Education with a Foundation Year

Education as an academic discipline asks fundamental questions about what learning is, how it happens, and what purposes educational systems serve. It is a field that sits at the intersection of philosophy, sociology, psychology, and policy analysis, examining how schooling and other educational contexts shape individual development and social outcomes, and how educational ideas and systems have evolved over time. Unlike initial teacher training, an education degree explores these questions at a scholarly level, developing critical and analytical thinking about learning and teaching rather than training you directly as a classroom practitioner.

At Swansea University this four-year full-time programme includes a foundation year, making it accessible to students who would benefit from additional preparation before the main education degree. The foundation year develops your academic skills and introduces you to the core ideas and methods of educational study, ensuring you are well prepared for the demands of degree-level work. The main education degree is research-informed and supports the development of the knowledge and skills needed for a wide range of careers in the field of education and beyond.

You will engage with educational theory, policy, psychology of learning, and the sociology of schooling, developing a well-rounded understanding of what education is and how it works.

Education graduates pursue careers across a wide range of fields. Teaching is a common destination, typically following the degree with a PGCE or another route into qualified teacher status. Others move into educational policy, school leadership support, youth work, community education, educational research, social work, and roles in organisations working with children and young people.

The analytical and communication skills developed through the degree are also valued in the civil service, local government, charities, and any professional context that requires a careful understanding of how social and educational systems function. Postgraduate study in education or related social sciences is another well-supported path.