needs, the history and philosophy of education, and the comparative dimensions of different educational systems. The programme runs full time over three years and is designed to develop your capacity for independent intellectual inquiry alongside the practical understanding of educational contexts.

You will develop skills in critical analysis, research methods, policy evaluation and extended academic writing. The ability to think carefully about complex social institutions and to evaluate evidence from multiple perspectives is a transferable competence valued across many sectors.

Graduates from education studies programmes pursue careers in education-related roles that do not require qualified teacher status, including educational research, policy, administration, children's services, youth work, community education and the third sector. Many also use the degree as a foundation for teacher training through a PGCE, or for postgraduate study in education, social policy, psychology or a related discipline. The degree is also valued by employers in human resources, training and development, and organisations working with young people.