Education Studies with Study Abroad
Education studies is the academic discipline that asks how learning happens, why educational systems are structured as they are, and what the purposes and effects of education are in different social, cultural and political contexts. It is a genuinely interdisciplinary field, drawing on sociology, psychology, philosophy, history and policy analysis to understand education in schools, universities, workplaces, online communities, social movements and informal settings. At the University of Bristol, this four-year BSc with study abroad includes a foundation year and is designed for students who want to engage with education as a serious intellectual and social phenomenon rather than simply as a route into teaching.
You will explore how learning happens at all ages and in a wide range of settings, developing expertise in UK education alongside a global, international and comparative perspective on how different societies approach the challenges of educating their populations. The study abroad element means you will spend time in a different educational context, encountering how education is thought about and practised elsewhere and returning with a richer comparative understanding. The foundation year gives you time to develop the academic skills and contextual knowledge needed before progressing into the full degree.
Education studies graduates move into a diverse range of careers. Many go on to qualify as teachers through postgraduate routes such as the PGCE or School Direct, pursuing careers in primary and secondary education. Others work in educational research, policy analysis, curriculum development, educational technology, the charitable sector and international development, where an understanding of how educational systems work and how they affect people's lives is directly relevant.
Some graduates pursue postgraduate study in education, educational psychology, social policy or management, where the disciplinary breadth of their undergraduate formation provides a strong and flexible foundation.