Overview
This intellectually challenging and thought-provoking special education course offers you a hugely rewarding undergraduate experience here at the University of East London.
It opens up the world of Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and offers you the chance to enter the world of work with confidence. We'll equip you for a range of careers in special education, helping to bring about a more inclusive society.
Our special education course takes you on a fascinating journey through this complex area. You'll learn about every aspect of special education in line with government policy. This includes autism, speech, language and communication, challenging behaviour, disabilities, dyslexia, therapeutic teaching and learning. It also looks at alternative educational provisions.
You'll develop a reflective approach to special education and critical thinking skills that are transferable to the workplace.
Students on this special education degree course come from all over the country because its content is so comprehensive. Many already work with children with SEND.
We'll allow you to bring your passion and experience to the course. We put an emphasis on sharing and discussing personal experiences to enrich our teaching.
This course is in Clearing
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Course modules
The Special Education foundation year trains you in academic foundations through six modules. Mental Wealth develops personal and digital skills vital for your professional profile. Introduction to Early Childhood and Social, Emotional and Mental Health modules explore key disciplinary concepts and behavioural understanding. You'll gain practical experience through Placements in Context. You'll develop essential academic writing capabilities, and complete a digital Research in Practice project. These modules will provide the knowledge, practical skills and professional preparation needed for early childhood and special education careers.
In the Special Education first year you will study six modules. Mental Wealth develops essential professional skills and self-awareness while Exploring Social Worlds examines children's sociocultural experiences and rights. You'll build a critical understanding of inclusion through Key Principles for Inclusion and Diversity, develop vital research capabilities in Emerging Research Communities and gain practical experience. These modules teach you the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to support a range of learning needs in educational settings.
The Special Education second year deepens your professional expertise. Mental Wealth develops key career skills for the workplace, while Identity and Social Justice looks at critical social issues affecting children's lives. You will work on your research capabilities in Building Research Communities and analyse educational debates in Contemporary Issues in Education. The Special Education programme teaches you specialist knowledge through Specific Learning Difficulties, focusing on conditions like dyslexia. The SEND Careers module provides valuable workplace connections and career planning. The special education year two modules give you the advanced knowledge and practical skills needed for a career in special education.
In the final year of Special Education, you'll develop professional skills and gain real-world expertise. This programme blends critical thinking, practical experience, and specialised knowledge. The third year focuses on inclusive education, communication strategies for children with special needs, and independent research. You'll enhance your employability through volunteering and working with others on projects. By the end of the degree, you'll have an in-depth understanding of educational challenges and support methods.
NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.
Download course specification
Entry requirements
What makes this course different

Highly rated by our students
96% of students surveyed on this course responded positively to questions on "Teaching on my Course” in the 2023 National Student Survey. (National Student Survey 2023, Results published 10 Aug 2023)
Read the full NSS survey results
Foundation year
Find out more about our flexible early childhood studies, education and special needs foundation pathways.
Learn about foundation years
3rd in London
Our Education courses rank 3rd in London in the Guardian University Guide 2025.
Your future career
A career in special education might involve developing innovative teaching methods to support students with autism spectrum disorders in mainstream classrooms or working one on one as a special needs coordinator. Your degree can also be a good foundation for other roles working with children or adults with additional needs.
At UEL, we offer dedicated careers support, and further opportunities to thrive, such as volunteering and industry networking. Our education courses are created in collaboration with employers and the education industry to ensure they accurately reflect the real-life practices of your future career and provide you with the essential skills needed. You can focus on building interpersonal skills through group work and benefit from our investment in the latest cutting-edge technologies and facilities.
Industry links
Our educational teaching team's strong relationship with local schools, SEND organisations, and loyal alumni means you'll have plenty of contact on the course with potential employers through work placements, mentoring, careers fairs, and guest lecturers. This will give you that competitive edge, and strong experience in special education before you enter the industry.
Graduate employers
Special education graduates have gone on to work for London boroughs, schools and NHS trusts. With a special education degree, you could work for a Local Education Authority, charity, the NHS, schools or an educational department in a university or government.
Job roles
A special education degree equips you with valuable skills to work with individuals of all ages who have a range of learning disabilities or special needs.
Typical roles which our special education graduates have gone on to are year group/ phase leader, teaching and behaviour support worker, and inclusion development officer.
Further study
We offer a wide range of master's degrees in special education, early childhood or leadership in education, should you choose to specialise further. This could set you apart from other education graduates and give you specialist skills to develop your career further.

Without a doubt, the best thing about my course at UEL is the dedicated and knowledgeable lecturers that I've been taught by. I'm well supported in my learning. I feel valued in the classroom and inspired to learn and progress further in my field."James Bennett
Special Education BA (Hons) undergraduate
How you'll learn
You'll be taught by staff with relevant experience and practice to ensure you learn from real-life experience and research. We encourage an educational experience that is active, social, collaborative, engaging, and student-owned. You will have access to a variety of resources ensuring your learning experience goes beyond the classroom.
Guided independent study
When not attending timetabled lectures you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, Microsoft Teams, and Moodle.
Academic support
Students are supported with any academic or subject-related queries by an Academic Advisor, module leaders, and former and current UEL students. If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing, English, maths, or statistics, our Academic Tutors offer workshops, drop-in sessions, and one-to-one appointments to help our students achieve their potential.
You can receive advice and guidance on all aspects of the IT systems provided by the university from our IT Service Desks located on all three campuses. Our Student Support hubs in Docklands and Stratford feature centralised helpdesks to cater to your every need.
We are investing in key areas beyond your studies including our career services, library, and well-being, to be available both face-to-face on campus and online with many of these available 24/7.
We have new, modern library facilities on both campuses offering inspirational environments for study and research. Libraries contain resources in print and digital formats, a range of study spaces, and a dedicated librarian who can assist with your learning.
UEL provides also support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs).
Dedicated personal tutor
Our aim is to prepare our students for a broad range of careers so that they can make amazing contributions to their communities. When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of staff who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at UEL, and who will show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer.
Workload
Your overall workload consists of class and online tutor-led sessions, individual learning, and practical activities.
Your timetable
Your individualised timetable is normally available to students within 48 hours of enrolment. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9.00am and 6.00pm. For undergraduate students, Wednesday afternoons are normally reserved for sports and cultural activities, but there may be occasions when this is not possible. Timetables for part-time students will depend on the modules selected.
Class sizes
Class sizes are approximately 30.
How you'll be assessed
Coursework will include assignments, self-reflective assignments, presentations, and group work.
Assessment tasks are mainly spread across the year to make the workload manageable. More details will be included in the student handbook and module guides. You will always receive detailed feedback outlining your strengths and how you can improve.
We aim to provide feedback on assessments within 15 working days, although you will receive immediate feedback following many of our face-to-face assessments.
Campus and facilities
Stratford Campus, London, E15 4LZ
Our historic Stratford campus is located in one of the best-connected areas of London: close to Stratford's thriving town centre, the 2012 Olympic Park, just 15 minutes from London's West End and 20 minutes from Canary Wharf.
Stratford’s facilities include a state-of-the-art library and learning centre, the majestic Great Hall and specialist laboratories and computing services. The School of Childhood and Social Care and Centre for Clinical Education in Podiatry, Physiotherapy and Sports Science are housed in new buildings. There is also a campus restaurant and bookshop, and a Students' Union café-bar.
Westfield Stratford City - Europe's largest indoor shopping mall - is just one of Stratford's attractions, alongside many other shops, cafés, bars, restaurants and cinemas. Stratford is fast becoming London's new cultural quarter, with Sadler's Wells East and V&A East moving in.
Who teaches this course
This course is delivered by School of Childhood and Social Care
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
What our students and staff say

I enjoy the variety of topics we cover on my course. They have raised my awareness of current issues and relevant theories that explicitly relate to the education sector and situations that I might face in a classroom in the future."
Diane Griffiths
Third year student