Education Studies

Education studies is the academic investigation of education as a social institution, a political arena, and a site of human development. Rather than training you to teach in a specific setting, it asks broader and more fundamental questions: how do educational systems reflect and reproduce social inequalities? What do different theoretical traditions tell us about how people learn?

How is education shaped by policy, economics, culture, and history? The discipline draws on sociology, psychology, philosophy, and history to build a multi-faceted understanding of what education does and what it could do differently.

At Middlesex University, this part-time programme takes you well beyond classroom teaching, exploring the full range of educational settings in which learning happens, from early years and schools through to further education, higher education, community learning, and informal settings. You will engage with educational theory and policy, examining debates about curriculum, assessment, inclusion, equality, and the relationship between education and social justice. Placement experience is a priority in the programme, ensuring that your theoretical learning is grounded in real-world educational contexts and that you develop the professional awareness that comes from direct engagement with learners and institutions.

Studying part-time allows you to balance your academic progress with work or other commitments while developing a genuinely critical understanding of education.

Graduates of education studies move into a wide range of careers in and around education. Teaching in schools remains a common destination, with many graduates going on to initial teacher training after their degree. Others work in educational administration, curriculum development, pastoral support, and school leadership.

Beyond the school system, the degree opens routes into community education, youth work, adult learning, educational research, policy development, and the charitable sector. Postgraduate study in education, educational leadership, special educational needs, or the sociology of education is a natural next step for those who wish to develop specialist expertise.