School of Education & Social Sciences
1st in the UK for Education (Guardian University Guide, 2020)
When it comes to educating the educators, we're recognised as a UK leader. If you have a calling to teach – from early years to adult education – you'll gain rich experience from our innovative courses. And on completing your studies you'll have unrivalled prospects to fulfil your vocation. We have been offering social science education and research for more than 50 years.
The UWS School of Education & Social Sciences is recognised as one of the most innovative providers of education degrees in Scotland and the UK.
We’re creating new routes for tomorrow’s teachers. We now offer BSc (Hons) in Chemistry with Education, Physics with Education, and Mathematics with Education which allow undergraduates to earn a professional teaching qualification alongside their science studies for the final two years of their courses.
Many of our courses are recognised by professional bodies
of UWS undergraduate and postgraduate Education students in work or further study six months after graduating (DLHE 2015/16)
The School offers a number of professionally accredited bachelor degrees in education and social sciences.
Hands-on work experience allows Education and Childhood Studies students to put theory into practice.
We offer initial teacher education at undergraduate level through our BA Education. Ranked as first in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2020, our BA Education adopts a number of integrated placements throughout the course and is accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).
We also, working with colleagues in the School of Computing, Engineering Physical Sciences, offer three combined science and teaching degrees which are also accredited by the GTCS as initial teacher training degrees for high school teachers in Maths, Physics and Chemistry.
We also offer pratitioner-focused degrees in childhood studies and community education.
The School offers a full range of social science degrees from Psychology to Sociology and Criminal Justice to Social Work.
A social science degree will develop your analytical, interpretative and communication abilities. These are qualities which are highly sought after in the workplace. With practical opportunites, study abroad options and professional recognition on many of our social science degrees, you can be sure that a UWS social science degree will provide you with a solid foundation for your future career.
Initial Teacher training degrees:
All graduates from our initial teacher training degrees are guaranteed a one-year teaching post with support to achieve registration to teach in Scotland.
Other practitioner-based education degrees:
* delivered in conjunction with School of Computing, Engineering & Physical Sciences
Boost your career or take it in a whole new direction with our extensive range of professional learning courses. From Inclusive Education to Artist Teacher, Psychology to Social Work, and Public Administration to Public Policy & Global Governance, our master's suite offers distinctive and flexible routes of study for society scholars.
Building upon the strong record of graduate employment, our postgraduate degree courses focus on gaining hands-on practical experience, rigorous academic background and world-class research reputation. They will prepare you for all the challenges of a career in modern education environments. Our courses focus on pre-school, primary and secondary schools, further and higher education and the wider community and include:
We offer a number of Initial Teacher Training courses - Professional Graduate Diploma Education (PGDE) for both Primary and Secondary education - which are professionally accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS).
Other professionally-recognised, practice-based graduate-level courses include: GradDip Childhood Practice (recognised with the Scottish Social Services Council) and MSc Critical Youth & Community Studies (recognised with the CLD Standards Council for Scotland).
We also offer a suite of fully-online Masters and graduate-level courses for education professionals seeking CPD/CPL opportunities.
Practical, flexible and designed to fit around your existing commitments – many of our programmes are available part-time.
The School recently celebrated 50 years of social science education at UWS and its legacy institutions. Harnessing our School’s comprehensive range of teaching, research and enterprise expertise, we continue to build upon our considerable pedigree in social science to meet the contemporary needs of our students and communities.
We offer a range of master's courses covering the full range of social science displines.
Practitioner-focused courses for initial teacher training, early years and community education:
Other full-time, part-time, and online master's and postgraduate-level options:
View our Postgraduate Education courses
Like our BA Education, the one-year PGDE qualification enables graduates to enter the one-year induction scheme in Scottish schools. Scottish PGDEs are also highly regarded for teaching beyond Scotland.
Studying the PGDE course really helped me learn more about the development of children and how they learn. The lecturers are so passionate about their subjects and extremely helpful, particularly during my placements. I loved every aspect of my studies
Kiara Mayne – PGDE Primary graduate
A UWS social science degree will provide you with a solid foundation for your career:
Without my Psychology degree from UWS, the experience that I gained working with the University and the NHS after I graduated, and the connections that I made, my career wouldn't have developed in the way it has and I would not be running my own company today
Sharon McGregor, BSc (Hons) Psychology Graduate / Owner, McGregor Achievement Coaching
Research topics cover a wide spectrum – from gang culture to the Gaelic language, and from early years literacy to youth justice. Our research informs our teaching courses, influences policy and contributes to wider research networks across the world.
We use our extensive research experience in Holocaust Studies to help schools across Scotland achieve excellence in Holocaust teaching. The University's Visions Schools initiative was officially launched in 2017 by Deputy First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney. Find out more about our Vision Schools initiative.
UWS academic Professor Ross Deuchar leads our research group on the nature and causes of youth violence, crime and gang culture. Professor Deuchar has worked with some of the most marginalised young people in Scotland on the streets and in youth clubs, schools, secure accommodations and prisons. He has also worked with reformed and reforming gang members in several other European countries, in Asia and in the United States.
If you have any queries relating to our School, please contact us at schoolofeducation@uws.ac.uk or call us on +44(0)1292 886206