Education
Award
BA (Hons)
Duration & study mode
4 years full-time
School
Education & Social Sciences
Location
Ayr
Additional information
Ucas code
X100
Course starting dates
-
Ayr: September
As a result of the UK leaving the European Union the automatic recognition of UK teaching qualifications in the EEA will no longer apply for qualifications obtained after 31 December 2020. This means that UK nationals wishing to teach in the EEA and EEA citizens with a UK teaching qualifications will require to have their qualification recognised in the EEA country in which they intend to work. The rules and process for this recognition of third country qualifications/third-country nationals will vary and any student interested in working in the EEA after qualifying should check the relevant requirements in each member state.
If you’ve got a calling to teach then UWS’s BA Education programme will help you establish a career as a primary school teacher.
This programme is designed to equip you with the skills to work effectively within a primary school setting and will provide you with a broad-based education in contemporary subjects.
UWS’s BA Education programme also offers the flexibility of combining your studies in education with a specialism and provides valuable opportunities for school placement throughout each year of study – giving you the hands-on experience needed to complement your academic studies.
School placement opportunities are embedded in each year of the programme, which will provide you with the hands-on experience to complement your academic studies.
You’ll spend 30 weeks of the programme on placement and will also have the opportunity to undertake a placement in an additional support needs school.
You can undertake optional short and medium-term placements in various countries, including France, Spain, Norway and Israel.
UWS is recognised as one of the most innovative providers of education degrees in the UK. This programme was ranked first in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2020. From early years to adult education, students gain rich experience from our innovative courses and graduate with unrivalled career prospects.
Our students gain vital skills and practical experience through work placements, preparing them for successful careers in pre-school, primary, secondary and community education.
in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2020
Overall Satisfaction (National Student Survey 2020)
We welcome Scottish, UK and international students and consider all applicants on an individual basis.
If you are applying with an EU or non-EU qualification, please check our Undergraduate Entry Requirements page which gives more information about country-specific entry requirements.
The range of subjects across your qualifications should reflect those taught in the primary curriculum.
An offer of a place on this programme is made on the basis of your application and successful interview.
These are the minimum entry requirements for the programme. Due to the highly competitive nature of this programme additional qualifications are often required.
Successful applicants who gain a place on this course will need to register on the PVG Scheme, managed and delivered by Disclosure Scotland. An application form will be sent from the University once you have accepted your offer. The fee for joining the scheme is £59.
Visit the Disclosure Scotland website for more information on the PVG scheme.
For applicants whose first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. The qualifications below must have been gained within two years of the start of your course.
General English language requirements at UWS: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic module (not General Training)
All stated English tests are acceptable for admission for both home/EU and international students for this programme:
For our research degrees (MRes, MPhil, PhD, DBA, DProf), applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
For Health, Nursing & Midwifery courses that lead to professional registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council, applicants are required to have an IELTS or Occupational English Test (OET)*.
For such courses, the IELTS score is as follows:
* Note that the Occupational English Test (OET) will now be accepted in addition to IELTS as proof of a Nurse's English Language Competence (Nursing & Midwifery Council, 2019).
For our Certificate of Higher Education courses, applicants are required to have an IELTS score as follows:
TOEFL IBT*: 78; no sub-test less than:
* Please note that TOEFL is still acceptable for admission to this programme for both home/EU and international students.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use TOEFL to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level courses. We therefore still accept TOEFL tests taken in the last two years for admission to this programme.
West African Senior School Certificate of Education (WASSCE) including acceptance of WAEC Scratchcard*
*UWS will accept a WAEC scratchcard confirming that an applicant has achieved C6 or above as evidence of meeting English language requirement from Nigeria if the student graduated within the last 5 years. After 5 years applicants would be required to provide the WAEC Certificate.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum English language requirements have the option to study one of our preparatory and pre-sessional English courses. The UWS courses available are:
Primary school teaching is challenging, exciting and rewarding. Our BA Hons Education is designed to equip you with the skills to become an effective primary school teacher and provide you with a broad-based education in contemporary subjects.
The BA Hons Education offers the flexibility of combining your studies in education with a specialism to enable selection from a range of qualifications, including:
Guest speakers also form part of the programme to further deepen your understanding of your subject. Recent speakers have addressed topics such as supporting learners with hearing impairments, learners on the autistic spectrum and sectarianism.
Valuable opportunities for school placement are embedded in each year of the degree, providing hands-on experience to complement your academic studies.
You will spend 30 weeks of the programme on placement. Your school placements include a range of primary schools within local authorities in Scotland.
In years 1 and 2, school placements provide insights into the role of the teacher and the diverse range of professionals involved in the education and care of children and young people.
As you progress to years 3 and 4, theoretical knowledge and the practical skills required for effective primary teaching are enhanced. Here, you gain professional skills to enable you to lead learning in schools. You will also have the opportunity to undertake a placement in an Additional Support Needs school.
Lectures, tutorials, workshops and use of the Moodle VLE, employing a range of learning and teaching methodologies including exposition, whole-class discussion, paired and group work, problem-based learning, student presentations, and resources such as subject-specific equipment, interactive whiteboards, and laptops will be used, as appropriate, to develop student learning and prepare them for periods of school experience.
Students will monitor their progress through target-setting and evaluation within the Reflection and Evaluation of the Standards (RETS) documentation.
Module handbooks and other material made available to students will give more detailed information on the particular learning and teaching methodologies and themes within timetabled student sessions. This will clarify for students both their expectations for timetabled sessions, and their expectations for the overall balance of learning and teaching methodologies to be used during the module.
Placement handbooks and other very detailed materials made available to students will set out the requirements and expectations of school experience, including the maintenance of the teaching and learning file.
This course also gives you the option of taking a language module, which can count towards your degree. These modules cover multiple languages and range from absolute beginner to near-native speaker level. The cost of your language module is included in the tuition fees. Find out more
Find out more about the structure, learning outcomes, compulsory and optional modules in this course.
Eligible BA (Hons) Education graduates are guaranteed a one-year induction post that will enable you to achieve the standard required for full registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland.
UWS graduates have gone on to teach throughout Scotland, the UK, Canada, New Zealand and in other Commonwealth and EU countries.
The BA (Hons) Education is highly-regarded by employers outside of education, recognising the strong personal transferable skills that our graduates have developed.
Some graduates choose further study, leading to an MSc, PhD or teaching qualification.
£1,820 cost per year of study (paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS*)
£9,250 Cost per year of study for four years but not more than £27,750
£9,250 Cost per year of study for four years but not more than £27,750
£13,000 per year of study
£1,820 Cost of study per year (paid by the Scottish Government via SAAS)
£9,250 Cost of study per year (for four years but you will not pay more than £27,750)
£9,250 Cost of study per year (for four years but you will not pay more than £27,750)
£13,325 Cost per year of study
The cost of attending university is an investment in your future career.
In addition to tuition fees and living expenses, some courses involve extra costs like study materials, field trips, equipment and uniforms.
Fortunately, there is a great deal of financial support available to help students meet the cost of their study. This ranges from:
The sections below provide details of additional costs that your course may involve along with any financial support that may be available.
You can also find additional information in our Undergraduate Money, Fees & Funding section.
Students on certain degrees will incur some additional costs not covered by their tuition fees. These could be for things like specialist equipment, study materials and textbooks, work placements, graduation, membership of relevant organisations or costs related to carrying out fieldwork.
For students on course with an element of fieldwork, there may also be extra costs for travel and accommodation.
Note: The library will hold some copies of the textbooks but not enough for every student. Students can purchase second hand copies when possible or use older versions if advised by the module cordinator. Students can also sell their copies after the course. This helps manage the cost.
Books and other printed materials (Mandatory)
There are 6 modules to be studied. Each module handbook lists the books, journals and policies that are the most vital to the module. Journals and policies can be accessed on the VLE. It is probable that students would buy three core books per session (c.£80-100). Materials can be shared or borrowed from the library.
Technology & equipment (Optional)
It is highly recommended that each student has the use of their own laptop or PC. Students can access digital technology in the library, if required. Costs of laptops and PCs can typically range from anything between £250-1400 depending upon the specification and brand.
Placement, field trips & study abroad (Mandatory)
The School will pay excess travel whilst on school experience placements. That is, travel costs over and above what you would normally pay to travel to University for the equivalent number of days and only for the cost of using public transport.
Misc. costs (Mandatory)
You must join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme. This helps ensure people whose behaviour makes them unsuitable to work with children and protected adults cannot do 'regulated work' with these vulnerable groups. If you are applying to become a member of the scheme for the first time, the fee is currently £59. If you are already a member of the scheme you will need to have a record update processed through an Existing PVG Scheme Member Application.
Books and other printed materials (Mandatory)
There are 6 modules to be studied. Each module handbook lists the books, journals and policies that are the most vital to the module. Journals and policies can be accessed on the VLE. It is probable that students would buy three core books per session (c.£80-100). Materials can be shared or borrowed from the library.
Placement, field trips & study abroad (Mandatory)
The School will pay excess travel whilst on school experience placements. That is, travel costs over and above what you would normally pay to travel to University for the equivalent number of days and only for the cost of using public transport.
Books and other printed materials (Mandatory)
There are 6 modules to be studied. Each module handbook lists the books, journals and policies that are the most vital to the module. Journals and policies can be accessed on the VLE. It is probable that students would buy three core books per session (c.£80-100). Materials can be shared or borrowed from the library.
Placement, field trips & study abroad (Mandatory)
The School will pay excess travel whilst on school experience placements. That is, travel costs over and above what you would normally pay to travel to University for the equivalent number of days and only for the cost of using public transport.
Books and other printed materials (Mandatory)
There are 6 modules to be studied. Each module handbook lists the books, journals and policies that are the most vital to the module. Journals and policies can be accessed on the VLE. It is probable that students would buy three core books per session (c.£80-100). Materials can be shared or borrowed from the library.
Placement, field trips & study abroad (Mandatory)
The School will pay excess travel whilst on school experience placements. That is, travel costs over and above what you would normally pay to travel to University for the equivalent number of days and only for the cost of using public transport.
Graduation fees (Mandatory)
These fees are set annually by the University and are subject to review. For session 19/20 these were set at £10 Registration Fee.
Tuition fees are calculated based on where you are from and what you are studying. Some courses also involve additional costs, such as mandatory field trips, equipment or studying abroad.
Find out how much it will cost you to study at UWS as an undergraduate student.
Scottish students studying at undergraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.
English, Welsh and Northern Irish students studying at undergraduate level at UWS are entitled to various funds and support towards tuition fees and living costs.
EU students studying at undergraduate level of UWS may be eligible for SAAS funding, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.
There are several scholarship and incentive schemes available to international students studying at undergraduate level at UWS, as well as support to meet the costs of childcare and various sources of additional funding.
UWS administer a range of discretionary and childcare funds. These are designed to support students who are experiencing financial difficulty or struggling to meet the costs of childcare.
Becoming a student can have an impact on your entitlement to certain benefits. It may mean you are no longer eligible to claim a benefit you have been receiving, or your new income from student funding may affect the amount you are able to receive.
If there isn’t a statutory source of funding for you or your course, or you are in need of additional financial support, you may wish to consider more alternative sources of funding such as trust funds and scholarships.
Choosing to become a student can have a big impact on your budget and you may need to reassess your spending to account for a reduced income. We’ve put together some guidance to help you manage your money and make the right financial choices for you and your family.
All UK and EU applicants for undergraduate study, not applying through an agent or partner, should apply through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)
The on-time application deadline for 2021/22 entry is 29 January 2021, 18:00 (UK time). For some courses it may still be possible to apply beyond this period, subject to suitable vacancies remaining. The final deadline for late applications via UCAS is 30 June 2021, 18:00 (UK time). Beyond this deadline, you may be able to apply via ‘UCAS Clearing’ if the course you are interested in has remaining places.
Please refer to our Undergraduate Application Guide for domestic & EU/EEA to find more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS.
Students from non-EU/non-EEA countries can apply directly to UWS via our dedicated online application system. The latest we can process your application is 6 weeks before the course start date to allow for visa processing times. For more information on when and how to apply to study at UWS please refer to our International Undergraduate Application Guide.
For part-time & online study, you should apply directly to the University through our online application system, not through UCAS. Please select the part-time mode of study when submitting your application. Before you begin your application, it is important to read the part-time application step-by-step guide for a smooth process.
To come to UWS as a visiting student on a study abroad or exchange programme, you must apply entirely through our online system.
An ATAS certificate is not required for overseas students applying for this course.
Do you have a question about applying for this course? Get in touch. We are here to help!
We will always try to make sure that we publish accurate course information but we do not accept responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We will also try to make sure that we deliver our courses in line with our published information. However, we may not always be able to do so and you can find further information about this in our enrolment terms and conditions.