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Education Studies (Distance Learning) (Top-Up)

Course details
  • BA (Hons)
  • 2 Years
  • Distance learning (part-time)
  • 14 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Distance learning

Course summary

Overview
Education nurtures curiosity, stokes ambition and shapes careers. On this BA (Hons) Education Studies top-up degree course, you'll study education as a discipline and gain the skills and knowledge you need to work within education across a range of sectors and professions.

You'll turn your Level 5 qualification – such as a diploma, teaching apprenticeship or foundation degree – into a full Bachelor's degree. You'll develop a deeper understanding of how people learn, explore education in relation to society and build on your research skills.

Study part time by distance learning over 15 months, which enables you to work alongside your course and apply what you learn to your role in real time.

When you graduate, you'll be ready to step up into a career championing education as a lifelong experience, such as in educational practice, professional training, nurseries, youth work or (with further study) teaching.

  • Explore cultural, emotional and social learning perspectives, such as the significance of heritage in the educational experience, societal norms in education, and the role of mentoring within an educational context

  • Be taught by expert researchers and practitioners from our School of Education, Languages and Linguistics

  • Study on a part time basis alongside your job, by distance learning

  • Graduate with a full Bachelor's degree that’s valued across the education sector

Careers and opportunities
This education studies top-up degree will give you a solid grounding in the theory and ideas of practice behind education and the way people teach and learn.

It's ideal if you want a versatile Bachelor's degree that will open doors across the education sector and beyond.

Further study
This course does not provide Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), but it does provide the gateway to study for further postgraduate qualifications, including QTS, early years initial teacher training (EYITT), qualifying social work Master's and other postgraduate courses.

For example, once you graduate with this BA (Hons) Education Studies top-up degree, you could do further postgraduate study to become a teacher via a PGCE course, such as our Primary PGCE or Further Education and Training PGCE.

Or you could become an early years teacher with our GradCert Early Years Initial Teacher Training course.

What jobs can you do with a Education Studies (Top-Up) degree?

Roles our graduates have taken on include:

teaching in primary education (with further training)
teaching in colleges (with further training)
early years teacher (with further training)
social worker (with further training)
senior management roles in nurseries
senior positions in education and training in areas such as nursing and police work
When you finish the course, our Careers and Employability service can help you find a job that puts your skills to work in the industry. You can get help, advice and support for up to 5 years after you leave the University as you advance in your career.

Modules

The University of Portsmouth is passionate about creating career-focused modules that do more than support your studies, they empower your academic journey and prepare you for what comes next.
 
We design modules that have:
 
• Clear themes and skills development as you progress through each year
• Assessments that feel meaningful, often based on real-world tasks rather than isolated exams
• Career-enhancing opportunities such as placements, live projects, enterprise and volunteering
 
For a full list of the modules you will study on this course, please visit the link to the course page.

https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-education-studies-top-up#modules

Assessment method

You’ll be assessed through presentations, essays, reports and a dissertation.

Entry requirements

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
Not accepted

GCSE/National 4/National 5

2 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above to include English.

T Level
Not accepted

Relevant HE study leading to a Level 5 qualification, for example an appropriate HND, foundation degree or Advanced Diploma, or 240 credits from year 1 and year 2 of an undergraduate degree (BA/BSc), in a relevant subject.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.
PTE Academic65An overall score of 65 with a minimum of 62 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)9191 with a minimum of 20 in Reading, 19 in Listening, 21 in Speaking and 20 in Writing.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 176 with no component score less than 169.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) (taken after January 2015). An overall score of 176 with no component score less than 169.
Trinity ISETrinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components.

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.

University of Portsmouth offers are based on a holistic assessment of students' potential including exam results, work experience and personal circumstances. The University aims to foster social mobility and equality of opportunity, particularly for those facing social challenges.
For creative subjects, portfolios and interviews allow applicants to showcase their talent and passion. We recognise locality, personal circumstances and creativity which could lead to a reduced or unconditional offer.

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course 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.

This course may have Historical entry grades data available, please select a course option to view.

Course options

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

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

Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice.
Please check the course page on our website for the most up to date fee information.

Fees are subject to annual increase.

Please see the following webpage for further undergraduate fee information: https://www.port.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-fees-and-student-finance/tuition-fees-living-costs-and-other-study-costs

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