Education Studies

Education studies is the academic discipline that examines the nature, purposes, and practice of education, drawing on history, philosophy, sociology, and psychology to understand how teaching and learning happen, how educational systems are organised, and what values and assumptions underlie the choices societies make about education. It is a field that asks both empirical and normative questions: what actually happens in schools and other learning environments, and what should happen in a just and effective educational system?

At Teesside University, this four-year full-time programme includes a foundation year, making it accessible to students who need additional academic preparation before beginning the main degree. The foundation year introduces you to the historical and contemporary development of social science disciplines, including how interdisciplinary research is conducted and how ethical guidelines shape educational enquiry. Across the full programme you will develop your understanding of educational theory and policy, exploring how different approaches to teaching and learning have evolved and how they are applied in practice.

You will develop both study skills and the transferable analytical and communication capabilities that careers in education and related fields require.

Graduates of education studies go on to work in schools (in a range of supporting roles), educational management, youth work, community education, policy research, local authority education departments, and the charitable sector. Those who wish to teach in schools will typically need to complete a separate teacher training qualification such as a PGCE. Many graduates also pursue postgraduate study in education, educational leadership, special educational needs, or social work, building on the analytical foundations of the undergraduate degree to develop more specialised professional expertise.