Education Studies

Education studies is a discipline that examines education as a social, cultural, political, and philosophical phenomenon, rather than simply as a set of practices to be transmitted. It asks what education is for, whose interests it serves, how it has developed historically, and how it varies across cultures and contexts. It takes seriously the potential of education to challenge inequalities and to empower individuals and communities, while also analysing the ways in which educational systems can reproduce the disadvantages they claim to address.

The discipline spans formal schooling and higher education, but also informal learning, community education, and the many other contexts in which people learn and develop.

At Hull you will study this three-year full-time programme, engaging with both formal schooling and informal education contexts. You will explore how education can drive social change and what obstacles stand in the way of a fairer, more just educational system. The curriculum addresses the sociology of education, the history and philosophy of educational ideas, educational policy, comparative education, learning theory, and the lived experiences of learners across different social positions.

The degree develops your analytical, research, and writing skills alongside a sophisticated understanding of how education works in society.

Education studies graduates are well placed for a range of careers. Teaching is a natural destination, and many graduates continue to initial teacher training programmes after their degree. Educational research, policy, the civil service, youth work, community education, children's charities, local authority children's services, and international development organisations are also common destinations.

The analytical and research skills the degree develops are valued in journalism, public relations, and any role that requires understanding how organisations, communities, and institutions learn and change. Postgraduate study in education, social policy, or a related field is also a common pathway.