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Primary Education (2-year fast track)

  • BA (Hons)
  • 2 Years
  • Full-time
  • 21/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Main Site
More about University of Plymouth

Course options

2025-20262026-2027
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Course summary

Pursue your passion for education with this fast-tracked two-year degree. Explore how children learn, critically examine teaching practice, and benefit from hands-on experience in Britain’s Ocean City.

Career-focused teacher training
Secure a guaranteed interview with local QTS providers and complete two tailored work-based placements to fast-track your journey into a fulfilling teaching career.

Holistic and innovative learning experience
Explore primary education from local to global contexts at a TEF Gold-rated university. Learn through lectures, seminars, tutorials, outdoor education, and one-to-one support from expert educators.

Vibrant student life with no exams
Enjoy all Plymouth has to offer - marine and moorland fieldwork, active campus life, and strong community links - plus a coursework-only structure that supports diverse learning styles.

This course is for you if...

  • you want to become a qualified teacher with confidence

  • you value learning from passionate experts

  • you prefer coursework over exams

  • you are looking to learn about education in environments beyond the classroom.

Modules

Year 1
Modules in this initial year will introduce you to the breadth of the primary curriculum and build your understanding of the latest evidence-informed professional practice. Through exploring the theories linked to learning and child development, you will begin to understand how children are currently supported to learn in primary settings. Participate in interactive seminars and a placement in a primary setting, enabling you to begin to link theory and practice.

Summer block
During the summer months you will undertake a further extended placement, here or abroad depending on your choice. Alongside this, you will study an online professional skills module which will give you the flexibility to study with us here in Plymouth, at your home in the UK or internationally. Within the summer block, there are four weeks of holiday which you can organise flexibly around your chosen placement.

Year 2
Building on your theoretical and practical experiences, our final year gives you the scope to bespoke your degree further by selecting an aspect of primary practice to focus on in more detail. You will also be supported to carry out your own research on an aspect of primary practice for your dissertation. Built-in careers support will prepare you for your next steps in education or a professional role.

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.

Assessment method

For up to date details, please refer to our website or contact the institution directly.

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Course does not award QTS

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Main Site

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 2 Years

Start dates

  • 21/09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
X324
Institution code:
P60
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-
Points of Entry:
Year 1

University of Plymouth has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
X324
Institution code:
P60
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

The University of Plymouth has a dedicated International Student Advice (ISA) service who will support you from the day you accept an offer at the University, right through to graduation. They will offer help and advice so you can get the most out of your studies, and your time in the UK, visit www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/services/international-students/international-student-advice for more information. Once you have applied through UCAS, your conditional offer letters will also be sent to you by email, so be sure to enter your current email address on your application and to check this email regularly. You'll need your unconditional letter, and the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) that we'll send you, when applying for your student visa to the UK. A tuition fee deposit will be required before we'll send you the CAS. We're a licenced Sponsor under the Points Based System. To comply with our duties as a Sponsor, we're required to check other aspects of your application in addition to your academic achievements, for example any previous studies, financial status and your immigration history in the UK. For course entry requirements (inc. English requirements) please refer to the specific page for the course you are interested in (www.plymouth.ac.uk/study). A recognised English language qualification (e.g. IELTS) would be required or successful completion of one of the University's pre-sessional English Language courses. Check our country pages to find out more about application from your specific home country www.plymouth.ac.uk/international/study/international-students-country-guides. International fees, please visit our fees and funding pages www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/fees.

If you have any questions please contact admissions@plymouth.ac.uk

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Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 112 points

A level

112 points from a minimum of 2 A levels. Excluding general studies.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM

Access to HE Diploma

Pass Access to HE Diploma (preference to education/ social science/ health and social care, but all considered) with at least 33 credits at Merit or Distinction.

Scottish Higher

112 points from two Advanced Highers

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - D*D*

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) - DMM

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (first teaching from September 2016) - D*D*

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF) - DMM

Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF) - D*D*

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 26 points

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales - C

This would be accepted in combination of other level 3 qualifications

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024) - C

This would be accepted in combination of other level 3 qualifications

Extended Project

In combination with other level 3 qualifications

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

112 points from Irish Highers

T Level - M

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

Additional entry requirements

Health checks

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6With 5.5 in all elements.
Full details of English Language requirements can be found on our website.

English Language Requirements https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/international/how-to-apply/english-language-requirements

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

At the University of Plymouth, we believe in building a welcoming and inclusive community that supports every student to achieve their full potential.

With our contextual offer scheme, we may extend offers below our standard entry criteria to those applicants whose circumstances and experiences could have impacted their education and academic performance. You can check your eligibility for a contextual offer using our online postcode checker.

Learn more on the University of Plymouth website

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

For all information about tuition fees, please visit our fees and funding pages at www.plymouth.ac.uk/study/fees

  • Fees are correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.

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