Education Studies and Teacher Training
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.
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.
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.
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.