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BA (Hons) Childhood and Education Studies with Integrated Foundation Year

Explore childhood from birth through adolescence, while also examining the wider role of education across the life course.

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Students working on laptops at desks in a classroom
UCAS codeX321
Duration4 years
Fee (UK)£5,760
LocationOn campus

Course summary

BA (Hons) Childhood and Education Studies explores childhood from birth through adolescence. It also explores the wider role of education across the life course. You’ll consider how children’s lives are shaped by families, communities, education, culture, policy and society, before exploring education beyond childhood.

You’ll study topics including:

  • Child development
  • Children’s rights
  • Participation
  • Inclusion
  • Safeguarding
  • Inequality
  • Global childhoods
  • Mental health
  • Neurodiversity
  • Creativity
  • The social, cultural and political influences on childhood and education.

You’ll also explore how education changes across different contexts and stages of life.

You’ll learn from a team with expertise across childhood, education and professional practice. You’ll connect theory to practice through links with organisations across various settings. This includes education, early years, health, social care and community settings.

The course develops skills in research, communication, critical thinking, teamwork and reflective practice. This will prepare you for careers across various aspects of the sector. It'll also equip you with the foundation you need for postgraduate study.

You can also choose the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies route for additional professional recognition in early years practice.

A degree in Childhood and Education opens the door to a wide range of careers. Graduates progress into a wide range roles across:

  • Education (Schools, early years, further education, prison education and museum learning)
  • Family Support Work and Early Intervention
  • Children's Advocacy
  • Working with Youths and within Community Development
  • Child and Family Wellbeing Services

Many of our graduates also choose to pursue further study at postgraduate level. Wherever your interests lie, you can use your knowledge and skills to make a positive difference to people's lives.

Why Sunderland for Education and Teacher Training

Integrated Foundation Year

This course is available with an Integrated Foundation Year, an extra year of your degree. This route offers a supportive way of transitioning into university study. It may be suitable for you if you:

  • Have valuable work or life experience but no formal qualifications
  • Are returning to education after a break
  • Want to change direction or explore a new career path
  • Have just missed the entry requirements for the three-year course.

We’re enhancing our Integrated Foundation Year to give you an even stronger start to your degree. The updated modules will align more with your chosen subject area. This will help you build the knowledge, confidence, and skills you need for your studies. We'll share full details soon and can't wait to tell you more.

Please note, this route isn’t available to international students.

What you'll study

Many of our courses include a range of modules you can choose from. Some options may only be available if you’ve already studied specific modules. If you’re not sure what you need before picking a module, your course leader can help.

How you'll learn

You’ll experience a variety of approaches designed to help you develop your knowledge and practical skills. Teaching may include both lectures and seminars. It may also include workshops, group activities, discussions, case studies and interactive learning. You’ll be able to learn from practitioners and engage with current research and real-world issues affecting the sector.

Your tutors will provide chances to gain formative feedback throughout your studies. This will help you to develop your ideas ahead of assessments. You’ll also have access to academic and pastoral support, including personal tutoring.

The course uses various methods of assessing your progress. They're designed to help you show your knowledge and develop your skills. Methods include essays, presentations, portfolios, reflective activities, research projects, amongst others. Where appropriate, you’ll also connect your academic learning to practical experiences.

Entry requirements

Fees and finance support

UK£5,760

Undergraduate fees are set according to rules from Government in line with forecast inflation. If you're a Home fee-paying student, the fee for your first year of study for 2027/28 will be £10,050. You'll pay tuition fees for every year of study. Fees may increase every year based on the Retail Price Index.

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See all course tuition fees.

Full-time UK/Irish/EU settled/EU pre-settled students may be eligible for financial support. This would cover your fees for the full four years. UK and EU settled students may also be eligible to receive a maintenance loan.

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UK students

Disclaimer

We want to make sure you have clear and accurate information about our courses. Our website always shows the latest updates. If you’ve applied and you're offered a place, we’ll contact you in writing if anything important changes.

For more information, view our programme specifications. These include course content, learning outcomes, and the skills you'll gain.