We pride ourselves on the high quality of professional support we provide all students within the Department of Education.
Education at Sussex is currently ranked in 18th place among 89 Higher Education institutions nationally, according to The Complete University Guide 2024.
Undergraduate study
- The multidisciplinary Childhood and Youth: Theory and Practice BA straddles not only the Department of Education and the Department of Social Work and Social Care, but also comprises modules from the Departments of Anthropology and Sociology and the School of Psychology. It is ranked in first place for graduate prospects (employability) according to The Complete University Guide 2024.
- The Primary and Early Years Education BA will be of interest to those wishing to become teachers or work in other educational settings, as well as those looking for employment in, or advancement within, government departments and agencies; early years settings; schools; international or regional organisations; other non-governmental organisations; educational or social science research; adult education; hospital education; prison education; museum education, the Civil Service, and education consultancy. This course is also an excellent springboard to further study - successful graduates who meet the requirement for PGCE study are guaranteed an interview for the Department's 'Outstanding' Ofsted rated Primary PGCE course.
For more information, see Undergraduate study.
Postgraduate study
Our postgraduate taught degrees include the the International Education and Development MA, the Education MA, the Early Years Education MA and also the International Teacher Education Postgraduate Diploma.
Offered by our sister department - Social Work and Social Care, the Childhood and Youth Studies MA is a multidisciplinary degree course which straddles the Department of Education and the Department of Social Work and Social Care.
For more information, see Postgraduate study.
Initial Teacher Education (ITE)
Trainee teachers have a number of routes into teaching to choose from, including the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), School Direct (Training) and School Direct (Salaried). All are known as ITE (Initial Teacher Education) courses.
Our 'Outstanding' Ofsted rated Primary PGCE course covers a broad general curriculum, including SEN and behaviour. Through assignments, you will also develop a subject specialism.
Secondary school teachers can specialise in any of the following subjects:
- Pedagogy and Practice
- Secondary Business Studies
- Secondary Classics
- Secondary Computer Science
- Secondary Design Technology
- Secondary Drama
- Secondary English
- Secondary English and Drama
- Secondary English and Media Studies
- Secondary Geography
- Secondary History
- Secondary Mathematics
- Secondary Media Studies
- Secondary Modern Foreign Languages
- Secondary Music
- Secondary Psychology
- Secondary Religious Education
- Secondary Science
Once you have been offered a place on an ITE course, it may be suggested to you that you undertake a subject knowledge enhancement course to update and boost your specialist subject knowledge. These courses are free and can also come with scholarship funding.
For more information, see Initial Teacher Education.
Research
There are three PhD courses currently offered by the Department of Education at Sussex which can be studies on a full- or part-time basis:
- Education PhD
- International Education and Development PhD
- Childhood and Youth PhD (in collaboration with the Department of Social Work & Social Care)
Research within the Department is focused within the following three research centres:
- Centre for International Education (CIE)
- Centre for Higher Education and Equity Research (CHEER)
- Centre for Teaching and Learning Research (CTLR)
Check whether your research theme fits ours by looking at the 'Applying to study for a PhD in Education' web page.
The multi-disciplinary Centre for Innovation and Research in Childhood and Youth (CIRCY) is co-hosted by the Department.
For more information, see Research.