Special Educational Needs & Disability Studies

Special educational needs and disability studies is concerned with how educational systems, institutions, and individual professionals can best support the learning, development, and wellbeing of children and young people with diverse needs. It draws on education theory, psychology, sociology, and policy studies to examine disability and neurodiversity through multiple lenses, asking not just how to support individuals but how schools, systems, and societies can become more inclusive, equitable, and responsive to difference.

At Liverpool Hope University, this four-year full-time degree with integrated foundation year is designed for those who may not yet have the qualifications for direct entry into degree-level study but have the ability and commitment to succeed with appropriate preparation. The foundation year develops core academic skills, including essay writing, critical thinking, independent learning, time management, and academic structure, before you move into the main degree programme. In the honours degree, you will develop a deep understanding of the theoretical and practical dimensions of SEND, exploring the legislative frameworks that govern provision, the range of conditions and differences that fall under the SEND umbrella, and the practical approaches that practitioners use to support diverse learners effectively.

A sandwich year gives you extended professional experience, a year abroad broadens your perspective on international approaches to inclusion, and work placement is integrated throughout.

SEND as a field is one where evidence-based practice, legal knowledge, and genuine professional commitment all matter.

Graduates go on to careers as teaching assistants, SEND coordinators, educational psychologists (via further training), inclusion officers, social workers, youth workers, and education policy advisers. Many pursue postgraduate qualifications in education, educational psychology, social work, or counselling. The degree is also a strong platform for those seeking qualified teacher status, particularly those who want to specialise in inclusive or special education settings.