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Education and Professional Practice (top-up) - NTU in Mansfield BA (Hons)

Start date

  • Level(s) of Study: Undergraduate
  • UCAS Code(s): X320
  • Start Date(s): September 2024
  • Duration: One year
  • Study Mode(s): Full-time / Part-time
  • Campus: NTU in Mansfield
  • Entry Requirements:
    More information
Information for 2024

Introduction:

The BA (Hons) Education and Professional Practice (Top-up) course is designed for you if you are an FdA Education graduate and want to top up your qualification to BA honours degree level.


This degree will open up a diverse range of career options in the sector, allowing you to make a real difference to the education and development of others.


Taught at NTU in Mansfield, you’ll cover education in its widest sense – both nationally and internationally. You’ll learn how people develop throughout their lives and study how education contributes to society.


Whether you plan to go straight into the world of work on graduating, or this is your stepping stone to further study, you’ll gain the knowledge and transferable skills you need to progress in a diverse range of careers in education.

  • Through workplace or placement opportunities, you’ll gain hands-on experience and develop your confidence as a professional practitioner.
  • On completing this degree, you’ll be well-placed to go straight into the world of work and take up a variety of careers within education.
  • Upon graduating, you’ll have the option of further study, including Initial Teacher Training courses.
  • NTU in Mansfield is your alternative route into higher education. We've built this qualification with the local job market in mind. Each of our higher education courses is relevant, hands-on and work-focused.

What you’ll study

The course integrates academic and work-based learning through a range of modules. You'll develop an understanding of the broad discipline of education and develop effective communication and organisational skills. You'll also research and critically evaluate learning theories, behaviours, coaching, mentoring and practice.

Full-time students will be required to complete the full 120 credits at level 6 within one academic year.

You will be required to attend one full day, one early evening session per week and a minim of one day per week (or minimum of 185 hours per year in exceptional circumstances and if agreed with your tutor) placement experience in an educational setting.

If you are already working in an educational setting, you can use your employment as your placement, if your employer agrees to work in partnership with NTU to aid your learning.

Modules:

Education Research

  • This module explores the role of education research and facilitates the undertaking of a small-scale systematic enquiry into a key aspect of education.

Educator: Roles and Responsibilities

  • This module will explore the roles and responsibilities of an educator within several contexts, considering an array of literature, legislations, and socio-economic matters.

Learning Theories and Behaviour

  • Formal educational settings can be difficult for children and young people. Behaviours can manifest in several ways.
  • This module invites you to critically explore and define challenging behaviour and its impact on both students and educational practitioners.

Coaching and Mentoring in Education

  • What support mechanisms do teachers and support staff have? What impact would an effective mentoring system give?
  • This module will explore a range of mentoring and coaching models and draws on theories of adult learning that will help to answer these questions.

Professional Practice Research Project

  • This module invites you to pursue an area of your own professional and academic interest throughout the year, within an educational professional context.
  • You will attend a work-based placement throughout the course, for a minimum of 1 day per week (or, with the permission of the tutor, 185 hours over the year). You will use this experience to conduct a piece of research and make links to your professional development.

Part-time students will be required to attend one day per week during your first year. In your second year you will attend one evening a week, plus one day per week placement experience in an educational setting (or minimum of 185 hours per year in exceptional circumstances and if agreed with your tutor).

Year One Modules:

Education Research

  • This module explores the role of education research and facilitates the undertaking of a small-scale systematic enquiry into a key aspect of education.

Educator: Roles and Responsibilities

  • This module will explore the roles and responsibilities of an educator within several contexts, considering an array of literature, legislations and socio-economic matters.

Learning Theories and Behaviour

  • Formal educational settings can be difficult for children and young people. Behaviours can manifest in several ways.
  • This module invites you to critically explore and define challenging behaviour and its impact on both students and educational practitioners.

Coaching and Mentoring in Education

  • What support mechanisms do teachers and support staff have? What impact would an effective mentoring system give?
  • This module will explore a range of mentoring and coaching models and draws on theories of adult learning that will help to answer these questions.

Year Two Modules:

Professional Practice Research Project

  • This module invites you to pursue an area of your own professional and academic interest throughout the year, within an educational professional context.
  • You will attend a work-based placement throughout the course, for a minimum of 1 day per week (or, with the permission of the tutor, 185 hours over the year). You will use this experience to conduct a piece of research and make links to your professional development.

How you’re taught

How will I study?

We've introduced flexible and innovative ways of learning and teaching to develop your study skills and understanding of the integration of theory and practice.

Learning and teaching methods include:

  • lectures
  • seminar discussions
  • practical work
  • project work
  • workshops.

How will I be assessed?

There are no formal exams during these courses; we use a variety of assessment types to allow you to demonstrate your strengths across a number of skill sets.

Careers and employability

Your future career

The course provides you with the opportunity to develop your professional knowledge and practice, to the extent you will be ready for a range of educational employment opportunities, such as:

  • Educational Development Worker
  • Community Education Officer
  • Educational teaching and learning coach
  • Educational Project Manager (museums, galleries, or charities).

In addition, it enables future professional and/or academic development, e.g. Initial teacher training courses or further post graduate learning.

Links to Higher Technical Qualifications and Apprenticeships

The course also provides progression opportunities for students to continue their study with a variety of HTQs and apprenticeships, including teaching instructor, educational professional, early years education professional and teaching professional.

Careers Team

At NTU in Mansfield, our award-winning Employability team is here to inspire and enhance your career planning, whichever path you choose. Whether you wish to go on to further study or to look for job opportunities, we can guide you to be a successful candidate.

Campus and facilities

We are continually investing in our facilities and transforming our learning and teaching environment to create an inspiring and innovative atmosphere. Teaching will take place at the University Hub's £6.5 million University Centre, which opened in 2016 and which is equipped with the latest facilities and state-of-the-art technology. Facilities include:

  • On-site Café
  • Teaching and Learning Centre
  • Library
  • Social spaces
  • Student support services
  • Dedicated study zones including PC suites.

Entry requirements

What are we looking for?

  • Completion of the FdA Education degree at NTU or a similar course in Education studies.

Other requirements:

You may also need to complete:

Other qualifications and experience

We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form

This course is not suitable for tier 4 visa applicants.

We accept qualifications from schools, colleges and universities all over the world for entry onto our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. If you’re not sure how your international qualification matches our course requirements please visit our international qualifications page.

We have undergraduate Education and Teaching courses which are suitable for tier 4 visa applicants. Here is a list of all the undergraduate courses we offer.

Fees and funding

Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.

Getting in touch

For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.

Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494

Additional Costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies, and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.

Library books

Most study modules will recommend one or more core text books, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential text books, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.

Field trips

All essential field trip costs will be included in your course fees. There may be the opportunity to take part in optional field trips, which do incur additional costs.

Placements

If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.

Print and copy costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.

This course is not suitable for tier 4 visa applicants.

We accept qualifications from schools, colleges and universities all over the world for entry onto our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. If you’re not sure how your international qualification matches our course requirements please visit our international qualifications page.

How to apply

Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.

Keeping up to date

After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.

You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page. Good luck with your application!

Getting in touch

If you need any more help or information, please call us on +44 (0)115 848 4200 or complete our enquiry form.

Please read our notes on the University's commitment to delivering the educational services advertised.