Education Studies and Teacher Training
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Our courses
We offer a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Education Studies and Teacher Training.
BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies
Discover the Early Childhood Studies degree at UEL. Explore the profound impact of childhood experiences on development through critical perspectives in education.
BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies Online
Study early childhood online and get an excellent foundation in a career working with and for children and their families.
This course provides you with an excellent foundation for a career in education. The course also equips you for a career in educational administration or a support role in education.
BA (Hons) Education Studies Online
Learn the latest developments in the field of education studies and become a primary or secondary school teacher or influence and shape education policy, whilst learning online.
The BA (Hons) Education Top Up provides an opportunity for those without a degree to progress directly onto BA (Hons) Education Studies.
BA (Hons) Education Top Up Online
The BA (Hons) Education Top Up Online provides an opportunity for those without a degree to progress directly onto BA (Hons) Education Studies.
BA (Hons) Primary Education with QTS
This undergraduate primary education course will give you a degree and a QTS qualification. You will learn about children’s rights, core educational values and learning methods.
Our comprehensive bachelor's degree in special education prepares you for rewarding careers in special education. Join us to make a difference in special needs education.
BA (Hons) Special Education Online
Learn about autism, speech, language, communication, changing behaviour, disabilities, therapeutic teaching, and learning in special education, in this online course.
Montessori is a developmental approach to education that recognises and encourages the natural curiosity of children and their innate drive to learn.
Early Childhood with Montessori Pedagogy (Level 6 Top Up)
The BA (Hons) Early Childhood with Montessori Pedagogy (Level 6 Top Up) provides an excellent progression route for students with a Foundation degree in Montessori Pedagogy.
This course will help you understand a range of issues such as autism, dyslexia, social and emotional mental health issues, and inclusion.
Our well-established part-time MA Education course is about extending your understanding of teaching theory and practice.
Our programme equips educators with critical thinking and leadership skills to drive change and improvement in an education context.
MA Education by Distance Learning
MA Education will extend your understanding of teaching theory and practice and help teachers or those supporting teaching and learning.
MA Education (with a pathway in Teaching and and Learning)
This pathway of our well-established MA Education course is about extending your understanding of teaching and learning through theory and practice.
This Master's programme is the only one in London with an exclusive focus on 'teaching' encompassing the areas of TESOL and TEFL - as opposed to applied linguistics and is aimed at practising teachers as a form of continuing professional development.
EdD Professional Doctorate in Education
The Professional Doctorate at the University of East London is a five-year part-time modular course specifically aimed at senior professionals working in all fields of education.
MA English Language Teaching (Distance Learning)
You will explore the implications of the global spread of English, the rise of 'new Englishes' around the world and the political and cultural dimensions of teaching English as an international language.
PGCert Understanding And Supporting Behaviour
Study and research issues concerning social, emotional and mental health issues and their relationship to challenging behaviour.
MA Early Childhood Leadership and Practice
This course will support your career progression in the leadership of practice in early childhood contexts whether that be a nursery, voluntary organisation or a school.
- PGCE Primary With The Arts
Study primary teaching with a focus on arts; train to become a primary school teacher, teaching children in the 5-11 age range. - PGCE Primary With STEM
The PGCE STEM route is designed to give you the additional expertise, confidence and skills to take on a leadership role in the primary STEM subjects. - PGCE Secondary Physics
Our PGCE with QTS trains you to teach 11-to-16s and qualifies you to be a physics teacher in secondary schools in England and Wales. - PGCE Non-Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
A straightforward route to a PGCE award for students who already have, or are on a course leading to, Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). - PGCE Secondary Music
This course qualifies you to be a secondary teacher of music in England and Wales. - PGCE Secondary Biology
Become teachers who inspire the next generation of scientists in STEM fields and a workforce that can make well-informed, evidence-based decisions. - PGCE Secondary Chemistry
Our PGCE with QTS trains you to teach 11-to-16s and qualifies you to be a chemistry teacher in secondary schools in England and Wales. - PGCE Secondary Mathematics
Our PGCE with QTS trains you to teach 11-to-16s and qualifies you to be a maths teacher in secondary schools in England and Wales. - PGCE Secondary Computing
Become a Qualified Teacher of ICT and help young people develop the skills they need to succeed in digital media, games design and visual effects. - PGCE Secondary English
Our PGCE with QTS trains you to teach 11-to-16s and qualifies you to be an English teacher in secondary schools in England and Wales. - PGCE Secondary Drama
As a secondary school drama teacher, you can help pupils discover and nurture new talents, and teach a range of skills on how to work together and develop ideas. - PGCE Further Education
You will have the opportunity to develop your skills through hands-on teaching practice, and completing written assignments to show your understanding of the principles of teaching. - PGCE IPGCE
Explore key aspects of learning and teaching in international school systems. Develop individual practice via critical engagement and research. - PGCE Secondary Geography
Share your knowledge and enthusiasm for geography to engage students and learn about child development and behaviour management. - PGCE Primary With Sport And Wellbeing
The primary teacher education course is designed for graduates who are committed to becoming primary school teachers with a focus on PE. It trains you to teach children in the five -to-11 age range. - PGCE Secondary Design and Technology
Our PGCE with QTS trains you to teach 11-to-16s and qualifies you to be a design & technology teacher in secondary schools in England and Wales. - PGCE Primary With SEN (Inclusion)
Study primary teaching with a focus on special education needs (SEN); become a primary school teacher, teaching children in the 5-11 age range. - PGCE Secondary Modern Languages
Our PGCE with QTS trains you to teach 11-to-16s and qualifies you to be a modern language teacher in secondary schools in England and Wales. - PGCE Secondary Religious Education
As a religious education teacher, you can help your pupils become compassionate young adults, respectful of religious and cultural differences. - PGCE Secondary Physical Education
Become a qualified PE teacher and improve pupils' lives by helping them to develop movement literacy and important life skills.
About us
Our undergraduate courses prepare you to be a thoughtful and flexible practitioner, working with and for children and families in a range of professional roles and settings, giving you the knowledge to develop as an education practitioner, with the flexibility to specialise in the areas that interest you most.
You will look at the political and educational structures that are put in place to support children and young adults. You'll also look at childhood from a range of different critical perspectives and explore the factors that influence the childhood experience.
The UEL Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Partnership trains 500 Primary, Secondary and Post Compulsory teachers each year and has been doing so throughout the past two decades. UEL is one of the largest modern universities offering teacher training and education in London and Essex.
We work with our trainee teachers to develop confidence and a teacher identity that is underpinned by educational theory and a trainee teacher's understanding of this - it is vital they can articulate a theoretical rationale behind the pedagogic choices they are making in their classroom or learning space.
Theoretical balance with the practice of teaching is positively engaged with at UEL within our ITE curriculum.
Why choose UEL for an Education Studies and Teacher Training degree?
Our Education Studies Courses have been ranked 3rd in London in the Guardian University League Tables (2025).
We have been rated Outstanding by Ofsted for our Teacher Training courses (2024).
With relationships with practitioners, local schools, SEND organisations and loyal alumni, you'll have plenty of contact on the course with potential employers through meeting practitioners, work placements, mentoring, careers fairs, workshops and renowned guest speakers and lecturers.
Our teacher education and training courses continuously enjoy high rates of employment that are often above the sector average and expectation. Within six months of completing the course, 94 per cent of UEL Secondary ITT trainees have secured a teaching post (January 2020). Many of our initial teacher training alumni are now senior leader and headteachers.
We have long-standing relationships with 400 partnership schools across London and the South East in all phases of ITE. Many lecturers have professional subject association links and leadership roles, are connected to appropriate educational research bodies and organisations.
Our facilities
We have outstanding teaching spaces available for modelling excellence in teaching pedagogy. All classrooms are equipped with what you would expect to use in a professional teaching environment. There are also specialist classrooms to support our more practical teacher training courses e.g. Design Technology, Science, Computing, PE and Music.
Our modern Docklands and Stratford libraries provide a wide range of resources and specialist study areas. These are accessible 24/7 during term time.
What we're researching
Our teaching experience and research are internationally recognised and our curricula approach reflects how passionate we are about teaching and education. We enable our students to engage with the research agenda by conducting school placement-based action research-focused work as part of their developing teacher role. Below are examples of our academic expertise:
- Dr Warren Kidd, Secondary PGCE Course Leader, researches in the area of teacher identity and has published extensively in the area of sociology and teaching and learning.
- Sheeba Viswarajan, Senior Lecturer Chemistry Education
- Elicia Lewis, Senior Lecturer Religious Education
- David Wells, Head of Initial Teacher Education, researches game-based learning and gamification in school settings.
- Professor Gerry Czerniawski, Research Degrees leader, has published extensively in the areas of teaching and learning, teacher and teacher educator identity, continuing professional development (CPD) and pupil voice.
- Professor Jean Murray is a world-renowned expert in the field of Teacher Education and has published prolifically in this area.
Careers
Our dedicated Careers team works closely with employers to provide up-to-date information about the skills and experience they're looking for and will support you during your studies and after you graduate.
At UEL, you'll have access to:
- Employability skills training such as interview techniques and CV writing.
- Career Assessment, giving you the opportunity to learn about yourself and Career Coach will help you to discover career suggestions based on your interests.
- UEL Skills Academy, where external professionals deliver sessions on the competencies most prized by graduate employers.
- Internships, placements and volunteering opportunities from our work placements team.
- Professional mentoring scheme, matching students with staff from major companies.
- Networking opportunities and annual careers fair.
- Support with setting up your own business.
Career Coach
Our online Career Coach shows you the different career paths that your chosen subject area can lead you to. It gives you information on specific careers, job roles, potential wages and available jobs in the sector. You can also take a quick quiz to find a career to match your personality type!
Our location
Our location in one of Europe's largest regeneration areas and our extensive links to local employers will also give you access to fantastic internships and placements. From heavy industry to high-tech, health and social care to the arts, there are so many opportunities right on our doorstep.
Our staff
Find out more about our staff by visiting our School of Childhood and Social Care staff page.
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Our Schools
Academic staff and teaching at UEL is divided into five Schools.
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Applying to UEL
Applying to UEL is easy. We'll give you all the support you need - from advice about fees and funding to guidance on specific course requirements.
Applying to study through UCAS
Applying to UEL as a postgraduate student
When you apply for postgraduate study at UEL, we'll give you all the support you need - from advice about fees and funding to guidance from tutors.
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