Education

Education as an academic discipline is the systematic study of how learning happens, how educational systems are structured, and what the purposes and effects of education are in different social, historical, and cultural contexts. It draws on psychology to understand how individuals develop and learn, on sociology to examine how educational systems reproduce or challenge social inequalities, on philosophy to ask what education is for and what it ought to do, and on history to trace how contemporary educational practices and institutions came to be. A degree in education provides both intellectual breadth and practical relevance, and it prepares graduates for a wide range of roles in and around the sector.

At Nottingham Trent University, education is available as a two-year full-time degree, which is an accelerated route to a full honours qualification. This structure is designed for students who want to enter the workforce or progress to further study more quickly, covering the essential content of an education degree in a more intensive format. You will study the psychology of learning and human development, the sociology of education and educational inequality, curriculum theory and design, educational policy in England and internationally, and the principles of inclusive and special educational needs practice.

Research methods are embedded in the programme, developing your ability to engage critically with educational evidence and to conduct your own small-scale enquiries.

Graduates in education from Nottingham Trent enter careers across a wide range of settings. Teaching at primary and secondary level is the most direct route, typically requiring an additional postgraduate teaching qualification such as a PGCE, which NTU also offers. Early years education, further education, and higher education support roles are further destinations.

Many graduates work in local authority education services, in school improvement roles, in learning and development positions within organisations, or in the charity and voluntary sector working with young people. The analytical and reflective skills developed in the degree are also valued in roles in research, policy, and educational consultancy. Postgraduate study in education, educational leadership, or a related field is a natural next step for those who want to develop their expertise or move into specialist roles.